Field journal · Issue №20 · Jun 2026

What's in
your pack?

Start from realistic example packs for weekends, thru-hikes, ultralight kits, winter overnights, and family trips. Then build your own.

Example packs
10
Lightest template
5.3 lb
Fast alpine base
Use cases
8
beginner → alpine
top-down on the hostel floor →
Pack flat lay 35.2°N / 82.5°W · FLAT LAY · 08.4 LB BASE SHEET 01 / 03
← 24.9 oz pack
cuben fly · 13.9 oz ↘
BRS-3000T · 0.9 oz
inReach · 3.5 oz ↘
@desertratdan · PCT NOBO · base 8.4 lb [ROLL 14 / FRAME 03]
Starter packs · curated examples

Explore backpacking pack templates

Browse realistic example gear lists for weekend trips, thru-hikes, ultralight setups, winter overnights, family trips, and more.

Browse all templates
Beginner 3-Day Budget Weekend
Example template
Beginner-friendly
@bri-morgan
Beginner 3-Day Budget Weekend
BASE
15.3 lb
Sub-10 lb Sierra Summer Kit
Example template
Ultralight
@maya-chen
Sub-10 lb Sierra Summer Kit
BASE
8.0 lb
Appalachian Trail NOBO Spring Shakedown
Example template
Thru-hike
@mia-patel
Appalachian Trail NOBO Spring Shakedown
BASE
9.3 lb
PCT Desert Section Hot-Weather Kit
Example template
Desert
@dan-rivera
PCT Desert Section Hot-Weather Kit
BASE
7.7 lb
JMT Summer Bear-Can Loadout
Example template
Sierra
@sam-okafor
JMT Summer Bear-Can Loadout
BASE
11.5 lb
Rainy PNW Shoulder-Season Weekend
Example template
Rainy weather
@riley-brooks
Rainy PNW Shoulder-Season Weekend
BASE
13.2 lb
Intro Winter Overnight Safety Kit
Example template
Winter
@nora-ellis
Intro Winter Overnight Safety Kit
BASE
15.4 lb
Parent + Kid First Overnight
Example template
Family
@tom-keane
Parent + Kid First Overnight
BASE
21.3 lb
Appalachian Hammock Weekend
Example template
Hammock
@haley-moore
Appalachian Hammock Weekend
BASE
11.0 lb
Fast-and-Light Alpine Overnight
Example template
Alpine fastpack
@finn-lopez
Fast-and-Light Alpine Overnight
BASE
5.3 lb
Beginner 3-Day Budget Weekend
Example template
Beginner-friendly
@bri-morgan
Beginner 3-Day Budget Weekend
BASE
15.3 lb
Sub-10 lb Sierra Summer Kit
Example template
Ultralight
@maya-chen
Sub-10 lb Sierra Summer Kit
BASE
8.0 lb
Appalachian Trail NOBO Spring Shakedown
Example template
Thru-hike
@mia-patel
Appalachian Trail NOBO Spring Shakedown
BASE
9.3 lb
PCT Desert Section Hot-Weather Kit
Example template
Desert
@dan-rivera
PCT Desert Section Hot-Weather Kit
BASE
7.7 lb
JMT Summer Bear-Can Loadout
Example template
Sierra
@sam-okafor
JMT Summer Bear-Can Loadout
BASE
11.5 lb
Rainy PNW Shoulder-Season Weekend
Example template
Rainy weather
@riley-brooks
Rainy PNW Shoulder-Season Weekend
BASE
13.2 lb
Intro Winter Overnight Safety Kit
Example template
Winter
@nora-ellis
Intro Winter Overnight Safety Kit
BASE
15.4 lb
Parent + Kid First Overnight
Example template
Family
@tom-keane
Parent + Kid First Overnight
BASE
21.3 lb
Appalachian Hammock Weekend
Example template
Hammock
@haley-moore
Appalachian Hammock Weekend
BASE
11.0 lb
Fast-and-Light Alpine Overnight
Example template
Alpine fastpack
@finn-lopez
Fast-and-Light Alpine Overnight
BASE
5.3 lb
01
35.2°N / 82.5°W · BUILDER

Build your pack, in grams or ounces.

Drag, weigh, swap. Public/private toggle so your in-laws don't see the cuben.

PCT NOBO 2024 · DRAFT
BIG 3
Base weight
8.4 LB
0 oz UL CUTOFF · 10 lb 16 lb
SHELTER
Zpacks Plex Solo
← drag to reorder 13.9 oz
QUILT
EE Revelation 30°F
← swap to compare 19.4 oz
PAD
Therm-a-Rest XLite
13.0 oz
PACK
HMG Junction 55
← public toggle 24.9 oz
ADD GEAR · TYPE TO SEARCH 38,401 ITEMS
"Switched from a 36 oz pack to a 24.9 oz pack and my hips stopped lying to me."
— @desertratdan, PCT 2024
  • Grams or ounces
    one toggle. settles arguments.
  • Worn vs base weight
    we count puffies in your pack, not on your back.
  • Swap to compare
    side-by-side, 2 to 4 packs.
  • Public / private
    don't broadcast the $599 tent.
02
Gear locker · unfiltered

Trail-tested, not advertiser-tested.

No affiliate links. Dissent welcome. The five-stars and the one-stars sit at the same table.

plex solo · season 3
plex solo · season 3
ZPACKS PLEX SOLO
DCF · 13.9 oz · $599 · 1P
3.6
/ 5 · 847 reviews
polarizing on purpose ↗
@desertratdan 2653 MI · 8 MO AGO
HOT TAKE

Held up through 47 days of PCT desert wind. Vestibule's tighter than I'd like — but at 13.9 oz I'll forgive it.

↑ 184 helpful · reply
@coldfeet.j 312 MI · 3 WK AGO
DISSENT

Great for fair weather. In a real storm? Hope you like rebuilding pitch at 2am. The DCF is half the price for a reason.

↑ 91 helpful · reply
@stoveless 4912 MI · 2 YR AGO
RELIABLE

PCT, AT, CDT. Same tent. Replace the lines once a year, replace nothing else. Worth every $.

↑ 408 helpful · reply
@ridgeline 1280 MI · 5 MO AGO

It's fine. Light, expensive, fragile. Do the math on your trip — sometimes the trekking-pole shelter is wrong for you.

↑ 47 helpful · reply
03
Merit badge bureau

Earn your patches.

Stupid, specific, slightly funny. Pinned to your profile. No one off-trail will know what they mean.

First sub-10-lb base weight
PCT + AT + CDT logged
locked — go log it ↗
A trip below 0°F
Logged your first pack
100 helpful comments
locked — go log it ↗
30 days cold-soaking only
locked — go log it ↗
10 night hikes logged
100 miles in a single trip
locked — go log it ↗