| Category | ItemToCarry | SuggestedUse | DetailedDescriptionOfTheEquipment | Optional? | Provide | Share |
| Major Gear | 1 over 2000 Cu In Day Pack | Carrying all your gear | | | Yes | |
| Major Gear | 1 Pair Hiking Poles | To help stabilize you when you hike | Many people think poles are superfluous, but they transfer some of the weight from your legs to your upper body. Old ski poles are OK, but they're hard to fit on a plane like retractable hiking poles. Don't buy the cheapest poles, but generally the 2nd cheapest is fine. | | Yes | |
| Major Gear | 1-3 Total Capacity of 3 liters Water Containers | Keep hydrated | We highly recommend a Platypus, Camelbak, or similar bladder with a drinking tube to allow you to drink without stopping. You can have several bladders or a reservoir like a Nalgene bottle. If you're on a budget, used water/soda bottles work great. | | Yes | |
| Clothing | 1-2 Bandanna | Keeps your hair out of the way, but is multi-purpose. Pot Holder, Face Washer, First Aid, etc. | | Yes | | |
| Clothing | 1 For water crossings Camp shoes | To wear in camp and for water crossings | Sandals, Tevas, Chacos, Crocs, Keen. | | | |
| Clothing | 1 Fleece (or Sweater) | To keep warm | This is a must, even in warm destinations | | | |
| Clothing | 1 Glove Liners | Keeps your hands warm | The more water resistant the better. While most trips are scheduled around warm weather, most any trip can get cold enough, at least at times, to warrant gloves. On Yosemite Trip, bring gloves with rubber grippy dots for cables on Half Dome
. | Yes | | |
| Clothing | 1 Hat, Wide Brim | Keep sun and rain out of eyes. | | | | |
| Clothing | 1 Hat, wool or fleece | Keeps your head warm | In 50 degree weather, this seems silly, but if you're outside in it for 6 hours, you need the warmth. | | | |
| Clothing | 1 Hiking Boots | To hike in | Make sure your boots are broken in! Lightweight hikers are OK with sufficient ankle support | | | |
| Clothing | 2 Hiking Pants, Long | | Make sure they're quick-dry. No jeans! | | | |
| Clothing | 2 Hiking Pants, Short | | Make sure they're quick-dry. No cotton! | | | |
| Clothing | 2 Hiking Shirt, Long Sleeve | | Make sure they're quick-dry. No cotton! | | | |
| Clothing | 2 Hiking Shirt, Short Sleeve | | Make sure they're quick-dry. No cotton! | | | |
| Clothing | 1 Rain Pants | To keep dry | | | | |
| Clothing | 1 Rain Shell, Waterproof Breathable | To keep dry | Gore-Tex, for example. Also good at repelling wind. | | | |
| Clothing | 2-4 Pair Socks | Keep feet warm, dry, and blister free | Most people use 1 layer systems, but some like 2 layers with an inner sock liner | | | |
| Clothing | 1 Sturdy Hiking Boots | To hike in. Make sure they are broken in. | Lightweight hikers are OK if they have sufficient ankle support. Proper fit is more important than brand. | | | |
| Personal Effects | 1 Contact Lens Set-up | To See | | Yes | | |
| Personal Effects | 1 Pair Ear Plugs | Cut down on noise from nearby snorers | They are very lightweight | Yes | | |
| Personal Effects | 1 Glasses | To See | | Yes | | |
| Personal Effects | 1-2 Hair Clips | Keeps long hair in check | | Yes | | |
| Personal Effects | 1 Hand Sanitizer | Keep germ free | This is the best way to prevent transmission of disease | | | |
| Personal Effects | 1 Headlamp | See at night | LED lamps will run all week on 1 set of batteries. If you have this, there is NO NEED for a flashlight | Yes | | |
| Personal Effects | 1 Insect Repellent | Keeps bugs away | Do not bother with repellents that are less than 35% deet. They will be ineffective for all but the most benign mosquitoes, black flies, and no-see-ums. Deet is a strong, toxic chemical, so be careful with its application. | | | Yes |
| Personal Effects | 1 Medications | | | | | |
| Personal Effects | 1 Mosquito Headnet | Keeps bugs away | | Yes | | |
| Personal Effects | 1 Pack Towel | Dry yourself or your equipment | Use a quick-dry pack towel or chamois | Yes | | |
| Personal Effects | 2 Ponytail Holders | Keeps long hair in check | | Yes | | |
| Personal Effects | 1 $100 Some Cash, a Credit Card, and ID | Can be useful in some emergencies | Leave the wallet and its contents with your other stuff | | | |
| Personal Effects | 1 Sunglasses | Additional sun protection to wide brimmed hat. Also helps cut glare in snow fields. | Don't bring your best designer sunglasses | Yes | | |
| Personal Effects | 1 Sunscreen | Sun Protection | SPF 15 or greater | Yes | | Yes |
| Personal Effects | 1 Talcum Powder | Dries wet skin | Bring small container | Yes | | Yes |
| Personal Effects | 1 Toothbrush and Toothpaste | Brushing Teeth | | | | |
| Personal Effects | 2-5 Trash Bags | Multi-Use. For trash, keeping things dry, covering your pack, etc. | An assortment is good. A few Ziploc sized bags, a few kitchen sized and a few leaf sized bags | Yes | | |
| Personal Effects | 1 Vaseline or Lubricant | Reduces friction and chafing | Bring small containers | Yes | | Yes |
| Optional | 10-15 Baby Wipes | Hygiene | Baby wipes are heavy and must be carried out after you use them, however many people use them to feel clean. On some trips, we can burn used ones. | Yes | | |
| Optional | 1 Camera | Chronicle your adventure | | Yes | | |
| Optional | 1 Journal | A 20th century blogging device | Can use for a firestarter in an emergency. | Yes | | |
| Optional | 1 Mirror | Use this to signal rescuers if lost | You can also use it to look at yourself. Also can be used for contacts / hygiene. | Yes | | |
| Optional | 1 Pen | Journaling, exchanging information, emergency use | | Yes | | |
| Optional | 1 Personal First Aid Kit | Foot care, bandages, etc. | Guides carry one for the group, but sometimes it's easier to treat your own minor wounds. | Yes | | |
| Optional | 1 Hot Tub Swimsuit | To swim or wade in | Most times you can swim in your regular quick-dry clothes, but if you want to have an item that you don't mind is wet, this can be a nice addition. | | | |
| Optional | 1 Whistle | Use if lost | Three short blasts is a distress signal. Whistles often have limited range | Yes | | |