Gear
The gear below is just gear I've tried. It is not an endorsement for any product. I have bought (and sometimes returned) every piece of gear myself. I have relied heavily on other bloggers for selecting gear, which is why I am sharing this gear with those visiting my page. It may help others as they grow as backpackers. Every person is different. A piece of gear that I love, someone else may not love. Likewise, if a piece of gear did not work for me, it may work for someone else. Many gear reviews out there do not take into account age or gender. I try to explain why each piece of gear below works for a woman who is approaching 50.
Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2
May 30, 2019
I love this tent. It easily fits two people, is light (3 lbs. 1 oz), and does not have condensation issues. Since I am at an age where I have to pee in the middle of the night, I love the fact that it has two doors. I don't have to crawl over someone to get out or be sure that I get the door side. I also love that it has two vestibules, which gives each person room to store their pack and shoes at night. It dries super quickly as well. It is also tall enough to sit up and read or be comfortable while waiting out the rain. I also love that it is a freestanding tent. It requires less bending over for set-up...which my back appreciates.
Osprey Aura AG 50
May 30, 2019
I had two packs before this one. My beginner pack was a Teton Sports pack. This was a good starter pack, but quite heavy and has major airflow issues. I then switched to an Osprey Aura AG 65, which I took on two trips and decided it was too big. Shout out to Backcountry Edge, who takes returns for ANY reason within one year. I love the Osprey Aura AG 50. I have a solid hourglass shape and it accommodates that very well. Perks I like include the hip pockets, easy access side mesh pockets, adjustability, and trekking pole holders. I also love the "antigravity suspension" (which Daniel pointed out is actually impossible...think about it) and how it allows the air to move on my back. I know I could spend twice as much and go lighter with a pack, but I am at an age where I want some luxury, so I carry a little extra weight to have this pack: 4 lbs. 1 oz.
Nemo Jam 30
May 29, 2019
My first sleeping bag was a synthetic bag that I had for many years. It was heavy. I quickly upgraded to down. I tried the REI Co-op Magma 17, and used it for one trip. I hated the smell and it was too hot. REI kindly gave me a refund and I returned to Backcountry Edge for this Nemo Jam 30. I am a side sleeper (jackknife), so I like how wide the bag is and it lets me move around easily. I use a sleeping bag liner (see review) with this bag. Instead of a pillow I use my clothes and this bag has a pocket for me to stuff them in. The material is very soft. I also love the cinch sack this bag came with. I use this bag as a quilt on hot days. I recently added a Western Mountaineering bag (see review) to my gear as I found on cold nights this bag does not keep me warm enough. I am a VERY cold sleeper. I have the long, which is 2 lbs. 4 oz.
Camp Chair, Chillax Sleeping Pad, Nemo Astro Sleeping Pad, and NeoAir Xtherm
May 30, 2019
My Moon Lence Ultralight camp chair is my luxury item. At 2 lbs, it is almost as heavy as my tent. BUT, I love it. Sometimes I just bring my Thermarest Z Seat, but I miss my chair when I do. One of my trail pleasures is sitting in my chair at night by the fire after a long day and sip on wine. In the mornings I leisurely have my coffee while I contemplate my upcoming day.
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These two sleeping pads are ones that ended up getting replaced. The Chillax is just that...freezing cold relaxation. There is no insulation. It now sits on a shelf. The Nemo Astro is insulated, although it has no advertised R-Value. I like the built in elevation for a pillow, but it feels like a raft. It is fine on summer days and is now the sleeping pad that my husband uses. I switched to the Thermarest NeoAir Xtherm with an R-Value of 5.7 (warm!) and a weight of 15 oz. I love it.
Kelty Circuit 2
May 30, 2019
This was my first backpacking tent. It is a great starter tent or for those who are OK with a little more weight or are taking shorter trips. I still like this tent, although I switched it out for an ultralight. It weighs 4 lb. 2 oz. It fits two people very well, but only has one door, which is a bummer when you want to get up in the middle of the night and you have to crawl over someone. It has very little condensation and is a freestanding, easy to set-up tent. I now use a Copper Spur (2 person with family and 1 person when solo). This tent will become a hand-me-down for my oldest Timmy.
Teton Sports Scout 3400
May 30, 2019
This was a good starter pack from Amazon at a price that is manageable if you are not sure you want to stick with backpacking. It weighs 4.5 pounds, but the frame is just two strips on the inside and it sits heavy on your back. My new pack is only 4 ounces lighter but it feels several pounds lighter. I like all of the pockets in this pack and the mesh options. There are not a lot of adjustments you can make to it though. I used this as a starter pack before switching to Osprey, and then Matt used it as a starter pack. He also switched to Osprey (Atmos). We keep the pack around in case we have a friend who wants to join us.