Summer Camping List. am I missing anything

Or is there better type or brand than what im using

Survival kit
PSK micro
Signaling Group
Mirror
Whistle, fox 40
Gear
Knife Doug Ritter MK3
Knife, Swiss army trekker one-handed
Sharpen-It
Saw
Compass ranger 15
Compass 27
Light , Sure fireG2
Light, ARC AAA
Light, Photon
Batteries TAD batterie case
Lighter Zippo(ZippoBLU when they come out)
Waterproofd strike anywhere matches in waterproof match case
Swedish Fire-Steel
Tinder in Tin (Cottonballs & Petroleum Jelly)
Shelter
Rain Fly (Hennessy)
Snow peak Ti tent Stakes
Hammock (Hennessy)
Silk summer bag
Gloves ( oakly)
Insect Repellent (Ben’s 100 Deet)
Sun Screen
Lip balm
Sun Glasses
Medical
FAK
Anti-Blister gear (Drysol, Tuf-Skin Hydropel, polypro or wool socks )
Blister Kit
Water and Food
Ti Pot (700, 900, 1400)
Micropur MP1
2 Nalgene bottles
Personal Hygiene
Tooth brush
Tooth paste
Trowel & TP
Pack
Arcteryx RT45

Is this a backpacking trip, car camping, hike a mile from the car camping, exactly what? How many days/weeks? Not knowing what area you are talking about, I will assume that your silk bag will be enough to keep you warm. You have two compasses, but no map? No cordage listed to go with the rainfly and stakes, hopefully you have some already attached. I see no stove, so assume that you are planning on cooking over an open fire all the time. Be sure that you are in an area where you can actually cut/gather wood, and open fires are allowed. I'd add more lighting, as in lantern/lamp, and something for entertainment, a good book at least. Have fun, and let us know how it went...

Thanks OBG

I go in the southeast, mostly 2days 1 night hikes(14 - 20 miles)

mostly I get an updated map of the area im going to or if an area I goto often I have that map and dont update that often

550 cord is with the rainfly( and the leg strap for my knife is made out of 25 feet of 550 cord)

the snowpeak stove is in 700 with a can of gas

entertainment: Ipod

I didn't see any socks.

Thanks Ironraven

Yep, under anti blister gear

In that case, I'd say you look good.

Just... wear more than socks, for the sake of those who share the trail.

The list looks pretty good from here. It appears as if you've doubled up on a couple of things, which is good.

I'd add a hat or headwrap. I wear a hat when I'm hiking because my hair is always cut very short and I'm prone to getting a burn on top of my melon. LOL

How's the Hennessey Hammock and Fly working for you? I'm thinking about getting one myself.

Headlamp? If you plan on doing anything after the sun goes down, you'll want one.

Thanks Nicodemus

Good idea, I forgot a hat

Thanks Ducktapeguy

I have a petzl e-lite i can add

I tried white gas in a Zippo. It worked for a bit but evaporated really fast.

I'd vote for Bic over Zippo any day.

That was my first thought. I'd dump the Surefire and go with a good headlamp and maybe the Photon or Arc AAA (but not both) as a backup.

Map of area
GPS
UTM grid
Eating gear - spoon, cup
Bandana (towel, filter, sponge, fly swatter, ...)
Hat w/ brim

I'm not a fan of 100% DEET. DEET is bad enough, but the 100% stuff is real nasty. Keep it away from your compasses! I like the stuff 3M has out now. I also tried the newer Cutter Advanced non-DEET stuff last summer, but have yet to really get sold on it - the jury is still out on that.

Where's your raingear? You'd be pretty miserable if it starts raining and you don't have any Of course, I hardly see any clothes at all there. Surely you want at least a backup pair of socks; wet socks are pretty miserable to hike in and encourage disease. Actually, two pair, since proper hiking footwear is a good pair of boots, a thick outer layer of socks, and a thin inner layer.

Don't see any cutlery in the list. A titanium spork is usually a good general purpose eating utensil.

What's your water storage? I'm a big fan of water bladders myself.

A few optionals if you don't mind the extra weight/space (since you're taking a hammock, I'm assuming it's not too critical):

* A lightweight collapsible chair; not having to sit on the ground all the time can be nice.
* A daypack. Especially useful if you have a dry camp and need to make trips for water.

Out of curiosity --seeing your mention of deet bug repellant: has anyone tried catnip oil-based repellants? I read a study from Iowa State last year in which they determined that the essential oil of catnip is a 10 times more powerful mosquito repellant than deet. I ordered a vial of the essential oil and plan to dilute it and give it a try, but if anyone has any experience, I'd like to hear about it.

Nic

sorry did not see the hennessy question,

is on order and have not used it yet, will let you know when I do

Thanks Billym

I never have been a big fan of Bic, thoughts in the back of my mind allway come up with crushing it in a fall.

Thanks KenK

Added my e-lit to the list, but i love the lite my G2 puts out with p60 or p61 bulb

Map and case with protrator and water pens

I dont like the deet my self, ill have to look in to catnip oil


Thanks KarenRei

Did not list Clothing but have added to list the list

Clothing
Scarpa Boots
2 pair smartwool med cushion Socks
2 pair polypro shocks
Tad cargo pants
Riggers belt
Long sleeve under armor
Montane Jetstream
Bandana
Hat




I did not list my Ti spork that is in my trek 700

there is a 100oz MSR Hydromedary in my RT45

Would you consider packing an 18 mile grms radio? Might be very useful if you're hiking alone.

I'd love to hearhow the Hennessey worked when you get back.

Thanks!

Here's an article on the study on catnip vs. mosquitoes, in case you're curious:

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2001/08/010828075659.htm

Deet sprays are usually 5-25% deet, so that would mean 0.5%-2.5% catnip for the same effect. I'm planning to try out 5% in two solutions -- one with sunscreen as a base for a dual-purpose cream, and one with acetone as a base for a spray. I've also heard of using coconut oil as a base.

If you really despised mosquitoes, you could use 100%, but that'd get pricey unless you crew your own catnip in bulk The pure oil is like $20 an ounce unless you buy in bulk. At the strength of a 25% deet spray, though, it only works out to 50 cents per ounce of repellant, which is affordable. Buy in bulk, and it's even cheaper.

I'll let people know how my results go when I get the oil. I'll also have to see how badly I get mobbed by cats

A partial list of my summer camping needs is at
http://www.cieux.com/bm/things.html
with links at the bottom to more lists and more complete lists.

Looks pretty good, other than the couple of things other people have mentioned (map, rain gear, etc.)

I usually start with the "Ten Essentials" and work from there.

Map
Compass
Flashlight
Sunglasses
Extra food and water
Extra clothing
Matches (or lighter)
Fire starter (tinder)
FAK
Knife

TP is 11. A hat is 12. You'll really need a pencil if you're navigating with a map and compass. You didn't list the contents of your FAK, but I always make sure I have Imodium and an Ace bandage. And lots of Advil. I'm an old man.

I live in the Southwest, and sometimes hike above the tree line, where there are no handy trees for hammocks. I prefer a sleeping pad. Though I have used a hammock, and they are comfy if nature cooperates.

Kevin B.

Have you considered trekking poles?. There is no rain gear i.e mvp poncho or rain suit. Would you consider taking a folding Thermarest if the hammock doesn't work out or there is no suitable areas to rig up the hammock i.e no trees suitable. For an extra 450 grams, you could have much more flexibility where you camp. You could then use the trekking poles to rig up a shelter with the rain fly.

anyone use a laplander saw?

Thanks KevinB

Is hard to throw a stone with out hitting 10 trees where I live and hike(Alabama)...but I have seen this hammock pitched as a tent


Thanks bentirran
Trekking poles would be hard for me to over come the mental image of them ...never have used them

I have thermarest and tent and is what I use most of the time for latefall,early spring and Winter

They are like ski poles. Some people love them, some people just stick with a good old fashioned staff- me, I'd rather be a tripod than a quadraped.

Trekking Poles I suspect may conjure up a certain images of certain stereotypical 'hiker' types. I know what you mean, that was until I actually used them. Trekking poles may give people who use them a certain image, perhaps associating then with the older person or the more sedate as opposed to the military types e.g. they don't appear to be used in military use in the US (although I may be incorrect). Lets just say that some specialist UK military forces have been known to use trekking poles because of the advantage the poles give when used properly, especially in mountainous terrain when carrying heavy loads. They are allowed to use just what works to get the job done more efficiently. Trekking poles can allow more endurance and speed.
Most bits of kit found in the local camping store will outperform most of the kit issued to those in the military. It just that the kit is not OD or camo coloured. There is a lot of excellent kit out there.

Some info on trekking poles including techniques on how to use them properly can be found here at http://www.personal.dundee.ac.uk/~pjclinch/gear.htm

Something that takes almost no space, and is practically weightless is a mosquito net that can go over your boonie hat or ballcap and keep the little creatures from buzzing you all day and night. I was up in Maine last weekend. It's black fly season up there, and they are operating in force, like locusts! We were camping Saturday night, and rafting the Kennebeck Sunday morning. When we were setting up the tents Saturday afternoon, I thought the black flies were going to just pick up some of our younger boys are carry them into the woods to finish sucking the lifeblood out of them!

We tried every version of repellant we had, (and we had quite a few varieties). The only thing that really worked was to have long sleeves, long pants, and a bug net over your boonie. Other than the bugs though, it was a great trip, we found a really cool waterfall, and rafted some Class V whitewater. I'll have to post a picture or two under the "happy camping" post that Aloha has going over at the Campfire.

Check out this link to learn how to isolate the active component of catnip.

-Blast

You haven't said where you would be using it.