Well, Spring is sort of here in the Puget Sound area, and I'm starting to get out and work off all the winter fat. To that end, I've been walking the trails in Dashpoint State Park, which is pretty much in my back yard.




Here's the photoset for Fern Alley.

Now, I've been thinking about getting out and visiting other parks around the state, but I want to get into shape first. When I go further afield, I'm going to add a water bottle carrier (Maxpedition if I can afford it) kit to this for water purification and making lunch. Right now, I'm just heading out for a bit of exercise, and if it comes down to it, I can walk over to the camp area and hit a water fountain. =D

I wear Cabela's cargo pants when I'm out walking. Everything here (except the hiking stick, of course) fits into the pants pockets. Anything I add to this later, will either go into the water bottle carrier or windbreaker pockets. (Aside from adding some water purification tabs and a couple freezer bags to my pockets.)

The idea is to get the most important stuff on my body, not carried. The jacket pockets can hold more, as can the pouch on the water bottle carrier, but both of those could potentially be lost.

That said, here's what's in my pants so far:



Front Left pocket: Bandana and a Lansky pocket sharpener. I'll add a Petzl e+Lite headlamp when I start going further afield. IF I get in shape enough to even contemplate that this year.



Front Right pocket: Keys and a Midnite Minichamp. It's one with a red LED. Handy for finding other lights. Really cool little knife. This pocket should also have a Benchmade Mini-Grip clipped to it, but that's in for repairs at the moment.



Left Cargo pocket: PSP and an emergency poncho. Would carry a bigger poncho if I was expecting some rain, or going further out. The metal bit between the tinder and the compass is the split ring from the SAK on the back side:



The backside of the PSP. I've added a mini-Bic lighter, a Victorinox Cadet is standing in for a Farmer which I'll add later, and a Fisher bullet style Space Pen. I need to add in a white LED, but I'm waiting until I get get the Ritter-ized Photon II for that use. As I'm only out for a couple hours in the mornings, and pretty much in my backyard, no rush. When I go further afield, I'll toss a few water purification tablets into the kit.



Right Cargo pocket: AMK 2 person Heatsheets blanket, and an AMK Pocket Medic kit with a few additions. I need to get some Immodium for the first aid kit. I'll also be carrying an inhaler in this pocket, or another. Just didn't bring it out today to photograph.



My Leatherman Blast. This guy rides in its own pocket. The cargo pants have a velcro-closure pocket above the right cargo, which fits pretty well. At least, it's a better fit than the sheath that came with the knife.



Well, this wasn't in my pocket, but I normally carry it with me, so I snapped a pic. Good old fashioned hickory hiking stick. It's a bit heavy, though, so I will probably look for something lighter for longer hikes. It gets the job done for now.

Not pictured: Cell phone in jacket pocket. Kimber Pro Carry II on right hip. (Wasn't going to take that one out on a busy trail to photograph. =P) Pens and notepad in jacket pocket. Sunglasses, normally worn or in coat pocket. Camera pouch on left hip.

The Midnite Minichamps are still $19.99 on Amazon at the moment. If you need a book or something else from Amazon, you can score free shipping, too. =)

I'm with ya on the budget though. I've splurged too much lately, just getting this stuff set up. I'll have to wait to finish the odds and ends.

Nice kit for a short trip. it is certainly UL (ultralight). There is some good knock off maxipedition bags you could look at. There has been links on this sight for them. I personally use a backpack and you could get one of those for $10 if that's your budget.

If your just going out for morning stuff, bring a bar that won't melt on you.

If I am not carrying paper, I carry a grease pencil instead of pen. Someone on here recommended to me Soapstone as it will write on anything but I haven't found any yet.

I am just nitpicking, you have a good list for pocket EDC.

Now you just need a pair of suspenders.

Hi Comms, Soapstone will not write on everything.
Soapstone is for welders marking steel. The thing is it leaves a white mark that does not burn off when a torch hits it.
You will see it in little sticks wherever welding supplies are sold.
It is useless on paper.

grease pencil is good, so are soft carpenters crayons (not pencil) You usually see them in black(graphite)and black, red or yellow wax. (Building supply stores.)

LOL

The only really weighty thing is the Blast, but it's not too bad. If I leave out the Blast (or move it to a water bottle carrier or belt sheath), then the load is really light.

If that stuff bulks up the cargo pockets you may have to rethink the load plan for a longer walk.

I hike in BDU pants and am reluctant to put much more than a wallet or a bandana into the cargo pockets because of chafing.
But I'm hiking 10 or so miles and a little chafing adds up.

I once picked up about 150 empty .40S&W cases someone had left at a shooting spot and put them in my cargo pockets. Was real glad that I didn't have to go more than a mile or so back to where I could empty them into the jeep.

Not bad. My only real concern is putting my leatherman in one of those velco'ed pouches. But if it a nice, kind trail, it might not be a problem.

That's one of the reasons I'm carrying it all around with me at the moment. I'm carrying all this around town, too, when I go out. I want to see how it holds up to prolonged wear.

So far, it's not too bad. The two kits are small and very light, as is the other stuff. The Leatherman will probably be the first thing moved out of a pocket, mainly for the weight. I'm considering getting a Juice or even Squirt, to fulfill the pliers role.

Chinese wax wood makes an excellent hiking stick. I actually like it better than my Leki's. Most martial arts stores and china town areas sell them in 6' sections for around 10-12 bucks a piece. Flexible, strong, and hard to splinter, guess thats why they use them as staffs.

The sign to my favourite trail reads 'surrender all hope, ye who enter."

Where did you get that hickory staff? Some things should be heavy; sleeping bags, booze bottles, hickory sticks.