I'm regularly asked what gear I carry when out hiking. I tell them that every trip is different and that I rarely carry the same gear list twice. The list here is my generic starting point when choosing gear for my 2012 hikes. It's a good basic list that allows me to cope with most conditions in the UK and around the world. From this I will mix and match depending on the location, time of year, and my knowledge of that area.
What I ALWAYS try and do is keep my baseweight below 4kg for any long hikes. If its over, even by 1g, then I consider that a failure! Occasionally, certain sections of a hike might need specialised equipment such as crampons, ice axe or even an umbrella for the desert, so it's ok to go over the limit for that brief period. To some 4 kg will seem quite high and if you're hiking in a familiar location or over a shorter period then it's easy to go lower. On shorter hikes my baseweight would be nearer 2kg. when thru-hiking it's much harder, you will need kit that can cope with more varied weather and often hikes will be in unfamiliar environments. Comfort is also much more important and a good nights sleep should not be underestimated! Add to that extras like chargers, spare batteries, shaving kit, guide books etc and the weight really starts to add up.
