BIG 4

[bushwalker zane]

My big 4 has finally been fully updated!

TENT - Hilleberg Soulo
PACK - Wilderness Equipment Lost World
BAG - Sea to Summit Trek TK II
MAT - Exped Synmat 7 LW

Weight, something (I'll edit it in later when I get around to weighing it all).

Expect some reviews on all these items coming your way!

[roysta]

My big four

TENT - Hilleberg Soulo 2200g
PACK - Macpac Ravine 75 (not the new one) 1800g
BAG - Marmot Plasma 15 850g
MAT - Exped Downmat 7S 640g

[north-north-west]

Yer, I have a feww changes, too:

TENT: Still Nallo2, Akto or Scarp I, depending on where and when
MAT: NeoAir AllSeason - great for snowcamping, which I've been doing a lot this winter.
PACK: Still the Load Limo, now with Photo pockets, or the Osprey Luna for when I need more space
BAG: S2S Ap II, great for winter, really warm and comparatively light (gotta love 900 loft down). Still have the Nemo for car camping and the WM Highlite for warm weather

Weight: who cares?

[Bluegum Mic]

Mines possibly changed a little too though Im really happy with the set up now so no great changes planned. The only thing I might get is the zpacks 20* sleeping bag/quilt

Tents- Aarn pacer 1 or golite shangri-la 3
Pack- osprey exos 46
Pad- neoair all seasons
Sleeping bag- hammock gear 40* top quilt with over stuff and a rab AR top bag.
Hammock- dangerbird with OES cuben tarp or TRG prospecting tarp (silnylon) and leighlo 20* underquilt. Both tarps are full 4 season size though the cuben one is cat cut vs the sil is flat edged.

[ULWalkingPhil]

My Big 4 is 2.9kg for Winter. Don't know if I can safely get it any lower. Comprises of Hammock and Cuben Tarps, top quilt and bottom quilt. My pack is a Gossamer Gear 2012 Mariposa pack, 750grams, It's a framed pack. Very comfortable to wear.
I'm very happy with my gear and contrary to what some believe it's durable. I would not recommend dropping it down a cliff. Show it some care and it will care for you. There are a few other area's I've saved weight. Just updated my cooking system, it's now under 200grams including cups and bowl. Next I need to tackle is my rain gear.

[vagrom]

Fresh Bag survey in latest Wild Mag.
20 items, 16 brands (big U.S name/s has disappeared? Western Mountaineering).
Get ready for massive Big 4 retooling. (What recession?!!! ) From $100 to $960 (Rab); mostly down but some synthetics as well! A couple of Austrian Carinthians claiming -31 deg.C. For the very "warm sleepers"!

[Wolfix]

Sadly less of a survey and more of an ad. I find no mags have true independent reviews any more. Backpackgeartest.org

[McGinnis]

Most of my gear is pretty old now, but it has all survived remarkably well. I generally use the following:

Pack: Osprey Stratos 32 - 1.3 kg (discontinued, sadly; a fantastic pack)
Shelter: HH Ultralite Backpacker - 0.9 kg
Sleeping bag: Mountain Hardwear Merced 15 - 1.2 kg
Pad: cheap Black Wolf 3/4 - 0.5 kg

Total: around 4 kg.

I've never been a gram counter, but it turns out my gear is fairly light anyway. If weather is going to be great, or I'm heading somewhere with a reliable water supply, I'll swap the Stratos out for a MacPac Tuatara 25 (0.85 kg). If the weather is really terrible, I'll swap it out for a Mountain Hardwear Diretissima (1.5 kg or so) to fit extra weather gear.

The rest stays the same year-round.
My next purchase will be a JRB UQ to replace the sleeping pad.

McG

[Onestepmore]

I've had some upgrades too from my last listing

Tent: same Aps Mountaineering Zephyr 2 - shared with hubby - he usually carries it - 2.1 kg plus footprint (not sure of weight)
Backpack: Gossamer Gear Mariposa small approx 47 L 729g
Sleeping mat: Thermarest Neo-Air XLite women's regular (168cm R value 3.9) 320g
Sleeping bag: summer - Kathmandu Comet - +7C - 610g (bought on sale), and I can add to the warmth (by 11 degrees the blurb says) if need be with a Sea to Summit Thermolite Reactor Compact Plus liner - 263g, otherwise just a silk one.
I also use a compressible drawstring Sea to Summit pillow - can't remember it's name

For longer trips or winter I have recently purchased an Aarn Natural Balance pack - small size - 65 plus 15L in the front pockets - 2.09kg
Untested in the field yet!
I have a self inflating mat that's not particularly warm nor comfortable - no brand on it, may have been a Kathmandu one?
Winter wish list - an Exped Downmat 7UL R 5.9, and I need a lighter sleeping bag - my curent winter one is an old down Paddy Pallin that weighs a massive 1.9 kg!

This may well all change if I become a hammock convert!

[wildernesswanderer]

TENT: Hilleberg Nammatj 2 GT (in the post yay) 3.6kg Shared weight, Will need to buy solo tent later
PACK: Macpac Ascent 2.1kg
BAG: S2S APII 1.3kg
MAT: Therm-a-rest Ultralight (quite a few years old) 694g

[Strider]

Tent - Kathmandu Northstar (2943g).
Bag - Macpac Escapade 700 (1562g).
Pack - Golite Quest (1410g).
Mat - Thermarest Neoair (362g)

Total weight = 6277g

Another update!

Tent - Tarptent Scarp 1 (1506g)
Bag - Macpac Escapade 700 (1562g)
Pack - Golite Quest (1410g).
Mat - Exped UL7 DownMat (653g)

Total weight = 5131g

Weight saving = 1146g

[ULWalkingPhil]

My Latest Cold Weather Big 4:

[seagullhike]

Tent- MacPac macrolite
Bag- MountainDesigns traveller700
Pac- Osprey Exos 58L or Mont Backcountry L
Mat- EPE sim (I dont know the name of the matt but it was pretty cheap and has worked for a long time)

Pretty much things I got on the cheap or where given by my old man when he got new stuff. It works for me.

[Stibb]

So I've finally got a proper kit together

Tent: TarpTent Scarp 2. It will replace our old OzTrail Outer Limit of some sort that was recently stolen right under my nose I've only pitched it in the lounge room so far but it looks great and feels very roomy! I think I'll sleep in it tonight

Pack: GoLite Quest. My old Haglöfs Sho Sho was just too miserable after 20+ years of being bashed, dragged and generally abused on various backpacking trips around the world. It was a bit too heavy for bushwalking but what a great bag it has been. Very happy with my new pack! I was a bit worried about buying without trying but it fits perfectly.

Bag: well it's a quilt really...Katabatic Alsek. Can't stand a straightjacket bag. Have a couple of MD and Katmandu synthetic bags but they are way too bulky and heavy. I LOVE my new quilt. Super light (560g), fantastic workmanship and perfect in every way. Hopefully it will be warm enough too (rated -5). Mr Stibb got a large (6'6) WM ultralight which is too narrow for me I'm glad I went the quilt way.

Pad: POE Ether Elite 3/4 + small bit of CCF. Got it cheap here and is just temporary as an XTherm is on the list for later. It's OK for me but a bit too narrow for Mr Not-so-slim-anymore. Much comfier than CCF though

Can't wait to get out and try it all. Only a few more weeks to go...

I have finally made my last upgrade

The POE Ether Elite 3/4 has been replaced with a LONG WIDE Exped UL 7 Downmat Super comfy. The only problem is that Mr Stibb was using it on our last trip otherwise he wouldn't come...So, it was a CCF and the PoS..eh, POE for me. I know what I'll get for his upcoming birthday!

I'm VERY happy with this setup and can't see any Big4 upgrades in the near future. Need new boots though...

[ryantmalone]

I better chip in with my current set up.

1. Shelter: North Face Tadpole 23 (Upgrading soon, maybe to a Tarptent. Not sure yet)
2. Sleeping Bag: Marmot Helium (Very warm sleeping bag, very roomy, very comfortable, packs down small)
3. Pack: Macpac Ascent (Most comfortable pack I have evern worn)
4. Pad: Neo Air All Season (Best pad I have used in as long as I have been around)

[ULWalkingPhil]

I still love my Hammock, but for those times when there's no trees and no insects to bite me, this will be the big 4 I will take.

Mountain Laurel Designs Cuben DuoMid Shelter: 368 grams
Therma-Rest xLite Reg sleeping pad: 357 grams
Hammock Gear 20F Burrow Top Quilt: 598 grams
Gossamer Gear Mariposa 2012 backpack: 756 grams

Total Weight: 2.08 Kg (4.58 pounds)

If there is still no trees, but expect mossies, add a further 380 grams for a Oooknest Inner for the Duomid to the above list. I'm seriously considering a MLD SuperLite Bivy to the list for those times I want to go with less weight on my back. The Superlite Bivy is 205 grams.

Other-wise it's my Hammock. I've already posted the weights for my hammock.

I used to sit here on my comfy computer chair in front of my iMac, marvelling at the weights some of you hikers posted here on the post, and here I was with my huge Oneplanet Monster backpack. 3.5kg Tent etc. Not anymore.

[Spartan]

My list comprises the following (I walk with my wife, and I carry the tent):

3 season, multi-day

i. Pack - Osprey 'Aether 70' (2.35kg)
ii. Bag - One Planet 'Sac 2' coupled with a Sea-to-Summit 'Thermolite' liner * (1.74kg combined)
iii. Tent - Mountain Hardware 'Drifter 3' plus OEM footprint (2.75kg combined)
iv. Sleeping pad - Nemo 'Astro Insulated' (0.672kg)

Total weight: 7.512kg

4 season, multi-day

i. Pack - Osprey 'Aether 85' (2.38kg)
ii. Bag - One Planet 'Bush Lite' coupled with a Sea-to-Summit 'Thermolite' liner * (1.36kg combined)
iii. Tent - Snowgum 'Caddis' plus homemade tyvek footprint (3.65kg combined)
iv. Sleeping pad - Nemo 'Astro Insulated' coupled with an eva foam mat (0.800kg)

Total weight: 8.19kg

* If the weather forecast or time of year indicates that it'll be particularly frosty, I'll pack my One Planet Gore-tex bivibag (bought in 1993) as well.

[cameron]

TENT: Hilleberg Soulo 2200g (mixture of ti/alu pegs and minus a few guy lines)
PACK: Golite Jam 460g (modified)
BAG: WM Summerlite 580g
MAT: Thermarest Prolite 3 full length 460g

TOTAL: 3700g.

Will use a different bag and mat for mid winter.

[norts]

I was just re reading this thread and my system has changed a bit
Tent: Hilleberg Akto
Pack: Macpac Ravine
Bag: Fairy Down viper - only thing that hasnt changed from my original post
Mat: Neoair All seasons

Roger

[wayno]

I was just re reading this thread and my system has changed a bit
Tent: Hilleberg Akto
Pack: Macpac Ravine
Bag: Fairy Down viper - only thing that hasnt changed from my original post
Mat: Neoair All seasons

Roger

dont you know you have to give several months written notice of intent to change the big four to this website? and the change will be considered for approval..

[dugsuth]

Pack: Black Wolf McKinley 65L - 2.5kg
Shelter: Oztrail Backpacker - 2.2kg
Bag: Roman oldie - 1.4kg
Pad: Roman Moon Mat 0.5kg

Total: 6.6kg

Hoping to change shelter to a Tarptent Moment (~1.0kg), pack to a Black Wolf B-Lite (0.8kg) and bag to a WM Summerlite (0.565kg) which should bring me down to under 3.0kg total.

Updated Big 4...

Pack: Roman B-Lite 55L - 804g
Shelter: Tarptent Rainbow - 1025g
Bag: Mont Bell UL Hugger #3 - 590g
Pad: Roman Moon Mat - 470g

Total: 2889g

Weight difference ~ 3.7kg

[creeping_moses]

Just wasting time avoiding study and came across this thread. Thought I'd add my kit. It's worth noting I do most my walking in winter and am usually just with another tall guy, so we just use one tent and buy accordingly. I also use my Lost World pack for backpacking/trekking overseas, along with some of the other gear that is more suited for high mountains.

Winter:

Tent: Hilleberg Nallo 3 (I also have a Mountain Hardwear EV3 that sees some but not much usage)
Pack: Wilderness Equipment Lost World 110L
Bag: Mountain Hardwear Wraith SL
Mat: Thermarest NeoAir

Summer:

Tent: Hilleberg Nallo 3 or Macpac microlight
Pack: One Planet Styz 75 (from quite a few years back)
Bag: Some old-school medium loft Mountain Designs thing
Mat:Thermarest NeoAir

[Giddy_up]

I'm a winter hiker so most of my gear is generous in room or comfort.
Tent: Exped Venus II Extreme
Pack: Macpac Cascade 65
Bag: Mammut Lahar 3 Season
Mat: Exped Synmat 7 UL

Total: 6.9kg

[DanShell]

We are absolute newbies at hiking and all our gear was bought when we travelled on a motorbike so I am sure it is in the heavy range and more towards summer but until we start getting more experience here is our big 4

Tent: Kathmandu Lanson Plus 2.9 Kgs
Pack: Denali Matterhorn 60 2.35 Kgs
Bag: Black Wolf 1.2kgs
Mat: DMH Outdoors long 1Kg

Total 7.45 Kgs

[radson]

Tents:

Hilleberg Nammatj 3 GT
http://www.flickr.com/photos/radson/7661855198/in/photostream
Nemo Tenshi
http://www.flickr.com/photos/radson/8171279826/in/photostream

Packs: All Cilogear including 75 l, 45 l and 15 l


Sleeping Bags; S2S Alpine III, Feathered Friends Peregrine. I might get anotehr lighter S2S bag as well

Pads: Thermarest Z-rest and Nemo Zor. A heavier Thermarest Proplus? for base camps

[nq111]

I guess updates are in order - we must all update gear far too often

Cold weather:
Tent: Hilleberg Tarra
Pack: Black Diamond Mercury 75
Bag: Marmot Plasma 15
Pad: Exped Synmat UL plus cheap CCF as back-up / extra insulation

Tropical:
Tent: Hennessey Hammock Deep Jungle + MacCat Deluxe tarp in cuben fibre
Pack: Black Diamond Mercury 75 or (if don't need to carry much water) Osprey Kestrel 38
Bag: Nothing or Mountain Designs Synthetic - rated to about 11c - used as a quilt
Pad: Nothing or various thicknesses of ccf (for the pad pocket in the hammock) from 80g to 300g. Looking to a Exped Synmat UL LW as a heavier, but more compact plus warmer option with ability to go to ground.

[wayno]

tent: macpac, olympus or microlight or hut....
Pack: black diamond: axiom 40, or infinity 60 or mercury 75
bag: exped ultralight 300, or light 500
pad: thermarest prolite short

[andrewbish]

Shelter: nylon tarp
Pack: Osprey Aether 60
Mat: Thermarest Trail
Bag: dunno - had it for years and the labels long gone

Here's an updated list from my first entry 2 years ago:

3 seasons
Tent: MYOG silnylon floorless pyramid (830g) Love it to bits, but doesn't like strong winds.
Pack: Osprey Aether 60 (2kg) Great workhorse.
Mat: Thermarest NeoAir (385g) Recent purchase. I've never slept better.
Bag: MYOG synth quilt (640g) + MYOG Tyvek bivybag (290) Great 3 season combo.

Total: 4.15kg

Winter
For winter I will be using a Macpac Minaret tunnel tent (+1.55kg) plus MYOG snow pegs(+400g) and foam mat (385)
I will also be replacing my synth quilt with a down quilt (new or MYOG, haven't decided yet), as it's a bit chilly when the temperature drops under 3-4C.

Total Winter: 6.48kg

[oyster_07]

My big-4 for three season trips:

Tent: Z-Packs 8.5' square tarp, cuben, with 14 Vango Ti stakes and all TripTease lines (180g)
Pack: Osprey Exos 46 (1101g)
Bag: Western Mountaineering Hightlite (455g) and MLD Superlight Bivy (155g)
Mat: Thermarest Neo-Air X-Lite, regular size (350g)

TOTAL: 2.24 kilograms

Other gear for other conditions upto and including four season:

TarpTent Scarp-1 (1360g)
MSR Hubba (1470g)
Exped Auriga (2600g)
Osprey Exos 34 (960g)
Osprey Atmos 50 (1420g)
Osprey Aether 70 (2140g)
Western Mountaineering Ultralite (820g)
Thermarest Neo-Air X-Therm, regular size (430g)

[Overlandman]

Just bumping the Big 4, back to the front page,
as it is an excellent forum for new members to look at & add too.
Well done Lizzy
Regards Overlandman