"I know that I want to do more outdoors stuff. I plan to 3-season backpack in the Sierra..."
The thing is, good backpacking equipment can get expensive, but lasts...Cheap stuff works too, for a while... but doesn't last.
Great gear (read light, well-made, works well) and you are confident - styling!...
Cheap gear...well, not so much.
If long term use anticipated - always buy the best that you can afford, first time around.
A good rule to follow is keep your Big 5 items - Tent, pack, bag, pad, stove - as close to 10 pounds (or less) for summer High Sierra, and the rest will take care of itself.
If I was buying everything new, going Sierra high, 3-season, and had the available cash to spend on anything I wanted today...
Figure ~$2,000 - and that's "on sale"/ careful shopping, (or more), especially if you buy cheap first, realize why that was a bad decision, then rebuy the good stuff again later on...
(FYI, this is how we all did it.)
Western Mountaineering sleeping bag - I carry the Badger.
Tarptent - Rainbow?
Pad - Prolite+ short -
Backpack - McHale or? (I carry an older Gregory Deva...size 60)...bottom line whatever backpack selected: contains all gear needed, fits you best, holds the weight comfortably all day, and hopefully, is the lightest..
MSR Windpro or other remote canister stove...I actually cook.
YMMV.
Bearikade Weekender...
Water treatment ?
fishing gear?
Waterproof rain shell?
fleece?
Down vest? (again WM.)
Boots/trail runners?
Headlamp?
Tilley?
Sun glasses?
...adds up quick.
Always think fit first, weight a close second, good quality/durability third,, and then cost last.
Edited 3 time(s). Last edit at 10/18/2014 12:47PM by markskor.