Need help with some back country gear

[Lungbuster]

So I am looking to do some back country hiking/hunting hopefully the year after next. I would like to see more of what this state has to offer. I need an idea of some gear to get and about how much. I figure I can do a couple 2 mile hikes near me and figure out the essentials, plus a year to get in shape to do so. I want to try and stay around 3k and under preferably. Any ideas/checklist would be appreciated

[NWWA Hunter]

Boots. Kennetrek, schnees, hanawag are tops. I think that good boots, insoles, and high quality socks are a great place to start

[Skyvalhunter]

Are you talking tent, rifle, clothes, sleeping bag?

[fillthefreezer]

time of year and area will also be helpful in recommendations.


sleeping bag and pad
shelter
pack
boots clothing

you're gonna pay in the backpacking gear world, in weight or dough

[300rum]

There is a gear list somewhere on here. 

[kentrek]

go on http://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-bin/backpackinglight/forums/index.html

an do some exploring..they have an entire thread to gear lists

[Hunter mike]

I started this thread a while back:

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,97940.0.html


It really covers pretty much everything you need to know gear-wise.  There are also some recent threads for packs, food, and sleeping bags.  Really, if you read all of the threads in the first 3-4 pages of this forum section you'll probably have a bigger wish list of gear than you can compile in a lifetime

Since it looks like you have a year or 2, take your time getting the best gear you can afford.  You can get out there on the cheap though - some guys make it seem like you need to be sponsored by Kifaru or something...

I watched for deals on craigslist and ebay for lots of stuff.  Get really good clothing (think quality first - get a mountaineering brand if you can't afford the high-end camo).  I kind of did whatever I could to get out there and it worked out fine.  I'll upgrade a lot of the stuff as time goes on, but my setup is functional...

[jackelope]

You can do a lot with $3k
 

[Hunter mike]

 

I didn't even have a suitable rifle to start, so I spent about $1500 including a new rifle...  I'll have some swank gear by the time I double my investment...

[7mag.]

You should spend around $1000-1500 on boots and a pack (both very important to not skimp on), about $250 on a sleeping bag, at least $100 on a pad, $100 on a cooking system, shelters are all over the place on price. Clothing is preference, I like some technical clothes for the early season and wool for the late season (no cotton). I hope you have a rifle already, and don't forget a water filter, should be around $50-100. I hope you already have optics, and a light weight tripod can be several hundred dollars if you have a spotter (which you should).

This is of course, if you buy new. I have found some great deals on backpacking forums. I got an $850 pack for $400, and I couldn't tell it had ever been used. Shelters can be found cheap too. Watch Steep and Cheap and Sierra Trading post for deals. If you take your time and shop around, you can find some pretty great bargains. Watch GoLite all summer, because they have some killer deals, like 50% off, and they make great gear.

[Lungbuster]

Weapons I have. Its every thing else I don't, well light enough to pack in at least. I'm thinking at least a three season tent for starters and a good solid, durable pack. I have a pack frame but it is not the most comfortable with a heavy load. It kills my neck. Going to stick to clothing that is synthetic or fleece.
I have not decided if I want to go in during archery or during modern yet, but a lot of summer scouting trips. I know I want to stay around 40lbs before adding food and try staying at 55-60 max. My rifle is right around 7.5 and my bow is around 5.
I have been shopping around and its kinda hard going from website to website figuring weights, reading reviews etc. I tend to look at the negative reviews first to see what the worst is that can happen. I'm looking for what i will need to camp there. So no optics weapons things like that. The spotting scope and toys are on a whole other budget.
Also has anyone ever used the life saver water purifying bottle? The concept is cool, but they are spendy. I don't mind spending money on quality gear but don want to go too outrageous.

[300rum]

Here is some of the gear that I have and trust 100% and the prices that I can remember.

Stove: MSR Pocket Rocket $40.  I have had a couple other stoves and I don't think the Pocket Rocket can be beat for weight/price/durability.   I took a 4oz can of fuel and it lasted 6 days in the Idaho backcountry for Mountain House Breakfast/Diner and 2-3 cups of coffee/day.  I also heated extra water a couple of times and should say I used a fire to supplement the fuel can.  I had a little bit of fuel left when we headed down the mountain. Being able to take only one can of fuel saves a bit of weight. 

Kettle:  Stoic Titanium Kettle $20.  Has been on sale at Backcountry.com.  Excellent kettle with a lid and is the perfect size for heating water for mountain house/Starbucks Via/Snow/Tea, all of which I have done or had to do.  The only thing I would change is that I wish they put witness marks on the inside and outside to show how much liquid you have, a sharpie on the outside fixes this easily though.  This is by far the cheapest, well built, functional Titanium kettle I have found.

Water Purification:  Sawyer Squeeze system $40.  Weighs 3oz, it is extremely small/light and easy to use.  The one drawback is that it takes a bit of time to filter large volume's compared to some systems but that's outweighed by the weight savings, cost and the ability to use the filter bags to store water.  I took the large bladder with me and it saved us as it carries 64oz and our water chance was a little over a 1/4 away from camp straight up/down hill.  It is imperative, especially in the early season (including October) to have some sort of water storage capability.  I would go with nothing less than a 96oz hydration system and at least 64oz storage.  Even with this setup (and some guys on horseback who gave us 2 milk jugs for water) we had to go for water every day.  I really underestimated our need for water but it worked out o.k.     

As far as clothes go, I am a wool junkie.  The only extra clothes that I took were an extra pair of wool socks and a pair of "ankle" socks for night.  This is the only way I could keep it under 60pnds.  With wool, I don't really need the extra clothes anyway.  Yeah, it sucks to put wet wool pants on in the a.m. but for the most part, if you can have a fire at night they will dry out pretty good and it beats packing extra clothes up the hill.  At night I would change into the dry "ankle" socks and dry out the pair I just took off by putting them in my bag.

I have tried the synthetics UA baselayers and such and I am of the opinion that Merino Wool can not be beat.  I am amazed as it is one of the few things that actually lives up to its reputation.  It doesn't stink like the synthetics, even after wearing it for 6 days straight.  It drys out about as fast as you can get it to dry out and it is very warm.  I like Smartwool brand and use their micro weight short sleeve T-shirt and on top of that their medium weight long sleeve T-shirt with the zipper on the neckline.  On top of that I have a military wool button up shirt that is heavy weight and can be used for a light jacket or a shirt.  I spent $8 for this shirt and in cold weather it is worth a million.  On top of the wool shirt I have a fleece jacket, although the it is primarily used for a "camp jacket".  I put my fork in the pocket because there is nothing worse than having to hunt for your fork when you are hungry!  It seems those forks have legs.  It also serves as my pillow. 

On top of all of this I wear a wool coat, parka style, not a jacket.  With everything under this coat I can spend the night in the woods soaked and make it.  The last layer is a Mad Dog packable rain jacket with a hood.  It is the only thing that I carry that has a hood and it folds into itself.  It is a little heavy but in a Western Washington type downpour it is a must have.

Watch out.  It is fun and addicting! 

[fillthefreezer]

i think similar to 300rum but i would get the sawyer inline instead of squeeze and i prefer puffy insulating layers over my merino base layers with hardshell outers.
montbell, kifaru, feathered friends, western mountaneering, nanatuk, golite for sleeping bags
save yourself buying 27 different packs and just buy a kifaru
shelter is very much preference, lots of options
good boots like hanwag, kenetrek, lowa, asolo, scarpa, zamberlan that fit YOUR feet
i have a big agnes qcore which is amazing to sleep on but heavy and a zlite if im saving weight

[7mag.]

300rum and FTF make good points. I wasn't going to mention brand names, but FTF is spot on. Also, watch your pack weight closely. Remember, water wieghs a lot, and you need a lot of it. I've had my pack weight looking pretty good, and then after adding my rifle, food and water, I was over 70 lbs. Be very selective on the items you take, and try and bring items that do more than one function, if possible.

[JLS]

You can do a lot with $3k
 

No kidding. 

I got a Marmot Sawtooth 15 degree bag for $160.  Big Agnes IAC Pad on sale for $55.  Showroom return Mystery Ranch pack for 15% off.  Lowa Boots for $225.  I buy wool socks on sale from Sierra Trading Post.  All of my clothes (mostly Sitka, some wool for late season) I've bought at about 50% off.

The only thing I hunt with that I paid full price for was a pair of Zeiss classic 10x40 binos that I bought 15 years ago.

Go to one of REI's garage sales.