The old gear closets kept a cheat sheet taped inside the door: what to take, by trip type, with the closet items starred. This page is that cheat sheet, rebuilt. Use it with the borrow-first philosophy from the gear closet — own nothing until you've used it enough to know what you actually want.
Every Trip, No Exceptions
Start from the Ten Essentials: navigation, headlamp, sun protection, first aid, knife, fire, shelter, extra food, extra water, extra clothes. The list scales with the trip — on a day hike it fits in a small pack; in January it is a matter of survival.
Day Hiking
- Daypack (15–25L) • broken-in footwear • rain shell • insulation layer • 2L water • lunch plus emergency calories • the Ten Essentials
Backpacking
- Pack (50–65L) • shelter • sleeping bag rated for season • pad • stove, fuel, lighter • cook kit • water treatment • bear bag and cord • trowel and TP • camp shoes optional, morale-critical. Details and destination lists: backpacking.
Caving
- Helmet with mounted lamp • three independent light sources • synthetic layers (no cotton, ever) • sturdy boots • kneepads • abrasion-proof pack • garbage bag for the drive home • gloves. Vertical trips add harness, ascenders, descender, cowstails — after instruction only. Cave-specific rules: caving.
Climbing (Top-Rope Day)
- Harness • helmet • rock shoes • belay device and locker • chalk bag • rope and anchor kit per group • approach shoes for the descent. The leading rack comes later, with mentorship: climbing.
Paddling
- Boat with flotation • paddle • fitted PFD • helmet for whitewater • sprayskirt • immersion wear for water temperature, not air • dry bag • throw rope per boat • nose clips for pool-roll practice. River progression: kayaking.
Winter Anything
- Sleep system tested to forecast minus ten degrees • foam pad under inflatable • liquid-fuel or remote-canister stove • double fuel margin • insulated bottles • spare gloves and hat • chemical heat packs • snowshoes or skis to match snowpack. Cold craft: snow sports.
The Closet Rule
One inheritance from the tradition outranks every list: gear you have not used is gear you do not have. Pitch the tent in the yard, fire the stove on the porch, pack the pack and weigh it. The trailhead is a terrible place for a product launch.