Hey everyone,

Heading out to the Tour Du Mont Blanc (TMB) a 110 mile hike in the swiss alps in 2 weeks. I've put together a first run at a gear list but am having a hard time with a few items. Base Weight is currently estimated around 15.5 lbs but I'm open to changes on my list. Here's some questions I was hoping to get help with:

Gear List here: https://lighterpack.com/r/ft4ut4

- Sleeping Pad: I have a Thermarest Ridgerest (14oz) but am considering upgrading for this trip with a real air mattress. I'm deciding between the neo air xlite (12oz; used it once and liked it but it was loud when you move), rei flash (16oz; used it and liked it), Klymit static (18oz), and thermarest prolite (18oz). Any ideas on which one to pick or other alternatives. I'd like to spend less than $100 ideally (or way less)

- Sleeping Bag: Looking at the mountain hardwear line as then my girlfriend and I can zip together. Need a long. There's a few between 1-2.5lbs that look promising with a 32 degree rating; any recommendations?

- Dry Bags: looking at upgrading as the bags I use are very low quality. Was looking at the Ultra Sil Sea to Summit bags; I think three would do for storing clothes (8L), electronics (4L), and hygiene/first aid/kitchen (8L). Based on my gear does that seem sufficient?

- Puffy Coat: if you've done the TMB, do you think I need one? Mine is about 11 ounces. It's about 70highs and 50 lows right now.

- Long Underwear bottoms: do I need them

- Cook set: Do I need to bring one? We plan on sleeping in a tent part of the time but also in refuges sometimes.

- Voltage converter: Anyone aware of a lightweight one? The only ones I found are huge power adaptors.

- Any other thoughts or helpful ideas/gear changes?

Thanks!

An awful lot of your questions really have more to do with comfort that survival. Do you need a puffy? Are you generally warmer or colder than other people who hike?

Long underwear? maybe only to wear in your nice new sleeping bag to help keep it clean.

Cook kit? If you are going to cook, you need one. Unless you are planning to beg/borrow from other hikers from time to time?

Now about the power adapter: can you explain what this is for? I travel in Europe extensively. I only ever take my tiny little adaptor plug, that allows me to plug my Droid and Nook right into any European outlet (except in the UK--they have a different outlet system.) My adaptor just turns the usual US two rectangular prongs in to the Euro two round prongs plug. I don't think you need anything else.

There. I saved you at least a pound!

At 50F, a puffy is nice, especially with any wind. I'd use it for a pillow, too. I love my neo-air, but they are far beyond what you wish to spend. With any inflatable, I'd use straps to hold your pads together, as they will migrate when sleeping with combined bags, even in the confines of the Fly Creek. BTDT, as we do the same with same gear. A stove and minimalist cook set is a must for me for coffee and to enjoy the trail a bit more. Just me, but I enjoy making meals on the trail and as stated, looking out over the mountains with my morning coffee in hand. I use the StoS sil bags and like them. I'd bring a small tarp, too, or put your packs in the trash bags. There's no room in the FC2 for packs, unless you use them as part of your pad/sleep system and if you can avoid getting the straps of your pack wet, I would. They chafe pretty badly when wet. I used a similar GG pack for 5 years. I don't know how much you've used the FC2, but it helps to guy the sides and rear out as far and high as possible to reduce condensation. You may have a high and dry trip, you may not. I use a small square of Tyvek in the vestibule of the FC. Helps from bringing dirt in and helps from getting muddy/wet/dirty crawling out. I give the Sawyer filter 5 stars.

Thanks Bluefish and Blazacomm for the comments very helpful.

I agree, some of my questions are based on comfort but I also was hoping to hear from someone who hiked the TMB if they needed a cookset, puffy coat, or if there were frequent enough refuges to eat at for meals (even if you didn't stay there for the night).

I'm shocked that my bag has ballooned to 18lbs base weight! (I forgot to include my backpack weight and a few other things before).

Any other thoughts on how I could reduce weight; is there an item(s) on here that are much higher than the industry standard or other ways I could cut down weight? There's a few comfort items i'm considering taking off including the speaker and cord (about 11oz) and the camp shoes (12 oz because i have trail runners), and maybe the long sleeve camping shirt (7.8oz), and the inflatable light (3 oz) to get down to about 16lbs. Any other thoughts?

I think you have found what it took me a long time to figure out with backpacking. There are two ways to reduce pack weight: 1) Buying things with the words like cuben, titaniun, and carbon fiber in the description and 2) the cheaper (and more effective way) is to just leave stuff home!