I recently moved to Fairbanks, AK and my new job has allowed me to acquire the funds to finally take up a hobby i've only dipped my feet into. BACKPACKING! I looking for any advice or suggestions for gear you guys love. Things like packs, tents, sleeping bags and really anything you feel like mentioning. I have gone to my local shop and had a great time speaking with a worker there who gave me great advice. I walked around with a weighted Osprey Aether that felt very comfortable but have not yet made my mind up. This guy was working up the MSR "hubba hubba 2" tent which was $450 so i wanted to keep looking (but it seemed the lightest and best out of all he showed me). I've heard great things on the Patagonia Capilene 4 under layers for moderately cold weather. The RAB xenon rain jacket was said to be great too but I've yet to find either of these items in town to try on and see for myself. Just so you guys know i plan to do most of my backpacking in the summer with some shorter trips (1-3 days) in the fall and spring. One more specific question I have is on headlamps. I purchased a 160V Black Diamond headlamp. Is 160V enough? I know obviously the more volts the brighter and further you can see etc. but was is really needed from you veterans experiences. Thanks for the time guys I really do appreciate it! Happy travels.

check out the gear lists on the homepage of this site...

If you are going to spend money on one item, spend it on a good sleeping bag (or quilt). Western mountaineering and feathered friends are great sleeping bag companies many people like. I went with a quilt from enlightened equipment and have been extremely happy with it. There are a few other cottages companies making quilts.

Advice for a particular pack is not worthwhile to you because you won't have the same body type as the person giving you advice. Packs are all about fit, fit and fit. How the pack fits you. How the pack fits your gear, and how the pack fits you with your gear.

See the first paragraph of my response to your "gear list" post.

You don't have to max out your credit card and break the bank unless you want to! Take a look at these options (note, that they are for the lower 48, so you'll need additional layers. and probably more $$$):
The$300 Gear Challenge (recent, so up-to-date)
Beginners Guide/Quality Gear on the Cheap
Dirtbagging and Deal Shopping

Choosing gear and clothes or recommending them is a complex task. There is a reason your average REI is the size of a supermarket and yet doesn't come close to carrying everything available-there are dozens of manufacturers and hundreds of choices for almost everything you could want, from cheap mass market products to high end specialty products made by small companies. You can spend anywhere from $40 to $1000 on a sleeping bag for example.

I've collected my small set of gear and clothes over many years and I couldn't begin to tell you what to buy. I could tell you what I would buy, but that's not the same thing. Before you buy anything more, read as much as you can, books like The Complete Walker. Then, start by listing what you need, not by brand, but by item. Then start looking at brands. Set a budget and prioritize what is most important to you. Don't let anyone in a shop talk you into anything until you do this. Otherwise you may wind up with things that you don't need or don't work together. Right now a pack is the last thing you need. Wait till you have what you intend to carry then get a pack to hold it all.

I will recommend Capilene because I use it, but 4 is expedition weight for cold weather, I think it's too heavy for summer. Other people will recommend Merino wool. Both have their advantages, but I like what I have and have had my set for years.