Overnight Large Format Backpacking Checklist (2 or more days)

 

This is intended as a list for me personally and not recommended or offered as advice.  Given the weight of the photo gear I am carrying at 25-31 lbs, certain amenities like a garden shovel (aka trowel) or lip balm with sunscreen, are dropped from the list.   This doesn’t relieve me of the responsibilities of sanitary behavior (a tent stake or folding saw might double as a shovel) or from wanting to keep my lips from getting fried (use the sunscreen instead).  Just incidentally, I started with REI’s backpacking checklist, and have made some modifications (please see their list if you want to know what they think is important).

I have several different systems, 4x5 with 6x9cm and 4x5 Polaroid ability, 35mm (one of a Canon T70, F1N, AE-1, or FT-b), 21.6mm digital (a 35mm Digital SLR with a 1.6 factor -- a Canon D20), a 6x6cm, a 4x4cm on 127 film, a Polaroid M-60, and a Polaroid SX-70.

For Lighting there are three, continous tungten, A Vivitar Flash, and that built in flash for the D-20.

For the most part this reduces to 4 systems for serious pictures, 4x5, 6 by x, 35mm, and digital. While traveling I usually take a flash -- Studio lighting stays indoors. For filters I use a variety -- but for the most part, I have settled on 77mm as the size of chioce.

There is a core group of things I always take:

First aid kit
Gps
Cell phone
Light meter




Digital

Canon 20D
Zoom Lens 17-85mm EF IS AF
Flash Card
Battery Charger
2 Batteries
AA Battery Pack
Card reader for Computer
Dell Desktop and ac adapter
Keyboard and mouse
Cable for tv viewing
Cable for camera to usb
Strap
Hand Strap
Battery pack and handle attachment
Filters

 

Printable Version

Weight Approximations

 

Stuff	Weight in lbs.	Grams
Lenses for 4x5	5
Schneider 210mm Symmar-S f5.6 MC
Schneider  Symmar-S 135mm f5.6 MC
Schneider 90mm Angulon
Rodenstock 55mm APO-Grandagon MC
Filters	1
Tiffen Red 25 77mm
Tiffen 82A 77mm
Tiffen 81A 77mm
Tiffen 812 77mm
B+W Linear Polarizer 77mm
B+W Red 25 MC 77mm
B+W Red 29 MC 77mm
B+W Yellow 023 MC  77mm
Promaster (Hoya) Circular Polarizer 77mm
Promaster )(Hoya) R2 58 mm
Adapter rings 58-77mm
Adapter rings 49-77mm
Adapter rings 67-77mm
Ready Load Holder
Ready Load Film in TMX-100 E100EPP E100GX RVP and PROVIA	3
20 film holders.	2
Dark bag	.5
2 boxes film.	2
Darkcloth	1 lb 6.4 oz	612
Tent	9.5	4275
Packs (2)	6	2700
Sleeping bag	3	1350
First Aid, GPS, Head lamp and flashlight	2	900
Roll Film (Graphic 23, 120,  6x9) back	0 lb 14.3 oz	404 g
6 rolls 120 film
Polaroid back	1 lb 11.2 oz	770 g
Polaroid Film
Accessories, loupes, spares, gloves, monocular, hat	3	1350
Sleeping pad	.5	225
T70 35mm camera and 55mm lens with 10 rolls film	3	1350
Food + water pot for 2 days	3	1350
Camera	4.5	2025
Tripod and Head	6 lbs 8 oz	2925
Clothing	5	4
Toiletries	1	0
Water	4	2
Total/Cameras Only ( plus first aid and water)	62.25/43.75	43/27

 

The 10+ Essentials

 

Trip Plan (left with a responsible friend)

Map of area (in waterproof case)

Drinking water

Compass

Food

Headlamp

extra batteries/bulbs (AAA)

Flashlight

extra batteries/bulbs (Lithium)

First-aid kit (very small)

         Deet

                  Insect repellent with suncreen

         Rubber Gloves  (protect yourself – Make large bandages, splints, etc)

         Advil (My aching back)

         Bandaids^tm  ( oh, you know)

         2 Clean Bandannas  (ankle support, splints, bandages)

         Needle (for slivers – should be one in the sewing kit)

Sunglasses (with retaining strap)

magnifier – Starts a fire -- allows me to see things close

Pocket knife and/or

Folding saw

Butane lighter

Matches (in waterproof container)

Firestarter

 

Hiking Clothing

 

Quick-drying pants/shorts

Fleece jacket or wool sweater

Short-sleeved shirts

Wicking long underwear (top/bottoms)

Long-sleeved shirts

Regular underwear

Warm pants (fleece or wool)

Fleece or wool vest

 

Outerwear

 

Raincoat

Rain Pants 

Fleece or wool gloves/mittens

Wide-brimmed rain/sun hat

Waterproof gloves/overmitts (optional)

Warm hat (fleece or wool)

Bandanna (to blow your nose, the Einstien hat, dust mask)

 

Footwear

 

Hiking socks

100-foot accessory cord (extra laces)

Wicking liner

Gaiters

Hiking boots

 

Camping Gear

 

Backpack

Day/summit pack

Pack cover

Stove (optional)

Fuel

Funnel

Matches

Lighter

Tent, tarp or bivy sack

         Fly

         Tarp

         Stakes

Repair/sewing kit 

Sleeping bag (in waterproof stuff sack)

Sleeping pad

Cook set  (optional)

         dish

         Cooking/eating utensils

         Drinking cup (not optional)

         Coffee Pot (not optional)

Biodegradable soap

Pot scrubber (Sponge with Scotchbrite^tm)

Towel

Plastic garbage bags

Ziploc^tm bags

Water filter/purifier (Optional)

Water-purification tablets (Optional)

Extra nylon stuff sacks (2)

Water bottles (3-4)

Collapsible water container

Lantern

 

Personal Items

 

Toilet paper

Toothbrush

Toothpaste

Small bath towel

Brush/comb

Photo ID

 

Other/Extras (optional – in my humble opinion)

 

Binoculars  (a nice thing – I carry a monocular that I can close in my fist attached on a short cord to my pack) 

Field guides (do this at home, take notes and drawings -- pictures)

Money (oh – how to spend it? – I remember a few times I wish I could get a cab home)

Camping/fire permits, if needed

Watch/alarm clock (If you must -- oh – there is some way to tell direction with a watch and a map – and the sun… but you can float a needle in a cup of water with toilet paper and learn the same thing)

Fishing license (if you’re fishing)

Weather radio (this could be useful – especially if you’re in canyons prone to flash floods)

Hiking poles (hiking poles might be handy in difficult terrain – or if you’re attacked.  If it’s too difficult you will need to put the poles away and use your hands. See next item)

Leather Gloves (depending on terrain)

GPS

Cell phone (If you must)    

 

Camera 4 x 5”-- 23 lbs

 

Notebook

Pencil

Waterproof marker

Graflex 7.5 lbs

Tripod  5 lbs

Head

Lens hood 

Loaded Film holders 10-20 each

         Kodak E100VS                         10 ea

         Fuji Velvia 100F                        10 ea

Fuji Velvia RVP 50 asa               10 ea

         Kodak E100G or GX or SW         10 ea

         Fuji Provia 100F                       10 ea

Film cases

Polaroid 545 back

Polaroid 54 film

Kitchen Timer

Thermometer

Roll Film back  (optional) 

120 Film 

Loupe

Spare loupe

Spare Parts

Small screwdriver set

Ground Glass

Knobs

Light Meter

Battery spare 9v

Dark cloth

Lens cases

55mm

90 mm

135 mm

150/260 mm

180 mm

210 mm

Filter Set

         Tiffen 81a

         Tiffen 812

         Tiffen 80a

         B+W Linear Polarizer

         ND-1

         UV

Shower cap

Flash

Flash cord

Umbrella

 

Camera – 35mm – 3 lbs

 

Canon T-70

10 rolls of 35mm film – 2 ea of E100VS, Fuji Velvia, E100G or GX, E200 (or pushing), Fuji Provia 100F

Canon FD 55mm f1.2 lens

UV Filter

Tiffen 812 Filter

Circular Polarizing Filter

81A Filter 

80A Filter

ND Filter