"Perfect" Gear

The question was raise on Backpacker.com's gear forum if people owned any perfect gear. Below is my list of "perfect", and a longer list of near perfect gear. Please keep in mind that "perfect" is in the eye of the beholder. What is "perfect" for me might be perfectly wrong for you. Also know that over time what I might consider "perfect" can change as new experiences are gained or expectations are revisited. This means that over time items might fall off the list and items that I once didn't like become "perfect" in my eyes. Related articles include bacpacking.net top 5 items, backpackinglight.com staff's picks in 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 and backpacker.com Editors Choice. If you have found something that is perfect, especially if it is on my Looking for Perfection sublist please send me mail. I might try it out and put it on my list, or add it to the Perfect for Others section at the end of this document. Further discussions about issues related to each of these items can be found in my Recommended Outdoor Gear pages.

Gossamer Gear Gorilla: A perfect size pack for most of my trips and handles my standard 15-25 lbs comfortably. The use of light weight stays and a foam sit pad provides excellent carry comfort. The pack is easy to use and made from a fairly durable material. The foam back pad can do double duty as a sit pad. You can strip the pack down if you want something more minimal (I don't do this). I found the hip belt is a good match for the pack, but I have wondered if it would be even more comfortable using the hip belt from the Vapor Trail.
Nunatak Ghost Blanket: for three season sleeping. Light weight. Not too hot in warm weather because it's easy to ventilate. Good down to 30F wearing light base + a warm hat. Warm enough for year round use in the sierras when combined with high loft insulating garments. I have a second version which has 5 inch between the baffles and the less developed foot box. While this won't be as warm as the Arc line, it's easier to ventilate which I prefer on most three season trips.
Western Mountaineering Sleeping Bags: Very high quality down sleeping bags. Everyone I know who has a WM sleeping bag has been delighted. I have always been amazing how quickly WM bags puff up and how I never get cold spots. The Versalite is a light and warm sleeping bag with a great hood, the right dimensions for me, and a zipper that doesn't jam. No side baffles so I can shift the down around to control how much insulation is on top. The Versalite is my winter sleeping bag, mostly used when the temperatures are between -20F and 20F though I have used in warmer temperatures. It's also my wife's 3-season bag when I am using my quilt. People who are a bit more narrow than my 5'10" 170-190lbs should look at the Ultralite or the Summerlite. More girth should look at the Alpinlite.. but whatever you choose, you won't go wrong.
Therm-a-rest NeoAir: 14oz of sleeping comfort for three season California backpacking. I have been comfortable down to 35F. Maybe will be able to go lower... haven't tried it yet. I can combine with torso pad in Gorilla for extra cold nights so I should be in great shape except on winter trips where this pad combined with a foam pad is fine in the sierras.
UL Caldera Cone, GramCracker Stove, MLD 850ml Pot, Snow Peak HotLips Cooking using esbits: Light weight, extremely easy to use, works well in wind, with predictable fuel use. The UL Caldera Cone is not quite as fuel efficient as the full size Caldera Cone but can pack into the stove making it more compact and removes the need for a protective case. If you want more economic fuel use the alcohol stove that comes with the Caldera. Slightly larger system is available in titanium as the Ti Tri which can also be used for wood fires. The MLD is a perfect size for my solo trips when I cook in my pot.
REI/Evernew Nonstick Titanium 0.9 L pot: Durable, light weight, perfect size for a solo packer who needs a good bit of water or a couple that is cooking in freezer bags. Fold away handles stay cool enough to pick up in bare hands after the pot has been on a stove for an extended time. Wide bottom is more fuel efficient than taller & narrower pots I have tried. Anti-stick coating has been effective and seem to be reasonably durable. Just the right size to hold a canister or alcohol stove, fuel for 5 days, and utensils. The 1.3L pot is a great size when cooking for two or when boiling water with four people to cook in freezer bags. Evernew makes are number of other wide bottom titanium pots which are equally attractive. Switched to MLD 850 because it worked with the UL Caldera and was narrow enough to drink from so I could do away with my tea cup.
Platypus BigZip SL Hydration System: I find that I am more consistent in drinking when I use a hydration system. The BigZip is lighter than most other hydration systems, while still having a large opening which makes filling it easier. The new zip top is much easier and more reliable to close than the first generation platypus zip lock containers. The quick release value works well making it possible for me quick switch from hydration bladder to the "dirty" bag in a gravity filter system which I am using a combination of filtering and chemicals.
Gossamer Gear.com Lightrek4 Trekking Poles: 3.9oz / pole for a stiff, carbon fiber hiking pole with a good quality grip. Adjustable between 90-140cm so it works well with numerous shelters. The adjustment systems seems less prone to jamming or slipping that any other poles I have used.
Inov-8 310 Flyroc shoes (my review): Light trail runners with a very aggressive and grippy sole. Extremely flexible which takes some getting used to but then is was very comfortable for me, resulting in a radical drop in blisters and an end to my knee pain. The only downside is they wear out after around 400 miles... but I have decided that is the cost of wearing light weight shoes that have superior comfort for me.
Injinji Tetratsok: Socks made with toes. I prefer the nu-wool line of these socks because they are a bit more cushioning that the coolmax. Combined with my Inov-8 Flyroc 310 I can go days with no blisters! This is a first for me. These socks took some getting used to. The first several times I wore them I was very aware that the socks were between my toes and it drove me crazy... but after a number of days wearing these socks around town, and a number of days on the trail I stopped noticing them after the first 30 minutes or so.
Patagonia R1 Hoody: This is a great mid-layer (or extra heavy base) for people engaging in high aerobic act ivies in the winter. Great when combined with the Rab Alpine Pull-on.
Montbell Thermawrap Vest: Moderate insulation layer with a micro fleece liner collar. Just 5oz and very compressible. Gives good freedom of movement while keeping my core warm. When combined with a medium weight base, wind shirt and a warm hat keeps me adequately warm down to around 20F if I am moderately active, and good to 30F if I am sitting. Many people might want something warmer since the Thermawrap is somewhere between a 100-200wt fleece. I am not using the Thermawrap Vest anymore. After five years of use the Thermawrap lost enough loft that it needed to be replaced. I would have purchased another Thermawrap but I had been given a WM Flash Vest which is working well.
Sunday Afternoon Adventure Hat: Sun protection while keeping your head as cool as possible. Brim stays stiff when wet and dries quickly. Only downsides are that and the huge visor cuts down a bit of my field of vision and that it can look a bit "geeky" on some people. I can't imagine a hat this effective not being a bit strange looking.
Polar Buff: I can configure the Buff to suit my needs. In warmer conditions I double the fleece section over my ears with just the light polyester fabric over the top of my head to avoid overheating. When the temperature is down around freezing I reconfigure the buff so the fleece covers all of my head for some extra warmth. When it gets really cold the buff becomes a neck gaiter / face mask and I use another hat to keep my head warm.
Zebralight H51 Headlamp: For a do everything headlamp which is also comfortable to hold in the hand. Fairly light and compact at 1.2oz (3.5oz with battery and headband) this headlamp that runs on a single AA batteries. It has 6 light levels from with good quality regulation (lumens/time: 0.2/19 days, 2.5/3 days, 8/39h , 30/12h, 100/2h, 200/55min) The beam has a hot spot with enough throw for way finding but also has enough spill to be useful for around the camp.
iTP Light A3 EOS Upgrade Edition. This light weights in at just .6oz (18grams) for the flashlight and a AAA lithium battery. This light has good regulation and a nice range of brightness settings (in lumens: 1.5 for 50h, 18 for 4h 80 for 55min). If the Zebralight is too heavy for you, check this light out. I can't imagine going back to a button light after using this light.

Runner Up: Packs

Granite Gear Vapor Trail (my review): The most comfortable pack I have found for carrying 25lbs or less when I have it perfectly adjusted. I have forgotten I was wearing this pack with 22lb loads. It would be perfect if it's side pockets were more usable, the extension collar was a bit shorter, the back panel and shoulder straps was a bit longer (for me). After six years as my go to pack, it's been replaced by the Gossamer Gear Gorilla.
Osprey Aether 60 (my review) pre-2006: This is the best pack IMHO for transitioning from heavy-weight to light weight packing. The strait-jacket compression systems holds a wide variety of loads effectively. The suspension is one of the most comfortable I have used for less than 40lbs. It would be perfect if it didn't squeak, wasn't quite so tall, and was lighter.

Runner Up: Shelters

ZPacks Hexamid (my review): Just starting using it but so far really great for three season California weather. The Hexamid weights 8.3oz, a total of 13oz including stakes and ground cloth for a spacious, bug free space. My only complaint is that the "doorway" is a bit too low so I often brush against it when going in and out the door. After some more use this might become perfect for me.
Shelters by Henry Shires. Light weight, easy to set up, good ventilation, provides good protection from rain, reasonably resistant to condensation, provides protection from insects, survive fairly strong winds provided you stake them down well, and they have pretty lines. Every commercial design produced by Henry has been amazing. He releases a product, I think "this is great, I can't imagine a better compromise between weight and function" and then a year later a new product comes out which is just as good but services a different application, or is overall superior.
A16 bug bivy (archive of A16 review): Light weight bug protection with room around the head to move around. Makes use of sleeping bag to protect the lower body which minimizes weight and size. Free standing system makes it easy to use in a variety of conditions. Would be perfect is it was a bit more compact when packing (and/or it could miraculously provide a larger bug free space).
Pyramid Tarps. Fast and easy setup. Light weight when made from Cuben, Sil-Nylon, or Spinnaker cloth. Highly versatile. Can be used year round including winter snow. Only downside is that the slope side means that you don't get to take advantage of the full footprint because there isn't much headroom near the edges unless pitch fairly high off ground. I like the cubins pyramid tarps made by MLD the best. Oware, GoLite, and several other companies make good pyramids as well.

Runner Up: Sleeping Systems

BA insulated air core mummy sleeping pad & pacific outdoors insulated air mattresses: Super comfortable to sleep on, warm enough for 20F temperatures, reasonably compact, reasonable weight. Available in a petite length to save weight. Some people have reported durability issues, but we have had only one easily patched hole between 2003-2009. Replaced in 2010 by a NeoAir.

Runner Up: Clothing

Cloudveil Four Shadows Beanie: Wonderful hat in cool. incidental conditions (30-50F). Protections without being too warm and it is very breathable. Doesn't interfere with hearing. Would be perfect if I could get it in a slightly smaller size. Use it as a "base layer" under an insulated hat or hood in colder conditions.
Patagonia R.5 Zipper Pullover Top: For high aerobic activities in the winter. Medium-to-heavy base layer made from PowerDry. Very comfortable, extra trunk length so it stays tucked in, moves moisture really. Zipper for good venting. In theory it would be even better with X-static for odor control, but I have not had significant problem with odor on winter trips. Patagonia Capline 4 is similar, but a bit heavier and feels more scratchy that the R.5.
Rab Alpine Pull-on: 9oz soft shell made from Pertex Equilibrium. A great softshell for use in the winter. Sheds snow like a champ. Mostly block wind, but air permeable enough to maximize breathability. Nice hood with wire & foam stiffener. Only down side is that the sleeves only have elastic rather that loop and hook so it doesn't seal as well as the Vapour, nor is it as easy to push up over the elbows when I want to maximize ventilation. Great to combine with a Patagonia R.5 or R1 hoody.
Rab Vapour-Rise Smock: Great all around jacket with fold away hood. It can be worn as a base, as an insulation layer, or as a shell. Durable while still having a soft hand and quiet movement. Wind and water repellent, I have be able to use it without resorting to a hard shell in cool, rainy conditions. Snow doesn't stick to it. When I am highly active it has kept me comfortable in 20-50F temperatures wearing nothing but a technical tee on my torso. If it dries as quickly as the Driclime jacket (e.g. if the liner was bipolar) it will move to my perfect list. Runs narrow. If you have a big chest or wide torso, size up one.
Patagonia Houdini Windshirt: Windshirt with a full length zipper and hood. Very light, reasonably durable, great size for me (I like my shells to have extra long torso). Great at blocking wind. It would be perfect if the material was a bit more water resistant... like the original polyester Marmot Chinook while being at least as breathable.
Marmot ATV Pants: The original version made from Schoeller Dryskin Extreme. Beyond Fleece's ColdPlay Pants might be a good substitute but I haven't tried them. Comfortable over a wide range of temperatures (moderate-cold). Very breathable. Reasonably water resistant and moderately wind resistant. Soft and comfortable against the skin yet very durable. I have found these pants comfortable over a larger range of temperatures and conditions than any other pants I have tried. I have found them to be perfect for skiing and snowshoeing in the Sierras. They are not water resistant enough for snowboarding or other activities which spend a lot of time being pushed into the snow, nor wind resistant enough to be used in cold conditions which regularly face high winds.
WrightSock Double Running Socks: Light and thin socks which prove good blister protection and dry fairly quickly. Would be nice if they were more durable... I only get a season out of them.
BPL Thorofare Trekking Pant: Very light weight pants (4oz) that are moderately wind and water resistant. Drys quickly and doesn't see to "stick" as much as supplex when soaked. Inner side is light calendared which feels nice against the skin. Wide enough legs that they can be pulled up to the knees to be used as knickers. The material seems to be piled fairly quickly and I am concerned about long term durability, but in the mean time they see to perform well. I wish the front pockets were a bit deeper... things can fall out fairly easily.

Runner Up: Misc

Adventure Medical Ultralight Kits: Great starting point to build a fire aid kit. For solo trips I use the .3 kit. Just needed to add aleve, pro-tick remover, a few Spyroflex bandages, some small band-aids, superglue and duct tape (which is on my hiking poles). On group trips (especially with kids) I bring a a .7 with some additional items.
Katadyn Micropur Purification Tablets: Super light water treatment effective against pretty much all biological containments and doesn't have the awful iodine taste. Would be perfect if you could drink the water immediately after treatment rather than waiting and if there was not change in the water's taste.

Looking for Perfection

The following are things that I would love to find, but don't seem to exist anymore.

Rain Jacket: eVENT (or better yet, more breathability / air permeable) with pit zips with a feature set and cut like the Montbell Peak weighting 12oz or less.
Modular Gloves: Ten years ago several manufacturers made these but no one seems to anymore. My updated specifications would be an a light weight gauntlet style, completely unlined outer shell, eVENT membrane with welded seams, and a grippy palm. Inner gloves would have thermolite or fleece insulated palms which provides some insulation when compressed and primaloft insulated on the back of the hands within a highly breathable shell. This would provide gloves which could be used in a wide variety of conditions and easily dried overnight in a sleeping bag. Maybe the arcteryx alpha SV gloves will be close?

Perfect for Others

The following are items that others have found perfect. I list them because they are each noteworthy products. Some I haven't used extensively, some I have tried but they didn't quite match my sensibilities, and some I tried but ultimately selected some other option which I felt had good performance at a much more reasonable price:

McHale Packs: Some of the best internal frame backpacks made today thanks to the thoughtful design, well designed waist strap, and bypass harness system. Plug&Go lets the pack easily transition between a pack used for approach and then turn into a summit pack. The only downside is that Dan is highly opinionated and flames people he disagrees with in public.
Luxurylite Backpack: Ultralight external frame pack with an innovative modular packing system which can turn into a comfortable reclining chair. For whatever reason external frame packs just don't work for me.. but an interesting, out of the box design that has worked for a number of folks. Highly adjustable.
Mountain Laurel Designs DuoMid combined with the solo InnerNet. While there are shelters that are lighter, nothing else can cover the same range of conditions combined with the ease of use of this system. Depend on conditions just the the tarp, the InnerNet, or both can be used to provide appropriate protection and ventilation. There is enough room to comfortably ride out a nasty storm and cook while protected. While not as light as some ultralight shelters, the DuoMid can be used in shoulder seasons and into the winter. Some people might prefer it's smaller brother, the SoloMid.
Hennessy Hammock: Especially the Hyperlite Backpacker. This is a complete shelter system and sleeping "pad" weight less than 1.5lbs. No worries about ground water or finding a flat spot to camp. You just need a couple of trees. I don't sleep comfortably in hammock, but many people do.
Warmlite Down Air Mattress: Amazing comfort, warmth, while weights about the same as much thinner therm-a-rest. If I spent a lot of time in sub 20F weather on extended / long distance trips I would purchase one of these.
Nuatak Arc Alpinist: All weather version of the Ghost blanket that I use. For three season use, I prefer a quilt that is more open at the bottom, rather than the mummy style of the Arc Alpinist which comes up above the knees... but many people love them, especially is colder conditions.
Tim Marshall's Cuben/Down Quilt: The lightest quilt on the market with a built in vapor barrier.
Feathered Friends Light Flight Sleeping Bags: Similar in quality to Western Mountaineering. Semi custom made. Better selection of shells than most anyone else.
Montbell Super Stretch Sleeping Bags: Light weight down sleeping bags with elastic sewn into the baffle which keeps the bag snug against you, but leaves plenty of room to move. I don't like the feel of the elastic "gripping" me, but many people, including my daughter love this line of bags. I think some models are underfilled.
Montbell Inner Down Jacket: Super light jacket that has one of the best warmth / weight ratios.
Marmot DriClime Windshirt: Many people seem to live in this jacket. Highly effective wicking base + a high quality DWR polyester shell is incredibly useful. It can be worn as a base, as an insulation layer, or as a shell. BiPolar liner moves moisture away from your skin making it less clammy when wet. Polyester shell which absorbs little water and dries very quickly. Some people have called it the ultimate soft shell. My daughter's jacket is called "The Amazing Blue" or sometimes "The Magic Blue" jacket because it always seems to meet her needs from a cool evening around town, or downhill skiing in the sierras. I find the liner irritates my elbows.
Photon Freedom (Mk II): Amazingly small and light weight given the amount of light it throws. I have found that it produces enough light for all my tasks except navigation. The user interface is well thought out, letting you select either dim or bright light when you turn it on. The Freedom is more resistant to accident turn-on that most button lights when put into the push-to-light mode. The Freedom comes with nifty stand that can be clipped to just about anything for hand's free use. Some people place a velcro dot onto the battery compartment which can provide an even lighter hand's free experience. The Freedom is moderately water resistant. If you hold it in your month for extend periods of time, moisture will get in. If you don't take the time to dry it out time-to-time, it will corrode on the inside and then fail. The differ between the standard Photon Freedom and Doug Ritter's Freedom is that it has a bright yellow case making easier to find, and that it has the "covert" band around the sides of the LED which minimizes side scatter.
PrincetonTec EOSR (Rebel) Headlamp: Update to the original EOS... now with a Rebel bulb for 2x the light output for the same battery life and a slightly frosted lens which gives a very even beam which is more useful around camp than the original EOS. The regulation circuits could be better, but it's good enough to use Lithium batteries. This headlight have three level settings. The low is 6 lumens which is great for around the camp chores with a runtime of 50+ hours regulated, and 120+ hours unregulated. The medium (18 lumens) is good for many navigation tasks and and runs 6h regulated. The high is 50 lumens which is enough for all but the most difficult cross country navigation tasks (1h regulated). Water resistant. Light weight and comfortable to wear. At one point this was on my perfect list, but I have become somewhat dissatisfied with the quality of the regulation.