Linda owns a garage full of gear and carries almost none of it. This is the actual short list she brings — the stuff that survived the culling. Affiliate links; they never change what makes the cut.

ShelterREI Co-op Half Dome 2 PlusRoomy, bombproof, and half the price of the ultralight darlings. Linda has slept in worse and won't again.Check price →SleepNEMO Disco 15A spoon-shaped bag she can actually roll over in. Warm to a real 20°F, not a marketing 20°F.Check price →PadTherm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXTThe one splurge she defends: warm, 12 oz, and the crinkle is worth the sleep.Check price →PackOsprey Atmos AG 65Carries heavy loads like they're light. Linda stopped chasing grams the day she tried it.Check price →StoveJetboil FlashBoils water in under two minutes. She's not cooking coq au vin out there — she wants coffee, fast.Check price →WaterSawyer SqueezeNo pumping, no waiting, no batteries. Screws onto a smartwater bottle and disappears into the kit.Check price →RainColumbia Watertight IINot the fanciest shell, but it keeps the rain out and costs a third of the boutique brands.Check price →FeetMerrell Moab 3The boot she recommends to every single beginner, because it just fits most feet and lasts.Check price →LightBlack Diamond Spot 400Bright, waterproof, runs on AAAs she can buy anywhere. No proprietary charging cable to forget.Check price →SafetyGarmin inReach Mini 2The item she hopes never to use. Two-way satellite SOS is cheap insurance for solo trips.Check price →

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