"Samurai" Joe's Current Pack List
"Samurai" Joe Valesko
Joe Valesko founded Zpacks out of his apartment in 2005. He has been designing and testing all of our gear ever since.
A Triplecrowner, Joe has over 10,000 long distance miles under his belt, including the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, Te Araroa, Tour du Mont Blanc and much more.
You can check out a complete list of Joe's Adventures here.
Arc Blast 55L Backpack
$325.00Weight 21 oz (569 g)Designed to hike along mountain trails, scale steep ascents, and weather those Appalachian rain storms, the ultralight Arc Blast is perfectly suited for the demands of long distance hiking.
Comfortably transfer your pack’s weight to your hips with our patented ‘Arc Frame’ system. The frame also creates a gap between your back and the pack allowing for air flow that helps keeps you cool.
Featuring adjustable shoulder straps, an interchangeable belt, and a variety of optional modular add-ons, the award-winning Arc Blast will allow you to tackle those long days on the trail with a durable ultralight backpack designed to fit you.
Arc Blast 55L Backpack
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Features
Arc Frame | Adjustable Torso
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Material
Dyneema® Composite Fabric
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Weight
20.1 oz / 569.0 g
Shoulder Pouch
$29.00Weight 1 oz (14 g)Shoulder Pouches are the ideal place to keep your small camera or phone in reach for taking quick photos. The main compartment of the shoulder pouches are a good size for your wallet, car keys, map, headlamp, mittens, sunglasses, candy bars, pack towel, GPS, or any other items you would like to have within easy reach. The pouches carry comfortably on your shoulder, and you will hardly notice them there.
The small exterior mesh pocket can be used to store your small items like lip balm, emergency whistle, or a compass.
Order a pair and save! (2 for $50)
Shoulder Pouch
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Weight
0.49 oz / 14.0 g
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Belt Pouch
$29.00Weight 1 oz (21 g)Be prepared for whatever the trail may bring by keeping your essentials close in hand with our belt pouches. These pouches clip securely to a padded belt, like on our Arc backpacks. There is plenty of space for a headlamp, folded maps, snacks, hat and gloves, gadgets, you name it.
If your backpack has a webbing belt, try Belt Pouches with Pads.
Order a pair and save! (2 for $50)
Belt Pouch
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Weight
0.74 oz / 21.0 g
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Plexamid Tent
$549.00Weight 16 oz (433 g)Weighing in at under a pound, the Plexamid is an ultralight and spacious tent designed to help take your hikes to the next level. Whether you’re on a thru-hike or just getting the most out of those two weeks away from the cubicle, this tent allows you to put in extra miles without wrecking your body.
The uniquely designed squared off peak gives this lightweight tent extra headroom while still allowing it to pitch easily with a single 48" (122 cm) pole. The ultra-strong titanium peak structure remains in the tent while still allowing it to pack up small.
The Plexamid is well-ventilated and can be set up in even the most cramped camp sites. You won’t find a lighter functional one-person tent anywhere.
An optional flat groundsheet is available for added protection here.
Plexamid Tent
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Features
Sleeps 1
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Set Up
1 Trekking Pole or 48" Tent Pole
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Weight
15.3 oz / 433.0 g
6.4" Carbon Fiber Stake
$3.50Weight 1 oz (6 g)Increased surface area make these Carbon Fiber Stakes a great choice for soft terrain. Made with a Carbon Fiber shaft with a metal tip and metal end cap, these stakes have the best holding power to weight ratio of any of the stakes we carry. These stakes have an orange cord through the end to make them easy to see and easy to pull out of the ground.
The thick diameter allows them to grip the ground better than thin titanium. These are excellent in loose soil, and they have also proven to be very functional in typical dirt. On packed ground or on bedrock lay them sideways and anchor with rocks.
These are the only stakes that can reliably be carried through airport security. We have carried these stakes through US airport security a dozen times with no issues. Our experience with metal stakes is they are confiscated about half the time. Please report if you have any trouble with these.
6.4" Carbon Fiber Stake
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Holding Power
Better
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Bend Resistance
Better
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Weight
0.22 oz / 6.2 g
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Stake Sack
$6.00Weight 1 oz (3 g)Keep your stakes organized, and protect your tent from punctures and dirt with this durable stake sack. This stake sack is constructed from extra thick 1.6 oz/sqyd Dyneema® Composite Fabric to prevent punctures. Fold the top down over your stakes and use the shock cord drawstring to keep them snug like a rubber band.
Stake Sack
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Dimensions
2.75" x 9" (7 x 23 cm)
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Weight
0.09 oz / 2.5 g
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Travel Utility Zip
$40.00Weight 1 oz (26 g)Our ultralight Travel Utility Zip keeps your most important items secure and in easy reach while on the move. A zippered compartment allows you to keep your essentials organized and features separate internal pockets for your passport, Field Notes, and a pen.
The Travel Utility Zip is a great place to keep your phone, plane ticket, cash and headphones while on the go.
An adjustable neck strap makes sure your critical items never fall out of your Travel Utility Zip or get left behind.
Need a different size? Check out the rest of our Zip Pouch collection.
Find more of our Crossover Collection here.
Travel Utility Zip
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Weight
0.92 oz / 26.0 g
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Medium Pillow
$35.00Weight 2 oz (40 g)We merged the comfort of a pillow with the utility of a dry sack to form this Medium Pillow.Identical in size to the Medium Dry Bag, our Medium Pillow features soft micro fleece sewn to one half of the interior. Simply flip the dry bag inside out (as shown) and fill it with your spare clothes and gear to use as a pillow!
Need a different size? Check out the Medium-Plus Pillow or the rest of our Dry Bag collection.
Medium Pillow
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Dimensions
6" x 12" (15 x 30.5 cm)
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Volume
340 in³ (5.6 Liters)
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Weight
1.4 oz / 40.0 g
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Men's Vertice Rain Jacket
$259.00Weight 7 oz (176 g)When the skies are overcast and the rain is pouring down, our ultralight Vertice Rain Jacket offers superior protection and breathability. Our Vertice material is optimized to be lightweight without compromising on durability, and it is among the lightest possible choices for waterproof hyper-breathable rain gear.
Be sure to check out the rest of our Vertice Rain Gear.
Men's Vertice Rain Pants
$149.00Weight 3 oz (70 g)Master the elements with the Men’s Vertice Rain Pants. Gone are the days of getting soaked with hot, humid and unventilated rain gear. Our Vertice Rain Gear material is optimized to be lightweight without compromising on durability, and it is among the lightest possible choices for waterproof hyper-breathable rain gear.
Be sure to check out the rest of our Vertice Rain Gear.
Men's Vertice Rain Pants
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Weight
2.5 oz / 70.0 g
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Vertice Rain Mitts
$65.00Weight 1 oz (28 g)Cold, rainy hikes are no match for our Vertice Rain Mitts. Our Vertice fabric is optimized to be lightweight without compromising on durability, and it is among the lightest possible choices for waterproof-breathable rain gear.
Be sure to check out the rest of our Vertice Rain Gear.
Men's Ventum Wind Shell
$115.00Weight 2 oz (48 g)Choosing the right layer for crisp spring mornings and chilly fall nights can be a challenge. Our Men's Ventum Shell is crafted to cut the breeze and trap warmth in your base layer or against your skin. It’s perfect for when a base layer alone is not enough, but insulation would make you overheat. Weighing under 2 ounces this is a must-have item for when you plan to hike in cool weather.Fleece Hat
$19.00Weight 1 oz (28 g)Stay warm and cozy when the temperature begins to drop, whether you’re on the trail or on your way to work. Ultralight and crafted with a double layer of micro-fleece around the ears, this hat was created to keep you warm but not weigh you down.
Still not warm enough? Check out our insulated clothing line here.
Fleece Hat
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Weight
0.99 oz / 28.0 g
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Zpacks Trucker Hat
$25.00Weight 3 oz (60 g)Rep Zpacks on and off the trail with the Zpacks Trucker Hat. Great for blocking the sun, propping up rain hoods, or just looking stylish. Make all your friends jealous with this great addition to your pack or wardrobe.
The blue hats have cotton fronts. The white hat front is foam and weighs .3 oz (8 grams) less.
Conductive Brushtail Possum Gloves
$24.95Weight 2 oz (36 g)Winter weather can be harsh, but when the digits drop yours don’t have to feel the chill. Made from a combination of New Zealand's brushtail possum fur, and New Zealand Merino lamb's wool, these Brushtail Possum gloves provide plenty of warmth when you need it most.
Featuring conductive ends on both the index finger and thumb, these gloves will allow you to use your smartphone and other touch screen devices without having to remove them.
These gloves are a great companion to the Brushtail Possum Socks, and can be used as a liner under our Vertice Rain Mitts
*Gloves are non-returnable if they have been removed from the packaging.Conductive Brushtail Possum Gloves
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Weight
1.3 oz / 36.0 g
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Brushtail Possum Socks
$24.95Weight 3 oz (85 g)When the campfire just isn’t enough to keep you warm and your feet need a little extra help heating up, Brushtail Possum Socks are an ultralight must have. Made from a combination of New Zealand's brushtail possum fur, and New Zealand Merino lamb's wool, these socks are sure to keep your toes nice and toasty.
These socks are very thick and warm! They are rugged enough to hike in on cold days, and they also make excellent sleep socks. They are great for winter sports as well.
For extra warmth pair these socks with our Brushtail Possum Gloves!
*Socks are non-returnable if they have been removed from the packaging.
Brushtail Possum Socks
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Weight
3.0 oz / 85.0 g
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Medium-Plus Dry Bag
$30.00Weight 1 oz (23 g)Keep your gear dry and dust free without adding any more weight than you have to. This size will fit multiple clothing items or an average sized ultralight sleeping bag. It fits well horizontally in most backpacks.
Need a different size? Check out the rest of our Dry Bag collection.
Medium-Plus Dry Bag
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Dimensions
7" x 13" (18 x 33 cm)
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Volume
500 in³ (8.2 Liters)
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Weight
0.81 oz / 23.0 g
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Carbon Fiber Staff
$125.00Weight 8 oz (212 g)Our Carbon Fiber Staff allows you to support your full weight using two hands on rough terrain, while keeping one hand free on more moderate sections. This staff is an ultralight, extremely strong alternative to Zpacks Trekking Poles. It can fold down for compact packing, or can be folded to the correct height to prop up any of our tents.
Carbon Fiber Staff
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Weight
7.5 oz / 212.0 g
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Titanium Short Handle Spoon
$10.00Weight 1 oz (11 g)When every ounce counts and pack space is at a premium a Titanium Short Handle Spoon is the only utensil you’ll ever need. This ultralight short handle spoon packs into your pot and is strong enough to cook anything you can come up with.
Titanium Short Handle Spoon
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Weight
0.37 oz / 10.5 g
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Soto Windmaster Stove w/ Triflex
$64.95Weight 3 oz (65 g)When a hot meal at night and hot coffee in the morning is more of a need than a want, a reliable canister stove is mandatory. The Soto Windmaster stove is the best in class for ultralight canister style stoves. The burner is recessed allowing it to light easier and continue burning in windy conditions without requiring a separate wind screen. This stove has really great efficiency which helps you heat water faster and consume fuel slower.
This stove includes a FREE ultralight "TriFlex" stand, in addition to the heavier standard "4Flex" stand.
Soto Windmaster Stove w/ Triflex
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Weight
2.3 oz / 65.0 g
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