Managing Gear

Organize your gear library, track weights, and build loadouts

Table of Contents

Your Gear Library

Gear library overview

The gear library is your personal inventory of outdoor equipment. Every item you add is available to include in loadouts across all your trips.

Adding Gear

To add a new gear item:

  1. Navigate to Gear from the main menu
  2. Tap Add Gear
  3. Fill in the details:
    • Name — What is it? (e.g., "Nemo Tensor Sleeping Pad")
    • Category — Shelter, Sleep System, Cooking, Clothing, Electronics, etc.
    • Weight — In ounces or grams (Lodestone converts automatically based on your unit preference)
    • Brand — Optional, for filtering and organization
    • Notes — Any additional details

Weight Tracking

Weight is a critical metric for backpackers. Lodestone categorizes gear weight into:

  • Base weight — Everything except consumables (food, water, fuel)
  • Total weight — Base weight plus consumables
  • Worn weight — Items you're wearing, not in your pack

Pro tip: Weigh your gear on a kitchen scale for accuracy. Manufacturer specs are often optimistic.

Building Loadouts

Building a loadout

A loadout is a curated packing list built from your gear library.

Creating a Loadout

  1. Go to Gear and tap Loadouts
  2. Tap Create Loadout
  3. Give it a name (e.g., "JMT Summer 2026")
  4. Add items from your gear library
  5. Review the weight breakdown by category

Loadout Strategies

Different trips call for different approaches:

Strategy Base Weight Target Best For
Traditional 25-35 lbs Beginners, cold weather
Lightweight 15-25 lbs 3-season trips
Ultralight Under 15 lbs Experienced hikers, good weather
Super Ultralight Under 10 lbs Experts, short trips

Duplicating Loadouts

Don't start from scratch every time. Duplicate an existing loadout and modify it:

  1. Open the loadout you want to copy
  2. Tap the more options menu
  3. Select Duplicate
  4. Rename and adjust for your new trip

Sharing Loadouts

Want to show your gear list to friends or the community?

  1. Open a loadout
  2. Tap Share
  3. Toggle Public Link on
  4. Copy the shareable URL

Anyone with the link can view your loadout — no Lodestone account required. Shared loadouts display all items with weights and your total weight breakdown.

Gear Categories

Lodestone organizes gear into standard backpacking categories:

  • Shelter — Tent, tarp, bivy, groundsheet, stakes
  • Sleep System — Sleeping bag/quilt, sleeping pad, pillow
  • Pack — Backpack, stuff sacks, compression bags
  • Cooking — Stove, pot, utensils, fuel, water treatment
  • Clothing — Layers, rain gear, insulation, accessories
  • Electronics — Phone, GPS, battery bank, headlamp
  • Hygiene — Toiletries, first aid, sun protection
  • Miscellaneous — Trekking poles, repair kits, navigation tools

Tips for Gear Organization

  1. Audit regularly — Remove gear you no longer own or use
  2. Update weights — Re-weigh items after modifications (cutting straps, trimming pads)
  3. Use notes — Track things like "leaks in heavy rain" or "too warm above 40°F"
  4. Category consistency — Pick a category system and stick with it for accurate weight breakdowns