backpacking

Coleman Hooligan 2 Backpacking Tent
$49.99
Having never set this tent up before, I was surprised when it only took me ten minutes to put up, in the dark. It stayed dry through the night for five nights, never got too stuffy, and easily fit two people.

The Backpacker's Handbook
$19.95
This book is very thorough in backpacking techniques and equipment selection. If you have done a lot of backpacking already it might not be too helpful. Pictures do a good job of explaining harder concepts.

Teton Sports Fox 75+10L Internal Frame Backpack (Red)
$129.99
Plenty of space, good construction, a little on a heavier side, but tolerable.
Used it all summer long on solo multi-day hikes. Was able to fit a small tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, stove, clothes, food for couple weeks, purifier, emergency water, everything else - everything inside!
Let me repeat - got it all inside, that's how big it is.
I'm 5'8", so adjusting it to my height was not a problem.
Wouldn't recommend taking it to technical climbs, though. Too bulky. I was doing 70 degrees descent and ended up pulling the pack behind me - it was simply too dangerous leaving it on.

The Backpacker's Field Manual, Revised and Updated: A Comprehensive Guide to Mastering Backcountry Skills
$15.95
If you need to know anything relevant to the back country join The Boy Scouts or buy this book. I hate, hate, hate!, packing a book when I go hiking/backpacking but this is such a good resource I do anyway. If you have any kind of emergency this book would be a very reassuring second opinion to your plan of action. It's also a lot of fun to read some of the little tricks inside as you're winding down after dinner.