As I mentioned in my first bulletin, their April issue had their Gear Guide.
http://www.backpacker.com/gear-guide-2012-table-of-contents/gear/16381

We recommend you rent and borrow as much as you can, and check out what everyone else has and what works best in the field before you buy.
Rental information is at https://donsnotes.com/ctl/outdoor_equipment.html

Water Filters:
One of the items they recommended in the editor's choice issue was the Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter.
You don't need a water filter, we will be providing Micropur tablets (this is a change from the original equipment list which said we would use iodine tablets.) We will have a couple of filters you can demo to see if you like them. There are pros and cons to these.
See my page on water purification at:
https://donsnotes.com/recreation/water_purification.html

Other Gear Guides:
REI: http://www.rei.com/expertadvice/camping
Trailspace: http://www.trailspace.com/gear/hike-camp/
Sierra Club Knapsack committee: http://www.knapsack.org/basic_equipment.html
My notes: https://donsnotes.com/recreation/backpacking-equipment.html

Don (732) 560-0369, mobile: 848 203-4814