If there’s one thing all long distance hikers have in common, it’s an obsession with backpacking gear. Thru-hikers have an amazing capacity to discuss all aspects of their hiking equipment for hours on end. Gear is the most commonly discussed topic on the PCT Class of 2017 Facebook page and hikers frequently share pictures of their gear to get feedback and share ideas with other backpackers.
I also get a lot of questions from non-hikers about my gear too. So, for your edification, here is my gear post.
All the Things! Except for the Clothing I’m Wearing
For a pack to be considered light, a hiker should strive for a base weight of under 20 lbs (“base weight” does not include consumables such as water, food, or fuel). Ultralight hikers sport a base weight of under 10 or 15 lbs. I know it seems counter-intuitive…when going into a wilderness area you’d think you’d want to bring more, not less, in case of an emergency. But most long distance hikers travel with extremely light packs and they survive just fine… usually 🙂
I’m Going to Wear these Clothes EVERY DAY
The list is extensive and detailed. I suspect it may bore those of you who aren’t total hiking nerds, so feel free to skim this part.
Close-Up of my Carried Hiking Clothes
The Big Stuff
- Osprey Exos 58 Backpack
- Trash Compacter Bag – Bag liner to keep clothes & quilt dry
- Big Agnes Copper Spur UL 1 Tent
- Enlightened Equipment Enigma Quilt, 950 down, 10 Degree bag (regular)
- Quilt Straps
- Sea to Summit Compression Sack Small – for the Quilt
- Sea to Summit Silk/Cotton Sleeping Bag Liner
- Sea to Summit Aeros Ultralight Pillow
- Exped Synpat Winterlite M Sleeping Pad with stuff sack & repair kit
Clothing – Carried
- Mountain Hardwear Hooded Ghost Whisperer Jacket
- Outdoor Research Helium II Rain Jacket
- Smart Wool 250 long-sleeve base layer – top
- Montbell Wind Shirt
- Marmot Long sleeved Sun Shirt
- Brooks Moving Comfort hiking bra
- Smart Wool 250 base layer – bottom
- ULA Rain Skirt
- Mountain Laurel Designs tall gaiters
- Exofficio Underpants
- Buff (neck gaiter)
- Outdoor Research Beanie
- Peppers UV Sunglasses
- Sunglasses case
- North Face Etip gloves
- Wright sock cool mesh II ankle socks
- Farm to Feet Roanoke 1/4 crew socks (I’m still experimenting to determine which socks work best for me)
- Osprey 8L stuff sack – for clothes
Clothing – Worn
- Purple Rain Hiking Skirt
- Red Bandana
- Dirty Girl Gaiters
- Farm to Feet 1/4 Damascus Socks
- Nike tank top
- Lucy Leggings – light weight baselayer – bottom
- Odlo hooded lightweight baselayer – top
- Brooks Juno Moving Comfort Sports Bra
- Unicorn Hat
- FitBit Zip
- REI Carbon Fiber Hiking Poles with Duct tape wrapped around them
- Lone Peak Altra 3.0 Zero Drop Trail Running Shoes
Electronics and Navigation
- Goal Zero Flip 20 battery
- Generic Dual USB Port Wall Plug
- iPhone 7
- iPhone 7 – 3″ charging cord
- iPhone 7 LifeProof case
- iPhone Headphones
- DeLorme/Garmin InReach Explorer – 2-way satellite texting device
- Delorme charging cord
- Cannon PowerShot G7 Mark II w/ battery & memory card
- Osprey Camera Case
- Extra Camera Batteries x2
- Camera Battery Charger
- Ptec Byte Headlamp (includes 2 AAA batteries)
- 2 spare AAA batteries for headlamp
- Halfmile Paper Maps for each section of the Trail
- Pages for each section of the trail ripped from Yogi’s guidebook
- PCTA Long Distance Hiking Permit
- California Campfire Permit
- Suunto Hiking ABC Watch
- 2 spare batteries for watch (CR2032) and spare FitBit Battery (CR2025)
Sundries
- Sewing Kit – Dental Floss & 2 needles
- Deuce of spades poop trowel
- Quart Freezer Baggie w/ 1/2 roll Toilet Paper
- Camping Towel/Pee Rag
- Camping Towel/Washcloth
- Chapstick
- Small Lighter
- CRKT M21-12 pocket knife
- Repair Patches (tenacious tape)
- 3 carabiners
- Umbrella
- 4 safety pins
- Extra mini light clipped to bag – Lumo by Neebo
- Tiny Swiss army Knife w/ scissors & tweezers
- Bug Head Net
- 15′ parachute cord
Water Filtration and Management
- Sawyer Squeeze Filter
- Sawyer Squeeze 32 oz bag
- AquaTabs (10) – as a backup
- Smart Water Bottles x3 (1.45 oz each) empty
- HydraPak 3L water dromedary bag
- Sawyer Cleaning Plunger
- 3 Silk Tea bag liners
Cooking/Food Storage
- Snow Peak Giga Power Stove
- Evernew mug
- Snow Peak Cooking Pot & lid
- Simple Outdoor Solutions Food Cozie
- Long-Handled Spoon
- Cooking gear mesh carrying bag
- Osprey Bag 12 L (food bag)
- Loksack Opsack Bag (odor-proof food bag liner)
Toiletries
- Loksak 7×7 Baggie
- Travel Toothbrush
- Powdered Toothpaste
- Sawyer 50 SPF 1fl oz sunscreen
- Dr Bronner’s Soap
- Sawyer MaxiDeet Bug Spray
- 2 Hair Ties
- Feminine Supplies (minipads and ob tampons)
- Lotramin Foot Cream 1oz tube
- Poop baggies (for bagging used toilet paper)
- 1/2 of a comb
- Nail Clippers
First Aid Kit
- Ace Bandage
- Benadryl (5)
- Earplugs
- Ibuprofen (20)
- Fluconazole (2) – prescribed by my doctor in case needed
- Tinidazole (4) for Giardia – prescribed by my doctor in case needed
- Nitrofurantoin (10) antibiotics – prescribed by my doctor in case needed
- Vitamins
- Joint pills
- Electrolyte Pills
- Moleskin
- 3×3 Sterile Pads (3)
- Leukotape – rolled around a straw
- 2 Clean wipes, 3 triple antibiotic, 3 hydrocortisone & 1 bite/sting pad – packets
- Baggies
- Imodium (4)
- Body Glide .35oz anti-chafing stick
Additional Gear for the High Sierras and snowy sections
- Microspikes
- Kathoola K-10 Crampons
- Black Diamond Whippet (Self Arrest Pole)
- Waterproof Hiking Boots and Boot Socks
- Tevas (Creek crossing shoes)
- Snow baskets
- Zip-off hiking pants
- Bear Cannister
And there you have it! This is my entire list – for now. I anticipate that I’ll be making adjustments as I go. It will be interesting to see how my final gear configuration compares to this initial gear list. We shall see.
Backpack Loaded with Gear!
