Pack Your Fears: The Gear I Upgraded, Added, and Abandoned on the PCT

The PCT was not my first trip. By the time I arrived at Southern Terminus in 2025, I had already hiked the Appalachian Trail, hiked 460 miles on the Arizona Trail, wandered Scotland on the West Highland Way, and spent three seasons working as a backpacking guide. For the most part, I thought I had my gear ready.

But that’s the thing about long trails: no matter how experienced you are, they’ll still teach you something new. Hiking exposes your blind spots, tests your assumptions, and reminds you that flexibility is one of the most valuable things you can «carry.» I may not have been the wide-eyed beginner I was on the AT, but the PCT still taught me a lot about what worked for me and what didn’t.

If you’re curious about which team I started the PCT with, you can read Magic’s 2025 PCT Team List. Here’s how my gear list evolved as I moved from Mexico to Canada.

Equipment I upgraded in Trail

Battery bank(s)

I started the road with an old and heavy Anker 525 power bank (the same one I bought used at the AT in 2021). It took forever to load. If I stayed overnight in town, it wasn’t a big deal. But if I went in and out of the city on the same day, even an hour or two wasn’t enough to charge it to 25%.

Before entering the Sierra, I ordered a new power bank and charger: the Anker 20K power bank and Anker 735 charger. With the built-in USB-C cable, the 20K charged from 0% to 100% in less than an hour. I added the larger charging block so I can connect multiple devices at once.

Early on in Julian, CA, my husband/hiking buddy added a Nitecore 10K Power Bank to our configuration. We each carried our own 20K, but the extra 10K was perfect for longer stretches between towns, especially in the Sierra. Between constantly using our phones for FarOut, music, and audiobooks, plus rechargeable headlamps, having extra power meant we were never stressed about dead batteries.

rain pants

I am a firm believer in Frogg Toggs. No rain gear is truly waterproof. Why would I spend hundreds of dollars when I can go the cheaper route? They are cheap, quite effective and I don’t feel bad replacing them because they are affordable.

But the Sierra exposed its weakness. We did a lot of sliding, basically sledding mountains on our butts, and I always put on my waterproof pants before sliding for a little extra protection. Frogg Togg’s fine material crumbled quickly on the snow and ice.

In Bishop, CA, about halfway up the Sierra, I stopped at Gigantic Mountaineering Supply and was lucky enough to get a used, sturdier pair of waterproof pants for just 10 bucks. They were definitely heavier, but held up very well to the snow and ice. I wore them the rest of the way as an extra insulating layer and for the occasional storm.

Modeling my wrecked Frogg Toggs after crossing Forester Pass.

Headphones

I started the journey with a pair of cheap wired headphones. I debated bringing my cute Shokz Bluetooth headphones, but you were worried about damaging or losing them. In South Lake Tahoe, CA, I was done with the cables. I bought the cheapest pair of Bluetooth headphones I could find at Target (I think I paid $35 for a pair of jlab headphones) and they worked perfectly throughout the entire journey. I charged them every night and never had any problems.

Equipment I added along the way

Maine Train Gear Zip Wallet

I’ve always kept cash and cards in a Ziplock bag in my fanny pack, but at Cascade Locks, OR, I upgraded to a real wallet and immediately wondered why I waited so long. The Maine Train Gear Dyneema Wallet weighs just 0.18 oz, has a water-resistant zipper, and keeps everything organized and dry.

The Maine Train Gear bags and purses from my tram at the north terminus.

Alpenglow Gear Alpenblow Microinflator

I was gifted the inflator and fuel transfer valve from Alpenglow Gear in Mammoth Lakes and carried both the rest of the way. The inflator is definitely a luxury item, but it was great not having to inflate my mat every night. At just 0.3 ounces, it plugged directly into my power bank’s USB-C cable. It was slower than my friend’s. FLEXIBLE TAILbut much quieter.

Alpenglow Gear Alpenflow Fuel Transfer Valve

I’ve tried other fuel transfer valves with little success, but Alpenflow made it easy. We put the donor can in the sun and the recipient can in a stream to create a temperature difference, and it worked like magic. I couldn’t believe how easy it was to use, even in the field! After that, I rarely had to buy fuel. We just reloaded with the almost empty cans in the hiker boxes. I would recommend it to anyone.

city ​​dress

I love a city dress! they gave me my dress in Idyllwild, CA and rode it the rest of the way. On the AT, I bought one at a thrift store and quickly realized how luxurious it felt to have something clean to wear while doing laundry. It also made me feel pretty and a little less of a hiker trash.

Dress up in our smart city clothes to meet the mayor of Idyllwild, CA.

Equipment I abandoned and sent home

Physical diary

I have journaled every night on all my walks. I brought a paper journal to the PCT, but switched to digital after my first night. I used the Hiker’s Logbook App: Recorded my mileage, how many times I cowboy camped, my longest stretch without showering, zeros, and other fun stats. When I blogged for The Trek, I simply copied my journal entries and added photographs. No extra weight!

Sleeping bag liner

I sleep cold and usually wear a transatlantic. I started with it for the cold desert nights and continued it throughout the Sierra. There were many nights where the temperature dropped almost to freezing, so I was glad to have it early. I shipped it home from Quincy, CA, along with my ice ax and microspikes. I probably could have sent him home sooner, but I didn’t want to risk cold nights.

Saw/snow equipment

Most hikers do not carry snow gear for the entire hike. Many collect microspikes, ice axes and bear cans at Kennedy Meadows South (KMS). Conditions and personal comfort dictate how long you should keep them. This is what we did:

microspikes

We weren’t sure what conditions to expect in San Jacinto. After reading about the Trevor Spikes Programwe decided to have our microspikes mailed to Warner Springs, CA. We took them to Mammoth Lakes, CA, where most of the snow was behind us.

We used our ice axes and microspikes to reach the highest point on the PCT: Forester Pass.

ice ax

We buy our ice axes before starting the tour and mailed them to KMS. Fortunately, we didn’t use them much, but they gave me peace of mind on high passes. We shipped them home to Mammoth Lakes, CA along with the microspikes.

bear can

There was a lot of confusion about where exactly bear cans were required. Without a doubt they are required in the Sierra. Some hikers abandoned theirs at Kennedy Meadows North, but Desolation Wilderness requires one too. So we brought ours to Quincy, CA.

Things I Carried All the Way That Other People Abandoned

At the end of the day, you carry your backpack and you decide how much the weight is worth. Walk your own walk! Here’s what I kept from Mexico to Canada that other hikers only carried during sections:

puffy + mid layer

After the Sierra, many hikers abandoned their swollen EITHER middle layer. I think it’s important to have one or the other as a backup layer. I stuck with both because…again, I get cold easily.

Since I’m cold, I wore all my cold weather clothing for the entire tour. Here I am in Washington’s Goat Rocks Wilderness wearing all my layers. In comparison, Pinky is in his midlayer and shorts.

Hood and booties

More insulation for cold nights. I wear a down hood and ankle boots practically all year round. I didn’t use them much in NorCal or Oregon, but they came in handy again in Washington.

Base layers

I slept in me base layers when it was cold, and I would wear them as backup clothes while doing laundry if my town dress was dirty. Many hikers sent their base layers home after the Sierra, but I kept my fears to myself.

rain gear

Many people gear up for rain at home after the Sierra, as NorCal and Oregon are typically dry and hot. Honestly? I was too lazy to bother sending my email Frogg Toggs home and then mail them to Washington, where we expected wet conditions. They lived at the end of my backpack for months until I needed them again as I approached Canada.

Gloves

Most hikers mailed their gloves house after the Sierra. Mine didn’t weigh much and I forgot they were buried in my backpack until I needed them again on cold Washington mornings.

Umbrella

I love me umbrella! It was invaluable in the desert, but many hikers threw their umbrellas in the KMS hiker box. I’m glad I kept mine because it was a big help for burn scars in NorCal and Oregon. I didn’t use it in Washington, but I liked having it ready for a downpour. Umbrella clamps He made it hands-free.

Rain or shine, I was glad I had my umbrella.

Final thoughts

If there’s one thing I hope future hikers learn from this, it’s that your gear list doesn’t need to be perfect before you start. It won’t be (and that’s okay!). The beauty of a long process like the PCT is that grow on your team. You discover what matters, what doesn’t, and what you’re willing to wear simply because it brings you comfort, confidence, or joy.

Small trail towns, quirky outfitters, generous hiker boxes, and general delivery magic make it easy to adapt on the fly. Some articles will surprise you with their length; others will disappear within the first hundred miles. Sometimes the best gear you add is something you didn’t even know existed before you hit the trail.

So gather your gear list, get to the end, and let the trail teach you the rest. In the end, the most important piece of equipment you carry is the willingness to adapt and the belief that you’ll figure it out one step at a time, one resupply box and one unexpected gear change at a time.