As a bit of a gear nerd (your typical engineer…), I’ve been obsessed with my perfect backcountry setup for years. I’ve tried to find the right balance between semi-weight-consciousness, comfort, durability, and affordability through iterations of intentional updates over the years. Now, I know I don’t have the most ultralight setup, or the newest, or the fanciest, but this is the system that has worked for me. Plus, I know that everything that worked on previous trips may not work in the coming months. Things can break, get lost, or not be suitable for this trip, so I’m excited to see how this list evolves. I’ll definitely follow up with an updated gear list at the end of my hike!
Without further ado, here’s my super long and overly detailed list of everything I’m taking to start the PCT:
The big three+
The Big Three typically include a tent, backpack, and sleeping system for hikers. I call this the Big Three+ to include all the related details.
- Tent – Durston X-Mid 1 (28.5 oz)
- Stakes – Stakes Durston DAC (3.15 oz)
- Tent Footprint – Tyvek Sheet (4 oz)
- Trekking Poles – Black Diamond Carbon Cork (15.5 oz)
- Sleeping Pad – NEMO Tensor Insulated Mummy (14.55 oz)
- Sleeping Pad Inflator – NEMO Vortex Pump Bag (1.95 oz)
- Sleeping Comforter – Illuminated Team Revelation 20 (20.77 oz)
- Sleeping Bag Liner – Sea to Summit Thermolite Reactor (9.15 oz)
- Pillow – Sea to Summit Eros Down (2.7 oz)
- Backpack – ULA Circuit (38.5 oz)
- Pack Liner – Nylofume Pack Liner (0.9 oz)
- Fanny Pack – Patagonia Terravia (3.45 oz)
- Wallet – DIY Tyvek Wallet (0.1 oz)
Kitchen
Once I get to the Sierras, I’ll trade my food bag for a bear can. My bear can is the Lighter1 Big Daddy (43 oz). It’s actually not one of the lightest (laughs), but the lid converts into a frying pan so I can make pancakes on top of Mount Whitney if I want.
- Stove – MSR Pocket Rocket (2.6 oz)
- Pot – Toaks Titanium Pot 650 ml (2.8 oz)
- Cup: Sea to Summit Frontier Ultralight Folding Cup (1.85 oz)
- Spork – Alpha Sea to Summit Lightweight Long Spork (0.4 oz)
- Multitool – Leatherman Squirt S4 (1.85 oz)
- Fuel – MSR 8oz Isopro (8 oz)
- Fuel Transfer: FlipFuel Fuel Transfer Device (1.25 oz)
- Lighter – Bic (0.75 oz)
- Water Filter – Sawyer Squeeze (2.65 oz)
- Backup Water Purification – Aquatabs (0.05 oz)
- Dirty water storage – Cnoc VectoX 2L (3.25 oz)
- Clean Water Storage – Mazama Migo x2 + DIY Hydration Valve (350g)
- Food Storage Bag – 20L Dry Bag for Outdoor Produce (11.2oz)
Clothes
This section includes the clothing I will wear during the hike, indicated with an asterisk. Worn weight and consumables (food, water, etc.) are generally not considered part of a hiker’s base weight, which means no one can judge me if I end up with the 2-pound Costco bag of nerd groups in my backpack.
- Hat – Lululemon Fast and Free (1.8 oz)*
- Bandana – Various. Handkerchief (0.65 ounces)*
- Sunglasses – Sunski Tera (1.4 oz)*
- Bra – Branwyn Essential Bralette (2.2 oz)*
- Underwear: Branwyn Essential Bikini x2 (2.5 oz)*
- Sun Shirt: Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake Hoodie (5.5 oz)*
- Shorts – Lululemon Pace Rival 3″ High Rise Short (4 oz)*
- Socks: Darn Tough Micro Crew x2 (4.7 oz)*
- Shoes – Altra Lone Peak (9.5 oz)*
- Mid Layer/Sleep Top: Backcountry Highliner Fleece (5 oz)
- Down Jacket – Cotopaxi Down Fuego (300g)
- Thermal Leggings/Sleep Pants: Arc’teryx Norvan Insulated Pants (6.9 oz)
- Pajama Top – Backcountry Tahoe Cami Basic Set (2.2 oz)
- Pajama Pants – Backcountry Tahoe Boyshort Basic Set (1.85 oz)
- Sleep Socks – Smartwool Hike Crew Socks (2.85 oz)
- Camping Shoes – Xero Z-Trail EV (7 oz)
- Waterproof Jacket – Patagonia Torrentshell (250g)
- Rain Pants – Columbia Storm Surge II (8.3 oz)
- Gloves – Outdoor Research (1.85 oz)
Electronics
Some of these elements may be controversial, but the tan of the Garmin watch speaks for itself. Luxury items? Maybe. Necessary? Absolutely. If any hikers want to watch the end of Survivor 50 along the way, I’ll have my phone’s magnetic tripod to watch it.
- Smartwatch: Garmin Fenix 7S Solar (2.45 oz)*
- Phone – iPhone 16 Pro (8.2 oz)
- Phone Tripod: Foldable Magnetic Phone Tripod (2.2oz)
- Power Bank – Anker 20,000 mAh Power Bank (11.8 oz)
- Charging cables – Various. (0.8 ounces)
- Charging adapter for Garmin watch – Various. (0.1 ounce)
- Wall Charger – Anker 20W Charger – (1.9 oz)
- Satellite messenger: Garmin Inreach Mini 2 (3.95 oz)
- Headlamp – NightCore NU25 MCT (1.65 oz)
- Headphones – Shokz OpenFit 2 (2.55 oz)
- Toy Camera – Papershoot (3.15 oz)
- MicroSD Card Reader – Type C (0.15 oz)
Toiletries/First Aid/Repair
This is where I may be packing up my fears. Will I need a whole roll of leucotape? How about a single bug repellent wipe? Will I remember to pick up baby wipes before I leave? Stay tuned to find out. 
- Toothbrush – Foldable Travel Toothbrush (0.5 oz)
- Toothpaste – Travel Toothpaste (0.9 oz)
- Dental Floss: Travel Floss (0.05 oz)
- Hair Brush – Wet Brush Travel Brush (1.5 oz)
- Hair bands – Various. (0.05 ounces)
- Trowel – Tentlab Ground Saw (0.55 oz)
- Conductive Paddle – Jereko Gear (0.45 oz)
- Bidet – Ultralight Ass Portable Bidet (0.4 oz)
- Pee Cloth – Kula Cloth (0.5 oz)
- Emergency Wipes – Portawipes Compressed Wipes x3 (0.5 oz)
- Soap – Dr. Bronners Lavender Castile Soap (2.8 oz)
- Hand Sanitizer – Grove Co. Hand Sanitizer Gel (2.35 oz)
- Sunscreen – Shiseido UV Protective Stick (1.2 oz)
- Lip Balm SPF – Sun Bum Lip Sunscreen (0.65 oz)
- Baby Wipes – TBD
- Leukotape – Leukotape P (4.15 ounces)
- Mini Sewing Kit – Thread and Needle (0.05 oz)
- Super Glue: Single Use Scotch Super Glue (0.05 oz)
- Zip Ties – Various. (0.05 ounces)
- Cord – Various. (0.05 ounces)
- Tenacious Tape – Gear Aid Tenacious Tape (0.4 oz)
- Safety Pins – Various Sizes (0.05 oz)
- Gauze – Various. (0.05 ounces)
- Triple Antibiotic Ointment – x2 Misc. Single-use packets (0.05 oz)
- Hydrocortisone ointment – Various. Single-use packet (0.05 oz)
- Pain Relief Gel: Biofreeze Single-Use Packet (0.15 oz)
- Chafing Ointment – Salty Panties Single-Use Packet (0.15 oz)
- Insect Repellent Wipe – Kinfield Golden Hour Mosquito Repellent Wipe (0.3 oz)
- Alcohol Wipes – Curad Alcohol Prep Pad (0.05 oz)
- Allergy – Benadryl (0.1 oz)
- Digestive Relief – Pepto Bismol (0.2 oz)
- Gut Support: Immodium (0.1 oz)
- Pain Relief: Ibuprofen (0.05 oz)
There you have it. Each of the objects that I will carry on my back once I leave the field.
According to my equipment list, this puts my total weight at 335.93 oz and my base weight (least used/consumables) at 248.5 oz, or 15.5 pounds. I don’t plan to make any major changes, but if you have minor suggestions, let me know in the comments.
But please note that we won’t be accepting carry suggestions from superfluous nerd groups at this time. Consumables do not count. K thank you bye.
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