PCT Gear List: Living out of a backpack

After months of anxiety-fueled research, countless hours of mid-hike surveys, Reddit threads, and hiking gear reviews. I have my gear list checked off and the ounces counted. Lihat juga aosyx4. This is what I plan to accomplish on my PCT.

Store: Durston Xmid Pro 1.

This was kind of a last minute decision. I had planned to bring my Big Agnes Copper Spur UL1, which I had used on backpacking trips in the Sierras. However, after doing my long training hikes with a full pack, I started looking at Ultralight (UL). Pounds are important for my feet and back, and it was worth the investment to save a pound over millions of steps.

Backpack: Durston Kakwa 55 – Ultra 200X

Deciding on UL backpacks is particularly difficult because they mostly come from boutique companies and you rarely have opportunities to try them out. I really like this bag, durable and lightweight at only 31.5 oz. You’ll see a trend here: I love the thoughtful design and features of the Durston gear. I have faith that if I have any problems, the Durston team will be able to help me find solutions.

Sleeping mat: Nemo Tensor All Season Regular Mummy

This pad is super lightweight, comfortable, and has a good R-value. A very common choice that has worked well for me on a few test rides. I’m a side sleeper and it handles well, I wish it was a little thicker or plush but there really aren’t many good ultralight options. I plan to pair this with an Exped 1.5R closed cell pad. Is it a bit excessive? Probably. However, I like the comfort of the closed cell as an extra cushion or lounger during a long lunch break. I also find that placing the closed cell on top of the inflatable prevents me from slipping in the middle of the night if the ground is not perfectly level.

Sleeping Bag: Illuminated Equipment 20 Degree Reveal Duvet

As with backpacks and even UL tents, there are very few options for trying out quilts. EE has great reviews and is also a common choice. EE also sent their Cloud 9 pillow with my order, I really like it because it attaches to my inflatable pad and keeps it in place. One downside to this quilt is that it doesn’t have pockets, so I’ll have to keep the water filter very close to prevent it from freezing on cold nights. I’ve only used a quilt before on summer trips, so I have some concerns because I tend to toss and turn a lot. Is convenience worth the extra couple of ounces? I guess I’ll find out.

Filtration and water storage: Platypus Quickdraw

I’ve used Quickdraw on a few trips and it’s been fantastic to use – simple, easy and efficient. Slightly faster than the Sawyer squeeze, but not as fast or as bulky as the Hydrapak; It feels like a middle ground. I’ve only filtered from beautifully clear alpine lakes and streams, so the PCT will definitely put it to the test. Questionable water sources here I come! I also opted for CNOC bottles to replace my SmartWater bottles and a 2 liter VectoX for dirty water. Plus, a 1.5 liter Nalgene to use as a makeshift massage roller for sore muscles. Total carrying capacity of 5.5 liters, hoping that can get me through some of the longer water hauls in the desert.

Cooking System: MSR Pocket Rocket and Toaks 750ml Cooking Pot

It seems like the gold standard at UL; I’ll be interested to see what alternative cooking systems other hikers have. I plan to carry a stove and fuel for most of the hike. Maybe plan to try cold soaking after a while. But for starters, I want to be able to enjoy a nice hot meal, which will hopefully help boost my morale during an unsurprisingly challenging desert section.

Hiking poles: Durston Iceline

As you can probably tell, I was all about Durston on this PCT adventure; Weight was the real seller here: the world’s lightest adjustable poles. To be honest, I prefer cork handles and have some reservations about foam handles. But there is nothing better than weight savings. I’ll try them and report back how they went.

Clothes

Those are all the main items I plan to cover here, with a base weight of ~16.5 pounds, I’m not entirely ultralight, but I’m comfortable carrying up to 30 pounds when adding food and water. I’m sure things will change once I get out on the trail and learn from other hikers. Maybe even some test experiences with cold soaking and bouncing my cooking system to the next town. For the next six months I will live out of this backpack. Wild. More details here

This website contains affiliate links, which means The Trek may receive a percentage of any products or services you purchase using links in articles or advertisements. The buyer pays the same price they would otherwise pay, and their purchase helps support The Trek’s ongoing goal of bringing you quality backpacking information and advice. Thank you for your support!

For more information, visit the About page of this site.