16 Experienced Thru-Hikers Reveal Their Least Favorite Gear

Ttrying to find your ideal gear setup includes a lot of trial and error. While taking a chance on new gear sometimes yields unexpected wins, other gear can leave you standing in line at the post office in the middle of a thru-hike, desperate to send it home.

We asked a group of experienced long-distance hikers for the gear that utterly failed them on the trail. From uncomfortable sleeping pads to frustrating shelters, their failed experiments offer some lessons on what to avoid when building your ultimate setup. However, remember that what didn’t work for one person might still work for you.

Responses lightly edited for length, grammar, and clarity.

Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers’ Least Favorite Gear

Zooks | Least Favorite Gear: Ursack Bear Bag
MSRP: $119.95 | Weight: 7.6 oz

“A black bear tore right through it.”

Jared Zornitzer | Least Favorite Gear: REI Flash Stretch Rain Pants
MSRP: $159 | Weight: 11.6 oz

“These have never really been waterproof, even from day 1. I washed them with Nikwax, and re-waterproofed them with Nikwax, and they still absorb water. They aren’t breathable either. I get super hot wearing them if it’s not actively raining.”

Molly Parham | Least Favorite Gear: Lightsmith Shorty Toothbrush
MSRP: $2.95 | Weight: 0.26 oz

“It was small and light, but it was really soft and it didn’t feel like it was doing a good job. The toothpaste tablets that Litesmith sells were decent though, however I felt like I couldn’t properly clean my teeth with the toothbrush. It was just too soft and I do not recommend it.”

Mark “Jackrabbit” D’Alessandro | Least Favorite Gear: Flip Fuel Transfer Device
MSRP: $35 | Weight:  1.4 oz

“Great idea, but having to warm up one fuel before isn’t realistic in some situations (pulling from hiker boxes, cold weather…)”

Pacific Crest Trail Thru-Hikers’ Least Favorite Gear

Ellie Saul | Least Favorite Gear: Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60
MSRP: $315 | Weight: 34.2 oz

“It just doesn’t work with my body, no matter how I distribute the weight or adjust it. Plus the adjustment straps slip all the time, so even if I make it somewhat comfortable, it has to be readjusted again in like an hour. I wanted to love it so bad, but it was destroying my shoulders.”

Jamie “Pinto Bean” Santos | Least Favorite Gear: Injinji Run Lightweight Socks
MSRP: $14 | Weight: ~ 1 oz

“They’re perfectly fine but annoying to put my toes in and out.”

Emilio Gizzi | Least Favorite Gear: Black Diamond Powder Baskets
MSRP: $14.95 | Weight: ~ 1 oz

“Why don’t they stay on the trekking pole? WHY DON’T THEY STAY ON THE TREKKING POLE?”

Ryan “KidzMeal” Gallagher | Least Favorite Gear: Zpacks Vertice Rain Pants
MSRP: $149 | Weight: 3 oz

“They’re very expensive for what they are and man do they shred easily! Seriously, they do work well as rain pants, but in crummy terrain the leg cuffs and seat will shred quickly.”

Continental Divide/Colorado Trail Thru-Hikers’ Least Favorite Gear

Rolf Asphaug | Least Favorite Gear: Columbia Silverlight Shirt
MSRP: $45 | Weight: ~6 oz

“I love a button-up shirt but damn, there’s something about the material this shirt’s made from that makes it the stinkiest garment ever on day three or more of a hike. I’ve had fellow hikers complain about the smell.”

Christopher “GooseHawk” Bewell | Least Favorite Gear: Nemo Switchback
MSRP: $49.95 | Weight: 14.5 oz

“Closed cell foam pads costing over $50 is a crime. Moreover, the comfort is diminished quickly through use and renders the pad less effective than a Charleston chew. A trimmed Ozark Trail pad is similar in weight, far cheaper, and its rigidity is compressed as easily.”

Dani Buck | Least Favorite Gear: CNOC Vessica Water Bottle
MSRP: $16.99 | Weight: 2.4 oz

“I wanted to like this piece of gear, and gave it a good test trying it as both a clean bottle and dirty bottle for filtering water. It missed the mark because it is just too flimsy and would flop over in my pack when half full. Luckily I hear CNOC is developing a new bottle that solves just this problem, so I’m excited for the innovation that comes next.”

Anessa “Daze B” Bensley | Least Favorite Gear: Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest 3400
MSRP: $379 | Weight: ~31 oz

“The weight of my pack never carried right. I had several issues with the straps because they were too wide. Just freaking uncomfortable, and it’s unfortunate because that pack is very widely available!”

Featured image: Graphic design by Chris Helm.