Pacific Crest Trail Thru-Hiker Gear List
Based off of Liz Thomas‘ wonderful gear chapter in Pacific Crest Trials, here’s a non-exhaustive list of suggested gear items for a Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike.
Sleeping Bags
- Western Mountaineering 20 Degree Ultralight (what Liz carried on the Triple Crown)
- Montbell Downhugger #2 (suitable for warm sleepers)
- Katabatic Alsek 22
- Marmot Plasma 15
- Feathered Friends Hummingbird UL 20
- Enlightened Equipment Revelation 20 degree quilt
- Zpacks 20 degree quilt
- Katabatic Sawatch 15
Inflatable Sleeping Pads
- Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite
- Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol
- Sea to Summit UltraLight Mat
- Klymit Inertia X Frame
- Exped Synmat Hyperlite
Foam Sleeping Pads
- Therm-a-Rest Z-Lite
- Therm-a-Rest Z-Lite Sol
- Gossamer Gear Nightlight
- $5 Blue Foamy You See At Discount Camping Stores (multiple brands)
Shelters
- ZPacks Hexamid Solo-Plus
- Tarptent Rainbow
- Mountain Laurel Designs Solomid
- Big Agnes Cooper Spur UL 2
- Big Agnes Fly Creek UL 2
- Six Moons Designs Skyscrape Trekker
- Six Moons Lunar Solo
- MSR Hubba NX
Backpacks
- ULA Ohm 2.0
- Gossamer Gear Kumo, Gorilla, or Mariposa
- Osprey Exos 48
- Mountain Laurel Designs PROPHET
- ZPacks Arc Blast
- Hyperlite Mountain Gear Windrider 55L
- Granite Gear Virga 2 or Crown 60
- Six Moon Designs Fusion
Footwear
- Altra Lone Peak 3.0
- Altra Olympus
- Brooks Cascadia
- Salomon Speedcross
- Salomon X-Ultra
- La Sportiva Mutants
- La Sportiva Bushido
Puffy Jackets
- Montbell Thermawrap
- Montbell Ex Light Down Anorak
- Western Mountaineering Flash Jacket
- Mountain Hardware Ghost Whisperer
- Uniqlo Ultralight Down Jacket (at $70, this fashion brand actually makes a decent down)
Other Clothing
First and foremost, to get a breakdown on how clothing needs may change based on section, read this: Pacific Crest Trail Clothing System
Base-layer (Desert / NorCal / OR)
- Light colored synthetic shirt (long sleeve for sun protection, short sleeve or tank top for more air flow)
- Exofficio BugsAway Talisman Solid Shirt – Men’s
- Exofficio BugsAway Breez’r Shirt – Women’s
- Columbia Silver Ridge Shirt – Men’s
- Columbia Silver Ridge Shirt – Women’s
- REI Sahara Shirt – Men’s
- REI Sahara Shirt – Women’s
Base-layer (Sierra / Washington)
- SmartWool NTS 150
- Icebreaker Bodyfit 200 Oasis – Men’s
- Icebreaker Bodyfit 200 Oasis – Women’s
- Icebreaker Bodyfit 200 Oasis Zip – Men’s
- Icebreaker Bodyfit 200 Oasis Zip – Women’s
- Patagonia Silkweight Bottoms – Men’s
- Patagonia Lightweight Bottoms – Women’s
Bottoms (shorts / pants / skirt)
- Patagonia Baggies
- Solumbra Ultra Athlete Pants
- Cheap running shorts (synthetic)
- Rail Riders Ecomesh Pants
- Purple Rain Hiking Skirt
Wind Shirt / Pants
- Montbell Tachyon Anorak
- Patagonia Houdini Jacket
- Luke’s Windpants
Rain Gear
- Montbell Versalite Jacket
- Frogg Toggs Rain Suit
- Marmot Precip Jacket
- Marmot Precip Pants
- ULA Rain Kilt
- MLD Rain Mitts
Underwear
Socks
Gloves
Hat
Stoves
- Trail Designs Keg-F system (Liz has used this for 5,000 miles)
- MSR Micro Rocket
- Jetboil Flash Lite
- Snow Peak GigaPower
- (DIY) zenstoves.com
Water filters / treatment options
- Sawyer Squeeze
- Aquamira
- Bleach drops
Sun protection
- Montbell UL Sun Block Umbrella
- Euroschirm (which also licenses to Gossamer Gear, Six Moon Designs, and Anti-Gravity Gear)
- SolarFlex Sun Gloves
- OR Sombriolet sun hat
Snow Items (The Sierra)
Cup/bowl/mug
Utensils
Bear Canister
Water Storage
- Platypus 3-L Big Zip
- SmartWater bottles
- Platypus SoftBottle 34 oz.
Head lamp (Lightweight)
Knife
Trekking Poles
First Aid Kit
- Blister care (Leukotape)
- Triple antibiotic (single serving packet)
- Band-aids (just a few)
- Hydrocortisone (single serving packet)
- Imodium
- Benadryl
- Tylenol PM
- Ibuprofen
- Other meds
Compass
Map
PCT Water Report
Trowel
Luxury Items
- Phone
- Camera
- Chargers
- Spare battery
- Other electronics
- Journal / pen
Hygiene / Health
- Sunscreen
- Bug spray
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Biodegradable soap
- Toilet paper
- Hand sanitizer
- Supplements
Misc
- Bug headnet
- Hiker wallet
- Passport / Visa (just before entering Canada)