Pacific Crest Trail Thru-Hiker Gear List

Based off Liz Thomas’s 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 Phase 20
• Marmot Helium
• Feathered Friends Hummingbird UL 20
• Enlightened Equipment Revelation 20 degree quilt
• Zpacks 20 degree quilt
• Katabatic Sawatch 15
• REI Igneo
• REI Joule
• REI Magma (Men’s – Women’s)

Inflatable Sleeping Pads

• Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite
• Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm
• 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
• Foamy You See At Discount Camping Stores (multiple brands)

Shelters

• Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2
• Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2
• ZPacks Plexamid
• ZPacks Duplex
• Tarptent Rainbow
• NEMO Hornet Elite 2P
• Mountain Laurel Designs Solomid
• Six Moons Designs Skyscrape Trekker
• Six Moons Lunar Solo
• MSR Hubba NX
• REI Quarter Dome
• Gossamer Gear The One UL Shelter
• Gossamer Gear The Two UL Shelter

Backpacks

• ULA Circuit
• ULA Ohm 2.0
• Gossamer Gear Murmur, Gorilla, or Mariposa
• Osprey Exos / Eja
• Mountain Laurel Designs PROPHET
• ZPacks Arc Blast
• Hyperlite Mountain Gear Windrider 55L 
• Granite Gear Virga 2 or Crown 60
• Mountain Laurel Designs Burn
• Pa’lante V2

Footwear

• Altra Lone Peak 4- Men, Women
• Altra Timp- Men, Women
• Brooks Cascadia- Men, Women
• Salomon Speedcross- Men, Women
• Salomon X-Ultra- Men, Women
• La Sportiva Mutants- Men, Women
• La Sportiva Bushido- Men, Women

Puffy Jackets

• Montbell Thermawrap- Men, Women
• Montbell Ex Light Down Anorak
• Western Mountaineering Flash Jacket- Men, Women
• Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer-  Men, Women
• Uniqlo Ultralight Down Jacket- Men, Women (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 Shirt- Men, Women
• Columbia Silver Ridge Shirt- Men, Women
• REI Sahara Shirt- Men, Women
• A cheap thrift shop buy

Base-layer (Sierra / Washington)

• Smartwool NTS 150- Women
• Icebreaker Bodyfit 200 Oasis- Men, Women
• Icebreaker Bodyfit 200 Oasis Zip- Men, Women
• Patagonia Lightweight Bottoms- Men, Women

Bottoms (shorts / pants / skirt)

• Patagonia Baggies- Men, Women
• Solumbra Ultra Athlete Pants
• Cheap running shorts (synthetic)
• Rail Riders Ecomesh Pants
• Purple Rain Hiking Skirt

Wind Shirt / Pants

• Montbell EX Light Wind Jacket- Men, Women
• Patagonia Houdini Jacket- Men, Women
• Montbell Dynamo Pants- Men, Women

Rain Gear

• Montbell Versalite Jacket- Men, Women
• Frogg Toggs Rain Suit
• OR Helium II- Men, Women
• Marmot Precip Jacket- Men, Women
• Marmot Precip Pants- Men, Women
• ULA Rain Kilt
• MLD Rain Mitts

Underwear

• ExOfficio- Men, Women

Socks

• Darn Tough ultralight merino ¼ socks- Men, Women
• Point6 Light Socks

Gloves

• Lightweight fleece gloves

Hat

• OR Down Beanie
• Beanie
• Balaclava

Stoves

• Trail Designs Keg-F system (Liz has used this for 5,000 miles)
• Snow Peak LiteMax Stove
• MSR PocketRocket 2
• Jetboil MicroMo
• Snow Peak GigaPower 2.0
• (DIY) zenstoves.com

Water filters / treatment options

• Sawyer Squeeze
• Katadyn BeFree Collapsible Water Filter Bottle– 20 oz
• 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)

• Ice Axe
• Katoohla Microspikes or Yaktrax

Cup/bowl/mug

• Sea to Summit X-Bowl
• Vargo Bot

Utensils

• Snow Peak Spork
• Vargo Spoon

Bear Canister

• BV500

Water Storage

• Platypus 3-L Big Zip
• Smartwater bottles
• Platypus SoftBottle 34 oz.

Head lamp (Lightweight)

• Black Diamond Cosmo
• Black Diamond Spot
• Petzl Tikka
• Petzl Actik Core

Knife

• Swiss Army Knife

Trekking Poles

• Leki Carbon Ti

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

• Halfmile Maps

PCT Water Report

Trowel

• Deuce #2

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 head net
• Hiker wallet
• Passport / Visa (just before entering Canada)