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.
Big Three: Shelter, Sleep System, Pack
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
Inflatable Sleeping Pads
- Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite
- Sea to Summit UltraLight Sleeping Pad
- Exped Synmat Hyperlite
- Klymit Static V
Foam Sleeping Pads
Shelters
- Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2
- Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2
- ZPacks Plexamid
- ZPacks Duplex
- Tarptent Rainbow
- NEMO Hornet Elite
- Mountain Laurel Designs Solomid
- Six Moons Designs Skyscrape Trekker
- Six Moons Lunar Solo
- REI Quarter Dome
- Gossamer Gear The One UL Shelter
- Gossamer Gear The Two UL Shelter
Backpacks
- ULA Circuit
- ULA Ohm 2.0
- Gossamer Gear Gorilla
- Gossamer Gear Mariposa
- Osprey Exos / Eja
- Mountain Laurel Designs PROPHET
- ZPacks Arc Blast
- Hyperlite Mountain Gear Windrider 55L
- Mountain Laurel Designs Burn
- Pa’lante V2
PCT Thru-Hike Apparel
Footwear
- Altra Lone Peak- Men, Women
- Altra Timp- Men, Women
- Brooks Cascadia- Men, Women
- Salomon Speedcross- Men, Women
- Salomon X-Ultra- Men, Women
- La Sportiva Wildcats- Men, Women
Puffy Jackets
- Montbell Thermawrap- Men, Women
- Enlightened Equipment Torrid Apex- Men, Women
- Montbell Ex Light Down Anorak
- Western Mountaineering Flash
- Uniqlo Ultralight Down Jacket- Men, Women (at less than $70, this fashion brand actually makes a decent down)
Rain Gear
- Montbell Versalite Jacket- Men, Women
- Enlightened Equipment Visp – Men, Women
- Frogg Toggs Rain Suit
- OR Helium – Men, Women
- Marmot Precip Jacket- Men, Women
- Marmot Precip Pants- Men, Women
- ULA Rain Kilt
- MLD Rain Mitts
Read: Why $20 Frogg Toggs are the Ideal Rain Gear for a Thru-Hike.
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
Sun / Next-to-Skin (Desert / NorCal / OR)
- ExOfficio BugsAway Shirt
- Columbia Silver Ridge Shirt- Men, Women
- REI Sahara Shirt- Men, Women
- Orvis Pro Sun Hoody
- 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
- REI Base Layer Bottoms – Men, Women
Bottoms (shorts / pants / skirt)
- Patagonia Baggies- Men, Women
- Generic synthetic running shorts
- Purple Rain Hiking Skirt
- Columbia Titanium Featherweight Hike Pant
Wind Shirt / Pants
- Montbell EX Light Wind Jacket- Men, Women
- Patagonia Houdini Jacket- Men, Women
- Montbell Dynamo Pants- Men, Women
Underwear
Socks
- Darn Tough merino hiking socks: Men, Women
- Point6 Light Socks
- Swiftwick Pursuit Four
Gloves
Hat
Kitchen / Water Treatment
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
Sun Protection
Snow Items (The Sierra)
Cup / Bowl
Utensils
Bear Canister
Water Storage
- Platypus 3-L Big Zip
- SmartWater bottles
- Platypus SoftBottle 34 oz.
The Rest of the Goods
Headlamp
Knife
Trekking Poles
First Aid Kit
- Blister care
- Triple antibiotic
- Band-Aids (just a few)
- Hydrocortisone (single serving packet)
- Benadryl
- 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 head net
- Hiker wallet
- Passport / Visa (just before entering Canada)
