Gear for my 2024 PCT thru-hike

Yeah! Another article about gear! After reading hundreds of them, I decided to post my own and share what I learned and my thought process to select my equipment for my PCT thru-hike. 

When I joined the military when I was 18 ever, I started developing a passion for gear. And it got worse when I joined the commando paratrooper units. We were always looking at the newest equipment coming out and how to make our work more enjoyable and increase our performance with better gear.

Now, it was never really about ultralight. It was common to go on maneuvers with bags weighing about 35 kilos / 75 lbs. Yes, you’ve read that right! Food, water, ammo, first aid, optics, etc. That quickly adds up! I don’t mind a heavy bag; I’ve got used to it. But still, the lighter, the better, so we tried to optimize everything.

On a thru-hike, you can’t avoid the heat, the cold, the rain, the wind, the muscle pain, the mental challenge, the physical exhaustion, the smell, etc. BUT, you can avoid making things worse by reducing your load! When my wife and I decided to walk the PCT, it was clear: we were going “ultralight.”

Ultralight, yes, but with some level of comfort. I could walk naked, but I’m not sure I’ll last long. The idea is to find out what weight/level of comfort is acceptable for you and, of course, know your budget (ultralight is usually ultra-expensive!).

Weight vs comfort chart

We decided to buy the best (in our opinion) lightweight gear we could find and create the money to afford it. Fancy, I know, but five months in the woods? Let’s make it comfy! Now, if you decide to go Northbound, you’ll start in spring, so I highly recommend you take your time to do your own research early and be ready to go into a buying frenzy during the big yearly sales days (Labor Day, Thanksgiving, Black Friday, Cyber ​​Monday, etc). That’s what we did, and we saved hundreds of dollars! We used lighterpack.com to list all our gears with the link to the merchant, so we just had to copy and paste the discount code and hit “buy.” Well, that was in theory; it was still more time-consuming than we thought!

I completed my Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike, starting on April 25th, 2024, and finishing on September 27th, 2024. From Mexico to Canada, I walked every single step, even detouring around fire closures (those soul-crushing road walks, anyone?).

Here’s a breakdown of the main gear I began with—and what I changed as the trail tested my setup.

Capitan gear photo

Budget allocation

First things first. If you decide to buy an ultralight backpack but then have no money left for a lightweight tent and sleeping bag, you’ll have a problem! So, budget at least for a backpack, tent, and sleeping bag.

After some research and calculating the weight of my bag and the price that goes with it, I realized that the total budget we needed for the PCT was…more than expected, way more! I was shocked; things quickly added up. In Lighterpack.com, I also added the price and the weight. So I could have a better idea about the budget I needed to get to the weight I wanted. Yep, it quickly adds up. But it was time for me to renew all my hiking gear. Here is my list: https://lighterpack.com/r/5wxwv2

As you can see, I am ultralight but not a minimalist, I like my comfort and don’t mind carrying a little bit extra weight for it. For example, I have an extra long and large sleeping pad and a quilt. I don’t really need the extra room, but I was sooo comfy!

We walked as a couple, but we decided only to share the tent and would be independent for the rest. So, in case one of us wants to walk alone (we love each other, but sometimes we’ll need a bit of space!), we don’t have a problem. Sharing sunscreen or bug spray doesn’t sound like the smartest idea. Unfortunately, my wife had to leave the trail after a few hundred miles due to an ankle injury, and I kept walking alone.

Buying gear from abroad

We are nomads; we don’t have a house and are always on the move. We’ve been moving through Central and South America for the past years, and the availability of gear is not so great here. So we ordered everything online in the US. We made everything delivered to a friend’s house. We’ll fly there a week before the start date and cross our fingers that we choose the right size. Yep, that’s not ideal, but we have no other choices. 

Pro tip: if you also are a non-US resident and plan to order your gear online, find a friend in a state with low sales tax! Our friend lives in Seattle, Washington (10% sales tax), and I wish we knew someone in Oregon (0% sales tax).

 

 

Big 3

Backpack: Zpacks Arc Haul ULTRA 50L and ULA ULTRA Circuit 

We were doubting between the ULA Circuit and Zpacks Arc Haul, and in the end, I chose the Zpacks and my wife, the ULA. I like the mesh in the back for more ventilation and the style of the bag. The only downside is that the hip belt pockets are sold separately. I bought 2 hip belt pockets, one shoulder pocket, and one water bottle sleeve. The water bottle sleeve is an absolute must for me, it helped me drink a lot.

Tent: Zpacks Offset Duo + groundsheet

I saw lots of solo hikers using a Zpaks Duplex to have more room inside. So we doubted between the Trio or the Duo for the two of us. We decided to go for the Offset Duo because of the very big footprint of the Trio (not always easy to find a spot) and in the worst-case scenario that one of us had to stop, the other could continue with the Duo, and this is exactly what happened. We also decided to buy a “not necessary” ground sheet. It increases the longevity of the tent and I used it everyone for cowboy camping. We chose to take the tent in burnt orange color. It is slightly heavier but it is less transparent, has a bit thicker fabric, and has better contrast for the photos!

Sleeping bag: Sea To Summit Spark and Zenbivy Ultralight sleep system

This was a tough decision between a quilt and a sleeping bag. I am a side sleeper that moves A LOT (ask my wife!). So I loved the idea of a quilt but I never had problems sleeping in a sleeping bag. I went back and forth and had a very hard time deciding until I found the Zenbivy Ultraligh sleep system. With this innovative anti-draft system, I felt more confident in having a quilt. Zenbivy only offers the quilt in 10F or 25F degree rating. I chose the 10F to be sure to be toasty warm during cold nights and it was perfect!

To keep the sleeping bag clean and extend its longevity (sunscreen, dirt, sweat, bug repellant, etc., doesn’t do great!) and avoid feeling my legs sticking to each other if I couldn’t wash properly. I chose to sleep in silk pants (Terramar Thermasilk). It didn’t make sense to buy a liner that would restrict my movements, that’s why I bought a quilt and not a sleeping bag. 

The Zenbivy sleep system is the most expensive gear I bought (it surely doesn’t come cheap!). But a good night’s sleep after a long day hiking is priceless to me. I was always so looking forward to getting to my quilt and knew I would be warm no matter what. And their customer support is amazing!

My wife is always cold, and she wakes up exactly in the same position as she fell asleep in (the complete opposite of me!) A quilt was a “no-go” for her, and she chose the new Sea To Summit Spark Women’s Down 15F sleeping bag.

Mattress: Therm-A-Rest NXT

This was an easy choice. It’s number one almost everywhere. We chose to take the large version (25 x 77 inches) so that we don’t slip out of the mattress during the night. We also have a Gossamer Gear Thinlight Foam Insulation Pad that will provide some extra protection against punctures or a tiny little bit of extra cold protection. The thin pad didn’t last long and was not really comfortable. To be able to stretch properly, and have comfort during every break, I ended up buying a Thermarest Z-lite (yes, I carried 2 pads, but it was perfect for me!)

Luxury add-on: Zen Bivy pillow. To be honest, I don’t consider this a luxury but a necessity. I want to sleep well! Their pillow feels just like home!

Clothing:

Rain gear: Zpacks Vertice and Montbell

I need something breathable to walk so the Zpacks was my best option although not the most stylish. My wife opted for something a bit thicker with the Montbell. The Frogg Toggs might be enough if it doesn’t rain much. But in my case, Washington was wet and cold, and people having a cheap rain jacket had a hard time.

I also got a rain wrap from Enlightened Equipment. I like the fact that I can easily roll up the wrap when the rain stops, and put it down when it starts again, and that it is less warm than having a trash bag-looking pants sticking on my legs. It was a great piece of equipment!

Down jacket: Outdoor Research Ghost Whisperer II

There are a lot of great gear out there. After long hours of researching, the Ghost Whisperer II seemed to have the best ratio of weight/warmth. And indeed, it was light and warm!

The tough questions:

Short, pants, leggings?

I will be walking mostly in my shorts but I want to have extra sun protection in the desert and be a bit warmer in the Sierra. I’m not comfortable in a legging so I opted for a pant.

Short: Patagonia Multi Trail 8in

Pant: Outdoor Research Ferrosi

This setup turned out to be ideal for me! I only wore my shorts in NorCal and Oregon and I was happy to have my pants for the wet and cold Washington.

Fleece or not?

Surveys show that it is 50 percent of people take one. I always liked to have a layer to start walking with before warming up. I could use my puffy but then I just walk 10 minutes and already have to stop to change and get into this uncomfortable too hot or too cold situation. Alpha Direct material seems to solve the problem! It is getting more popular on trail, and for a reason! It is breathable, warm, and super lightweight. The only problem is that it doesn’t perform well in windy situations (a problem I will solve wearing my rain jacket) and is a bit fragile because of its loose weave (just don’t bushwhack wearing with it!). The Senchi Design Alpha Direct hoodie was absolutely lovely and more durable than I expected; still looks great after 2650 miles.

How many socks and underwear?

Here is my thought process: if you don’t wear it, it is either in your backpack or drying outside. I’ll take two pairs of underwear (one to walk and one to sleep) and three pairs of socks. If it doesn’t dry well during the day, I don’t mind wearing slightly humid underwear but I want my socks to be dry (and thus I will carry 3 pairs). 

That was the initial plan, but I ended up ditching one pair of socks after a few hundred miles. Two pairs are good enough.

Here is a link to my complete list, including the weight of each item and the price I bought it for.

 

Zero drop shoes or not?

Finding a pair of shoes that work for you is not so easy. You will need around 5 pairs of shoes and will gain size over the months (I gained almost 2 sizes!). Trail runners are the way to go because they are light and dry quickly. The majority of hikers change brand and model trying to find something that feels better. But you will have pain and blisters no matter what.. just be mentally prepared for it.

I was prone to shin splints so I decided to try 0mm drop and it worked perfectly! I started with Altra Lone Peak, but they are not cushioned enough for me. My second pair was Altra Olympus, very comfy but the sole didn’t last long (and they were more expensive). I wore Topo Pursuit for the rest of the trail and I was really happy with them. It would be ideal to find shoes and extensively test them before the trail, I have been quite lucky, but many really struggled.

 

My favorite website to compare gears:

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Comments 1

  • Jason Brower : Oct 10th

    Jason From Oregon…. Pleased to meet you!!!

    haha

    Reply

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