My PCT Gear List – The Trek

Deciding what to bring on trail is no easy task. I had most of the gear I needed from my 2022 PCT attempt and other backpacking trips but you always feel like you could upgrade something. Planning and buying gear makes me feel like you are doing something to prepare but I also didn’t want to spend a lot of money on gear if I didn’t need to.

I take a frugal approach to gear and most of the gear I already had I’ve gotten on really good sales or second hand. My gear is lightweight but not ultralight, my base weight should be around 13-14 lbs, depending on last minutes changes to the list.

Big 4

Tent: Marmot Superalloy 3p.

I’ll be carrying half of the tent. We went with a 3 person tent so we can have space for us and our gear inside. It is a semi freestanding tent so it gives the option of pitching it mesh only with no fly and is really easy to set up. Not a common tent if you look at PCT gear lists, but a good ultralight option. Also I love that it’s neon blue and green.

You can see my tent from a mile

Backpack: REI Flash 55*

Not the most lightweight but I’ve used this pack for shorter backpacking trips and it has been comfortable. I removed the brain and changed the compression straps to cord to get it to a little over 2 lbs so it is lighter.

All packed and ready to go at the airport

Sleeping pad: Sea to Summit Etherlight XT

This pad is super comfortable and good R value. I wasn’t planning on buying this pad for the PCT in 2022 but got it for $80 used a month before I hit the trail so I didn’t to pass on that deal.

Sleeping bag: Enlightened Equipment 10 degree Enigma Quilt

Was debating between a 30 degree bag and the 10 degree bag because that was what I had and didn’t want to buy a third sleeping bag. Decided on the 10 degree bag as I sleep cold, could be overkill for some nights but we’ll see. It did serve me well paired with my sleeping pad on a night it got down to freezing in the desert.

Cooking

Pot: Imusa 1.25 quart aluminum mug with DIY’ed lid. This pot is super lightweight and big enough to cook for two, even though we are carrying separate cooking pots.

Stove: Fire Maple titanium stove*

Simple and tiny titanium stove and mini bic lighter.

Mug: Sea to Summit X-tumbler

I wanted a separate mug for my coffee and teas. I might send it home later down the trail.

Utensils: I carry a titanium long handle spoon with a polished spoon bowl. The polished spoon part makes a difference, it makes it feel like a regular spoon instead of the weird and kind of rough titanium texture.

Clothes and shoes

Worn: my main hiking outfit consists of Topo Designs shorts, Eddie Bauer button down hiking shirt, sun gloves, darn tough socks, Topo Athletic Ultraventure trail runners, sunglasses and wide brim hat.

Other clothes: Patagonia Houdini wind jacket, Outdoor Research helium rain jacket, Amazon dance pants as wind pants, Patagonia Capelene Cool t shirt (this is my clean shirt for towns so I’m not stinky around town and also can wear it while I do laundry), Mountain Hardware Airmesh fleece, Uniqlo down puffy, two pairs of socks, three pairs of Exofficio underwear, two sports bras, fleece headband, and top and bottom base layers to sleep in.

Other gear

First aid kit: Some bandages and gauze, a emergency blanket, tape for blisters, safety pin to pop blisyers with, alcohol wipes, triple antibiotic, pills: Ibuprofen, allergy, Pepto, omeprazole for acid reflux.

Toiletries: I try to keep this at a minimum so I carry the tiniest amount that I can, knowing that I can refill on the trail. Tiger balm, chapstick with spf, sunscreen, lotion, tiny tube of aquaphor, toothpaste and tooth brush, eye dropper filled with concentrated wilderness wash soap, tiny comb, extra hair ties, KT tape, nail clippers.

Bathroom kit: Deuce of Spades trowel, Culo clean bidet, wipes, Kula Cloth pee rag, hand sanitizer and bags for trash

Extras:

Buff, bandana, cheap flip flops, sunglasses, wide brim hat.

Electronics:

Power bank, charging cables, solar panel (might send home if I find I don’t use it enough), mini air pump to inflate the sleeping pads.

Thats a lot! I wonder how my gear will hold up and what will change along the way.

* I was going to post this before trail. Since then I’ve changed my hat to a baseball cap as I got tired of the wide brim hitting my pack at the back, and my stove to one with an integrated igniter so I don’t need a lighter. 

The quilt is working fine. I was glad I gad it for the cold snap we got. I kind of wish that I had gotten a wide width quilt, but mine will do. My pack is giving me shoulder issues and my hip belt is at its smallest, if I lose any weight I’ll have to get a new pack. If you have any recommendations please leave it in the comments. 

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