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| See my updated list, here. This is a list of the gear I carried on the Pacific Crest Trail. What I actually carried from day to day varied, depending on how close I was to supply, where I was along the trail, and so on. I come up with a total base pack weight of about 11 pounds 12 oz. That is what was on my back minus food and water. When I was carrying one liter of water and three days worth of food (2 lbs a day for me) my pack weighed about 19 pounds, 12 ounces, “average.” On my heaviest carry between Kennedy Meadows and Vermillion Valley Resort, I started out with about 18 pounds of food and about three pounds of extra gear, like bear canister and an ice axe. That made my heaviest pack about 32 pounds.If you notice any errors, please let me know. | |||
| Item | Brand Name | Comment | Oz. |
| The “Big Four” | |||
| Backpack | Golite Pinnacle | 2008 Model | 25.0 |
| Shelter/Stakes | Six Moon Designs Wild Oasis | Includes 2 oz of stakes | 15.0 |
| Sleeping Bag | Marmot Hydrogen |
Older model | 23.0 |
| Sleeping Pad | Ridgerest (Trimmed) |
Bomber, also doubles as pack frame | 14.0 |
| Subtotal: 4 lbs 13 ozs | |||
| Clothing in Pack | |||
| Thermal Bottom | Patagonia Midweight Capilene |
Part of my sleep system | 7.0 |
| Jacket | Montbell Alpine Light Down Jacket |
Also part of my sleep system | 16.0 |
| Rain Shell | Outdoor Research Zealot | Replaces my old Red Ledge Thunderlight |
7.7 |
| Sleeping Socks | Possum Wool |
Light, warm, saved for sleeping only | 2.0 |
| Underwear | Under Armour Boxerjock |
Popular hiker choice | 4.8 |
| Socks | Darn Tough, 1/4 Sock, Mesh |
1.4 | |
| Warm Hat | Turtle Fur |
Micro Fur Balaclava | 1.1 |
| Gloves | Possum Blend Gloves  |
Light and warm but abrade easily | 1.5 |
| Subtotal: 2 lbs 9.5 ozs | |||
| Cooking Items | |||
| Stove/Pot/Stand | Caldera Keg | Efficient, compact | 6.3 |
| Fuel | HEET, Denatured, Rubbing (alcohols) | Usually Heet, ave. weight used | 5.0 |
| Utensils | Spoons (2) | “Carry-Out” style | .2 |
| Ignition | Mini Bics (2) | No “survival toys” needed. | 1.0 |
| Subtotal: 0 lbs 12.5 ozs | |||
| Hydration | |||
| Water Carriers | Platypus |
Two, 2.5 Liter | 2.4 |
| Water Bottle | Generic | Empty Liter Water Bottle | 1.1 |
| Water Treatment | Aquamira Water Drops |
‘A’ and ‘B’ bottles | 3.0 |
| Subtotal: 0 lbs 6.5 ozs | |||
| “Essentials” | |||
| Map | PCT Atlas | Combines maps and data | 5.7 |
| Compass | Suunto Clipper | Worn on watch band | .1 |
| Lights | Photon II Micro-Light x 2 |
LED lights are awesome | .3 |
| First Aid | Various | See below for list | 6.0 |
| Pocket Knife | Victorinox Swiss Army Classic |
Has scissors, blade, toothpick, tweezers | .7 |
| Cordage | Parachute Cord |
For bear bagging, etc. | 1.0 |
| Duct Tape | 10 feet | For blister prevention, gear repair, etc. | 2.0 |
| Subtotal: 0 lbs 15.8 ozs | |||
| Sanitation and Hygiene | |||
| Toilet paper | Standard | Partial Roll | 2.0 |
| Toothbrush | Generic/w cap | Yes, I cut the handle in half | .5 |
| Toothpaste | Generic | Small tube | .5 |
| Hand Sanitizer | Prefense | Weight estimated | 2.5 |
| Subtotal: 0 lbs 5.5 ozs | |||
| Miscellaneous | |||
| Sleep Bag Sack | Generic | With turkey roasting bag liner | 1.0 |
| Food Sack | Generic | Silnylon | .8 |
| Pack Liner | Hefty | 18 gal? Trash compactor bag | 2.2 |
| Camera | Panasonic | Lumix DMC-LZ8K | 5.0 |
| Permits | Government Issue | Fire, Thru-Hike, Canada entry | .5 |
| Bandana | ADZPCTO | Cotton | 1.0 |
| Data | Yogi, etc | Yogi’s Handbook section , etc. | 3.0 |
| Spare Glasses | Prescription | With case and clip-ons | 2.5 |
| Tripod | UltraPod |
Camera Tripod | 1.6 |
| MP3 Player, Recorder | Iriver T60 | For audio journal, Radio, Music | 1.7 |
| Cell Phone | Kyocera | With charger | 5.1 |
| Wallet | Generic | Credit Card, Cash, Driver’s Lic. in ziploc | 1.0 |
| Monocular | Brunton | 7×18 | 1.8 |
| Batteries | Various | Spare Camera and MP3 | 2.4 |
| Hip Belt Pocket | Gossamer Gear | Large | .8 |
| Subtotal: 1 lb 14.4 ozs | |||
| Worn or Carried Outside Pack | |||
| Underwear | Under Armour Boxerjock |
6″ legs | 4.8 |
| Long Sleeve Shirt | Trekmor Travel Shirt | Good for sun | 9.0 |
| Pants/Shorts | Mountain Hardwear Mesa |
Pants Convertible to shorts | 13.0 |
| Socks | Darn Tough, 1/4 Sock, Mesh |
Mixed and matched w/ 1/4 cushion socks | 1.4 |
| Socks | Darn Tough 1/4 Cushion |
Mixed and matched w/ 1/4 mesh socks | 2.4 |
| Shoes | Asics Gel Kayano |
Highly subjective. Try on many models and brands | ~20.0 |
| Sunglasses | Prescription | Madatory | 1.0 |
| Sun Hat | REI Vented Explorer Hat | (weight guessed) | 5.0 |
| Trekking Poles | Yana Poles | Originally Titanium Goat | 6.8 |
| Wristwatch | Casio Databank 150 | Calculator, Phone #s, Time | 1.0 |
| Subtotal: 4 lbs 0 ozs | |||
| Carried in the Sierras, Washington or as needed | |||
| Rain Pants | Mont-Bell Versalite | Will have in Washington | 9.7 |
| Rain Mitts | eMountain Laurel Designs | eVENT Rain Mitts | 1.2 |
| Ice Axe | CAMP USA Corsa Ice Axe | For the Sierras | 7.0 |
| Bear canister | Bear Vault BV500 | Kennedy Meadows to Sonora Pass (see Yogi’s Guidebook) | 41.0 |
| Bug Repellant | Repel 100  |
Picked up at Kennedy Meadows | 1.0 |
| Subtotal: 3 lbs 12 ozs | |||
| I swapped out my Wild Oasis for a Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo 23 oz. in Cascade Locks. It’s floor was nice in the rain. | |||
Hi Buck this is a really nice page I have been nosing around at web sites about the PCT because my little big brother is planning on doing it in the near future. I am planning a suprise going away party and would like to get him a gift for the hike. I keep looking thru things and wondering what he would really value and treasure. Somthing that he will be thankful for and know that he is loved when we cant be with him. I know wieght is an issue. I was thinking of getting him a digital map/compass/watch type thing. But this is alot harder then I thought. Can I upgrade something that he needs. what would you recomend any advice would be so helpful!! Thank you for your time and consideration in advance.
Nicole
Hi Nicole,
So is this a gift you would give him just before he leaves for the trail? If so, one problem I see is most hikers would already have all the gear they need already. If you are going to give him something ahead of time, and he doesn’t already have it already, a good gift would be Yogi’s Pacific Crest Trail Handbook (Yogi’s PCT Handbook)
The way I like to describe it is that it answers questions you didn’t know to ask.
A really nice gift would also be an offer to mail him a box of food resupplies wherever he wants it sent. Flat Rate Priority boxes work well. Have him give you a list of what he wants, then do the shopping and ship it for him. That is an awesome, appreciated act of support. Add some a little favorite, dry foods, like a big bag of peanut M&Ms perhaps.
That’s a couple of ideas. Good luck!
Colter