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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. | |||
Hey Buck, first , thanks for the hike you did across the Brooks Range. The DVD is great.
I’m wondering about the Six Moons Lunar Solo,looks like a good tent, but is there any problems with
having the space to set it up, it looks like after guiding it out, it takes up alot of area? Thanks.
Joe Mac
Hi Joe,
I’m glad you liked Alone Across Alaska!
The Lunar Solo is an awesome shelter. It’s true that it does take up more room than some shelters, but then it gives much better coverage than many shelters. It’s a very good compromise in my opinion. I don’t think I ever had a serious problem finding a spot to set it up. With any shelter I sometimes use rocks or small logs to put a tie-out exactly where I want it. Usually it isn’t an issue. I really like the Lunar Solo especially in rainy country. I used it on the north parts of both the CDT and PCT and on other long trips and I wish I would have had it on the AT. To sum up, for lightweight backpacking my favorite shelters are the Hexamid with netting for where it’s mostly dry, and the Lunar Solo where it often rains. If I had to choose one, I’d get the Lunar Solo.
Buck