PCT | Initial Gear List
FINALLY… let’s talk about GEAR!
Just try to imagine a group of hikers who just met each other at a campsite after a long and strenuous day, sharing dinner around a cozy campfire. While chitchatting about their trail food, their lives and dreams, the gear topic will for sure pop up at some point… they’ll start comparing their base weight, and maybe share some ultimate tricks they discovered to be “more ultralight”.
Short introduction
First of all, what do the words “base weight” and “ultralight” even mean?
I’ll try to explain:
Base weight
Weight of the packed backpack, excluding consumables (like water, food, fuel and sunscreen) and worn clothes and accessories.Ultralight hikers
Lighter than light, faster than lightspeed.
These are the hikers whose pack weights less than 4.5 kg. The hardcore ultralight hikers even manage to reduce their base weight to 3 kg only… I know, craaazy!
During the first few weeks along the PCT, we are for sure going to talk A LOT about gear with fellow hikers… and we’ll definitely fit into the category of the “average cozy hikers”. We indeed have a base weight between 8 and 8.5 kg and carry quite some luxury items.
Luxury items
Items which are not needed for survival, but rather for improving one’s personal comfort on trail. Examples could be cameras, e-readers, sitting pads and camp shoes… and of course I carry all these listed items, upsiii!
Ultralight gear is expensive and constantly evolves and improves over time, with lighter and more performant materials being developed.
Yannick and I already spent a lot of money to buy good quality and lightweight gear. There is for sure room for improvement, but we would need more motivation, time and money to further reduce our base weight! Moreover, we still want to keep a certain level of comfort on trail.
Comfort examples
We sleep on inflatable mats and we carry stove and fuel to cook warm meals, as we have no interest in joining the “cold soaking” movement yet.
Initial Gear List
For inspiration purpose, you can find below the list of the gear we plan to bring with us on the Pacific Crest Trail, which was created using LighterPack.
Separately below, you can find the list of the section-specific gear, where we mention the additional items we plan to carry on specific sections of the PCT. For instance, our base weight will for sure increase in the Sierra, where we’ll need to carry additional equipment, such as bear canisters, micro-spikes and ice axe.
⭐️ Tip for couples:
If you use a laptop to read this article, you’ll be able to see the gear pieces that we plan to share, in order to minimize our base weight. They are marked with a star.
🌲 Important note:
After completing the PCT, we wrote a new article about our Final Gear List.
Check it out!♥️ Even more important note:
“Gear” is a very subjective topic, as every hiker is different and therefore has different needs while on trail. Our gear will probably change along the way… I am sure we will swap, add and remove items!
Find what suits you best and HYOH!
Section-specific gear
Micro Spikes (373 g): we’ll probably them for additional grip on the snow in the Desert on the San Jacinto mountains and in the Sierra!
❄️ Depending on the snow conditions, you’ll maybe need them more often or even not at all!
Ice Axe (245 g): we’ll probably need it in the Sierra only.
⛄️ Depending on the snow conditions, you’ll maybe need it more often or even not at all!
Bear Hanging Rope (98 g): we’ll probably need a 50 ft. long cord for hanging our food on trees once we’ll send back our bear canisters, so mainly in NorCal, Oregon and Washington.
Bear Canister BV500 (1162 g): a bear canister is mandatory in the Sierra (from Kennedy Meadows South to Kennedy Meadows North). We already rented ours online from Triple Crown Outfitters in Kennedy Meadows South, and we will pick it up there.
Mosquito Net (23 g): this head net will be essential for our survival when attacked by mosquitoes. We will probably send it to Kennedy Meadows South, and bounce it if not needed.
🦟 Depending on snow conditions, temperatures and start date, you’ll maybe need it at a different time / section of the trail!
Heavy Gloves (95 g): I’ll probably use them in cold weather, so I’ll send them to Kennedy Meadows South and carry them till the end if needed.
☁️ If you have an early start date (March - April), you’ll maybe need them in the Desert as well!
Beanie (66 g): same as the gloves, I’ll send it to Kennedy Meadows South.
Rain Pants (206 g): Chef and I have different strategies regarding pants. He is going to walk in shorts and has rain pants for colder evenings and rainy days. I am also planning to walk in shorts but I prefer wearing wind pants in the evening and colder days, which are more breathable and lighter in the pack, but not waterproof. It is going to be a bit risky but let’s see... I’ll check the weather forecast carefully and adapt if needed!
Final Gear List
After completing the PCT, we wrote a new article with tips & tricks from our experience with gear and, most importantly, our complete and final gear list, a list that was refined day by day over the entire duration of our thru-hike.
Nov 15, 2024