Below is my current gear list for the trail with everything in my pack measured with a baking scale for accuracy. This is actually copied over from an even more detailed spreadsheet I created, so hopefully I got it all down correctly. A little OCD? Nah...
My base pack weight, which is considered what is in your pack not including consumables like food, water, and fuel, is right at 15 pounds. I also included links to the product's website, Amazon, and REI to help readers get a range of information and reviews. That being said, I shopped around and found quite a number of discounts from the likes of GearTrade, Backcountry.com, eBay, and Sierra Trading Post. Thus, the prices listed at those sites will likely not match my "purchased cost" for each item.
Despite having quite a plethora of gear already, unfortunately most of it is meant for activities like mountaineering and snow camping. Not exactly lightweight. So, I bit the bullet and bought new, ultralight versions of a shelter, sleeping bag/pad, and pack for a rather hefty cost of $995. Yet, by buying those four items instead of using what I already owned, I reduced my base pack weight by over five pounds. Considering the time and distance, I felt that was a worthwhile investment. After the big four, my next four largest purchases were a JetBoil Sol Titanium stove, a solar charger, and my hiking shirt and pants.
JetBoil Sol Titanium. While it seems the hip/cool ultralight PCT backpacker uses an alcohol stove, I simply could not get excited about using one. I know that when I cook while backpacking, I am usually about one evolutionary leap away from caveman and want my food now. Also did not like having to concern myself with alcohol measuring, the lack of simmering, and instability. This new JetBoil boils 2 cups of water in about a minute, which is the perfect amount of water for most of my dinners, while a fuel cannister should last around two weeks. Doubt I will regret this decision.
Solar Charger. We are in the age of technology. Our smartphones are camera, GPS, web browser, app platform, and phone all in one. The sCharger-5 Solar Charger is hopefully going to help me keep my iPhone powered. It was highly recommended by a few PCT hikers last year and my initial tests have shown it to be quite the little power delivery device when there is full sun.
Hiking Shirt and Bottom. I am not sure where I initially heard about RailRiders, but the more I read the more it looked like their clothes would be ideal for hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. Lightweight, ventilated, quick drying, and long lasting. One of my more blind faith gear choices, but sometimes you need to rely on a good feeling and hope it turns out to be right.
Everything else is reasonably standard or self explanatory. I am sure with more money , research, and sacrificing of comfort, I could reduce my base weight another 3 pounds and perhaps even have found cheaper items. But, for now I am reasonably content with my choices. We shall see how foolish I truly am once on the trail.
| Item | Details | Weight (oz.) | Purchased Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Gear Weight: | 15 lbs | ||
| Total Gear Cost: | $1,590.55 | ||
| Shelter | TarpTent Contrail | 26 | $210.00 |
| Ground Cloth | Polycro Ground Cloth | 1.6 | $10.00 |
| Stakes | Titanium Stakes (4) | 1.4 | $15.00 |
| Sleeping Bag | ZPack 20 degree, wide, extra long | 21.7 | $390.00 |
| Sleeping Pad | Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite [ Amazon] | 13 | $160.00 |
| Pack | Gossamer Gear Mariposa | 28 | $235.00 |
| Pack Liner | Trash compactor bag | 2.3 | Owned |
| Stuff Sacks | Sea To Summit Ultra-Sil [ Amazon] | 3 | $22.00 |
| Sleeping Socks | KEEN Olympus | 1.8 | Tester! |
| Gloves | Lightweight Black Diamond | 1.6 | Owned |
| Spare Socks | KEEN Olympus | 1.3 | Tester! |
| Spare Underwear | ExOfficio Give-N-Go Boxer [ Amazon] | 3.5 | $15.00 |
| Bandana | 1.2 | Owned | |
| Insulating Layer | Mountain Hardwear Synthetic Puffy (ex: Mountain Hardwear Compressor Insulated Jacket) | 15.3 | Owned |
| Rain Gear | Poncho, switching to rain jacket later | 2.0 | $5.00 |
| Windshirt | Marmot DriClime Windshirt [ Amazon] | 9.0 | $56.00 |
| Warm Hat | Smartwool Cuffed Beanie [ Amazon] | 1.8 | $11.00 |
| Long Underwear - Top | SmartWool Midweight Crew Top, used for sleeping [ Amazon] [REI] | 10.0 | Owned |
| Long Underwear - Bottom | SmartWool Midweight Long Underwear Bottoms, used for sleeping [ Amazon] [REI] | 7.8 | Owned |
| Stove | JetBoil Sol Titanium [ Amazon] | 10.0 | $120.00 |
| Fuel Container | Isobutane Container (base weight, no-fuel) | 3.5 | $0.00 |
| Flame! | Bic mini lighter | 0.4 | $2.00 |
| Pot | Grease Pot | 3.4 | $8.00 |
| Utensil | Spork (2) | 0.5 | Free |
| Trash Bags | ZipLoc Freezer Bags | 1.5 | $5.00 |
| Water Filter | Sawyer PointOne Squeeze Water Filtration System [ Amazon] | 3.75 | $50.00 |
| Water Backup | AquaMira [ Amazon] | 1.25 | $5.00 |
| Water Containers | 70 fl. oz Platypus Platy Bottle (2) [ Amazon] | 2.6 | $13.00 |
| Solar Panel | sCharger-5 High Performance Solar Charger [ Amazon] | 8.0 | $140.00 |
| iPhone, Case, Bag | iPhone 5, Incipio Dual PRO [ Amazon], Aloksak Bags [Amazon] | 5.5 | $25.00 |
| Headlamp | 3.3 | Owned | |
| Wet Wipes | 1.5 | $5.00 | |
| First Aid Kit | Curse of the WEMT: Small ace bandage, gauze roll, gauze pads, athletic tape, Second Skin Blister Pads, couple bandaids, one pair of gloves, mini-face shield, ibuprofen, needle, tweezers, nail clippers. | 8.5 | Owned |
| Toiletries | Toothbrush, tooth paste, floss, tweezers, nail clippers | 5.0 | Owned |
| Hand Sanitizer | 2.5 | Owned | |
| Sunscreen | Neutrogena Ultimate Sport Sunscreen | 2.0 | $11.00 |
| Foot Balm | Mac Smack's Ultimate Fix | 2.0 | $15.00 |
| Lip Balm | 15 SPF | 0.3 | Owned |
| Sunglasses | Favorite pair of gas station bought sunglasses ever | 0.7 | Owned |
| Extra Cord | 2.75mm GLOcord Minor Spool - 50 ft, only taking 15 feet or so | 1.0 | $16.55 |
| Knife | Mini-Griptilian Serrated [ REI] [Amazon] | 2.6 | Owned |
| Mini Leatherman | Small scissors, screwdriver, bottle opener, pliers, blade | 2.0 | Owned |
| Money/ID/Credit Card | 0.8 | Owned | |
| Reading Book | Starting off with a half book collection of Sherlock Holmes | 3.0 | $3.00 |
| Compass | 1.0 | Owned | |
| Maps, etc. | DataBook [ Amazon] and Erik the Black's Pocket Atlas (v3) | 8.0 | $15.00 |
| Pen | 0.5 | Owned | |
| Journal | Rite in the Rain ruled journal. | 2.6 | $8.00 |
| Item | Details | Weight (oz.) | Purchased Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total Gear Weight: | 5.3 lbs | ||
| Total Gear Cost: | $348.00 | ||
| Hiking Shirt | RailRiders Eco-Mesh Shirt | 8.1 | $69.00 |
| Hiking Pants | RailRiders Bone Flats Pants | 12.1 | $89.00 |
| Underwear | ExOfficio Give-N-Go Boxer [ Amazon] | 3.5 | $15.00 |
| Hat | Outdoor Research Sun Runner Cap [ REI] | 3.0 | Owned |
| Socks | KEEN Olympus | 1.3 | Tester! |
| Gaiters | Dirty Girl Gaiters - Going Batty | 1.3 | $20.00 |
| Shoes | Brooks Cascadia 8 [ Amazon] | 30.5 | $120.00 |
| Ankle Brace | Eight years of soccer playing and two decades of trail running sort of requires it. | 2.6 | Owned |
| Poles | Black Diamond Trail Back Trekking Pole | 22.8 | Owned |
| Item | Details | Weight (oz.) | Purchased Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Extra Water Bottle | Gatorade Plastic Bottle | 2.0 | $3.00 |
| Mosquito Head Net | Sea to Summit Mosquito Headnet with Insect Shield [ Amazon] | 1.0 | $12.00 |
| Insect Repellent | 30% DEET | 1.5 | Owned |
| Balaclava | REI Performance Headliner | 1.5 | Owned |
| Rain Coat | Arc'Teryx Beta AR. Love this jacket and bought it cheap years ago. Bombproof, pit zips, compressible, and for its reliability worth the extra ounces. | 15.8 | Owned |
| Rain Pants | REI Rainwall Pants | 9.7 | Owned |