Since I got back from hiking the JMT in 2013 I’ve continuously been trying to reduce my base pack weight (=Weight of my filled backpack minus weight of consumables like food, water and fuel).
On the JMT my base pack weight was around 13 or 14 lbs. Bearcan and ukulele included. On the long stretches, especially between Muir Trail Ranch and Mount Whitney, where I carried 9 days worth of food, my backpack was waaaay too heavy for my small shoulders. The first day after MTR wasn’t funny, that I can tell you.
My goal for the Pacific Crest Trail is to get my BPW down to around 8lbs. Sometimes it’s gonna be a little more, sometimes a little less, depending on where I am and whether I need additional clothes or gear for a certain stretch or not.
So this is what my gear list currently looks like. I’m still working on it, so I will probably update this list once in a while in the next three months.
Some items I haven’t weighed yet… yes, just because I was too lazy to do so.
Here we go:
|
|
oz
|
g
|
|
Backpack Gossamer Gear Gorilla
|
24,7
|
701
|
|
Therm-a-rest NeoAir Xlite S
|
8,21
|
230
|
|
Zpacks 10 degree sleeping bag
|
19,64
|
550
|
|
Pillowcase Thermarest Ultralight (aka clothes bag)
|
0,96
|
27
|
|
Shelter – Yama Mountain Gear – Daniel (who is gonna hike with me) will carry our shelter as well as our cook system :cP Lucky meee :c)
|
||
|
Sea to Summit Alpha light spoon
|
0,32
|
9
|
|
Cup for coffee,…
|
1,43
|
40
|
Rain gear
|
Rainjacket OR Helium II
|
5,82
|
163
|
|
Rainpants Montane mimimus pants (Washington only)
|
5,21
|
146
|
|
Umbrella Euroschirm
|
8,07
|
226
|
Hydration system
|
Aquamira A+B (refilled in dropper bottles)
|
1,43
|
40
|
|
Platypus 2 x 2 L (desert only)
|
2,14
|
60
|
|
2 Gatorate or Smartwater bottles
|
Clothes carried
|
T Shirt LS Arc’teryx Motus Crew
|
3,57
|
100
|
|
Desert shirt Graghoppers (not sure, maybe I just use the LS)
|
8,07
|
226
|
|
Leggings Arc’teryx Phase SL
|
2,86
|
80
|
|
Windpants Patagonia Houdini
|
2,96
|
83
|
|
Windshirt Patagonia Houdini
|
3,64
|
102
|
|
Puffy: Quetchua Down jacket
|
8,21
|
230
|
|
Fleece hat Meru
|
1,43
|
40
|
|
Thin fleece gloves Quetchua
|
0,68
|
19
|
|
Montane prism mittens (Sierra and Washington only)
|
2,07
|
58
|
|
1 pair extra underwear Arc’teryx Phase SL Briefs
|
0,86
|
24
|
|
Darn Tough socks
|
2,29
|
64
|
|
Seal Skinz socks (Sierra and Washington only)
|
2,64
|
74
|
|
Injinji socks lightweight minicrew (desert only)
|
1,04
|
29
|
|
Sleep socks
|
0,68
|
19
|
Other stuff
|
Photon freedom finger light
|
0,29
|
8
|
|
Canon Power Shot G15
|
12,50
|
350
|
|
2 extra camera batteries
|
2,93
|
82
|
|
Battery charger
Stickpic
|
||
|
Cell phone
|
4,61
|
129
|
|
sea to summit bag (foodbag)
|
0,93
|
26
|
|
Yama Mountain Gear cuben stuff sacks
|
||
|
Toiletries (toothbrush/paste, sunscreen, soap and handsanitizer in little dropper bottle)
|
||
|
Repair kit (needle, thread, superglue, tape)
|
0,75
|
21
|
|
Victorinox tiny pocket knife
|
0,89
|
25
|
|
1 mini bic lighter
|
||
|
Pack liner: Heavy duty trash bag
|
||
|
Pee rag
|
||
|
First Aid kit
|
||
|
Journal
|
3,57
|
100
|
|
Water color kit (I love to paint in my journal)
|
1,07
|
30
|
|
Sunglasses
|
||
|
Passport, money, credit card
|
2,32
|
65
|
Clothes worn
|
Tshirt SS North Face
|
3,21
|
90
|
|
Shorts Arc’teryx Womens Cita
|
3,96
|
111
|
|
darn tough socks
|
2,29
|
64
|
|
Arc’teryx Phase SL Briefs
|
0,86
|
24
|
|
Marmot Visor
|
1,79
|
50
|
|
Bandana
|
0,64
|
18
|
|
Mogul Bra
|
1,11
|
31
|
|
Trail Runners: Altra Lone Peak 2.0
|
17,00
|
476
|
|
Dirty Girl Gaiters
|
1,07
|
30
|
|
Trekking poles Komperdell Vibrastop Voila
|
14,29
|
400
|
Additional to posting my gear list I wanna take a moment to say THANK YOU to some of my awesome sponsors who provide me with gear and support!
Now I guess some of you might think: Now that’s easy peasy, Cat gets sponsors, no wonder she can get out on the trail. The thing is: I really worked my ass off the last 2 years to be able to go on this adventure. Flights are expensive, as is gear,… I’m super excited that these sponsors support me. This is special and new for me (I’ve never had sponsors before) and I am super grateful!
TREKKING LITE STORE -one of the few stores in Germany and Europe specializing on lightweight gear – was super generous, lights up the dark by providing me with the Photon Freedom Finger Light. Additional to that Trekking Lite Store makes sure that I will be able to lay my head and body down very comfortably at night on a Therm-a-rest NeoAir XLite. Thanks Henrik!!!
The L.R.I Photon Freedom Finger Light is a superbright superlight LED light, that you can clip to your hat, wear around your neck or even like a ring around your finger. This versatile little light is all I need for getting around camp in the evening and for the occasional night hike.
Who doesn’t know the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir? To me it’s THE sleeping pad to go with. I’m not comfortable on closed cell foam pads and the NeoAir is super lightweight. I’ve been using my NeoAir XTherm for over two years now and never had any problems. Now it’s time to go even lighter. The Xlite has an R-value of 3,2 which is definitely warm enough for a PCT thruhike! A lot of folks are curious to compare the XTherm with the XLite. I am too. I definitely will write a review after coming back from the PCT.
Last but not least: EUROSCHIRM. Yeah!!!! Euroschirm is the original manufacturer from the GoLite Chrome Dome. But now that GoLite is out of business…. aaaaah where to get those awesome trekking umbrellas??? Euroschirm is actually a german family business producing all kinds of umbrellas. When I contacted Euroschirm they were super duper friendly and even were so kind to not only sponsor 1 umbrella but 5, one for each of the 5 YAMA hikers! They’re just super cool. It’s time to spread the word that they are the original manufacturer from the trekking umbrella we love: the Euroschirm Swinglite Flex.
Ups, the “Hummel-Ausdauershop” link takes you to the trekking-lite store. Not necessarily a bad thing but just fyi. Walk on!!
Dennis (penn-im-gebuesch.blogspot.de)
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Uuups I better change that haha 😉 thanks for letting me know! Cheers!
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Great packing list! I love Darn Tough socks. There are a couple pieces of equipment I would consider. Check out https://www.hyperlitemountaingear.com (amazing lightweight packs!) and http://www.enlightenedequipment.com (very lightweight “quilts”). Both made in the USA and the quality is great. Happy trails! http://www.trailroadbike.com
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I forgot to mention, I used gear from both of these companies on a long trek last year so they are trail tested.
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Thanks Stacey!!! Happy trails!!!
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