What’s in My Pack?

Someone commented on my AZT movie on YouTube saying, “I looked on your website and couldn’t find a gear list”, and it made me feel self-conscious so…

Here is a comprehensive list of the gear I carry on a thru-hike

First Aid/Toiletries:

The Murmer 36L on the AZT 2021

• Ibuprofen

• Band-Aids

• Neosporin (tiny packets)

• Alcohol wipes (individuals)

• Anti-chafe cream (Squirrel’s Nut Butter or Body Glide)

• Scissors (tiny/sharp)

• Tweezers

• Sunscreen/zinc (tiny tin) + Aquaphor Lip Repair

• Toothbrush (1/2 handle) + Toothpaste tabs + floss

• Pica Outdoors Summit Suds (powdered soap)

• Rock Tape (Kinesiology Tape)

• Flex disc (reusable menstrual cup)

• Aquatabs (water treatment)

• Kula Cloth (pee cloth)

The Tarptent ProTrail I used on both the Long Trail and the Colorado Trail in 2020

Clothing:

• 1X Sun hoodie (by NRS or the Outdoor Research Echo Hoodie)

• 1X pair of hiking shorts and/or a pair of Outdoor Research soft-shell long pants (the pair I wear has been discontinued)

• 1X sports bra

• 1-2 pair of hiking socks (Darn Tough or Smart Wool)

• 1X camp socks for sleeping

• Fleece mid-layer Sky Goat CAMP Hoodie (previously I used a Melanzana Micro Grid Hoodie)

• Women’s Torrid APEX Jacket (no hood) by Enlightened Equipment + detachable Torrid Hood

• Raincoat by Enlightened Equipment (they appear to only make wind layers now)

• 1X long underwear bottom by Smart Wool (lightest weight version)

• Thin, fleece-lined gloves + lightweight wool hat

• Sunglasses + visor or brimmed cap

My kit at the start of the AZT in the fall of 2021

Gear:

• I used a Be Free water filter by Katadyn w/ 32 oz reservoir on the AZT, previously I have used a Sawyer Squeeze; I prefer the Be Free because I do not have to carry a syringe to clean/back-flush it

• I used the Zpacks Hexamid Solo Tent with the removable interior bathtub on the AZT; I used the Tarptent ProTrail on my CT & LT thru-hikes

• Tarptent 6” stakes (8)

• Tyvek ground sheet

• Enlightened Equipment Enigma 20F quilt or REI’s Magma 15F mummy bag

• Thermarest Neo Air XLite pad or the ZLite Sol

• Cocoon Air-core Hyperlight pillow

• Gossamer Gear LT5 Trekking Poles, previously I used Black Diamond Trail Explorer Trekking Poles

• Gossamer Gear Backpack: I used the Murmur (36L) on the AZT; I used the Mariposa (60L) on the CT & LT, and I am trying out the G4-20 (42L) on my next big hike

• Backpack liner: contractor trash bag trimmed to size or GG’s Clear Waterproof Liner

• Ursack AllMitey or Zpacks Large Roll-top Food Bag w/ cord for hanging

• 2X Lifewater Bottles 1L ea + 1L screw top Platypus Reservoir

• Journal (thin) and pen

My kit for the Long Trail and the Colorado Trail in 2020; those insulated booties are made by Enlightened Equipment, they are so warm but turned out to be a bit over kill for these two trails in the summertime. 

Technology:

• Garmin InReach Explorer + and charging cable

• GoPro Hero 8 + 3 rechargeable batteries + battery charger + charging cable

• iPhone 11 + charging cable + wall plug

• Kindle Paperwhite (new addition to my kit)

• Nitecore NU25 headlamp (shares charging cable with inReach), previously I used the Petzyl e+LITE Headlamp but found the beam wasn’t bright enough when power walking/jogging; the Nitecore is incredibly bright when on its highest setting

• Garmin Enduro solar gps watch (certified refurbished) + charging cable

• Anker PowerCore 10000 battery bank

Zpacks Hexamid Solo, the tent I used on the AZT in 2021

Notes on the things I carry

First Aid

My first aid kit is minimal; on any given thru-hike I really only need Ibuprofen, bandaids, Kinesio Tape, occasionally Neosporin, and a couple of alcohol wipes here and there.

The main issues that come up for me on long hikes include: blisters, headaches, salt rash, pack chafe, small abrasions, arch & achilles pain.

Clothing

I wear the same base outfit every day on trail.

I have been using thin or medium cushioned hiking socks for all my thru-hikes up to this point. I do like to rotate between two pairs so that I can rinse the salt out of one and let them dry while I hike in a fresher pair.

I recently ordered some Injinji toe socks to try this coming summer, I think they may help prevent gnarly blisters between my toes on long days, and also support my pinky toes since they are being compressed and mashed into their neighbor toes to a greater degree with each passing hike.

I sleep in my micro grid fleece, long underwear bottoms, and a pair of camp socks which are sacred and live in the bottom of my pack at all other times.

Here I am on the AZT in 2021, feeling really glad I purchased two pairs of these Outdoor Research hiking pants because apparently they no longer make them. I am also wearing my Enlightened Equipment purple puffy jacket, which I have patched more times than I can count and will continue to patch and wear until it is past the point of usability.

Gear

When it comes to food storage, the Ursack keeps rodents out of my food (which is my primary concern) and generally provides me with peace of mind in camp. But it is not the lightest option.

The lightest option for food storage is far and way the Zpacks roll top food storage bag. If I bring this bag on a hike—I did for the AZT—hanging it each night becomes very important. Mice can chew through it and bears would rip into it like a candy bar wrapper.

The Ursack is NOT approved for use in all National Parks and Forests which require bear canisters, please see this map of where it is approved for use in place of a bear canister.

Featuring my filthy legs, cool Chile tattoo, and my ZLite accordion fold sleeping pad, truly the most indestructible option for prickly places like the desert. 

Technology

I love my Nitecore headlamp, I’ve never had it die on me while hiking, and being that the battery is rechargeable, it is very lightweight. Nitecore has proven to be such a reliable brand, I may end up switching to one of their battery banks, specifically the NB20000, and retiring my Anker.

The Garmin Enduro watch is amazing, I am in awe of how long the battery lasts when the gps is on and tracking. Gone are the days of my watch dying halfway through an activity! Previously I was using the Garmin Fenix 5S, a great watch, but its battery life was not designed to track multi-day efforts.

I have created all of my YouTube Movies using the same GoPro camera. It is small and packable and the batteries recharge fairly quickly.

Quick Note on Shoes

I hiked in the Altra Lone Peak for my LT and CT thru-hikes in 2020, I hiked in Salewa’s Dropline on the AZT—on my first thru-hike (after suffering through two different brands of boots) I hiked in a trail runner made by Dynafit (that I loved!), which they no longer make—now I hike and run in Topo Athletic’s Ultraventure 2 and Ultraventure Pro. It’s been a journey, but Topo checks all the boxes for me so I’ll be sticking with them for years to come.

Featuring the Sky Goat CAMP Hoodie, my new favorite micro grid due to its longer sleeves & lighter weight!

Thank you for reading!

If you have questions about gear, or general questions about planning a thru-hike, don’t hesitate to reach out.

I am not sponsored by any brand; I use the gear I use purely because I like it and it works for me. I included hyperlinks to the majority of the these items so that it is easy for you to check them out and decide if they would be useful additions to your kit!

Maybe next time I will tell you all about my deplorable diet on trail :D