Gear 

Gear. Other than perhaps food, it’s every hiker’s favorite topic of conversation. Sonnets have been written about less.

Much of what is written about gear today focuses solely on finding the lightest possible items, with little (if any) discussion of the skills required to use that gear safely and effectively. I’m certainly an evangelist for lighter nearly always being better, but it’s a principle that is far from being written in stone.

The psychology of gear has a lot to say (rightfully!) about which pieces ultimately end up in my pack. Below is an overview of everything I currently trust enough to carry. The list is broken into two main sections:

• Everything Carried (minus consumables, i.e. food, water, and fuel, which can fluctuate wildly within a hike)

• Everything Worn

With only a handful of minor changes over the years, this reflects the gear that I’ve carried/worn on each long-distance trail since my thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail in 2016. Of course, conditions occasionally warrant specific modifications. For example, on dryer stretches—like those found in the desert regions of the Arizona, Pacific Crest, or Continental Divide Trail—I’ll throw in an additional 2-liter water bag.

For colder or higher altitude sections with long stretches of snow travel, I'll add a pair of Thermasilk long underwear bottoms or a pair of Goosefeet Gear down pants, plus a set of ankle-length neoprene socks to prevent frostbite and non-freezing cold injuries to my sandaled feet. In areas where it's required, I'll take a small bear canister for food storage.

I can’t say enough about the small cottage industry manufacturers—Mountain Laurel Designs (MLD), Hyperlite Mountain Gear, Zpacks, et al—that specialize in making very light, very thoughtfully designed pieces of gear that have been stripped down to the essentials and nothing more. It’s an ethos that perfectly matches the experience of the trail.

They’re also often on the forefront of working with the very latest in advanced production materials that promise weight savings, improved durability, or occasionally both. In many cases, I’ve emailed directly with the owners to make various customizations before ordering—something you’d be hard-pressed to do with the big gear companies.

If you’re interested in finding out more about any particular piece, click on the provided hyperlink, leave a comment at the bottom of the page, or contact me at [email protected].