The Gear We're Using Right Now!
Backpacks, tents, and all the rest -- here are our current favorites.
We had already been backpackers for years and years when we set out on our first thruhike (the PCT), so we thought we already had a lot of the gear we needed... As it turned out, we didn’t! In the interest of going lighter, we ended up replacing our backpacks, tent, shoes, clothing, and almost everything else to make it trip-specific. Since then we’ve done more thruhikes, medium and short hikes, and long-distance canoe trips. Ultimately, we’ve used a LOT of gear over the years. Our favorites are always changing, but here is a compilation of our absolute favorite stuff that’s currently on the market. These are the items we’re currently reaching to first when gearing up for any 2025 trip.
Shoes:
Hiking: Topo Athletic Vista (These are lightweight, breathable, quick-drying, and durable. We love them!)
Trail Running: HOKA Speedgoat 6
Trail Racing: HOKA Tecton X3
Tents:
Top Pick: Z-Packs Duplex (This 2-person tent is crazy light, easy to set-up, and remarkably sturdy.)
One-Person: Z-Packs Plex Solo Lite
Cold Weather: Hyperlite Ultamid (with insert).
More Affordable: Big Agnes Tiger Wall (We used this tent on the PCT)
Backpacks:
Top Pick: Zpacks 50L Arc Haul (We’ve put over 5,000 miles on our Zpacks Arc Airs and they are AMAZING. They have been replaced with the very similar Arc Haul.)
Runner up: Hyperlite Unbound 40 (This pack is water resistant and super durable.)
Sleeping Bags / Quilts:
Tim Sleeping Bag: Feathered Friends Hummingbird UL 20°F (Regular)
Renee Sleeping Bag: Feathered Friends Egret Nano 20°F (Small)
Quilt: Enlightened Equipment Revelation Sleeping Quilt 20°F (950 down)
Sleeping Pad:
Top Pick: Nemo Switchback (This is the orange accordion-style pad that’s always strapped to the top of our backpacks.)
Runner up: Therm-a-Rest Sol (This pad is very similar to the Switchback, but it’s a little more expensive and has been harder to find lately.)
Hiking Poles:
Top Pick: Black Diamond Distance Z
Runner up: Distance Carbon Z Poles (These are great, just pricey. The extra price vs. weight isn’t worth it for us, but it is for some people.)
Rain Gear:
Rain Coat: Outdoor Research Helium Rain Jacket
Rain Pants: Outdoor Research Helium Rain Pants
Cookware:
Pot: Olicamp XTS (1-Litre)
Stove: Olicamp ION Micro Titanium
Spork: Titanium Spork (Long)
Fuel: Olicamp Rocket Fuel (8oz) (Or whatever 8oz isobutane fuel canister is available when we resupply in town.)
Navigation:
GPS Watch: Garmin fenix 8 Solar Sapphire (with built-in topographic maps and a flashlight!)
Emergency Beacon: Garmin inReach Messenger Plus
App: Wanderfreund Trails (This is only for long trails in Germany. But, we developed it so we had to include it on this list!)
Power Bank:
Top Pick: Anker 10,000 mAh (The most popular and current one on Amazon. Dual-port wall plug (USB-C & USB); carried in a quart-size Ziplock bag for water protection.)
Runner up: Anker 20,000 mAh (We use this on longer stretches like Renee’s unsupported FKT.).
Note: Don’t forget your wall plug and cables if needed to charge during resupplies!
Headlamp:
Top Pick: Nitecore NU21 (USB-C rechargeable)
Runner up: Petzel Bindi (USB rechargeable. We’ve tested this one for thousands of miles, but we switched to the Nitecore recently to minimize charging cables.)
Water Filters:
Top Pick: Platypus QuickDraw (Fastest flow, easiest to back-flush, and has a cap for both ends that keeps water from getting into your sleeping bag on cold nights.)
Runner up: Sawyer Squeeze
Canoeing Pick: Katadyn Gravity BeFree Water Filtration System – 3 Liters
Socks:
Pants:
T-Shirt:
Sunshirt:
Mid-layer:
Top Pick: Sambob Microgrid Hoodie (This hoodie is AMAZING!)
Underwear & Bra:
Tim: ExOfficio Everday Boxer (Underwear)
Renee: ExOfficio Give-N-Go Bikini Brief (Underwear); ExOfficio Everyday Bralette (Bra)
Baselayers:
Tim Top: Smartwool Classic All Season Top - Men’s
Tim Pants: Smartwool Classic All Season Bottom - Men’s
Renee Top: Smartwool Classic All Season Top - Women’s
Renee Pants: Smartwool Classic All Season Bottom - Women’s
Bug & Bear Protection:
Bear Bag: Ursack Major (Bear-resistant bag)
Bear Canister: BearVault BV500 (Only where required)
Bear Spray: Counter Assault Bear Spray
Head Net: Sea to Summit Head Net
Bug Spray: Ben’s Spray Pump (30 percent DEET)
Sunglasses:
Ombraz Sunglasses have an adjustable strap instead of arms and hinges, so they’re much less likely to break on the trail!
Tim: Ombraz Classic
Renee: Ombraz Teton
Dry Bags & Sacks:
Top Pick: Zpacks Roll Top Dry Bag (10″ x 18″)
Runner Up: Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Nano Dry Sack (13L)
Note: We avoid stuff sacks as much as possible, but we do each carry ONE dry sack to keep our clothing dry/organized in our pack during the day and to use as a pillow at night. (In case of heavy rain, we stuff our sleeping bag in there as well during the day.)
Snow Equipment:
Microspikes: Kahtoola MICROspikes (for traction in moderate snow)
Crampons: Kahtoola K10 (unlike most crampons, these are compatible with trail running shoes)
Snowshoes: TSL Outdoor 438 Up & Down Fit Grip
Ice Axe: Corsa Nanotec
Note: We only carry these items if needed. On our thruhikes of the CDT and PCT, we carried microspikes for the snowy sections of trail only.
Food Prep:
Dehydrator: Excalibur 9-Tray
Freeze Dryer: Harvest Right Home Pro – Small
Note: We use BOTH of these tools to prep food for the outdoors. The dehydrator is easier and cheaper, but it can only do so much. The freeze-dryer can prep more interesting foods (like Guacamole!), but it’s more of a process to run it.
Sports Nutrition:
Electrolyte Tablets: SaltStick FastChews Electrolytes (These are AMAZING because they’re so easy to consume.)
High-Carb Drink: Skratch Labs Super High Carb (During endurance races we get our calories through this high-calorie drink instead of solid foods)
Guide Book:
Top Pick: Admittedly, we’re biased, but it’s definitely Thruhikers: A Guide to Life on the Trail!
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This post originally appeared on the Thruhikers blog.