Some items shown here are only carried when weather conditions require them. I usually ship them home or have them shipped to me as needed.
Also listed here are items I have carried in the past. For example, my Zpacks Arc Blast backpack did not hold up for a full thru-hike on the AT, so I switched to a Superior Wilderness Designs Long Haul for the PCT. I began using a Superior Wilderness Designs Movement 40L pack in 2022.
Items I Currently Use
| Item | Weight (oz.) |
|---|---|
| Superior Wilderness Designs Movement 40L backpack (Ultra 200) with two hip pockets; Justin's UL water bottle holder and shoulder pocket | 30.1 |
| Superior Wilderness Designs DCF Lunch Box for clothing | 2.1 |
| Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork trekking poles | 17.1 |
| Trekking pole snow baskets* | 1.3 |
| Katoohla microspikes footwear traction* | 12.3 |
| CAMP Corsa ice axe* | 10.4 |
| Liteflex Chrome hiking umbrella* | 8.2 |
Some Items Used in the Past
| Item | Weight (oz.) |
|---|---|
| Superior Wilderness Designs Long Haul 50L DCF backpack with custom features, two hip pockets, a water bottle holder, and a mesh shoulder pocket (replaced after reliable service on the PCT, BMT, and CDT) | 32.0 |
| Zpacks Arc Blast Backpack with 2 Hip Pouches and 1 Shoulder Strap Pouch (carried on the AT and replaced mid-hike due to failure) | 22.5 |
| Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z-Pole trekking poles (carried on the AT, replaced when one pole broke in the White Mountains) | 10.1 |
| Leki Legacy Ultralite trekking poles (replaced after reliable service on the AT, PCT, and CDT) | 17.1 |
| Osprey Atmos AG 50 (used on the AT after the Zpacks Arc Blast failed) | 48.2 |
My descriptions of gear are not intended to be product endorsements. I have not been compensated for any product mentions, nor do I use affiliate links.
* = Item is carried when conditions warrant