Gear
You can research different kinds of gear using the navigation bar above. Makes and models of gear change frequently. That's why we aren't big on recommending manufacturer-specific, or model-specific gear. Instead, we talk about the qualities that good pieces of gear should have.
The Basics
Choosing gear for a Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike is a balancing act. You have to strike a balance between comfort while hiking and comfort while camping. Generally speaking, comfort while hiking translates into carrying a lighter pack. In contrast, comfort while camping may translate into having more and/or heavier gear (such as an inflatable sleeping pad, a bigger tent, or a faster-cooking stove). If you plan on doing higher miles (25 or more per day), then you may want to concern yourself more with your comfort while hiking. If you plan on doing lower miles (ie: 10 miles per day) then you may want to concern yourself more with comfort while camping.
Going Ultralight
For the ultralight hikers we'll point out the brand/model of the lightest currently available gear (that we are aware of) in each gear category. Though we aren't big on specific brand/model gear recommendations, we do want to help keep ultralight hikers up-to-date on the lightest gear available.
Reducing Your Gear Costs
A common theme throughout our gear section, our clothing section, and our planning section is cutting your trip expenses. So for the budget conscious hiker we point out low cost options and money-saving tips in each gear category.
Testing Your Gear
Before you hit the trail you may want to test out your gear and clothing set up. A late winter or early spring overnight hike is a really good way to test out your cold weather gear. You can test out your shelter and rain shell on any rainy day. If you don't get many rainy days where you live then you can always have a friend simulate rain with a garden hose. It's better to get any kinks worked out before your first rain storm on the PCT.