Gear: hats
On the AT I needed a hat for about two-three days (other than for dealing with rain).
I started with a hat from Costco that disappeared (I figure I lost it some place).
I replaced it with an almost identical Tilley Hat from REI. It is a neat hat, with an included cult membership; except: it is heavy, nothing I could do would make it waterproof and it really did not breathe well.
I eventually replaced it with a Frogg Toggs hat that cost a lot less, weighed a lot less, and handled rain a lot better.
Then I used an Outdoor Research ball cap that was perfectly sized and a wonderful color until it disappeared at a hostel we were staying at. I followed that for two more days on the AT with a gimme cap from a trail angel.
Since then, I’ve moved to ball caps for a visor under a sun hoodie or a rain jacket. Picked up a hunting season orange cap on the Pinhoti trail that was available, but did not fit well (my head is too large).
For the PCT I bought a FlexFit baseball hat that was polyester mesh in Orange. It disappeared during a family reunion and I replaced it with a ball cap from a local store. When I bought it, the delivery time (with Amazon Prime) was over a month. That has improved since.
For the CDT, I switched to a “Built Cool” which has a great fit and evaporates sweat well–and also was available for less and faster. So far, 2,000 miles and I’ve been happy with it. Even better, it handles being washed very well. I plan to wear it next year.
Gaiters
Now that I have gaiters that work well with my shoes, I’m very pleased. I tend to get rocks and sticks in my shoes, probably need to empty them out once a hour or more. With good gaiters that changes to less than once a week.
I’ve tried lots of gaiter/shoe combinations, most that did not work well for me. But Topo gaiters with Topo shoes work very well (and those gaiters were not a good thing when I tried them with Hoka ATRs or Speedgoats). I’m using the Topo gaiters next year on trail.
Rain gear
Jackets/Tops
I started with ponchos. I really wanted them to work, and they really did not work well for me. On the other hand, ThePacka.com worked like a charm on the Appalachian Trail. Huge pit zip vents. Easily used as a pack cover. All the possible downsides were ameliorated by the shelters and the fact I carried a tarp to use with my tent or over the front of the shelter.
For the PCT I switched to Lightheart Gear’s rain jacket. It is completely waterproof, but does not breath at all, which is fine since I’ve rarely had meaningful results from a rain jacket’s breathing. I really liked it, though I finally wore it out. I used it as both a wind shirt and a rain coat on the PCT and the Pinhoti.
Other rain jackets used include a tourist one from a waystop in the Shenandoah National Park, an Arc’teryx (works really well, but heavy and expensive), and an Outdoor Research Apollo.
It was available on trail at the north end of the PCT when my other rain jacket wore out. It works. 10+ ounces. Pretty color. I use it off trail now.
I’ve used some off-brand jackets (tldr: they wetted through in 10-15 minutes), an OR Helium II (short take: protects for about 45 seconds. Warranty service consisted of being sent some Nikwax which did not solve the problem), etc.
My wife got good results with a Montbell Versalite Rain Jacket. I’m surrently using a Visp and am pleased with it.
Heads up. All rain jackets will eventually wear out. Given how light wind shirts are (they used to be as heavy or heavier than a light rain jacket), I’m all for using a wind shirt for a wind breaker and the jacket only for rain so the rain jacket will last longer.
There are people who can’t wrap their heads around the fact that rain jackets wear out and that the lighter the jacket, the faster it wears out. That is just a sad fact of life.
Pants/Bottoms
I started with a rain skirt and gaiters. Worked well, but even Eastern Mountain Sports Full Zip Thunderhead pants weighed less than the skirt/gaiter combination. EMS is in bankruptcy and the chain has been acquired, so those pants should be available again. They vent well (full zip), especially when paired with a Packa, and handle underbrush and heavy, sustained rain very well.
After the EMS rain pants on the Appalachian Trail, I switched to Montbell Versalite Rain Pants for the PCT and the first two thousand miles of the CDT. Lighter. Work well where the trail isn’t overgrown with brush and rain paints are needed rarely, but are needed.
They also can be worn when doing laundry or when it is really cold. Mine have finally started to wear out so I’ve looked at others. What I wanted was pants to go with my new jacket.
However, the Visp rain pants have been discontinued. I’m currently in a toss up between another pair of Versalite pants (I’ve kind of worn my first pair out) or Dutchwear Xenon pants. They are about two and a half ounces.
I’ve never used rain pants when it wasn’t cool or cold so the need for venting for warm weather use isn’t as pressing for me.
While Texas has warm rain, I’ve not encountered it on the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail or the Continental Divide Trail. As an aside, most on-line ratings and comparisons of rain pants rate only rather expensive and rather heavy pants. I already have a great pair of heavy pants.
The common alternative, Frogg Toggs, which makes a solid rain jacket at a great price makes rain pants known for ripping out. I’ve even picked up a pair from a hiker box and tried them. They went back to the next hiker box.
Often in the west you can wait out the rain.
This is especially true for the CDT, for afternoon monsoons we just set up the tent and wait the reoccurring rain out. After the afternoon rain we would then hike some more.
I would never have believed I’d be that cavalier about stopping for an hour or two to wait out rain, but the CDT changed me. Rain pants are more of an emergency item, which makes lighter weight more important.
Shirts/Fleeces
I started with an UnderArmor t-shirt but quickly moved to Merino. For the t-shirts I eventually used a wool with 10% nylon/spandex. The blends wear much better. 100% merino wore holes in it too quickly. As for brands, I just bought what was least expensive that week.
Once we decided to try to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail I would vary between a long sleep and a short sleeve t-shirt. I never needed a sun hoodie.
With fleeces I found myself talked into a Stio by a brand ambassador (he just really liked his), and I still have it (just not for trail wear). The problem is that the Stio weighed as much or more than a fleece and was basically a replacement for a fleece/wind shirt.
Old fashioned fleeces work just fine at wind protection. I have some long blog entries on what works well for the AT. For other trails, Alpha Direct fleeces are so much lighter and pair well with a wind shirt that weighs less than two ounces.
Back to shirts, on the PCT I started with a Black Diamond Sun Hoodie and after a very unsatisfactory replacement, ended up with a Mountain Hardware Sun Hoodie. I really liked it and bought another for the CDT.
The PCT hoodie wore out and I bought a Tyr hoodie on trail (link is to Tyr, but not the hoodie I have). It is great for off-trail wear. I’m embarassed at how often I find myself wearing it.
I also have a Patagonia hoodie. It is also great for off-trail wear. It just lacks thumb loops, the hood doesn’t grip a ball cap and the gray color is just ok. It may be discontinued?!? I’ve worn it on trail but decided it needed replacement.
Most recently I moved to a Jolly Gear Sun Hoodie. It is comfortable, wicks moisture well, is warm when it is cool and cool when it is warm. I like it. Win got hers (in long sleeve, that model was for a 2024 hiking season only) for the CDT and that eventually persuaded me for next year to get mine.
CDT Next Year
I want to start right after North Texas RPG Convention, but that starts us a little early for going SOBO from the north. However, we have a few days of New Mexico to finish and still need to head south from Rawlins.
It seems to me that this is our probable route:
- Cuba (using the free shuttle from Albuquerque) and head south, catching the short segment I missed due to pneumonia. SOBO.
- Rawlins (catching a shuttle from town to twenty miles south) and south to Grand Lake Colorado. That gets us through before the water is gone (and even in the worst of times has us with only twenty miles to the “nice” trail again). SOBO.
- “The Bob” from the trail head south. Take a shuttle from East Glacier to the trail head. Doing the other hiking gives The Bob Marshal Wilderness time to finish melting so we miss the snow if it lingers at all. SOBO.
- Maybe do the Big Sky Cut-off (gives us prettier trail to hike). Faster. Prettier and faster, what is not to like.
- Finish the CDT just past Big Sandy Lodge. Catch a shuttle to Lander.
Then, we would finish the last 150 miles of the PCT using local permits (link goes to Yogi’s details on local permits).
For the PCTA take on local permits: https://www.pcta.org/2023/returning-to-the-sierra-92790/.
With the schedule for next year and when we cut-off that is time to train (especially in April and May), time to hike in June, July, and August and a way to wrap up what we’ve missed.