Completed December 17, 2025.
Introduction
It is fun to look back at my gear from the past and look at now.
I see gear I’ve changed a lot and also see gear that has been stable or unchanged for a while as Happy6 and I get ready for the Arizona Trail.
Clothes
Shirts
I’ve actually changed shirts up a bit, but generally because they’ve worn out and been replaced.
Started with short and long sleeved t-shirts for the Appalachian Trail. For that trail that is still a good choice.
For the PCT I switched to a Black Diamond sun hoody. Then to Mountain Hardware (that is a great sun hoodie). I’ve made some on-trail substitutions when things were wearing out.
The only change I’ve made off trail is Jolly Gear. I’ve enjoyed the shirts I’ve had from Jolly Gear. I’d put them on par, but different, from Mountain Hardware. My favorite varies.
Pants and shorts
For pants, I used to have preferences. Now, whatever fits.
On the AT zip offs were important to me. Now, I don’t really care. Pants protect me from sunburn and scrapes.
For shorts it is pretty much what is the lightest pair that fits.
Underwear
These days it is nylon mesh. Breathes. Doesn’t hold moisture. Washes out easily and dries quickly. Lightweight.
Socks
I’ve worn a lot of socks. Darn Toughs are a trail favorite. I’ve hiked thousands of miles in them.
These days I wear https://www.costco.com/p/-/kirkland-signature-mens-merino-wool-blend-sock-4-pair/4000093577 a lot. Heavier cushion. They are inexpensive and they wear well.
For sleep I have a pair of really light socks that are insect shield treated and have no compression.
Hats
I started with a Tilley Hat clone. I really liked it. Lost it. Bought a genuine Tilley Hat at REI. Could never get it waterproof.
It was donated to a thrift store last month after my having it around 6-7 years and not wearing it.
For trail use on the Appalachian Trail I went to the Frogg toggs hat. It is lighter than Tilley and waterproof. Wide brimmed. My wife considers it ugly. She is probably right.
For the PCT I went to a sun hoodie and a polyester (hydrophobic) hat.
Lost that hat at the family reunion in Oregon. Bought one at a grocery store. A replacement wasn’t available on Amazon so I got a washable built cool.
I now have a built cool hat in blue and one in orange. Under a sun hoodie color really does not matter.
Baselayers & fleeces
I’m currently using a merino long sleeve t-shirt and a capilene legging set. I’d use Silkweight milspec because it is the same technology and cheaper than brand name capilene but I owned the bottoms I use before Silkweight was a thing.
https://armynavyoutdoors.com/u-s-issue-gen-iii-silk-weight-thermal-underwear-bottom/
I also wear a buff for a cap when sleeping in the cold.
For a fleece I currently use a Senchi Alpha Direct fleece. Octa is similar in weight and costs and warmth but newer. I’ve a second buff for my neck.
A good review comparing Octa and Alpha Direct is at: https://backpackinglight.com/mountain-hardwear-airmesh-review/. Airmesh = Octa.
“AirMesh’s warmth is good for such a light fabric, but 60 gsm Alpha Direct surpasses the warmth-to-weight performance of AirMesh fabric.”
“In drying tests from saturation, the fabric dries at a considerably slower rate than 60 gsm Alpha Direct and an equivalent rate to 100 gsm conventional wicking fabric.”
I end up wearing the baselayer and fleece just enough that I’m willing to carry them.
Misc
On the PCT and CDT and such I need sunglasses.
I also use a washcloth from dollar general. I’ve been tempted to use the light blue one instead as it is smaller but haven’t yet.
https://adrr.com/d20/2025/09/18/gear-what-i-recommend-and-what-i-use/ for more misc gear (like my trowel). I have nail clippers and a bic mini lighter.
I often carry a pair of shorts to go with the pants I wear so I have a choice.
I just changed up my camp shoes. Review after Christmas. Same for my new gloves.
Finally
I use tethers on my reading glasses and sunglasses. I keep my credit card in a protector in my wallet to protect it from abrasion.
I have a toothbrush, floss and a miniature toothpaste container that I’ve refilled several times.
I also carry ibuprofen, vitamins and spare reading glasses.
Puffy
I’m currently in the camp of using a puffy with a hood. This picture and others on this page are not accurately color balanced.
Sleeping
I’ve used a number of bags and quilts. Currently I use the feathered friends bag Happy6 and I used to start in 2019 on the AT. When it is cold we use them as zip together bags. Warmer (but cool) we use them zipped together as a large quilt.
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT pad
Happy6 and I both use Therm-a-Rest pads. Short sized for lighter carries.
I’ve tried a number of pillows but now just use a stiff sack with spare clothes for a pillow. For siestas I just use my pack or my camp shoes for a pillow.
Tent
We are currently in a Zpacks Pivot Trio and I use MSR groundhogs with it. The soil where we hike is too tough for titanium shepherds hooks or non-DAC aluminum.
Groundsheet/footprint
https://zpacks.com/products/flat-groundsheet is what we just got. It is almost impossible to find this Dyneema footprint on the website in favor of the much less expensive footprints they sell.
It has advantages that make it worth considering. Lighter than tyvek. Friendlier to use than polycro.
I’ve used polycro, tyvek and other ground sheets for footprints. I’ve looked at Nylofume (which is tougher than polycro).
Polycro is light and absolutely waterproof. Tyvek breathes some and makes a good tarp to siesta on. It is cheap and easy to replace.
The Dyneema is kind of expensive but lighter than Tyvek. As a result of it weighing less we are trying it out. If it works on the AZT we will finish the CDT with it.
Raingear
I use a combination of a baseball hat, Visp jacket and Lightheart Gear rain pants in the rain.
I’ve used a lot of rain gear. I wholeheartedly recommend Lightheart gear.
I’ll know more about which gloves I plan to use after Christmas.
Shoes, poles
I’m currently using Topo shoes and Cascade Mountain Tech poles. https://adrr.com/d20/2025/12/08/gear-the-best-shoes/
I’ve been happy with Cascade Mountain Tech and was happy with Black Diamond before I switched. CMT adjusts easier than BD.
I wear gaiters on trail. Otherwise I have a constant stream of things falling in my shoes. Gaiters are important for some people, useless for others.
Specialty gear
I wear hearing aids and carry a recharger for them. I have a phone with a built in camera that uses a usb cord to recharge. I recharge it with a two outlet charger in town and a battery on trail. I have two nightcore batteries and a nitecore headlamp for trails where I go more than four days between recharges. I carry two usb c cables.
Water
I started with a steripen. It failed on day two of a section hike. Tried a Sawyer Mini. Friends don’t let friends use a Mini. I’ve used a Sawyer Micro. Definitely an improvement. The Standard Sawyer is better yet.
A Katadyn BeFree is faster. It uses a different size water bottle. I first saw thru-hikers in Washington using them who filtered everything and they were still faster than a new Sawyer. That convinced me the BeFree would last a thru-hike.
For the AZT I’m thinking of going back to the Sawyers because water is so problematic in Arizona.
To carry water I’ve used a bladder and I’ve used CNOC water bags. Switched to hydropak with the BeFree as it is tougher and lighter. In theory CNOC is easier to fill but that hasn’t been an issue.
I first picked up Platypus bags from hiker boxes to have for when I needed to carry more water. Wore them out. Got one new Platypus and an Evernew for when I need to carry a lot of water.
I discovered Platypus bags rated 2 liter will hold three. Evernew bags rated 2 liter hold two.
Early on hiking I picked up some iodine water purification pills from the hiker box at Mountain Crossing. I eventually switched to Aquatabs after trying their liquid system. The tabs don’t have to be mixed, are lighter and just better.
I have replacement push pull tops for water bottles. I used to buy the platypus ones but they have been discontinued.
The ones I now use have a great color to them.
Cooking gear
I have quite the collection. Even have a fuel flip for transfers of fuel into an empty canister.
Happy6 and I currently share a Stanco Greasepot with a cozy. No cups.
For bottles I carry one one liter smartwater bottle or its equivalent. I carry a one quart Core water bottle for the cap which makes a great scoop.
I have .7 quart Core water bottle which works well for mixing instant breakfasts for water and protein with breakfast. The wide mouth works really well for that in the mornings and it is otherwise a great bottle.
Bear bags, canisters, etc.
We started with a Garcia for the Appalachian Trail. Too heavy and not needed.
BV 500 on the PCT. Then we upgraded with gifts.
Lighter. Tougher. Great size. Nice seal. Still too heavy to carry when not needed.
Would I switch to Adotek? Maybe, if they fail less often than Ursacks. https://andrewskurka.com/bear-canister-failures/
Stuff sacks and bags
For food I started with a dry bag from Amazon to hang my food in. It eventually wore out. So I bought another of the same brand and color. It wetted out immediately. Quality had obviously gone downhill.
The only good thing about Covid is that it pushed me off trail before I had to deal with with that failure for any real length of time.
I moved to a Dyneema bag as it was truly waterproof and I hike with one now. A second one holds my baselayer & such and also works as a pillow.
For my pack I started with a pack cover. When I switched to thePaka.com my rain cover also covered my pack.
As I moved to a Hyperlite Dyneema pack I also picked up a Dyneema pack liner. It eventually failed. I moved to trash sacks and then Nylofume transparent liners. I like them. Inexpensive, tough, transparent and easy enough to replace.
I have my toiletries (paper & trowel) packed with ziplock bags inside of a red dry sack in one outside pocket.
Electronics and medical goes in a yellow dry sack and water filter and bags go in a blue dry sack I can sleep with to keep my filter from freezing. My meds are my ibuprofen and vitamin d and a multivitamin. I also carry some cotton swabs and have carried lukotape and antibiotic cream.
When one bag wears out I replace it with another of the same color.
Lost gear
I lost my Tilley hat clone. One ball cap.
My favorite base layer top. One pair of Darn Tough socks.
One ultralight croc clone (lost them both but one was returned to me).
One pair of possum fur gloves.
One set of reading glasses. Found a replacement within the day.
That is all I can think of.
Afterwords
Gear choices vary a lot between people. I’ll be seventy next year (2026). Younger hikers might carry more weight. Heavier tents than I use are common.
They may take bigger risks or use more marginal gear (like tarp + bivy instead of a tent).
I also hike with my wife and we hike places not suited to hammocks nor are two person hammocks reasonably light.
Some alternatives are a matter of taste. Nemo pads instead of Therm-a-rest. Closed cell foam instead of a pad works for some people.
Some people use sporks. I’ve come to prefer long handled spoons. Others also carry a cup in addition to a pot or only need to boil enough water for one person instead of two people.
Bear spray can be an essential for some areas and a waste for others.
Since I hike with my wife, I carry the tent, she carries the cooking gear and the footprint. Her medical kit is different from mine (she has the Imodium).
Gear is ultimately a choice with many right answers.