Gear: 2025 survey results with comments

The results from the Halfway Anywhere surveys are in. I’ve preserved the affiliate marketing links from the original lists. I’m comparing data between trails and with theTrek.co’s data as well as my choices.

Table of Contents

Most Common PCT 2025

Backpack: ULA Circuit (2.41 lb / 1.092 kg)
Shelter: Durston X-Mid Pro 1 (15.5 oz / 440 g) (Durston continues to take over the trails).
Sleeping bag: Enlightened Equipment Enigma (1.32 lb / 600.74 g)^
Sleeping pad: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT (13 oz / 369 g) (the standard remains standard).
Insulated jacket: Enlightened Equipment Torrid – Men’s/Women’s(8.29 oz / 235.02 g)^
Shell: Frogg Toggs Ultra-Lite Rain Suit(11 oz / 312 g). The least expensive option remains solidly in use.
Fleece: Senchi Designs A90 Half-Zip Hoodie (4.6 oz / 130 g). I’m using the lightest version (A60) from Senchi and really like it.
Shoes: Altra Lone Peak – Men’s/Women’s (22.3 oz / 632 g per pair)
Socks: Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew Midweight – Men’s/Women’s
Stove: MSR PocketRocket 2 (2.4 oz / 68 g)
Water treatment: Sawyer Squeeze (3 oz / 85 g)
Headlamp: Nitecore NU25 (1.66 oz / 47 g). What I moved to. On low it is great for use on trail. I have to admit it wasn’t so good in town. However, on the AZT we did a lot of hiking early before sunrise using these.
Bear canister: BearVault BV500 Journey (40 oz / 1.134 kg). We still have two of these but carry our upgrades.
Trekking poles: Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork (17.1 oz / 485 g per pair). Great poles but hard to adjust on trail.
PLB/Satellite communicator: Garmin inReach Mini 2 (3.5 oz / 100 g)*. Happy6 and I both carry these.
Ice axe: C.A.M.P. Corsa (7.1 oz / 201 g)
Traction device: Kahtoola MICROspikes (11.9 oz / 337 g)
Umbrella: Six Moon Designs Silver Shadow Carbon (6.8 oz / 193 g)
Fitness tracker: Garmin fenix (2.79 oz / 79 g)

Most Common CDT 2025

Backpack: Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest/Windrider/Junction (29.3 oz / 831 g). I love this pack. Happy6 is on her second.
Shelter: Zpacks Duplex Classic (17.9 oz / 507 g). Note this is used for one person.
Sleeping bag: Enlightened Equipment Enigma (21.69 oz / 614.91 g). A quilt.
Sleeping pad: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT (13 oz / 369 g)
Insulated jacket: Enlightened Equipment Torrid – Men’s/Women’s(8.29 oz / 235.02 g)
Shell: Frogg Toggs Ultra-Lite – Men’s/Women’s (11 oz / 311 g)
Fleece: Melanzana Microgrid Hoodie V2 (12.1 oz / 343 g). I frankly don’t understand how this got to be the most common. Heavy. Ugly. Hard to get.
Shoes: Altra Lone Peak – Men’s/Women’s (22.3 oz / 632 g per pair)
Socks: Darn Tough Light Hiker Micro Crew – Men’s/Women’s
Stove: MSR PocketRocket 2 (2.4 oz / 68 g)
Water treatment: Sawyer Squeeze (3 oz / 85 g)
Food storage: Adotec Ultralight Food Locker – Grizzly Bear Resistant, 14L (7 oz / 199 g). This is an interesting development. I’m hoping they turn out better than Ursack.
Trekking poles: Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork (17.1 oz / 485 g)
PLB: Garmin inReach Mini 2 (3.5 oz / 100 g)
Ice axe: C.A.M.P. Corsa (7.1 oz / 201 g)
Traction device: Kahtoola MICROspikes (11.9 oz / 337 g)
Umbrella: Gossamer Gear Lightrek Hiking (Chrome) Umbrella (6.3 oz / 179 g)
Fitness tracker: Garmin fenix (2.79 oz / 79 g)

Comments/Notes

Some of the highest rated gear includes Montbell Versalite raingear. (Almost as good as Lightheart Gear. Basically the same weight. Breathes better but not quite as reliable).

The Senchi Designs Alpha 60 Hoodie has better fit and finish than Timmermade. So I upgraded a while back and remain happy with my choice. I’ve never needed the extra warmth of the 90 weight.

Darn Tough socks dominate. The sock choices on long trails have gone from a variety of brands to basically just different types of Darn Tough. The lifetime warranty has made a difference.

The .9 gram BRS-3000T has moved to being very common and highly rated though behind the Pocket Rocket.

The Sawyer Squeeze dominates. Gear Skeptic has convinced me that it is either the Sawyer or Katadyn BeFree (the standards are not rigorous enough si just meeting “standards” is not enough). The Sawyer filters better, but much slower.

Happy6 and I do use chemical treatment more and more. That used to be very popular on trail. It sure is nice for all sorts of applications, especially overnight or when you are tired but have time.

I’m hopeful for the Adotec Ultralight Food Locker Grizzly but not willing to rely on it without more history.

Appalachian Trail statistics were similar to the other two long trails for gear use. The Trek maintains these. They and Halfway Anywhere have the surveys divided up.

The Garmin InReach Mini has become dominate as a GPS/emergency device.

I’ll note that mass commercial brands like Osprey are much more popular on the AT than other trails.

The CDT tends to lag behind on innovation trends—I think because people keep using gear they already own that has served them well.

Even on the wettest trail (the Appalachian Trail) hikers used down sleeping bags successfully. I’ve gone from wanting non-down for function while wet to considering it a non-issue.

Hiking pole, non-freestanding tents now dominate.

Tents like REI Quarter Dome and the Big Agnes Fly Creek that used to have a significant trail presence have disappeared from the survey responses.

They are both still great tents.

Merrell shoes, which used to be dominant, have really faded as an on-trail brand, though the Moab 3 has gotten a very enthusiastic reception by those who used them.

Topo continues to be the dominant newcomer.

Happy6 and my gear choices

Tent: Pivot Trio. A palace for two at 22.3 ounces. We now use the Dyneema groundsheet instead of Tyvek. It is useful, especially for siesta time.
We use MSR groundhogs for tent stakes. They handle hard trails so much better
Backpack: Kakwa (for horizontal bear can carry) // Hyperlite.
Packliner. Nylofume bag or trash sack. Pack liners are essential.
Sleeping Bag: Feathered Friend Egret/Swallow. We use them because they zip together and we have them. Used as a quilt or as a bag depending on temperature. We’ve used these a lot since 2019.
Sleeping Pads: Thermarest Xlite NXT short. We use the pump sack. We have other pads but have gravitated to these.
Puffy: Eos or Montbell. Happy6 uses her Mountain Hardware Ghost Whisperer off trail.
Shell/raincoat: Visp or Lightheart gear. We both carry rain pants as well. Visp was because I wanted to try it and it hasn’t worn out yet.
Windshirt: Zpacks or Black Diamond.
Fleece: Senchi.
Shoes: Topo Terraventure. With gaiters.
Socks. Darn Tough heavy or Farm to Feet or Darn Tough. I like more cushion than Hsppy6 uses.
Stove: BRS + Stanco Greasepot. Lighter than the alternatives and works well. The frying pan stays home now.
Water treatment: Katadyn BeFree filters and Aqua Mira tabs. The tabs are lighter than the liquid, just as fast and easier to use.
Food Storage: Bearikade. We gave them to each other as presents.
Trekking poles: Carbon cork Foxelli. We both use them now. Different colors.
PLB: we both have our own InReach Mini2 with extraction insurance.
Ice Axes: we have two Black Diamond Ravens. We will be hiking in non-ice axe seasons this year.
Snowline Microspikes. When conditions call for them.
Jolly Gear sun hoodies. Hats.
Pants for leg protection. Back up shorts. Or vice versa. It is possible to skip the back-up and just use rain pants.
Camp shoes: slides that are no longer sold or croc style camp shoes. Too bad. If I used them more and used them for water crossing I’d carry my Jimmies which are slightly lighter. Too bad the 7 ounce croc ballet flats did not fit my feet.
Misc.: sea to summit InsectShield bug nets. Bic minilighter. Toaks polished bowl long handled spoons. Sunglasses (not needed for the AT, essential for other trails).
More misc: trowel, microfiber washcloth, Mokin charger, Nitecore batteries, REI sun gloves.
Baselayers. Merino wool and/or Capilene.
Umbrella finally went in a hiker box instead of being mailed home. Haven’t worn our fitness trackers since 2019 or so.