Review of the Pacific Crest Trail Guide 2026-2027 by Nina S. Winslow
I’m hoping this was written with AI.
I would feel better about the author’s, err, advice, if I could hope for that.
It suggests that a sleeping pad at 1.5 pounds is ultralight. Covers boots, and mentions trail runners. It provides a list of critical boot features.
- Generally you want trail runners, though the “boot brands” suggested are ok they aren’t generally, except for Merrills, on the https://www.halfwayanywhere.com/trails/pacific-crest-trail/2026-pct-gear-guide/#shoes list.
- At 13 ounces https://www.halfwayanywhere.com/gear/review/therm-a-rest-neoair-xlite-nxt-review/ is the most common pad on the PCT. 13 ounces is much less than 24 ounces.
It covers sleeping bags but not quilts and suggests the virtues of synthetic insulation though also acknowledging down.
https://www.halfwayanywhere.com/trails/pacific-crest-trail/2026-pct-gear-guide/#sleeping-bags-quilts
The author feels that for your backpack adjustable torso length and multiple compartments are key features.
Of course of the 14 backpacks in Halfway Anywhere’s latest survey, only one made their specific recommendations list of 6 (Osprey).
For food storage it among other things suggests the alternatives of using rock crevices or just distance when not using a bear canister.
While it doesn’t suggest FarOut for navigation it does list Guthooks as a trail community resource.
It does suggest a mirror for emergency communication as well as a whistle and possibly a PLB.
To quote: “Water Treatment: filter, purification tablets or boiling capability” (page 33).
It recommends 2-3 gallons of water capacity for the desert sections (page 36).
I could go on but I think I’ve given you a good sample of the flavor of this guide.
I’m so sad another edition of Yogi’s Guide wasn’t out to divert me from buying this. In fact, I was looking for Yogi’s Guide at a good price when I came across this one. Though luckily I found my 2019 copy.
Seems like they have 63 guides under their name?!? Or so I’ve been told.