CDT Gear List 2025

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Here is all the information you will need for your ultralight CDT gear list. I used a lot of the items in this gear list and have conducted reviews of most of the gear.

I completed my thru-hike of the Continental Divide Trail and learned a lot about what gear works and what to stay away from.

When thru-hiking the Continental Divide Trail you will be aware that you will need to carry quality backpacking gear that is ultralight. When you are on the trail, make sure you are using the Farout Guide, formally known as the Guthook App

Take a look at the CDT gear list below and start lowering the weight of your gear to take on this epic trail.

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Best Ultralight Tent for the CDT

The best tent for the Continental Divide Trail will be ultralight and able to keep you warm when needed. Remember, this is the coldest of all the hiking triple crown trails. You will face many mornings below freezing. The best tent for the CDT is any of the tents listed below.

Best 1P Tent for CDT

• ZPacks Plex Solo – 13.9 oz /395 grams
• Nemo Hornet Elite Osmo 1P – 29 oz / 822 grams
• Hyperlite Mountain Gear Mid 1P -1 lb. 1 oz / 480 grams

Best 2P Tent for CDT

• Nemo Hornet Osmo 2P – 33 oz / 948 grams
• ZPacks Duplex – 1 lb. 3 oz / 539 grams
• Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 2P Tent – 1 lb. 8 oz / 680 grams

Best 3P Tent for CDT

• Zpacks Triplex – 1 lb. 6.6 oz / 612 grams
• Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL 3P – 2lb 10 oz / 1191 grams

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Best Backpack for the CDT

The best backpack for the Continental Divide Trail is ultra-lightweight. With such a long trail you will appreciate any weight saving that is possible. So take a look at Ultralight backpacks only.

The backpack for the CDT should also be comfortable and strong enough to withstand months of abuse. I like to use a large compactor trash bag to keep things dry inside, don’t spend the money on a heavy dry bag to keep your stuff dry.

The best backpacks for the CDT are:

• Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra
• Hyperlite Mountain Gear Unbound 40L
• Osprey Exos Pro
• Gossamer Gear Mariposa
• Zpacks Arc Blast
• ULA Circuit – 68 liters

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Best Sleeping Bag for Thru-Hiking the Continental Divide Trail

The best sleeping bag for hiking the Continental Divide Trail is a degree-rated sleeping bag around 10F and 20F. The CDT is colder than most of the other long-distance thru-hiking trails. There will be a significant amount of nights well below freezing. Not too many thru-hikers complain about having a sleeping bag that is too warm.

Here is a list of very highly recommended ultralight Sleeping Bags for the CDT.

• Zpacks Mummy Sleeping Bag
• Sea to Summit Spark 15F
• Rab Mythic Ultra 360
• Therm-a-Rest Hyperion 20F
• Zpacks Zip Around Sleeping Bag
• Feathered Friends Hummingbird

Any of the sleeping bags on this list will be great for the CDT. As this trail is quite a bit colder than many other trails a sleeping bag is a better option for most people.

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Best Ultralight Quilts for the Continental Divide Trail

Ultralight Sleeping Quilts are very popular among ultralight thru hikers. In many situations, they are a better lightweight alternative to a heavier sleeping bag. But they have limitations in really cold weather. I would not recommend an ultralight quilt for the CDT. In very cold weather several degrees below freezing a sleeping bag is more efficient at keeping you warm. If you choose to take a Quilt on the CDT, Here is a list of very highly recommended ultralight quilts for the CDT.

• Katabatic Sawatch 15F
• Sea to Summit Ember 30F Quilt
• Enlightened Equipment Revelation 20F
• Zpacks 20F Zip Around Sleeping Bag Quilt
• Feathered Friends Flicker UL 20F Quilt
• REI Co-Op Magma 30 Down Trail Quilt

Honestly, any of the quilts mentioned above will be great on the CDT. It is important to understand that the CDT is a very cold trail and backpacking quilts are not as good as sleeping bags in very cold temperatures below freezing. If you sleep cold then definitely consider a sleeping bag instead.

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Best Sleeping Pad for the CDT

Being comfortable at night leads to a good night’s sleep. Nothing contributes more to a good night’s sleep than a comfortable sleeping pad. Ultralight foam sleeping mats are popular on the CDT for their lightweight and durability. Can’t get a flat mattress when it is foam!

Here is a list of all the best ultralight Sleeping mats for the CDT.

• Therm-a-Rest Neoair Xlite NXT
• Nemo Tensor Trail Ultralight Insulated Sleeping Pad
• Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated
• Thermarest Neoair X-Therm NXT
• Thermarest Z Lite Sol

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Best Footwear for the Continental Divide Trail

Footwear is a personal choice. Just be aware that thru-hiking the CDT requires long days of hiking and the best quality ultralight footwear is best. Also, be aware that the CDT is cold and sometimes trail runners are not the best option, especially in Colorado during early season snow.

Wait, every other website tells me trail runners are best for thru-hiking. Yes, I agree, but not when hiking in temperatures below freezing or in knee-deep snow wearing snowshoes.

Consider two shoe options that you can swap out and post to yourself when needed. Waterproof boots for the cold snowy sections and ultralight trail runners for the dry sections.

For narrow feet, the better options are Saloman and Brooks. For wider feet, Altra and Merrell are best.

Here are my 3 recommendations for the best shoes and boots for the CDT Thru-Hikers are:

• Merrell Men’s Moab 3 Vent Hiking Shoe
• Salomon X Ultra 4 Low GTX
• Merrell Moab 3 Mid Waterproof Hiking Boot

Here are my 3 recommendations for the best trail runners for the CDT Thru-Hikers are:

• Altra Lone Peak 8
• Brooks Cascadia 18
• Hoka Speedgoat 6

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Socks for the CDT

Darn Tough. Darn Tough and Darn Tough. They are the most popular for good reason.

• Darn Tough Socks

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Best Clothing for the Continental Divide Trail

The best clothing for thru-hiking the CDT is something that involves layers. While there will not be too many days of extreme heat or humidity like some other trail you can be assured it will be cold.

Layers that you should take include a puffy down jacket, mid-layer, baselayer, hiking shirts, hiking shorts, and rain gear.

Down Jacket

• Arc’teryx Cerium Hoodie – 335g / 11.8oz
• Zpacks Goose Down Jacket – 192g / 6.8oz
• Feathered Friends Eos – 306g / 10.8oz
• Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Hooded – 249g / 8.8oz
• Patagonia Down Sweater – 428g / 15.1oz

Fleece Mid Layer

• Patagonia R1 Techface Jacket
• Patagonia R1 Air
• Patagonia Better Sweater

Baselayers

• Smartwool Merino Classic All-Season Base Layer
• Smartwool Merino Classic Thermal Base Layer
• Patagonia Capilene Cool Crew
• Macpac Prothermals
• REI Co-op Lightweight Base Layer Long-Sleeve Crew Top

Hiking Shirts

• Columbia Silver Ridge Utility Lite
• Patagonia Sun Stretch LS Shirt
• Patagonia Go To Shirt
• Patagonia Capilene Cool Trail Shirt
• REI Sahara Long Sleeve Solid Shirt
• REI Co-op Sahara Long-Sleeve T-Shirt

Hiking Pants

• Prana Stretch Zion II
• Kuhl Silencr Pants
• Kuhl Deceptr Pants
• REI Co-op Activator 3.0
• Kuhl Radikl Pants
• Patagonia Quandary Pants

Hiking Shorts

• prAna Stretch Zion Shorts II
• Patagonia Quandary Shorts
• Patagonia Baggies
• Outdoor Research Ferrosi Short
• Patagonia Multi Trails Short

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Best Rain Gear for the CDT

• ZPacks Vertice Rain Jacket
• Outdoor Research Helium
• Arc’teryx Beta SL Rain Jacket
• Enlightened Equipment Visp

Don’t forget Rain Pants such as the Outdoor Research Helium Pants or the ultralight Zpacks Vertice Rain Pants.

I have used the Six Moon Designs Silver Shadow Carbon on some trails I love it. At only 8 ounces it is well worth the added weight, especially in the hot desert of New Mexico, you can always ship it home from northern New Mexico.

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Cookware – Stoves & Pots for the CDT

You will appreciate a warm meal at night and maybe a hot coffee or tea in the morning. Here are some of the best cookware sets, stoves, pots, and other gear you will need for the trail.

• Evernew Ti DX Alcohol Stove Titanium
• MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe
• SOTO WindMaster Stove
• Snow Peak Trek 900 Titanium Cook Set Pot and Skillet
• Snow Peak Titanium Single Wall Cup 600
• TOAKS Light Titanium 550ml Pot (Ultralight Version)
• Titanium Spoon
• Gerber STL 2.0 Knife
• Bic Lighter

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Water on the CDT

Overall the water quality on the CDT is quite poor. As with almost every backcountry trip, you should treat the water and carry enough for your needs. While on the CDT I got sick twice from not filtering water. Here are some recommended water treatment devices, water storage bottles, and bladders.

• Sawyer Squeeze
• Katadyn Micropur Purification Tablets
• Platypus Bottle 2-Litre
• Nalgene Water Bottle 1 litre – although heavy it can be carried in the mountains of northern New Mexico and Colorado. Fill it with hot water at night and put it in your sleeping bag to stay warm. You will have non-frozen water to drink in the morning. You can send it home in northern Colorado.

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Trekking Poles for the CDT

To reduce wear on your body a good quality set of trekking poles should be used. Here are the best options for the CDT:

• Gossamer Gear LT5
• Zpacks Carbon Fiber Trekking Pole
• Black Diamond Pursuit
• MSR Dynalock Ascent Carbon

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Snow Gear and Bear Canisters for the CDT

The CDT Gear List should include winter to deal with the super cold temperatures. The Continental Divide Trail is the coldest of the Triple Crown Thru Hiking Trails. So be prepared for the cold.

Consider snowshoes, microspikes, ice axe, and gaiters if is a big snow year which seems to be most years. You can send them home when the snow melts.

• Kahtoola Microspikes
• Camp Corsa Ice Axe
• Petzl Glacier Ice Axe
• MSR Lightning Ascent Snow Shoes
• Outdoor Research Alti 2 Mittens
• Black Diamond Mercury Mitts
• Altra Trail Gaiters
• Bear Vault BV500
• Ursack Major
• Counter Assault Bear Spray

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Cameras and Electronics

With so many electronics that we take on the trail these days, it can be hard to decide what to take and what to leave behind. Take a look at some of the items you may need and follow the links to my detailed guides about which ones are the best.

• Best Hiking Cameras for Thru-Hiking – For the photographers. Most people will be happy enough with the quality of their smartphone.
• Best Battery Bank for Thru-Hiking – Very important to have a high-quality battery to recharge all your electronics.
• Best Hiking GPS – Not needed for the trail as most people can navigate OK with a smartphone App.
• Best GPS Hiking Watch – More and more people are hiking with a GPS watch. They are great but will need charging every night so be sure to take a portable battery bank with you.
• Best Satellite Messenger for the CDT – Highly recommended for thru-hiking the CDT. Many people get into difficulty on the trail and one of these can save your life. They also work well to communicate with family members to let them know your location.
• USB Wall Charger + Cables.

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Other Gear

• Plastic zip lock bags
• Money / ID / Credit Cards
• Blister pads
• Strapping Tape
• Foot infection anti-biotic
• Ibuprofen
• Tweezers
• Toothbrush and Toothpaste
• Safety Pin
• Needle
• Deet insect repellent
• Sunscreen
• Lip Balm
• Toilet tissue

I hope this helped with your planning in some way. If you need more help with all the best lightweight hiking gear then take a look at my Gear Guides.

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