PCT Gear List 2025

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This is an ultralight PCT Gear list for those thru-hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in 2025.

I have thru-hiked the PCT and completed the thru-hiking triple crown so my recommendations come backed with a bit of experience on the trail when it comes to recommending the best Pacific Crest Trail Packing List.

What to pack on the Pacific Crest Trail takes a little time and a little investment in money but everything on the Ultralight PCT List is easily available and reasonably priced.

The Pacific Crest Trail is tough. Starting in the desert with long dry sections requires you to carry heavy amounts of water. For this, you need a quality ultralight backpack for the PCT.

Then comes the cold high mountains of the Sierra which require cold weather gear, bear canisters, and potentially snow gear like an ice axe and microspikes.

Later comes Northern California which is tough on the feet. You will need to choose the best hiking shoes for the PCT to prevent injury.

Towards the end of the trail in Washington State, you may encounter lots of rain or maybe snow. You will need the ultralight rain gear for the PCT.

Below I have all the best gear for the Pacific Crest Trail.

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the best Tent for the PCT 2025

Overall there are several great lightweight tents to use on the PCT. You will need a tent that is ultralight and able to withstand potential storms on any section of the trail. Some of the Best Ultralight Tent for the PCT is listed below.

Best 1P Tent for PCT

• 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 PCT

• 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 PCT

• 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 PCT 2025

The best ultralight backpack for thru-hiking the PCT is one that is not only lightweight but durable enough to last thousands of miles of abuse. Below are the best thru-hiking backpacks for the Pacific Crest Trail.

What Size Backpack for the PCT

The best size backpack for the PCT is around 50 liters. However, when backpacking in the Sierra you are required to carry a bear canister and they become a tight fit and a larger rucksack is better.

Ultralight thru-hikers will prefer something lighter from the list below. And don’t forget a cheap trash bag to use as a pack liner to keep things dry.

• 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 the PCT

The best ultralight sleeping bag for the PCT is lightweight, tough, and with a temperature rating of down to 20F / -6C.

When Thru hiking the PCT the first nights in the desert can be very cold. So can the nights in the High Sierra. Some nights in Northern California will be so hot that you will not need your sleeping bag so much.

Here is a list of very highly recommended ultralight Sleeping Bags for the Pacific Crest Trail.

• 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

All the sleeping bags on this list are awesome and will serve you well on the PCT. If you need more info check the full reviews on sleeping bags.

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Best Ultralight Quilts for the PCT

Ultralight Sleeping Quilts for the PCT are becoming more popular. For most thru-hikers on the PCT, they are a better ultralight alternative to a heavier sleeping bag.

They are lighter but have limitations in really cold weather. When the temperature gets below freezing they are not as efficient at keeping you warm. Having said that, I prefer using one on the PCT.

The best ultralight quilt for the PCT is listed below.

• 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 backpacking quilts mentioned on this list are awesome and worthy of use on the PCT. If you need more info check out the full reviews.

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Best Sleeping Pad for the PCT

The best ultralight sleeping pad for the PCT is comfortable, durable, reasonably priced, and lightweight.

If you are like most thru-hikers you will be exhausted every night and experience legendary nights sleep on the trail.

An Ultralight air mattress is more comfortable but some people prefer lightweight foam, especially the budget-conscious backpacker. Side sleepers will certainly need an air mat like the Sea to Summit Ether Light XT Insulated.

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

• 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 Hiking Shoes for the PCT

The best shoes for the PCT are lightweight and breathable. Waterproof shoes are not so good for this thru-hike. We all have different shaped feet and different preferences, therefore what shoes you take will depend on many things.

Firstly, buy shoes one size bigger than normal. Your feet will swell over the days weeks and months of thru-hiking. Wrong-fitting shoes will cause blisters or hotspots. You have been warned!

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 PCT thru-hikers:

• 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 PCT thru-hikers:

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

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Best Socks for the PCT

Darn Tough Socks are the most popular. They will wear out and with their lifetime warranty, there is nothing better for thru-hiking the PCT. And maybe you might want some gaiters to stop the small rocks and sand getting into your shoes.

• Darn Tough Socks

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Best Clothing for the PCT

The best clothing for thru-hiking the PCT will include items for the extreme heat of the California Desert and the sweaty heat of Northern California. And extreme cold of the desert mornings, the High Sierra, and Washington.

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 PCT

You might not see much rain on the PCT. But when it does rain you will need a high-quality ultralight rain jacket. Not only will it protect you from the rain, but they make a great windbreaker on those cool days and you may find yourself wearing it more often than you might think.

Here is a list of all the best rain jackets for the Pacific Crest Trail.

• 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 PCT

Light and strong cooking gear is needed for thru-hiking the PCT. It does not need to be expensive, nor does it need to be the highest quality. It just needs to work. The list below is all you need to cook and eat on the Pacific Crest Trail.

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

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 PCT

As with almost every backcountry trip, you should treat the water and carry enough for your needs. The PCT has some very dry sections of the trail that require some big water carrys and it should go without saying that a quality water filter will be needed for the whole trail. 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 Sierra. 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 the northern Sierra and maybe use it again in northern Washington, especially late in the season.

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Trekking Poles for the PCT

The best trekking poles are ultralight and strong. Your body will appreciate it when you use them on this trail. The best trekking poles for the PCT are:

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

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PCT Winter Gear & Bear Canisters

You may need some winter gear for the Sierra section of the PCT. A lot will depend on what kind of snow season it is. Some people will not need any of this, especially if you are not entering the Sierra until late. And don’t forget your compulsory Bear Canister.

• Kahtoola Microspikes
• Camp Corsa Ice Axe
• Petzl Glacier Ice Axe
• Outdoor Research Alti 2 Mittens
• Black Diamond Mercury Mitts
• Altra Trail Gaiters
• Bear Vault BV500

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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 Backpacking Cameras – For the photographers. Most people will be happy enough with the quality of their smartphone.
• Best Battery Bank for 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 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 – Highly recommended for thru-hiking the PCT. Many people get into difficulty on the trail and one of these can save your life.
• USB Wall Charger + Cables.

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First Aid and Misc

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

Aim for a total weight of less than 15lb / 6.5kg. If you choose quality items that I have listed above you should have less than 12lb / 5.5kg as your base weight.

Food and cooking fuel will add about 1-2 pounds per day on average. Water weight is extra again, at 1 kilogram per liter!

And be sure to use the Farout Guides App, formally known as Guthook. This is the best offline interactive maps for the trail

Read Next : Complete Guide to Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail – including a daily hiking journal.

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Enjoy the trail.

Cheers Shepherd – PCT15, CDT16, AT17, TA18-19, and still thru-hiking.

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