As I’ve been traveling around the Northwest presenting my new guidebook, Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail: Oregon, one of the most common questions I’m asked is what kind of gear I recommend for the PCT. I usually preface my responses with the fact that I am not an ultraliter or minimalist. I don’t mind indulging in a few creature comforts or extra accessories to improve my experience on trail—even if it means adding an extra pound or two. Here are 10 gear items currently in my pack that I like to suggest for increased safety, convenience and/or comfort on trail.
Gear Aid Tenacious Tape
Tenacious Tape is like duct tape on steroids. This super-adhesive tape adheres to any surface and is ideal for semi-permanent repairs to just about anything. Patch a pinhole on a leaky sleeping pad, fix a tear on a tent fly or rain jacket, or reattach a split boot sole. I keep a pack of mini-patches in my Ten Essentials kit, and a few larger patches in my first-aid kit. That way, I’m prepared to handle small and large repairs on trail as needed. Available in clear, black and reflective. $3–$5
Gobi Gear SegSac
I’m a bit of a stickler for keeping my gear organized, as I like to know where everything is and have quick and easy access to whatever I may need on trail or in camp. That’s why I love the Gobi Gear SegSac. This ultralight stuff sack has internal dividers that let me keep my apparel essentials neatly organized. It’s especially nice to keep dirty, smelly items separated from clean items. Is it frivolous? Yeah—but I like it! $22–$26
Sea to Summit X-Brew Coffee Dripper
I’m pretty slow-going in the morning until I get my morning dose of Stumptown. Now I can get my fix with the X-Brew Coffee Dripper—and it’s just as good as making it at home. This lightweight (2.9 ounces), collapsible coffee filter has a micro-mesh strainer for smooth, delicious java without the need for paper filter inserts. Best of all, it’s compatible with a variety of cups and bottles—no pot or kettle required.  $18
NEMO Fillo Elite Pillow
If I don’t sleep well, then I don’t hike well. This is where I indulge a little by carrying a portable pillow instead of wadding up my puffy jacket. My pillow of choice is the NEMO Fillo Elite. This delightfully comfortable pillow packs down to about the size of a tennis ball, and weighs less than 3 ounces. When a good night’s sleep is this packable and portable, there’s no excuse not to enjoy an extra creature comfort. $40
Adventure Medical First Aid Kit
This one’s a no-brainer. Over the years of my hiking career, I’ve been stung, bitten, burned, scraped, cut, poked, sick and strained, and every time I’ve been able to attend to these incidents because I carry a first aid kit—with more than bandages. The Adventure Medical Hiker Kit is a good start. Add in personal items like allergy medications, insect repellent wipes, pain relievers, digestive aids and extra moleskin and bandages. $25
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Ursack Food Bag*
Bear canisters are not required in Oregon, but that doesn’t mean there aren’t plenty of critters who would love to get into your food supply. Certified bearproof, the 650-cubic-inch Ursack AllWhite S29.3 weighs just 7.8 ounces and can hold 5–6 days of food, and makes food storage practically effortless. Just tie off the top with the included high-tensile cord, hang or stash away, and rest easy knowing your food is safe and sound. Also available in 925-cubic-inch Major S29.3. $80–$95
MSR Trail Shot Water Filter
This was one of my top picks for last year’s holiday guide, and it’s still one of my favorite new backpacking items. Filtering water with the Trail Shot is a breeze. The small intake valve lets you take advantage of the smallest springs to easily fill your bottles and bladders—no clunky attachments required. Plus, with its compact size and light weight (5.2 ounces), I can stash it in any pocket for quick access when I need it. $50
ExOfficio Bugs-Away Bandana
Confession: mosquitoes make me lose my sh-t. And mosquitoes in Oregon’s moist forests and lake basins in early summer can be especially aggravating. Because of this, I’m taking extra measures to repel the little buggers—without resorting to sticky repellents. One of my favorite items for this is the affordable Bugs Away Bandana. It makes a great scarf, do-rag or head covering that keeps the blood-suckers away. $18
Scrubba Wash Bag
Looking and smelling offensive is not a requirement for hiking the PCT. This lightweight (less than 5 ounces) trail washing machine is perfect for keeping shirts, socks and underwear fresh and clean. Just fill the Scrubba Wash Bag with water, squirt in some soap, roll up the top and shake for a few minutes. Repeat with no soap to rinse.†It’s also versatile as a drybag for your clothing, tent or sleeping bag. $55
Alpine Aire Trail Snacks
After a few days on trail, I’m pretty sick of GORP and energy bars, so I make sure to add some variety to my trail snack menu. Some of my favorite new items come from Alpine Aire’s new snack selections. Their freeze-dried grapes are crunchy, sweet and delicious. They also have two new snack mixes: Mango Fire, with spicy chunks of chewy mango, and Toffee Break, with nuts, toffee, chocolate, peanut butter and caramel—yum! $6–$9
*While certified bearproof and approved by the Interagency Grizzly Bear Committee, the Ursack is not approved for use on many portions of the PCT/JMT in California, including Yosemite, Sequoia-Kings Canyon and Lassen national parks, in addition to the Ansel Adams and John Muir wilderness areas. These areas require hard-sided bear canisters.
†When washing your clothes in the backcountry, please exercise Leave No Trace practices by keeping soaps and cleansers—even biodegradable ones—out of lakes and streams. When dumping dirty wash water, please scatter it at least 200 feet from trails, camps and water sources.
Must have piece of gear – Spot Locator!
I agree! Never hike without my SPOT.
Roadeavour gears are pretty good as well!
I will be using the Ursack for the whole PCT in 2018. If you read the details here(https://www.ursack.com/faq/) you will see that the area’s where you need to use a canister on the PCT equals to roughly to 45 miles or less than 2% of the PCT across the various parks that you need one. As these areas are spread out you can actually hike through them without stopping to avoid the restriction as long as you do not camp in these areas. I think in terms of weight the Ursack is much better than a canister.
Hi Tony. I’m sorry to report that that info you’re referring to is old (2014) and incorrect. More of the National Forest and Wilderness areas along the PCT now require canister use. This is roughly all of Inyo NF, SEKI, Yosemite, and South Sierra, Golden Trout, John Muir and Ansel Adams wilderness areas. This includes a stretch of more than 300 miles, from Kennedy Meadows to the northern Yosemite boundary. They are also now required in Lassen NP for about 20 miles. You can find more info here: https://www.pcta.org/discover-the-trail/backcountry-basics/food/bear-canister-protecting-your-food/. Cheers!