Womens Gear Archives | Halfway Anywhere

Last year, I broke down the highest-rated and most-common gear for women on the Pacific Crest Trail as part of the Pacific Crest Trail Gear Guide, but this year I've decided to include this information in a separate post since the PCT gear guide is growing fairly long. This year, I am breaking down the gear used by women on the Pacific Crest Trail. There's a lot that all thru-hiker gear lists share, but there are also some noteworthy differences between women on the PCT and the overall hiking population. I've structured the data here a bit differently than I have in the PCT Gear Guide; for each item, I've first listed the highest-rated and then immediately below listed the most common. If you have any feedback on the data or how it could be improved, I'm happy to hear your thoughts (and to add to this data should something be found to be missing). In This Post Notes on the dataHighest-Rated Gear: Women vs. OverallMost-Common Gear: Women vs. OverallWomen's PCT BackpacksWomen's PCT Sleeping BagsWomen's PCT Sleeping PadsWomen's PCT Insulated JacketsWomen's PCT ShellsWomen's PCT ShoesThe Pacific Crest Trail Survey Collection Notes on the data We had 335 responses total from female hikers. All of the gear included in the survey was used by at least ten hikers.I refer to survey respondents collectively as this year's "class". Remember, this is a sample and does not include every hiker on the trail.If two pieces of gear have the same rating, the higher ranking is given to the piece of gear that had a higher number of users.If there are multiple sizes available for a given item, I use a size medium for the data presented. Highest-Rated Gear: Women vs. Overall Before getting into the specifics, I thought it would be interesting to look at how gear rated by women compared to the overall gear ratings from all Pacific Crest Trail hikers. Below, is a comparison of the most-common gear compared. GEARFEMALE HIKERSALL HIKERSBACKPACKSierra Wilderness Designs DCF Long HaulULA CircuitSLEEPING BAGWestern Mountaineering VersaliteWestern Mountaineering VersaliteSLEEPING PADTherm-a-Rest NeoAir XThermTherm-a-Rest NeoAir XThermINSULATED JACKETPatagonia Down SweaterRab Microlight Alpine Down JacketSHELLMontbell VersaliteArc'teryx Beta SL Hybrid JacketSHOESHOKA ONE ONE SpeedgoatHOKA ONE ONE Speedgoat Most-Common Gear: Women vs. Overall Below is a look at the most commonly used gear for women compared with the most commonly used gear overall. In case you missed it, a comparison of the highest-rated gear is just above this. GEARFEMALE HIKERSALL HIKERSBACKPACKULA CircuitOsprey ExosSLEEPING BAGWestern Mountaineering VersaliteEnlightened Equipment Revelation 20SLEEPING PADTherm-a-Rest NeoAir XLiteTherm-a-Rest NeoAir XLiteINSULATED JACKETMountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer (Hooded)Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer (Hooded)SHELLOutdoor Research Helium IIOutdoor Research Helium IISHOESAltra Lone PeakAltra Lone Peak Highest-Rated Backpacks The Sierra Wilderness Designs DCF Long Haul 50 was the highest-rated backpack among women on the Pacific Crest Trail last year. The pack has a 60-liter total carrying capacity and is designed for loads up to 35 lbs / 16 kg. Sierra Wilderness Designs DCF Long Haul Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest ULA Circuit Osprey Exos Osprey Eja BACKPACKPRICERATINGWEIGHTLITERSMAX LOADACCESSSierra Wilderness Designs DCF Long Haul 50$3354.73/523.5 oz / 666 g6035 lbs / 16 kgTopHyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest$3454.67/532.11 oz / 910 g5540 lbs / 18 kgTopULA Circuit$4504.56/541 oz / 1.162 kg6835 lbs / 16 kgTopOsprey Exos$2204.39/542 oz / 1.190 kg5840 lbs / 18 kgTopOsprey Eja$2204.38/541 oz / 1.162 kg5840 lbs / 18 kgTop Most-Common Backpacks The ULA Circuit was the highest-rated backpack among women on the Pacific Crest Trail last year (it was the second-most-common overall). The pack has a 68-liter total carrying capacity and is designed for loads up to 35 lbs / 16 kg. ULA Circuit Osprey Eja Gossamer Gear Mariposa Osprey Aura AG Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest BACKPACKPRICERATINGWEIGHTLITERSMAX LOADACCESSULA Circuit$4504.56/541 oz / 1.162 kg6835 lbs / 16 kgTopOsprey Eja$2204.38/541 oz / 1.162 kg5840 lbs / 18 kgTopGossamer Gear Mariposa$2254.04/530.5 oz / 865 g6035 lbs / 16 kgTopOsprey Aura AG$2404.33/563 oz / 1.701 kg5040 lbs / 18 kgTop/BottomHyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest$3454.67/532.11 oz / 910 g5540 lbs / 18 kgTop Highest-Rated Sleeping Bags The Western Mountaineering Versalite was the highest-rated sleeping bag among women on the Pacific Crest Trail last year. It's a 10°F / -12°C bag that weighs 32 oz / 907 g - 20 / 565 g of that weight is down fill. Western Mountaineering Versalite Western Mountaineering UltraLite Enlightened Equipment Revelation 10 REI Co-op Magma 15 Enlightened Equipment Enigma 10 SLEEPING BAGPRICERATINGWEIGHTTEMPERATUREFILLFILL WEIGHTWestern Mountaineering Versalite$6054.95/532 oz / 907 g10°F / -12°C850-fill goose down20 oz / 565 gWestern Mountaineering UltraLite$5254.60/530 oz / 850 g20°F / -6°C850-fill goose down16 oz / 453.6 gEnlightened Equipment Revelation 10$3254.59/525.95 oz / 736 g10°F / -12°C850-fill duck down17.28 oz / 490 gREI Co-op Magma 15$3704.37/528.2 oz / 800 g17°F / -8.3°C850-fill goose down 15.9 oz / 451 gEnlightened Equipment Enigma 10$3354.36/524.42 oz / 692 g10°F / -12°C850-fill duck down16.58 oz / 470 g Most-Common Sleeping Bags The Western Mountaineering Versalite was the most-common sleeping bag among women on the Pacific Crest Trail last year. It's a 10°F / -12°C bag that weighs 32 oz / 907 g - 20 / 565 g of that weight is down fill. Western Mountaineering Versalite Enlightened Equipment Revelation 10 Enlightened Equipment Enigma 10 REI Co-op Magma 15 Enlightened Equipment Revelation 20 SLEEPING BAGPRICERATINGWEIGHTTEMPERATUREFILLFILL WEIGHTWestern Mountaineering Versalite$6054.95/532 oz / 907 g10°F / -12°C850-fill goose down20 oz / 565 gEnlightened Equipment Revelation 10$3254.59/525.95 oz / 736 g10°F / -12°C850-fill duck down17.28 oz / 490 gEnlightened Equipment Enigma 10$3354.36/524.42 oz / 692 g10°F / -12°C850-fill duck down16.58 oz / 470 gREI Co-op Magma 15$3704.37/528.2 oz / 800 g17°F / -8.3°C850-fill goose down 15.9 oz / 451 gEnlightened Equipment Revelation 20$3154.31/522.54 oz / 639 g20°F / -6°C850-fill duck down14.41 oz / 409 g Highest-Rated Sleeping Pads The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm was the highest-rated sleeping pad among women on the Pacific Crest Trail last year. It has a 6.9 R-value, weighs 15 oz / 425 g, and has a redesigned valve for 2020 (which I can confirm, is far superior to the old one). Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite (Short) Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol (Short) Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol SLEEPING PADPRICERATINGWEIGHTR-VALUETYPEPACKED SIZETHICKNESSTherm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm$2154.74/515 oz / 425 g6.9Air9 x 4 in / 23 x 10 cm2.5 in / 6.4 cmTherm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite$1854.49/512 oz / 340 g4.2Air9 x 4.1 in / 23 x 10 cm2.5 in / 6.4 cmTherm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite (Short)$1454.42/58 oz / 227 g4.2Air9 x 3.5 in / 23 x 9 cm2.5 in / 6.4 cmTherm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol (Short)$354.35/510 oz / 284 g2.6Foam20 x 4 x 5.5 in / 51 x 10 x 14 cm0.75 in / 2 cmTherm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol$454.15/514 oz / 397 g2.6Foam20 x 5 x 5.5 in / 51 x 13 x 14 cm0.75 in / 2 cm Most-Common Sleeping Pads The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite was the most-common sleeping pad among women on the Pacific Crest Trail last year. It has a 4.2 R-value, weighs 12 oz / 340 g, and has a redesigned valve for 2020 (which I can confirm, is far superior to the old one). Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite (Short) Sea to Summit UltraLight Insulated SLEEPING PADPRICERATINGWEIGHTR-VALUETYPEPACKED SIZETHICKNESSTherm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite$1854.49/512 oz / 340 g4.2Air9 x 4.1 in / 23 x 10 cm2.5 in / 6.4 cmTherm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm$2154.74/515 oz / 425 g6.9Air9 x 4 in / 23 x 10 cm2.5 in / 6.4 cmTherm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol$454.15/514 oz / 397 g2.6Foam20 x 5 x 5.5 in / 51 x 13 x 14 cm0.75 in / 2 cmTherm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite (Short)$1454.42/58 oz / 227 g4.2Air9 x 3.5 in / 23 x 9 cm2.5 in / 6.4 cmSea to Summit UltraLight Insulated$1304/516.9 oz / 479 g3.3Air9 x 4 in / 23 x 10 cm2 in / 5 cm Highest-Rated Insulated Jackets The Patagonia Down Sweater was the highest-rated insulated jacket (aka down jacket, aka puffy) among women on the Pacific Crest Trail last year. It's a hoodless, 800-fill goose down jacket weighing 12.2 oz / 346 g with two zippered hand pockets and one zippered chest pocket. Patagonia Down Sweater Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Arc'teryx Cerium LT Hoody Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody REI Co-op 650 Down Jacket 2.0 INSULATED JACKETPRICERATINGWEIGHTINSULATIONHOODPOCKETSPatagonia Down Sweater$2304.85/512.2 oz / 346 g800-fill goose downNo2 zippered hand / 1 zippered chestMountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer$3004.64/57 oz / 198 g800-fill goose downNo2 zippered handArc'teryx Cerium LT Hoody$3804.63/59.3 oz / 264 g850-fill goose downYes2 zippered hand / 1 zippered internalPatagonia Micro Puff Hoody$3004.60/58 oz / 227 gSyntheticYes2 zippered hand / 2 internal dropREI Co-op 650 Down Jacket 2.0$1004.56/510.8 oz / 306 g650-fill-power downNo2 zippered hand Most-Common Insulated Jackets The Hooded Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer was the most-common insulated jacket (aka down jacket, aka puffy) among women on the Pacific Crest Trail last year. It weighs 7.8 oz / 221 g, willed with 800-fill down, Nikwax Hydrophobic Down, and has two zippered hand pockets. Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer (Hooded) Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Arc'teryx Cerium LT Hoody Patagonia Down Sweater INSULATED JACKETPRICERATINGWEIGHTINSULATIONHOODPOCKETSMountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer (Hooded)$3254.41/57.8 oz / 221 g800-fill goose downYes2 zippered handPatagonia Micro Puff Hoody$3004.60/58 oz / 227 gSyntheticYes2 zippered hand / 2 internal dropMountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer$3004.64/57 oz / 198 g800-fill goose downNo2 zippered handArc'teryx Cerium LT Hoody$3804.63/59.3 oz / 264 g850-fill goose downYes2 zippered hand / 1 zippered internalPatagonia Down Sweater$2304.85/512.2 oz / 346 g800-fill goose downNo2 zippered hand / 1 zippered chest Highest-Rated Shells The Montbell Versalite was the highest-rated shell (aka rain jacket) among women on the Pacific Crest Trail last year. It's a 5.8 oz / 165 g 2-layer GORE-TEX INFINIUM WINDSTOPPER / 10-denier Ballistic Airlight nylon ripstop jacket with pit zips and two zippered hand pockets. Montbell Versalite Marmot PreCip Eco Jacket Patagonia Torrentshell Frogg Toggs Ultra-Lite2 Rain Jacket Outdoor Research Helium II SHELLPRICERATINGWEIGHTFABRICPIT ZIPSPOCKETSMontbell Versalite$2004.07/55.8 oz / 165 g2-layer GORE-TEX INFINIUM WINDSTOPPER / 10-denier Ballistic Airlight nylon ripstopYes2 zippered handMarmot PreCip Eco Jacket$1004.00/58.7 oz / 247 gWaterproof/breathable, PFC-free Marmot NanoPro recycled nylonYes2 zippered handPatagonia Torrentshell$1303.88/510.6 oz / 301 g2.5-layer waterproof, breathable H2No Performance Standard recycled nylonYes2 zippered handFrogg Toggs Ultra-Lite2 Rain Jacket$253.70/59 oz / 255 gThree-layer polypropyleneNoNoneOutdoor Research Helium II$1603.51/55.5 oz / 156 gPertex Shield+ 2.5-layer waterproof breathable laminateNo1 zippered chest Most-Common Shells The Outdoor Research Helium II was the most-common shell (aka rain jacket) among women on the Pacific Crest Trail last year. That said, it was also the lowest-rated of the five most-common jackets. It is 5.5 oz / 156 g, has one chest pocket, and a Pertex Shield+ 2.5-layer waterproof breathable laminate. Outdoor Research Helium II Frogg Toggs Ultra-Lite2 Rain Jacket Marmot PreCip Eco Jacket Patagonia Torrentshell Montbell Versalite SHELLPRICERATINGWEIGHTFABRICPIT ZIPSPOCKETSOutdoor Research Helium II$1603.51/55.5 oz / 156 gPertex Shield+ 2.5-layer waterproof breathable laminateNo1 zippered chestFrogg Toggs Ultra-Lite2 Rain Jacket$253.70/59 oz / 255 gThree-layer polypropyleneNoNoneMarmot PreCip Eco Jacket$1004.00/58.7 oz / 247 gWaterproof/breathable, PFC-free Marmot NanoPro recycled nylonYes2 zippered handPatagonia Torrentshell$1303.88/510.6 oz / 301 g2.5-layer waterproof, breathable H2No Performance Standard recycled nylonYes2 zippered handMontbell Versalite$2004.07/55.8 oz / 165 g2-layer GORE-TEX INFINIUM WINDSTOPPER / 10-denier Ballistic Airlight nylon ripstopYes2 zippered hand Highest-Rated Shoes The HOKA ONE ONE Speedgoat was the highest-rated shoe among women on the Pacific Crest Trail last year. On average, hikers used 4.81 pairs of the Speedgoat which weigh 21.6 oz / 612 g a pair and have a 4 mm heel-toe drop. HOKA ONE ONE Speedgoat Brooks Cascadia Altra Timp Altra Lone Peak Topo Athletic Terraventure SHOEPRICERATINGWEIGHTHEEL-TOE DROPWATERPROOFAVERAGE NUMBER USEDHOKA ONE ONE Speedgoat$1455/521.6 oz / 612 g4 mmNo4.81Brooks Cascadia$1304.56/521.4 oz / 607 g8 mmNo4.69Altra Timp$1404.25/517 oz / 482 g0 mmNo5.08Altra Lone Peak$1204.14/521 oz / 595 g0 mmNo4.65Topo Athletic Terraventure$1204.00/516.04 oz / 455 g3 mmNo5.00 Most-Common Shoes The Altra Lone Peak was the most-common shoe among women on the Pacific Crest Trail last year. On average, hikers used 4.65 pairs of the Lone Peak which weigh 21 oz / 595 g a pair and have a 0 mm heel-toe drop. Altra Lone Peak Altra Timp Brooks Cascadia Topo Athletic Terraventure HOKA ONE ONE Speedgoat SHOEPRICERATINGWEIGHTHEEL-TOE DROPWATERPROOFAVERAGE NUMBER USEDAltra Lone Peak$1204.14/521 oz / 595 g0 mmNo4.65Altra Timp$1404.25/517 oz / 482 g0 mmNo5.08Brooks Cascadia$1304.56/521.4 oz / 607 g8 mmNo4.69Topo Athletic Terraventure$1204.00/516.04 oz / 455 g3 mmNo5.00HOKA ONE ONE Speedgoat$1455/521.6 oz / 612 g4 mmNo4.81 The Wrap Up Overall, there's a lot of overlap in the gear used by women and the gear used overall - particularly when looking at the most-common gear. Hopefully, this helps some of you decide what might be worth trying (or not trying out on the trail). If you have any questions, suggestions, concerns, or awe-inspiring statements to make regarding the data here (or the data in the PCT Survey Gear Guide), then leave a comment below and let me know.

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The Pacific Crest Trail Women’s Gear Guide (2019 Survey)