The Continental Divide Trail Gear Guide: Class of 2019 Survey
In the second chapter of the Continental Divide Trail Thru-hiker Survey, we take a deep dive into Continental Divide Trail hikers’ gear. CDT gear lists can vary wildly between hikers and (spoiler alert) it’s impossible to find a perfect CDT gear list. That said, we can try.
I’ve organized this post in a way that I hope will give a comprehensive picture of what gear CDT thru-hikers are using. This post covers the highest-rated gear, most common gear, gear statistics based on different groups of hikers, the lowest-rated gear, hiker comments on gear, and finally, gear advice. The gear covered here includes backpacks, shelters, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, down jackets, rain jackets, stoves, water treatment, and snow equipment.
I am sure that some of you will come up with comparisons you would like to see that I have overlooked. My hope is to make this a useful resource for CDT hikers, so if there’s anything that you think is missing, please leave a comment or get in touch.
That being said, I hope you enjoy this year’s CDT Gear Guide brought to you by the CDT Class of 2019.
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Notes on the data
- This year we had 176 completed surveys – that’s a 70% increase vs. last year and the most respondents in the history of the survey.
- Some responses have been sorted and colored to present the data in a friendlier manner (e.g. northbound vs. southbound responses).
- Not all CDT hikers meticulously document the stats of their thru-hike. Therefore, the data is not going to be 100% accurate. That said, it should be fairly close to the reality of the trail this year.
- I refer to survey respondents collectively as this year’s “class“. Remember, this is a sample and not a comprehensive survey of every single CDT hiker on the trail this year.
- If you find a small and meaningless discrepancy in the data, congratulations. However, if you find a large or obvious error, please let me know and it will be corrected.
- If you’re wondering what this symbol – σ – is, it’s the symbol for standard deviation. If you don’t know what that is, I invite you to use the Google.
- 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.
- I will be releasing more detailed survey posts focused on CDT Resupply, CDT Horror Stories, and CDT Advice in the coming weeks. If you would like to be notified of new surveys, click here.
LABELS differentiating hiker segments:
- THRU: Thru-hikers (all)
- THRU-0: Thru-hikers who did NOT complete the CDT
- THRU-1: Thru-hikers who completed the entire CDT
- NOBO: Northbound thru-hikers (all)
- NOBO-0: Northbound thru-hikers who did NOT complete the CDT
- NOBO-1: Northbound thru-hikers who completed the CDT
- SOBO: Southbound thru-hikers (all)
- SOBO-0: Southbound thru-hikers who did NOT complete the CDT
- SOBO-1: Southbound thru-hikers who completed the CDT
If NO LABEL has been appended to a data point, then I used all data collected (i.e. it also includes section hiker data).
The Highest-rated CDT Gear
In addition to asking each CDT hiker what gear they used, I also ask hikers to rate each piece of gear. No point in doing what everyone else is doing if they’re all doing it wrong, right? I use this information to arrive at a top-five-pieces-of-gear list for each of the categories surveyed.
NOTES ON THE DATA:
- All weights (and for backpacks, capacity) for products below are for products in a size medium and/or regular unless otherwise noted.
- I only included items here that were used by AT LEAST ten hikers. Why ten? Because that’s the number I arbitrarily decided on – I already told you, this isn’t scientific.
The Highest-rated CDT Gear List
So what does our “Highest-rated CDT gear List” backpack have in it? And, on that note, what is our backpack?
- Backpack: Hyperlite Mountain Gear Windrider
- Shelter: Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL1
- Sleeping bag: Western Mountaineering Versalite
- Sleeping pad: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm
- Insulated jacket: Arc’teryx Cerium LT Down Hoodie
- Shell: Arc’teryx Beta SL Hybrid Jacket
- Stove: Snow Peak GigaPower 2.0
- Water treatment: Aquamira
- Ice axe: C.A.M.P. USA Corsa Nanotech
- Shoes: Merrell Moab 2 Vent
Total weight – Big 3 (pack, shelter, sleeping bag): 6 lbs 5.82 oz / 2.887 kg
Total weight – Big 4 (Big 3 + sleeping pad): 7 lbs 4.83 oz / 3.312 kg
All CDT gear: 9 lbs 2.25 oz / 4.146 kg
These base weights are missing gear (headlamp, extra clothing, electronics, etc.), and they get us within striking distance of the AVERAGE STARTING BASE WEIGHT (total weight not including consumables such as food, water, and poop paper) of this year’s thru-hikers: 15.31 lbs / 6.945 kg. Also, note that the stove included in this list, the Snow Peak GigaPower 2.0, does not include the weight of a pot.
The total price of all this gear? $2,490 (this includes one pair of shoes). The average amount hikers spent prior to beginning their hikes? $931.95 (σ = $709.28). Clearly, most hikers had some of their gear prior to beginning their hikes.
Now, let’s take a detailed look at the top five highest-rated pieces of gear in each of the following categories: backpacks, shelters, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, insulated jackets, shells, stoves, water treatments, and shoes.
HIGHEST-RATED CDT BACKPACKS
The Hyperlite Mountain Gear Windrider was the highest-rated pack on the CDT this year. It is a 31.82 oz / 902 g waterproof pack capable of carrying up to 55 L (it comes in three sizes) and 40 lbs / 18 kg. It has three mesh exterior pockets and two hipbelt pockets.
BACKPACK | PRICE | RATING | WEIGHT | LITERS | MAX LOAD | ACCESS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Windrider | $345 | 5/5 | 31.82 oz / 902 g | 55 | 40 lbs / 18 kg | Top |
Gossamer Gear Mariposa | $225 | 4.80/5 | 31.2 oz / 884 g | 60 | 35 lbs / 16 kg | Top |
ULA Circuit | $255 | 4.60/5 | 41 oz / 1.162 kg | 68 | 35 lbs / 16 kg | Top |
Granite Gear Crown2 60 | $200 | 4.44/5 | 36.7 oz / 1.04 kg | 60 | 35 lbs / 16 kg | Top |
Osprey Exos | $220 | 4.33/5 | 43 oz / 1.219 kg | 58 | 40 lbs / 18 kg | Top |
HIGHEST-RATED CDT SHELTERS
The Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL1 was the highest-rated shelter on the CDT this year. It’s a one-person, free-standing shelter weighing in at 38 oz / 1.077 kg. It has a single, side-entry door and has a minimum trail weight of 34 oz / 964 g.
SHELTER | PRICE | RATING | WEIGHT | PACKED SIZE | HEIGHT | FLOOR | DOORS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL1 | $380 | 4.90/5 | 38 oz / 1.077 kg | 17.5 x 5.5 in / 44 x 14 cm | 38 in / 97 cm | 20.17 ft² / 1.87 m² | 1 |
Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 | $400 | 4.71/5 | 40 oz / 1.133 kg | 5.5 x 18 in / 14 x 46 cm | 39 in / 99 cm | 28 ft² / 2.6 m² | 2 |
Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 | $450 | 4.71/5 | 50 oz / 1.417 kg | 6 x 19.5 in / 15 x 50 cm | 40 in / 101 cm | 29 ft² / 2.69 m² | 2 |
Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL1 | $330 | 4.43/5 | 33 oz / 936 g | 4 x 19 in / 10 x 48 cm | 38 in / 97 cm | 19.71 ft² / 1.83 m² | 1 |
Tarptent Notch | $314 | 4.40/5 | 27 oz / 770 g | 16 x 3.5 in / 41 x 9 cm | 43 in / 109 cm | 15.75 ft² / 1.46 m² | 2 |
A NOTE ON SHELTERS
For the weight of each shelter, I have used the packed weight – that is, the weight of the shelter including stuff sacks, guy lines, and stakes.
HIGHEST-RATED CDT SLEEPING BAGS
The Western Mountaineering Versalite was the highest-rated sleeping bag on the CDT this year. This is the same top-rated bag from the PCT Gear Survey. The Versalite uses 850-fill down insulation and has interlocking draft tubes with a down-filled collar.
SLEEPING BAG | PRICE | RATING | WEIGHT | TEMPERATURE | FILL | FILL WEIGHT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Western Mountaineering Versalite | $605 | 4.94/5 | 32 oz / 907 g | 10°F / -12°C | 850-fill goose down | 20 oz / 565 g |
Feathered Friends Egret 20 | $510 | 4.60/5 | 27.2 oz / 771 g | 20°F / -6.67°C | 950+ goose down | 17.3 oz / 491 g |
Enlightened Equipment Revelation 10 | $325 | 4.53/5 | 25.95 oz / 736 g | 10°F / -12°C | 850-fill duck down | 13.63 oz / 386 g |
Katabatic Sawatch 15 | $500 | 4.50/5 | 24 oz / 680 g | 15°F / -9.44°C | 900+ goose down | 15 oz / 425 g |
Western Mountaineering UltraLite | $500 | 4.45/5 | 29 oz / 822 g | 20°F / -6.67°C | 850-fill goose down | 16 oz / 454 g |
HIGHEST-RATED CDT SLEEPING PADS
The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm sleeping pad was the highest-rated sleeping pad of CDT hikers this year. The 2.5 in / 6.4 cm thick pad comes in either regular or large sizes (there’s no small because this is a four-season pad), and it has an R-value of 6.9.
SLEEPING PAD | PRICE | RATING | WEIGHT | R-VALUE | TYPE | PACKED SIZE | THICKNESS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm | $215 | 4.61/5 | 15 oz / 425 g | 6.9 | Air | 9 x 4 in / 23 x 10 cm | 2.5 in / 6.4 cm |
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite (Small) | $145 | 4.55/5 | 8 oz / 227 g | 4.2 | Air | 9 x 3.5 in / 23 x 9 cm | 2.5 in / 6.4 cm |
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite | $195 | 4.50/5 | 14 oz / 397 g | 2.3 | Air | 6 x 3.6 in / 15 x 9 cm | 2.5 in / 6.4 cm |
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite | $185 | 4.49/5 | 12 oz / 340 g | 4.2 | Air | 9 x 4.1 in / 23 x 10 cm | 2.5 in / 6.4 cm |
Sea to Summit UltraLight Insulated | $140 | 4.25/5 | 16.9 oz / 479 g | 3.3 | Air | 8 x 3 in / 20 x 8 cm | 2 in / 5.08 cm |
HIGHEST-RATED CDT INSULATED JACKETS
The Arc’teryx Cerium LT Down Hoodie was the highest-rated jacket among CDT hikers this year. The jacket uses 850-fill goose down with two zippered hand pockets and one zippered internal pocket.
JACKET | PRICE | RATING | WEIGHT | INSULATION | HOOD | POCKETS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arc’teryx Cerium LT Down Hoodie | $380 | 4.75/5 | 10.9 oz / 309 g | 850-fill goose down | Yes | 2 zippered hand / 1 zippered internal |
Patagonia Micro Puff Hoody | $300 | 4.73/5 | 9.3 oz / 264 g | 65-g PlumaFill | Yes | 2 zippered hand / 2 drop internal |
Montbell Plasma 1000 | $329 | 4.71/5 | 4.8 oz / 135 g | 1000 fill power EX down | No | None |
Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer | $300 | 4.69/5 | 8.3 oz / 235 g | 800-fill-power Q.Shield treated goose down | No | 2 zippered hand pockets |
Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer (Hooded) | $325 | 4.43/5 | 8.8 oz / 250 g | 800-fill-power Q.Shield treated goose down | Yes | 2 zippered hand pockets |
HIGHEST-RATED CDT SHELLS
The Arc’teryx Beta SL Hybrid Jacket was the highest-rated shell (that’s a fancy name for rain jacket) among CDT hikers this year. It’s a 12.3 oz / 349 g jacket made with Gore-Tex Paclite that includes pit zips and two zippered hand pockets. Men’s / Women’s
SHELL | PRICE | RATING | WEIGHT | FABRIC | PIT ZIPS | POCKETS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Arc’teryx Beta SL Hybrid Jacket | $400 | 4.86/5 | 12.3 oz / 349 g | Gore-Tex Paclite | Yes | 2 zippered hand |
Outdoor Research Helium II | $160 | 4.05/5 | 6.4 oz / 182 g | 2.5-layer Pertex waterproof breathable laminate | No | 1 zippered chest |
Marmot PreCip Jacket | $100 | 3.92/5 | 11.39oz / 322.9g | Marmot NanoPro Waterproof/Breathable | Yes | 2 zippered hand |
Montbell Versalite | $200 | 3.83/5 | 6.4 oz / 182 g | Gore-Tex Infinium Windstopper | Yes | 2 zippered hand |
Frogg Toggs Ultra-Lite2 | $25 | 3.82/5 | 9 oz / 255 g | Three-layer polypropylene | No | None |
HIGHEST-RATED CDT STOVES
The Snow Peak GigaPower 2.0 was the highest-rated stove on the CDT this year. It’s a 3.2 oz / 91 g canister stove with a foldout, four-pronged pot support and that can (reportedly) boil one liter of water in 4 min. 48 sec.
STOVE | PRICE | RATING | WEIGHT | TYPE | DIMENSIONS | INTEGRATED POT | SIMMER CONTROL |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Snow Peak GigaPower 2.0 | $50 | 4.94/5 | 3.2 oz / 91 g | Canister | 3.6 x 2.0 x 1.8 in / 9.1 x 5 x 4.6 cm | No | Yes |
MSR PocketRocket 2 | $45 | 4.66/5 | 2.6 oz / 74 g | Canister | 7.25 x 5 x 4 in / 19 x 12.6 x 10.2 cm | No | Yes |
BRS-3000T | $17 | 4.64/5 | 0.88 oz / 25 g | Canister | 1.97 x 1.18 x 1.3 in / 5 x 3 x 3.3 cm | No | Yes |
Jetboil Flash | $100 | 4.56/5 | 13.1 oz / 371 g | Canister | 7.1 x 4.1 in / 18 x 10.4 cm | Yes | Yes |
Jetboil MiniMo | $145 | 4.50/5 | 14 oz / 397 g | Canister | 5 x 6 in / 12.7 x 15.2 cm | Yes | Yes |
HIGHEST-RATED CDT WATER TREATMENTS
Aquamira was the highest-rated water treatment on the CDT this year. It’s a two-part chlorine dioxide solution that rids your drinking water of protozoa and bacteria.
WATER TREATMENT | PRICE | RATING | WEIGHT | TYPE | DIMENSIONS | MEDIUM | REMOVES |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Aquamira | $15 | 4.60/5 | 3 oz / 85 g | Drops | N/A | Chlorine dioxide | Protozoa, bacteria, and viruses |
Iodine | $12 | 4.50/5 | 3 oz / 85 g | Drops | N/A | Iodine | Protozoa, bacteria, and viruses |
Platypus GravityWorks | $100 | 4.50/5 | 10.9 oz / 309 g | Gravity | 3 x 7.4 in / 7.6 x 18.8 cm | Hollow fibers | Protozoa and bacteria |
Bleach | Cheap | 4.33/5 | N/A | Drops | N/A | Sodium hypochlorite | Protozoa, bacteria, and viruses |
Katadyn BeFree | $25 | 4.11/5 | 2.3 oz / 65 g | Bottle | 11.3 x 3.5 x 2.8 in / 29 x 9 x 7 cm | Hollow fiber | Protozoa and bacteria |
HIGHEST-RATED CDT TREKKING POLES
The Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Z were the highest-rated trekking poles on the CDT this year. A pair weighs just under one pound at 15.8 oz / 447 g and they have carbon fiber shafts with cork handles. They collapse down to 16.6 in / 42 cm.
TREKKING POLES | PRICE | RATING | WEIGHT (PAIR) | SHAFT MATERIAL | HANDLE MATERIAL | COLLAPSED LENGTH | LOCKING MECHANISM |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Z | $190 | 4.70/5 | 15.8 oz / 447 g | Carbon fiber | Cork | 16.6 in / 42 cm | Push-button Lock |
Leki Micro Vario Carbon | $200 | 4.70/5 | 16.9 oz / 479 g | High modulus carbon | Foam | 15 in / 38 cm | External Lever Lock |
Black Diamond Trail Ergo Cork | $130 | 4.54/5 | 18 oz / 510 g | Aluminum | Cork | 27 in / 69 cm | External Lever Lock |
Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork | $180 | 4.42/5 | 17.1 oz / 485 g | Carbon fiber | Cork | 24 in / 61 cm | External Lever Lock |
Black Diamond Trail | $100 | 4.39/5 | 17 oz / 482 g | Aluminum | Foam | 25 in / 63.5 cm | External Lever Lock |
HIGHEST-RATED CDT ICE AXE
The C.A.M.P. USA Corsa Nanotech was the highest-rated ice axe on the CDT this year. It’s the only one of the top five with a bent shaft and it is the lightest at 8.8 oz / 250 g (tied with the C.A.M.P. USA Corsa).
ICE AXE | PRICE | RATING | WEIGHT | MATERIAL | LENGTHS | SHAPE |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
C.A.M.P. USA Corsa Nanotech | $160 | 4.78/5 | 8.8 oz / 250 g | 7075-T6 aluminum steel alloy shaft/Sandvik Nanoflex steel | 50, 60, 70 cm | Bent |
Black Diamond Raven Pro | $110 | 4.57/5 | 13.8 oz / 392 g | Stainless-steel head and spike/aluminum 7075-T6 shaft | 55, 60, 65, 70 cm | Straight |
Petzl Glacier Literide | $100 | 4.33/5 | 11.3 oz / 320 g | Heat-treated steel/aluminum 7075 | 50 cm | Straight |
Black Diamond Raven | $85 | 3.95/5 | 15.9 oz / 452 g | Stainless-steel head/aluminum shaft | 60, 65, 70, 75 cm | Straight |
C.A.M.P. USA Corsa | $120 | 3.73/5 | 8.8 oz / 250 g | 7075 aluminum alloy | 50, 60, 70 cm | Straight |
HIGHEST-RATED CDT SHOES
The Merrell Moab 2 Vent was the highest-rated shoe on the CDT this year. They are the heaviest shoe of the bunch at 31 oz / 879 g per pair, but they are extremely durable (and are the shoes I hiked the CDT in). On average, thru-hikers who finished the trail used 3.67 pairs of these shoes over the course of the entire CDT. Men’s / Women’s
SHOES | PRICE | RATING | WEIGHT (PAIR) | HEEL-TOE DROP | WATERPROOF | AVERAGE NUMBER USED |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Merrell Moab 2 Vent | $100 | 5/5 | 31 oz / 879 g | — | No | 3.34 |
La Sportiva Wildcat | $110 | 4.80/5 | 25 oz / 709 g | 12 mm | No | 4.0 |
Salomon XA Pro 3D | $130 | 4.54/5 | 26.5 oz / 751 g | 12 mm | No | 4.22 |
Altra Timp | $140 | 4.29/5 | 17 oz / 482 g | 0 mm | No | 5.5 |
Altra Lone Peak | $120 | 4.28/5 | 21 oz / 595 g | 0 mm | No | 4.54 |
A NOTE ON SHOES
Even if you knew for certain that each pair of your shoes will last you 700 mi / 1,125 km, buying yourself four pairs of shoes at the start of the hike would be a risky decision – what if the shoes aren’t as comfortable as you thought? What if your feet swell?
Remember, you can buy shoes using this thing called the internet and have them mailed ahead on the trail (to a post office, hotel, local outfitter, trail angel, etc.) once you know that you’re going to need a new pair. If you encounter an emergency situation, you can always buy locally or simply wait around for your shoes to show up in the mail.
CDT TRACTION SYSTEMS
A total of 50.68% of Continental Divide Trail hikers used the Kahtoola MICROspikes Traction System. An additional 32.43% reported not using any traction system at all. The remaining 16.89% of hikers used a variety of other devices, none of which had more than three reported users.
Kahtoola MICROspikes: $70 | 11 oz / 312 g |elastomer/stainless steel | 4 sizes available
The Most Common CDT Gear
Now that we’ve looked at which pieces of gear hikers liked best, let’s examine which pieces of gear were the most commonly used by CDT hikers. Remember, this is the most commonly used gear – simply because something was common, this does not necessarily translate to it automatically being the “best” (or even good).
The only piece of gear to occupy both the highest-rated and most common position is the Sawyer Squeeze. That said, there is still a lot of overlap between the highest-rated and the most commonly used pieces of gear.
The Most Common CDT Gear List
What about the most commonly used gear on the CDT this year? What did the average sheep waddling down the trail look like? What were they carrying?
- Backpack: Osprey Exos
- Shelter: Zpacks Duplex
- Sleeping bag: Enlightened Equipment Revelation 20
- Sleeping pad: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite
- Insulated jacket: Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer (Hooded)
- Shell: Outdoor Research Helium II
- Stove: MSR PocketRocket 2
- Water treatment: Sawyer Squeeze
- Ice axe: Black Diamond Raven
- Shoes: Altra Lone Peak
Total weight – Big 3 (pack, shelter*, sleeping bag): 5 lbs 3.94 oz / 2.380 kg
Total weight – Big 4 (Big 3* + sleeping pad): 5 lbs 15.94 oz / 2.720 kg
All CDT gear*: 11 lbs 3.37 oz / 5.085 kg
*The shelter, a Zpacks Duplex, requires trekking poles and eight stakes to be set up which are not included in this weight
These base weights are missing gear (headlamp, extra clothing, electronics, etc.), and they get us within striking distance of the AVERAGE STARTING BASE WEIGHT (total weight not including consumables such as food, water, and poop paper) of this year’s thru-hikers: 15.63 lbs / 7.089 kg.
The total price of all this gear? $1,990 (this includes one pair of shoes). The average amount hikers spent prior to beginning their hikes? $931.95 (σ = $709.28). Clearly, most hikers had some of their gear prior to beginning their hikes. A side-by-side breakdown of the highest-rated and most common CDT gear will follow this section.
Now, for a detailed look at the top five most common pieces of gear in each of the following categories: backpacks, shelters, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, insulated jackets, shells, stoves, water treatments, and shoes.
MOST COMMON CDT BACKPACKS
The Osprey Exos was the most widely-used pack on the CDT this year. It is a 42 oz / 1.190 kg pack capable of carrying up to 58 L and 40 lbs / 18 kg. It’s also available in a 48-liter version.
BACKPACK | PRICE | RATING | WEIGHT | LITERS | MAX LOAD | ACCESS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Osprey Exos | $220 | 4.33/5 | 42 oz / 1.190 kg | 58 | 40 lbs / 18 kg | Top |
ULA Circuit | $255 | 4.47/5 | 41 oz / 1.162 kg | 68 | 35 lbs / 16 kg | Top |
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Southwest | $345 | 4.29/5 | 32.11 oz / 910 g | 55 | 40 lbs / 18 kg | Top |
Granite Gear Crown2 60 | $200 | 4.44/5 | 36.7 oz / 1.04 kg | 60 | 35 lbs / 16 kg | Top |
Hyperlite Mountain Gear Windrider | $345 | 5/5 | 31.82 oz / 902 g | 55 | 40 lbs / 18 kg | Top |
MOST COMMON CDT SHELTERS
The Zpacks Duplex was the most widely-used shelter on the Continental Divide Trail this year. It is the only non-freestanding shelter on the “most common” list and it requires two trekking poles to be set up (which is why it appears to be so much lighter). It’s made from .51 oz/yd² Dyneema Composite Fabric and required eight stakes to be set up (not included in the $600 price tag).
TENT | PRICE | RATING | WEIGHT | PACKED SIZE | HEIGHT | FLOOR | DOORS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Zpacks Duplex | $600 | 3.85/5 | 19.4 oz / 550 g | 7 x 13 in / 18 x 33 cm | 48 in / 122 cm | 28 ft² / 2.6 m² | 2 |
Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL2 | $350 | 4.27/5 | 37 oz / 1.048 kg | 4 x 19 in / 10 x 48 cm | 39 in / 99 cm | 28 ft² / 2.6 m² | 1 |
Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL1 | $380 | 4.90/5 | 38 oz / 1.077 kj | 5.5 x 17.5 in / 14 x 44 cm | 38 in / 96 cm | 20 ft² / 1.9 m² | 1 |
Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 | $400 | 4.71/5 | 40 oz / 1.133 kg | 5.5 x 18 in / 14 x 46 cm | 39 in / 99 cm | 28 ft² / 2.6 m² | 2 |
Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 | $450 | 4.71/5 | 50 oz / 1.417 kg | 6 x 19.5 in / 15 x 50 cm | 40 in / 101 cm | 29 ft² / 2.69 m² | 2 |
A NOTE ON SHELTERS
The weight provided for the Zpacks Duplex does not include the two trekking poles or the eight stakes that are required to set it up. All the rest of the shelters have their “packed weight” provided – this includes poles, stakes, and stuff sacks.
MOST COMMON CDT SLEEPING BAGS
The Enlightened Equipment Revelation 20 was the most common sleeping bag on the CDT this year – and it’s a quilt. It’s made with 850 DownTek treated down with a 10D nylon shell. There is also a 10-degree version – the third-most-popular bag this year – which received higher ratings than the more-common 20-degree version.
SLEEPING BAG | PRICE | RATING | WEIGHT | TEMPERATURE | FILL | FILL WEIGHT |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Enlightened Equipment Revelation 20 | $300 | 4.0/5 | 22.54 oz / 639 g | 20°F / -6°C | 850-fill duck down | 16.08 oz / 456 g |
Western Mountaineering UltraLite | $500 | 4.45/5 | 29 oz / 822 g | 20°F / -6°C | 850-fill goose down | 16 oz / 455 g |
Enlightened Equipment Enigma 20 | $315 | 4.14/5 | 21.19 oz / 601 g | 20°F / -6°C | 850-fill duck down | 15.46 oz / 438 g |
Enlightened Equipment Revelation 10 | $325 | 4.53/5 | 25.95 oz / 736 g | 10°F / -12°C | 850-fill duck down | 19.31 oz / 574 g |
Western Mountaineering Versalite | $605 | 4.80/5 | 32 oz / 907 g | 10°F / -12°C | 850-fill goose down | 20 oz / 565 g |
MOST COMMON CDT SLEEPING PADS
The Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite was the most common sleeping pad on the CDT this year. It comes in four sizes – small, regular, large, and regular/wide/ The 2.5 in / 6.4 cm thick pad has an R-value of 4.2 and is made with 30D rip HT Nylon in the USA (if you’re into that).
SLEEPING PAD | PRICE | RATING | WEIGHT | R-VALUE | TYPE | PACKED SIZE | THICKNESS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite | $185 | 4.49 | 12 oz / 340 g | 4.2 | Air | 9 x 4.1 in / 23 x 10 cm | 2.5 in / 6.4 cm |
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite (Small) | $145 | 4.55 | 8 oz / 227 g | 4.2 | Air | 9 x 3.5 in / 23 x 9 cm | 2.5 in / 6.4 cm |
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm | $215 | 4.61 | 15 oz / 425 g | 6.9 | Air | 9 x 4 in / 23 x 10 cm | 2.5 in / 6.4 cm |
Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol | $45 | 4.46/5 | 14 oz / 397 g | 2.6 | Foam | 20 x 5 x 5.5 in / 51 x 13 x 14 cm | 0.75 in / 2 cm |
Sea to Summit UltraLight Insulated | $130 | 4.38/5 | 16.9 oz / 479 g | 3.3 | Air | 9 x 4 in / 23 x 10 cm | 2 in / 5 cm |
MOST COMMON CDT INSULATED JACKET
The Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer (Hooded) was the most common puffy on the CDT this year. It weighs 8.8 oz / 250 g and is stuffed with 800-fill goose down. The Ghost Whisperer without a hood was the third-most common jacket and it received a slightly higher rating from hikers.
DOWN JACKET | PRICE | RATING | WEIGHT | INSULATION | HOOD | POCKETS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer (Hooded) | $325 | 4.43/5 | 8.8 oz / 250 g | 800-fill goose down | Yes | 2 zippered hand |
Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer | $300 | 4.69/5 | 8.3 oz / 235 g | 800-fill goose down | No | 2 zippered hand |
Patagonia Micro Puff Insulated Hoodie | $300 | 4.73/5 | 9.3 oz / 264 g | Synthetic | Yes | 2 zippered hand / 2 internal drop |
Arc’teryx Cerium LT Down Hoodie | $380 | 4.5/5 | 10.9 oz / 309 g | 850-fill goose down | Yes | 2 zippered hand / 1 zippered internal |
Montbell Plasma 1000 | $329 | 4.71/5 | 4.8 oz / 135 g | 1000 Fill Power EX Down | No | None |
MOST COMMON CDT SHELLS
The Outdoor Research Helium II was the most common shell (that’s a fancy name for rain jacket) among CDT hikers this year. It is also the lowest-rated piece of gear to top a most-common list. It is the lightest jacket on the list at just 6.4 oz / 182 g and it uses a 2.5-layer Pertex waterproof breathable laminate.
SHELL | PRICE | RATING | WEIGHT | FABRIC | PIT ZIPS | POCKETS |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Outdoor Research Helium II | $160 | 4.05/5 | 6.4 oz / 182 g | 2.5-layer Pertex waterproof breathable laminate | No | 1 zippered chest |
Frogg Toggs Ultra-Lite2 | $25 | 3.82/5 | 9 oz / 255 g | Three-layer polypropylene | No | None |
Marmot PreCip Jacket | $100 | 3.92/5 | 11.39oz / 322.9g | Marmot NanoPro Waterproof/Breathable | Yes | 2 zippered hand |
Montbell Versalite | $200 | 3.83/5 | 6.4 oz / 182 g | Gore-Tex Infinium Windstopper | Yes | 2 zippered hand |
Arc’teryx Beta SL Hybrid | $425 | 4.86/5 | 11.3 oz / 320 g | Gore-Tex Paclite 2L, Gore-Tex Pro (3-layer), & Gore C Knit (100% nylon) | Yes | 2 zippered hand / 1 zippered chest |
MOST COMMON CDT STOVES
The MSR PocketRocket 2 was the most commonly-used stove on the CDT this year. The 2.6 oz / 74 g canister stove can (reportedly) boil a liter of water in 3.5 minutes and it packs down to 7.25 x 5 x 4 in / 19 x 12.6 x 10.2 cm (included with the stove is a hard-shell carrying case).
STOVE | PRICE | RATING | WEIGHT | TYPE | DIMENSIONS | INTEGRATED POT | SIMMER CONTROL |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
MSR PocketRocket 2 | $45 | 4.66/5 | 2.6 oz / 74 g | Canister | 7.25 x 5 x 4 in / 19 x 12.6 x 10.2 cm | No | Yes |
BRS-3000T | $17 | 4.64/5 | 0.88 oz / 25 g | Canister | 1.97 x 1.18 x 1.3 in / 5 x 3 x 3.3 cm | No | Yes |
Jetboil Flash | $100 | 4.56/5 | 13.1 oz / 371 g | Canister | 7.1 x 4.1 in / 18 x 10.4 cm | Yes | Yes |
Jetboil MiniMo | $145 | 4.50/ 5 | 14 oz / 397 g | Canister | 5 x 6 in / 12.7 x 15.2 cm | Yes | Yes |
Snow Peak GigaPower 2.0 | $50 | 4.94/5 | 3.2 oz / 91 g | Canister | 3.6 x 2.0 x 1.8 in / 9.1 x 5 x 4.6 cm | No | Yes |
A NOTE ON STOVES
5.83% of hikers used an alcohol stove.
MOST COMMON CDT WATER TREATMENTS
The Sawyer Squeeze was the most commonly-used water filter on the CDT this year. It weighs 3 oz / 85 g and will freeze (and break) if left out in cold-enough temperatures – what more could you ask for?
WATER TREATMENT | PRICE | RATING | WEIGHT | TYPE | DIMENSIONS | MEDIUM | REMOVES |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Sawyer Squeeze | $35 | 3.92/5 | 3 oz / 85 g | Squeeze/Straw | 2 x 5 in / 5 x 13 cm | Hollow fiber | Protozoa and bacteria |
Aquamira | $15 | 4.60/5 | 3 oz / 85 g | Drops | N/A | Chlorine dioxide | Protozoa, bacteria, and viruses |
Bleach | Cheap | 4.33/5 | N/A | Drops | N/A | Sodium hypochlorite | Protozoa, bacteria, and viruses |
Katadyn BeFree | $25 | 4.11/5 | 2.3 oz / 65 g | Bottle | 11.3 x 3.5 x 2.8 in / 29 x 9 x 7 cm | Hollow fiber | Protozoa and bacteria |
Iodine | $12 | 4.50/5 | 3 oz / 85 g | Drops | N/A | Iodine | Protozoa, bacteria, and viruses |
MOST COMMON CDT ICE AXE
The Black Diamond Raven was the most common ice axe on the CDT this year. It’s the slightly heavier (and less expensive) version of the Black Diamond Raven Pro which received a much higher rating.
ICE AXE | PRICE | RATING | WEIGHT | MATERIAL | LENGTHS | SHAPE |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Black Diamond Raven | $85 | 3.95/5 | 15.9 oz / 452 g | Stainless-steel head/aluminum shaft | 60, 65, 70, 75 cm | Straight |
C.A.M.P. USA Corsa | $120 | 3.73/5 | 8.8 oz / 250 g | 7075 aluminum alloy | 50, 60, 70 cm | Straight |
C.A.M.P. USA Corsa Nanotech | $160 | 4.78/5 | 8.8 oz / 250 g | 7075-T6 aluminum steel alloy shaft/Sandvik Nanoflex steel | 50, 60, 70 cm | Bent |
Petzl Glacier Literide | $100 | 4.33/5 | 11.3 oz / 320 g | Heat-treated steel/aluminum 7075 | 50 cm | Straight |
Black Diamond Raven Pro | $110 | 4.57/5 | 13.8 oz / 392 g | Stainless-steel head and spike/aluminum 7075-T6 shaft | 55, 60, 65, 70 cm | Straight |
MOST COMMON CDT SHOES
The Altra Lone Peak was the most popular shoe on the CDT this year – used by nearly a third of CDT hikers. It’s a zero-drop shoe and, on average, hikers who completed the trail used 4.65 pairs – nearly $600 in shoes (at full retail price).
SHOES | PRICE | RATING | WEIGHT (PAIR) | HEEL-TOE DROP | WATERPROOF | AVERAGE NUMBER USED |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Altra Lone Peak | $120 | 4.28/5 | 21 oz / 595 g | 0 mm | No | 4.54 |
Salomon XA Pro 3D | $130 | 4.54/5 | 26.5 oz / 751 g | 12 mm | No | 4.22 |
Brooks Cascadia | $130 | 4.17/5 | 21.4 oz / 607 g | 8 mm | No | 4.30 |
Altra Timp | $140 | 4.29/5 | 17 oz / 482 g | 0 mm | No | 5.50 |
Merrell Moab 2 Vent | $100 | 5/5 | 31 oz / 879 g | — | No | 3.34 |
A NOTE ON SHOES
Even if you knew for certain that each pair of your shoes will last you 700 mi / 1,125 km, buying yourself four pairs of shoes at the start of the hike would be a risky decision – what if the shoes aren’t as comfortable as you thought? What if your feet swell?
Remember, you can buy shoes using this thing called the internet and have them mailed ahead on the trail (to a post office, hotel, local outfitter, trail angel, etc.) once you know that you’re going to need a new pair. If you encounter an emergency situation, you can always buy locally or simply wait around for your shoes to show up in the mail.
Highest-rated vs. Most Common CDT Gear
How do the highest-rated and most common CDT gear lists stack up against one another? It appears that most hikers opted for lighter gear, but that those who carried heavier gear were often happy with their choices. The eternal struggle between comfort and weight in the world of thru-hiking marches forward.
HIGHEST-RATED CDT GEAR | MOST COMMON CDT GEAR | |
---|---|---|
Total cost | $2,490 | $1,990 |
Total weight – Big 3 | 6 lbs 5.82 oz / 2.887 kg | 5 lbs 3.94 oz / 2.380 kg |
Total weight – Big 4 | 7 lbs 4.83 oz / 3.312 kg | 5 lbs 15.94 oz / 2.720 kg |
All CDT gear | 9 lbs 2.25 oz / 4.146 kg | 11 lbs 3.37 oz / 5.085 kg |
NOTE: The shelter used in the “Most Common CDT Gear” list requires two trekking poles and eight stakes to be set up (not included in the base weight). The highest-rated tent is freestanding and does not require trekking poles.
HIGHEST-RATED CDT GEAR
- Backpack: Hyperlite Mountain Gear Windrider
- Shelter: Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL1
- Sleeping bag: Western Mountaineering Versalite
- Sleeping pad: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm
- Insulated jacket: Arc’teryx Cerium LT Down Hoodie
- Shell: Arc’teryx Beta SL Hybrid Jacket
- Stove: Snow Peak GigaPower 2.0
- Water treatment: Aquamira
- Ice axe: C.A.M.P. USA Corsa Nanotech
- Shoes: Merrell Moab 2 Vent
MOST COMMON CDT GEAR
- Backpack: Osprey Exos
- Shelter: Zpacks Duplex
- Sleeping bag: Enlightened Equipment Revelation 20
- Sleeping pad: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite
- Insulated jacket: Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer (Hooded)
- Shell: Outdoor Research Helium II
- Stove: MSR PocketRocket 2
- Water treatment: Sawyer Squeeze
- Ice axe: Black Diamond Raven
- Shoes: Altra Lone Peak
The Base Weights
THRU | THRU-1 | THRU-0 | NOBO | SOBO | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
BASE WEIGHT (START) | 15.31 lbs / 6.95 kg | 14.71 lbs / 6.67 kg | 17.03 lbs / 7.72 kg | 15.89 lbs / 7.21 kg | 13.27 lbs / 6.02 kg |
BASE WEIGHT (END) | 15.05 lbs / 6.83 kg | 14.63 lbs / 6.64 kg | 16.33 lbs / 7.41 kg | 15.66 lbs / 7.1 kg | 12.80 lbs / 5.81 kg |
% CHANGE | 1.7% | 0.5% | 4.1% | 1.4% | 3.5% |
SLEEPING BAG TEMPERATURE | 17.61°F / -7.99°C | 17.54°F / -8.03°C | 17.81°F / -7.88°C | 17.15°F / -8.25°C | 18.88°F / -7.29°C |
BACKPACK SIZE | 52.37 L | 51.84 L | 54.03 L | 53.37 L | 47.56 L |
% USING FREESTANDING SHELTER | 40% | 37.84% | 46.15% | 45.05% | 21.21% |
% STOVELESS | 20.69% | 21.10% | 19.44% | 18.87% | 30.30% |
$ SPENT ON GEAR (PRE-TRAIL) | $931.95 | $898.47 | $1,028.57 | $1,012.25 | $650.00 |
Overall, base weights changed by very little on the CDT. The average sleeping bag temperature was under 20°F / 6.6°C for all categories, and the average backpack size hovered at around 52 L overall.
If you’re a first-time, would-be thru-hiker, take this information to mean that you should probably pay attention to what’s going into your pack before setting off on the trail (hikers who didn’t finish had, on average, higher base weights than those who did). That said, this could be due to experience. Experience? Yeah, you know, like hikers who completed the trail went into it having already hiked? Let’s look at how hikers with experience stack up with those on their first thru-hikes.
FIRST-TIME HIKERS | EXPERIENCED HIKERS | |
---|---|---|
BASE WEIGHT (START) | 17.90 lbs / 8.12 kg | 15.07 lbs / 6.84 kg |
BASE WEIGHT (END) | 15.23 lbs / 6.91 kg | 15.12 lbs / 6.86 kg |
% CHANGE | 14.9% | 0.33% |
SLEEPING BAG TEMPERATURE | 17.52°F / -8.04°C | 17.94°F / -7.81°C |
BACKPACK SIZE | 56.38 L | 52.14 L |
% USING FREESTANDING SHELTER | 46.88% | 36.17% |
% STOVELESS | 12.5% | 22.55% |
$ SPENT ON GEAR (PRE-TRAIL) | $1,130.63 | $849.19 |
Interesting to see that the experienced hikers actually ended up with a heavier finishing base weight than they started with. I guess hikers were a bit underprepared for some of the conditions they encountered on the CDT.
Remember that gear selection is personal; you’re the one carrying your pack and you’re the one who will suffer the consequences or reap the benefits of your gear selection. If you’re happy to carry something and/or it improves the quality of your hike, then nobody has the right to tell you that you shouldn’t have it (and if they do, tell them Mac said to get fucked).
The luxury items
Continental Divide Trail hikers obsess over their gear lists and what goes into their packs, but most everyone has something that could be considered a luxury item by someone else. Some people believe their phone to be an essential and multifunctional piece of gear while others may scoff at the idea of using one to take photos, listen to music, and use GPS in the wilderness (personally, I could not survive a thru-hike without a phone).
The most popular luxury item on the trail this year? A pillow. 19.5% of CDT hikers listed their luxury item as a pillow. Some of the most popular pillows?
What else was popular (and not so popular) among this year’s thru-hiking luxury items?
- Many hikers listed their cameras as their luxury items (for some, this is probably mandatory)
- A journal or notebook (and one would assume a pen, as well)
- Kindles were a (surprisingly) popular response
The lowest rated gear
Now that we’ve looked into what gear CDT hikers liked best and what the most common gear was on the CDT this year, let’s look at what hikers DIDN’T LIKE. What should you avoid (or at least think about carefully) before purchasing?
NOTES ON THE DATA FOR LOWEST RATED GEAR:
- Similar to the highest-rated gear above, here I only included gear that was used by AT LEAST 10 hikers.
- To be considered for the “lowest-rated” list, a piece of gear needed to have a rating of BELOW 80% (4 out of 5 and below).
- If no item in a particular category met the 10-hiker and under 80% criteria, that category has been omitted below.
- I’ve attached comments from hikers to each piece of gear.
GEAR | RATING | NAME | COMMENTS |
---|---|---|---|
Backpack | 3.50/5 | Zpacks Arc Haul | Not durable |
Shelter | 3.85/5 | Zpacks Duplex | Condensation / Not stormworthy |
Shelter | 3.80/5 | Nemo Hornet 1P | Not enough interior space |
Sleeping Pad | 2.70/5 | Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol, Short | Uncomfortable |
Shell | 3.82/5 | Frogg Toggs Ultra-Lite 2 | This jacket was the second-most-common shell on the CDT this year. |
Shell | 3.92/5 | Marmot Pre-Cip | This jacket was the third-most-common shell on the CDT this year. |
Shell | 3.83/5 | Montbell Versalite | This jacket was the fourth-most-common shell on the CDT this year. |
Shell | 3.40/5 | Patagonia Torrentshell | |
Water Treatment | 3.92/5 | Sawyer Squeeze | 63% of CDT thru-hikers used the Sawyer Squeeze – the most common complaint? The flow rate diminished significantly over time. |
CDT thru-hiker gear advice
To wrap up this portion of the gear breakdown (posts on couples’ gear and gear broken down by gender are on the way), I have advice from this year’s CDT Class on gear choices and gear lists for future CDT hikers.
- Keep it simple. There is too much hype on gear with marginal differences. Lots of stuff will work if it is light and durable. Most gear can be replaced along the way if not.
- The CDT is colder than I anticipated, even having read past hikers comment on the cold. I sleep cold and wish I had gotten a 10-degree bag instead of a 15 so I wouldn’t have had to get additional clothes for layering. Your bag will seem excessively warm in New Mexico but you’ll need it in Colorado and for sections of Montana and Wyoming.
- I used a different system in the snow in Colorado then switched back to my original system. Carried snowshoes for the Southern San Juans. Fleece is way better than down.
- I put a priority on buying reliable gear. All of my gear performed great but if I did this trail again I would budget more for ultralight gear. I would also bring a professional-grade camera.
- Bring tenacious tape, super glue, gorilla tape, shoe goo, extra lighters, and rolling tobacco for the times people run out and lose their minds on the side of a mountain.
- Wish I took a sun umbrella for New Mexico.
The Continental Divide Trail Survey Collection
- Continental Divide Trail Survey Results
- Continental Divide Trail Survey: The Resupply Guide
- Continental Divide Trail Survey: Horror & Heartbreak
- Continental Divide Trail Survey: Advice For The Future
- All CDT Hiker Survey Posts
If there is ANYTHING you can think of that would make this information more useful (or any more gear-related cross-referencing you would like to see), then please LEAVE A COMMENT and let me know.
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Great article…. especially the disclaimer that basically says all given HYOH. I have one minor critique…… “ Aquamira was the highest-rated water filter”…… Aquamira is NOT a filter, yes, it is the highest rated “treatment”, but it does nothing to remove the chunks (not to say they may not be nutritious, but not a filter nonetheless). 😉
You’re not wrong! I’ve updated the wording to be more accurate 🙂
Am looking to through-hike next year (after doing Te Araroa in 2015/16) and finding your source to be awesome.
Ever thought of doing a Te Araroa version of this survey?
Jandal
This survey is invaluable . . .
How can someone say the Arc Haul does not have a top strap when it most certainly does unless you specifically order it without one. Mine has both a single and a “Y” strap but you use one or the other, not both at the same time. I can see how the lightest of all the packs would be the lest durable. It’s *weight* is the reason I bought it :o)
I have both the Snow Peak and the BRS and the Snow Peak is heavier and puts out almost half the heat as the BRS. Maybe I just got a dud?
After months of comparing and pondering over these bags/quilts I just ordered (will be here today) the Western Mountaineering Versalite. If it is at least as wide or wider than my Mountain Hardwear Phantom +32 (at 23 oz) I will keep it for the colder sections of my hike.
I’m seriously considering doing away with a down puffy jacket. 1/4 zip fleece is much more versatile and breathable. Use a zippered shell to let the steam out. I can always change my mind :o)
I have both the Timps and the Lone Peaks and the Timps run a full size shorter but they feel about the same to me with a SofSole insole. Dont ask me why the call them SofSole because they are NOT soft LOL but they are good and last what seems like for ever. (over 1,000 miles)
I have the Duplex tent and though you can use 8 stakes it does not require but 6 and I always use 7 but I carry 8. If you lose stakes you can use rocks in top of little sticks
The fact that the highest rated Big 4 gear is heavier than the most common but the most common’s total base weight is much heavier is worth some commentary is someone can figure that out.
LOL. . . “. . . and rolling tobacco for the times people run out and lose their minds on the side of a mountain”
Thank you for all the input, friend!
Really enjoyed this one thanks Mac
Happy to hear it!