As was to be expected, my Continental Divide Trail gear list at the end of the trail did not match up exactly with my pre-departure CDT gear list.
There's no better way to test gear than to take it thru-hiking, and there's no better thru-hike to test gear on than the CDT. I've divided this post into three parts: a list of my CDT gear, detailed descriptions of the gear, and explanations as to why I dropped or changed out pieces of gear.
A quick explanation of the post that follows: items highlighted in orange are new to the post-trail CDT gear list while items that are grayed out (like so), are items that I had at the beginning but that I dropped from my pack somewhere along the way.
BASE WEIGHTS
- BASE WEIGHT: 14 lbs 5.14 oz / 6.495 kg
- BASE WEIGHT (SAN JUANS): 20 lbs 15.14 oz / 9.501 kg
- BASE WEIGHT (LANDER, WY to CANADA): 15 lbs 1.64 oz / 6.849 kg
THE BIG STUFF
- BACKPACK | Hyperlite Mountain Gear 3400 Southwest (Medium, White)
- SHELTER | Big Agnes Copper Spur 2 Platinum
- SLEEPING BAG | Western Mountaineering Veraslite (Review)
- SLEEPING PAD | Sea to Summit UltraLight (Regular)
TOTAL WEIGHT (BIG 3): 6 lbs 5.4 oz / 2.875 kg
TOTAL WEIGHT (BIG 3 + SLEEPING PAD): 7 lbs 3.3 oz / 3.268 kg
CLOTHING (WORN)
HEADWEAR | Double Mountain Fitted Baseball Cap- HEADWEAR | “Make America Gay Again” Trucker Hat
- SUNGLASSES | RayBan RB2140 Wayfarer (54 mm)
- TOP | Icebreaker Cool-Lite Sphere Long Sleeve Hood (Medium)
SHORTS | Prana Ansa- SHORTS | $5 Walmart Shorts
UNDERWEAR | Icebreaker Anatomica Long- UNDERWEAR | ExOfficio Give-n-Go Sport Mesh 6″ Boxer Brief x2
- GAITERS | Outdoor Research Sparkplug
- SOCKS | Darn Tough 1/4 Hiking (Review)
- SHOES | Merrell Moab 2 Ventilator Low Hiking Shoes
INSOLES | Superfeet Wide Green
TOTAL WEIGHT (CLOTHING WORN): 2 lb 1.6 oz / 953 g
CLOTHING (PACKED)
- HEADWEAR | Icebreaker Apex Hat
- RAIN JACKET | Montbell Torrent Flier (Review)
- DOWN JACKET | Plasma 1000 Alpine Down Parka (Review)
- WIND JACKET | Montbell Tachyon (Review)
- WIND PANTS | Montbell Dynamo
UNDERWEAR | Icebreaker Anatomica Long- UNDERWEAR | ExOfficio Give-n-Go Sport Mesh 6″ Boxer Brief
- SOCKS | Darn Tough 1/4 Hiking (Review)
- BUG PROTECTION | Sea to Summit Head Net
TOTAL WEIGHT (PACKED CLOTHING): 1 lb 13 oz / 823 g
CARRIED/ON BODY
TREKKING POLES | Black Diamond Ergo Cork- TREKKING POLES | Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork
- PHONE | Nexus 6P
- HEADPHONES | Bose SoundSport In-ear
TOTAL WEIGHT (GEAR CARRIED/ON BODY): 1 lb 7.9 oz / 678 g
SNOW GEAR
- GAITERS | Outdoor Research Crocodiles
- SNOWSHOES | MSR Revo Ascent
- ICE AXE | Black Diamond Raven Pro (65 cm)
- MICROSPIKES | Kahtoola MICROspikes (Large)
- SOCKS | Sealskinz Waterproof Hiking Mid Length Sock
TOTAL WEIGHT (SNOW GEAR): 6 lbs 10 oz / 2.977 kg
THE KITCHEN
- STOVE | Jetboil MiniMo
- UTENSIL | Snow Peak Titanium Spork
- FIRE | Mini Bic
- STORAGE | Assorted Ziplocs
TOTAL WEIGHT (KITCHEN): 15.3 oz / 434 g
THE OTHER STUFF
- HEADLAMP | Petzl Tikka XP
WATER TREATMENT | Sawyer Squeeze- WATER TREATMENT | Katadyn BeFree
- WATER BOTTLE | 1L Smart Water bottle x2
- KNIFE | Petzl Spatha Knife (Review)
- BEAR SPRAY | Frontiersman Bear Spray
- FOOD BAG | Ursack S29.3 AllWhite Bear Bag
STUFF SACK | Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Stuff Sack (9L)- STAKES | Vargo Titanium x6
- STAKES | MSR Groundhog x2
GROUNDSHEET | Polycryo- GROUNDSHEET | Big Agnes Copper Spur 2 Platinum Footprint
TOTAL WEIGHT (OTHER STUFF): 1 lb 10.4 oz / 748 g
BEAR SPRAY: 12.5 oz / 354 g
THE ELECTRONICS
- POWER | Anker PowerCore+ 20100 USB-C
- DATA LOGGER | Kestrel Drop D2
- PLB | SPOT Gen3
- CABLE | USB-C
- CABLE | Micro USB
- CHARGER | Tronsmart USB Type C Wall Charger
TOTAL WEIGHT (ELECTRONICS): 1 lb 9.3 oz / 717 g
THE CAMERA GEAR
- CAMERA | Sony Alpha a6500
- LENS | Sony E-Mount 20mm F2.8 Prime
TRIPOD | JOBY GorillaPod Original- EXTRA BATTERIES | Wasabi Power Battery x2
- MEMORY | SanDisk Extreme 16GB SDHC UHS-I Card x2
- ACCESSORY | Peak Design Capture Clip (Review)
- COVER | Peak Design Shell (Review)
TOTAL WEIGHT (CAMERA GEAR): 1 lb 6.5 oz / 638 g
THE BATHROOM
- TOILET PAPER | Make it soft
- TOOTHBRUSH | Travel size
- TOOTHPASTE | Travel size
- HAND SANITIZER | Travel size
- SUNSCREEN | Travel size
THE OFFICE
- CARDS | Credit/Debit
- RUBBER BANDS | Quite useful
- DUCT TAPE | Basically first aid
- NOTEBOOK | Write stuff down!
- PEN | Pilot G2 0.7
- DICE| 5 for Yahtzee!
DETAILED VIEW
Hyperlite Mountain Gear 3400 Southwest
THE GOOD: Lightweight, waterproof, durable, comfortable, can accommodate extra gear like snowshoes and an ice axe
THE BAD: Hip belt pockets could be improved, tricky getting things in/out of side pockets with pack on
WOULD USE AGAIN? Yes
32.4 oz (918 g) – $340 US
FIND IT AT: Hyperlite Mountain Gear | Backcountry
Big Agnes Copper Spur 2 Platinum
THE GOOD: Easy to set up, tons of floor space, two vestibules, one of the lightest fully freestanding two-person tents available, great weather protection
THE BAD: It needs to be treated nicely (thin fabric), the $70 footprint is stupid expensive
WOULD USE AGAIN? Yes
37 oz (1.05 kg) – $599 US
FIND IT AT: REI | Backcountry | Amazon
Western Mountaineering Versalite
THE GOOD: Very warm, incredible zipper, lightweight, compressible
THE BAD: It's expensive (but definitely worth it)
WOULD USE AGAIN? Absolutely
32 oz (907 g) – $575 US – Detailed Review
FIND IT ON: Backcountry | Amazon
THE GOOD: Two-way valve = awesomesauce, egg carton construction is comfortable, lightweight, durable
THE BAD: Towards the end of the hike it became incredibly loud (when moving around on it)
WOULD USE AGAIN? Probably
13.9 oz (395g) – $99 US
FIND IT AT: REI | Backcountry | Amazon
Icebreaker Cool-Lite Sphere Long Sleeve Hood
THE GOOD: Versatile, comfortable, antimicrobial, offers sun protection, great customer service
THE BAD: Will probably end up with some holes
WOULD USE AGAIN? Absolutely
9.7 oz (275 g) – $120 US
FIND IT ON: Amazon
ExOfficio Give-n-Go Sport Mesh 6″ Boxer Brief
THE GOOD: Held up fantastically, no holes, can be worn as shorts around town, lots of color options
THE BAD: I didn't buy them sooner
WOULD USE AGAIN? Absolutely
2.5 oz (71 g) – $50 US
FIND THEM AT: ExOfficio | REI | Backcountry | Amazon
Outdoor Research Sparkplug Gaiters
THE GOOD: Keep rocks/sand/spiders/etc. out of your shoes (also when fording rivers), keep socks/feet cleaner, excellent customer service (OR will replace them)
THE BAD: Lightweight material is prone to holes (particularly in the desert)
WOULD USE AGAIN? Yes
1.2 oz (34 g) – $20 US
FIND THEM ON: Backcountry | Amazon
THE GOOD: Comfortable, merino, cushioned underfoot, lifetime guarantee means you can have them replaced
THE BAD: Nothing
WOULD USE AGAIN? Absolutely
2.2 oz (62 g) – $20 US – Detailed Review
FIND THEM AT: Darn Tough | REI | Backcountry | Amazon
THE GOOD: Come in wide sizes, more durable than a lot of shoes on the trail, comfortable, insoles actually offer support, Merrell does a one-time shoe replacement for thru-hikers
THE BAD: I still got blisters at the beginning of the trail
WOULD USE AGAIN? Yes
13 oz (369 g) – $100 US
FIND THEM AT: REI | Backcountry | Amazon
THE GOOD: Warm, wool, striped, stretchy, lightweight
THE BAD: It's a “one size fits all” which is slightly too small for my massive dome
WOULD USE AGAIN? Maybe
2.33 oz (66 g) – $30 US
FIND IT ON: Amazon
THE GOOD: 2.5-layer Gore-Tex, chest pocket, pit zips, draw cord in hem and hood, weather resistant zippers
THE BAD: Breathes about as well as you would expect a rain jacket to
WOULD USE AGAIN? Yes
8.6 oz (243 g) – $269 US – Detailed Review
FIND IT AT: Montbell
Montbell Plasma 1000 Alpine Down Parka
THE GOOD: Very warm (3.4 oz / 96 g of 1000 fill power down), DWR treatment, elastic cuffs, hem and hood adjustments, lightweight
THE BAD: Very expensive, long and annoying name
WOULD USE AGAIN? Yes
8.4 oz (237 g) – $439 US – Detailed Review
FIND IT AT: Montbell
THE GOOD: Incredibly lightweight, elastic cuffs, mesh underarms, packs super small
THE BAD: In direct sunlight it does not breathe at all (I even got sweaty using it as my town shirt)
WOULD USE AGAIN? Maybe
1.6 oz (45 g) – $99 US – Detailed Review
FIND IT AT: Montbell
THE GOOD: Incredibly lightweight, elastic waist, 11-inch ankle zippers, pack down very small
THE BAD: Thin material can be very easily ripped and punctured (my pants were mostly duct tape by the end of the CDT)
WOULD USE AGAIN? Maybe
2.6 oz (75 g) – $79 US
FIND THEM AT: Montbell
THE GOOD: Does not obscure vision as badly as some other head nets I've used, drawstring adjustment around neck
THE BAD: Mosquitoes can bite through this if it's against your skin, you look like a dummy wearing a head net
WOULD USE AGAIN? Yes
0.8 oz (23 g) – $10 US
Outdoor Research Crocodile Gaiters
THE GOOD: Waterproof (3-layer Gore-Tex), very tough, the straps that go under your feet are durable (not like the garbage Sea to Summit gaiters – stay away), easy to adjust
THE BAD: They're heavy if you're not wearing them, can be difficult to fit them when you're first starting out (which means snow is going to sneak in the bottom)
WOULD USE AGAIN? Yes
10.2 oz (289 g) – $79 US
FIND THEM AT: REI | Backcountry | Amazon
ABOUT MY SNOWSHOES: I carried these snowshoes through a couple hundred miles of the San Juan Mountains in Southern Colorado. I never once put them on. Therefore, I can't offer much in the way of pros and cons, but based on my research these are pretty sweet. I'll keep them around and hopefully get a chance to use them one day.
WOULD USE AGAIN? Possibly
4 lbs 4 oz (1.928 kg) – $240 US
FIND THEM AT: REI | Backcountry | Amazon
Black Diamond Raven Pro Ice Axe (65 cm)
THE GOOD: Lightweight, comfortable grip
THE BAD: Hole in adze (part opposite the pick – not the spike) means it's not a great shovel
WOULD USE AGAIN? Yes
14 oz (407 g) – $99 US
FIND IT AT: REI | Backcountry | Amazon
THE GOOD: Easy to put on and remove, offer excellent traction, compact
THE BAD: Can collect snow if hiking in warmer temperatures, heavy (but light for what they are)
WOULD USE AGAIN? Yes
11.9 oz (407 g) – $69 US
FIND THEM AT: REI | Backcountry | Amazon
SEALSKINZ Waterproof Hiking Mid Length Sock
THE GOOD: Waterproof, keep my feet dry and happy, comfortable inner lining
THE BAD: Once they're dirty they really need to be washed in a washing machine to get them clean (river washing will only help so much), difficult to dry when on the trail, there are a lot of different models/styles and it's difficult to tell the difference between them all
WOULD USE AGAIN? Yes
4.9 oz (139 g) – $35 US
FIND THEM ON: Amazon
THE GOOD: Simmer control, boils water incredibly quickly, stove and (small) gas can conveniently pack into pot
THE BAD: It's not technically necessary, the plastic cup on the bottom will break
WOULD USE AGAIN? Yes
14 oz (400 g) – $135 US
FIND IT AT: REI | Backcountry | Amazon
THE GOOD: It's a titanium spork – like a spoon AND a fork, lightweight
THE BAD: You'll probably lose it, the spoon is a little shallow for eating soup efficiently
WOULD USE AGAIN? Yes
0.3 oz (8.5 g) – $10 US
FIND IT AT: REI | Backcountry | Amazon
Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork Trekking Poles
THE GOOD: Excellent locking mechanism, very comfortable grips (love cork), they didn't break
THE BAD: Not super compact (but still smaller than other poles I've used)
WOULD USE AGAIN? Yes
17 oz (482 g) – $170 US
FIND THEM AT: REI | Backcountry | Amazon
THE GOOD: Very bright, great battery life, red light, three brightness levels
THE BAD: Not the smallest option available
WOULD USE AGAIN? Yes
4.2 oz (119 g) – $50 US
FIND IT AT: Amazon
THE GOOD: When new it filters water like a champ, lightweight
THE BAD: Clogs up over time and is difficult to clean, can only be used with HydraPak bottles
WOULD USE AGAIN? Maybe
2.3 oz (65 g) – $45
THE GOOD: Lightweight, sharp (excellent at cutting cheese)
THE BAD: Deosn't lock closed, cheese gets stuck in hole in back of knife, you really don't need a knife
WOULD USE AGAIN? Maybe
1.4 oz (40 g) – $40 US – Detailed Review
FIND IT AT: REI | Backcountry | Amazon
THE GOOD: Makes me feel slightly more safe in bear country (and especially around people's unleashed dogs), all bear spray is the same so just buy the least expensive one
THE BAD: Probably a waste of money because chances are you won't use it, can't mail it home (legally)
WOULD USE AGAIN? Yes
12.5 oz (354 g) – $35 US
Ursack S29.3 AllWhite Bear Bag
THE GOOD: Bearproof food protection, compact, approved for use in all areas of the CDT
THE BAD: Heavy for a food bag (but lightweight for bear protection), gets incredibly dirty (why is it white!?)
WOULD USE AGAIN? Yes
7.7 oz (218 g) – $79 US
FIND IT AT: REI
THE GOOD: Excellent camera, quick charge via USB-C
THE BAD: The GPS is not very reliable (will be getting a Pixel 2)
WOULD USE AGAIN? Maybe
6.31 oz (179 g) – $500 US
FIND IT ON: Amazon
THE GOOD: Has USB-C, can quick charge itself and other devices, durable, two USB outputs, large capacity
THE BAD: Heavy
WOULD USE AGAIN? Yes
16 oz (454 g) – $69 US
FIND IT ON: Amazon
THE GOOD: Lightweight, records temperature/humidity/heat stress index/dew point, accurate (as far as I can tell), lots of options for recording intervals
THE BAD: Battery will need to be replaced (and they're difficult to find), absolutely not necessary
WOULD USE AGAIN? Possibly
1.2 oz (34 g) – $99 US
FIND IT ON: Amazon
THE GOOD: Can be used to send Check-in Messages (includes GPS coordinates), can send custom messages (must be programmed from a computer with internet), can track your location at fixed intervals, can be used to call for help in an emergency
THE BAD: Send rate for Check-in Messages don't have a 100% success rate being sent, customer service is garbage
WOULD USE AGAIN? Probably
4.2 oz ( g) – $150 US
FIND IT AT: REI
THE GOOD: Great sound quality, incredibly comfortable (I literally forget I am wearing them), don't make you deaf to ambient sound
THE BAD: Poor warranty
WOULD USE AGAIN? Yes
0.6 oz (17 g) – $99 US
FIND THEM ON: Amazon
Tronsmart USB Type C Wall Charger
THE GOOD: Two USB inputs (one USB-A and one USB-C), folding plug, quick charge compatible
THE BAD: A little bulky
WOULD USE AGAIN? Absolutely
2.4 oz (68 g) – $15 US
THE GOOD: Awesome camera, lightweight (for the quality of its images and range of featured), compact (fits in my jacket pocket), in-body stabilization, 4K movie recording
THE BAD: Expensive, limited lens selection
WOULD USE AGAIN? Yes
14.25 oz (404 g) – $1400 US
FIND IT ON: Amazon
THE GOOD: Lightweight, low profile, sharp photos, great for landscapes
THE BAD: No zoom (bad for wildlife)
WOULD USE AGAIN? Yes
2.4 oz (69 g) – $349 US
FIND IT ON: Amazon
THE GOOD: Makes camera accessible, easy to secure and remove camera, can lock camera in place, can be placed on any strap
THE BAD: Can sometimes be fickle when putting camera back in
WOULD USE AGAIN? Absolutely
3.5 oz (100 g) – $60 US
FIND IT AT: Peak Design | Amazon
THE GOOD: Keeps camera protected in the rain when using the Capture Clip
THE BAD: Needs to be removed for use with my camera/lens combination
WOULD USE AGAIN? Absolutely
2.4 oz (68 g) – $40 US
FIND IT AT: Peak Design | Amazon
WHY THINGS CHANGED
DROPPED: Double Mountain Fitted Baseball Cap
ADDED: “Make America Gay Again” Trucker Hat
WHY? Because you need to stand up for what you believe in.
DROPPED: prAna Ansa Shorts
ADDED: $5 Walmart Shorts
WHY? The prAna shorts are garbage and fell apart after a couple weeks of hiking. I got some cheap shorts from Walmart meant to be temporary replacements and they ended up lasting the entire hike. Your gear doesn't have to be expensive.
DROPPED: Icebreaker Anatomica Long Boxer Briefs x2
ADDED: ExOfficio Give-n-Go Sport Mesh 6″ Boxer Briefs x2
WHY? I liked the Icebreaker Anatomica Long Boxer Briefs, but after about a month, both pairs I had holes worn in the crotch. When this happened, I replaced them with ExOfficio Give-n-Go Sport Mesh 6″ Boxer Briefs which lasted the rest of the hike (and in great condition).
DROPPED: Superfeet Wide Green Insoles
ADDED: Merrell Moab 2 Ventilator Low Hiking Shoe Insoles
WHY? I have nothing against the Superfeet Wide Green Insoles except their price. The new Merrell Moab 2 Ventilators have insoles with some actual support and are not just flat pieces of useless foam so I decided they were acceptable for hiking in.
DROPPED: Black Diamond Ergo Cork Trekking Poles
ADDED: Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork Trekking Poles
WHY? There was nothing wrong with my Black Diamond Ergo Cork Trekking Poles except that I lost them. To replace them I ordered a pair of Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork Trekking Poles because they are slightly lighter and (more importantly) they pack down smaller. Also, they're carbon fiber, and carbon fiber is sexy (like thru-hiking).
DROPPED: Sawyer Squeeze
ADDED: Katadyn BeFree
WHY? The Sawyer Squeeze may be the standard thru-hiking water filter, but it's far from perfect and so when I saw the Katadyn BeFree, I decided to try it out (because my Sawyer had reached the point in its life when it slows down significantly). The Katadyn BeFree did great, but it too suffers from slowing flow over time. On my next thru-hike, I have no idea what I will be bringing.
DROPPED: Polycryo (groundsheet)
ADDED: Big Agnes Copper Spur 2 Platinum Footprint
WHY? I didn't have a problem with my polycryo groundsheet and it actually held up very well. I got the footprint for my tent in anticipation for the snow in the San Juans and although it is gastupidly expensive, it was nice to have (especially for being able to set up only my fly with the footprint).
FINAL THOUGHTS
The Continental Divide Trail will is capable of doing serious damage to your gear (and your soul). There's no “perfect CDT gear list” and everyone's decisions as to what to bring will be different, but there are definitely winners and losers when it comes to gear.
The best advice you can get during the planning stages of a CDT thru-hike is to not worry about getting your gear dialed in perfectly – because it will probably change. Focus on your big three (backpack, shelter, and sleeping bag) and don't stress about the rest.
If you have any comments or questions about the gear list, then be sure to leave a comment or get in touch!
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