My Gear
Everything on this page is gear I've actually carried on long trails — the Appalachian Trail, the PCT, the CDT, and the Florida Trail. Nothing here is sponsored, and nothing is here because a brand paid me. If it's on this list, I'd hand it to a friend at a trailhead.
Disclosure: this page contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. It helps keep this site — and my hiking — going.
The Big Three
Backpack — [Your pack, e.g. the one you carried on the CDT]
Why: [one line — e.g. "Carried it 3,000 miles on the CDT without a single failure."]
Shelter — [Your tent/tarp]
Why: [one line]
Sleep system — [Your quilt/bag + sleeping pad]
Why: [one line]
Cooking & Water
Stove + pot — [Your stove and pot]
Why: [one line]
Water filter — [Your filter]
Why: [one line]
Clothing
Rain jacket — [Your rain shell]
Why: [one line]
Puffy jacket — [Your down/synthetic puffy]
Why: [one line]
Trail runners — [Your shoe]
Why: [one line]
Electronics & Navigation
Power bank — [Your battery bank]
Why: [one line]
Headlamp — [Your headlamp]
Why: [one line]
Navigation — I plan and navigate with the FarOut app.
The Little Things
Trekking poles — [Your poles]
Why: [one line]
Knife — [Your knife]
Why: [one line]
First aid / repair — [Your kit in one line]
That's the kit. It's been refined over 9,000+ miles of thru-hiking, and it's still changing — I'll update this page whenever something earns its way in or gets retired. Questions about any of it? Find me on Instagram — link in the About section.