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My husband and I have amassed quite a bit of gear over two thru-hikes. Still, for the CDT we knew we’d have to purchase some new big ticket items, mostly in the name of warmth. New down jackets, a new sleeping quilt, new rain shells, plus some new and slightly smaller packs. In the end we have a compact and lightweight setup, even with quite a few luxury items. Check out all the gear we’ll be carrying with us over the next five months as we walk along the divide.
THE BIG THREE
Sourstraws (Left):
MYOG Ray-Way Pack 36L (compass attached)
Exped Synmat Hyperlite Duo Sleeping Pad
Enlightened Equipment Accomplice 10 degree 2-person Quilt
MYOG Waterproof Stuff Sack
Gossamer Gear Clear Liner Bag (not pictured)
Weight: 84.3 ounces
Piñata (Right):
ZPacks Duplex with 8 Aluminum Stakes in
Gossamer Gear Liner Bag (Not Pictured)
Weight: 51.6 ounces
PACKED CLOTHING
Sourstraws (below):
My Trail Company Storm UL Rain Jacket
Patagonia Capilene Midweight Bottoms
Farm to Feet Socks (Camp socks).
Short Sleeved Polyester Shirt
Extra Pair of Underwear
Gloves
Weight: 44.1 ounces
Piñata (above):
My Trail Company Storm UL Rain Jacket
Short Sleeved Polyester Shirt
Patagonia Capilene Lightweight Bottoms
Wool Gloves
Stuff Sack
Weight: 35.6 ounces
WORN CLOTHING
Sourstraws (Right):
Columbia Long Sleeved Sun Shirt
Polyester Underwear
Cascade Mountain Tech Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles
Sunglasses (with MYOG case)
MYOG Fanny Pack
Monocular
Weight: 69.7 ounces
Piñata (Left):
Columbia Long Sleeved Sun Shirt
Bandana
Benchmade Knife
Cascade Mountain Tech Carbon Fiber Trekking Poles
Sunglasses (with case)
Comb
20-sided Die (yep, he’s carried it on every thru-hike)
Weight: 59.4 ounces
SOURSTRAWS’ ELECTRONICS AND PERSONAL ITEMS:
USB-c charging cord
Rapid Charging Dual Wall Charger Port
Diva Cup + pantiliners
Vitamins and Ibuprofen
Sunscreen and Chapstick
Weight: 9.8 ounces
PIÑATA’S ELECTRONICS AND PERSONAL ITEMS
Dual Port Wall Charger
3 Usb cords
Notebook and Pen
Lighter
LG Harmony Phone (not pictured)
Toilet Paper
Dr. Bronners
A+D ointment
Sewing/Repair Kit (Needle, Thread, 3M tape and patches)
2 Toothbrushes, Mini Toothpaste, Flossers
Nail Clippers
Band-Aids
2 safety pins
Benadryl, Immodium, Sudafed
Weight: 55.2 ounces
KITCHEN AND WATER
Sourstraws (below):
Peregrine 15L SilNylon Food Bag
2 Water Bottles (1.7L capacity)
Talenti Jar
3 Water Bladders (4L capacity)
Weight: 13 ounces
Piñata (above):
Peregrine 15L SilNylon Food Bag
2 Water Bottles (1.7L capacity)
1.3 L Evernew Titanium Pot
Snow Peak Litemax Titanium Stove
Piece of Foil (Lid/windscreen)
Fuel Canister
Mesh Stuffsack
3 Water Bladders (4 L capacity)
Gatorade bottle
Weight: 28 ounces
COLORADO GEAR
Sourstraws:
Thrift Store Rain Pants
Weight: 30.3 ounces
Piñata:
Black Diamond Raven Pro Ice Axe
Thrift Store Rain Pants
Weight: 34.5 ounces
TOTAL WEIGHTS
Sourstraws’ Base Pack Weight = 9.45 lbs
Sourstraws’ Base Pack Weight + Worn Weight = 13.8 lbs
Base Pack Weight + Colorado Gear = 11.3 lbs
Pack Weight with 1.7L water and 5 days food = 24 lbs
Piñata’s Base Pack Weight = 10.65 lbs
Piñata’s Base Pack Weight + Worn Weight = 14.4 lbs
Base Pack Weight + Colorado Gear = 12.8 lbs
Pack Weight with 1.7L water and 5 days food = 29 lbs
Thanks so much for this detailed list! My partner and I share gear very similar to your list (Duplex, Accomplice, Exped Synmat HL Duo) and we’re looking to upgrade our packs (read: lighter weight and smaller volume). I’ve been eyeing the GG Kumo, which I see your husband is carrying but have been concerned about it capacity-wise (the Accomplice and Duplex take up a lot of space). I see that you carried the Accomplice and Synmat while Pinata carried the Duplex. If you both had Kumos, would you be concerned about not having enough space for all of your gear and 5 days of food?
Thanks so much for your thoughts–been enjoying reading about your adventures!!
My pack is only slightly larger volume-wise, but I do think it accommodates the quilt a little better than the Kumo would. The only time it gets really trucking is a long food carry. We’ve been able to carry 6 days of food but I think that’s the max we could get away with. And if we had to carry a bear can, I think we’d need some bigger packs.
Thanks so much for your quick and helpful reply! Probably not the best pack choice for us then–we’re in the PNW and frequently in bear country.
Thanks for your trail updates, advice, and general sharing. Best wishes on your journey toward completing the triple crown!
We are planning a 500 mile section of the PCT next summer (assuming the trail is open) and we are finding a lot of useful information from your site. We are trying to figure out how best to do our kitchen as a couple. We noticed that you pack a pot and a talenti jar. Do you do separate meals or do you share the meals? If you share meals do you both eat together from the pot or does one of you use the pot to eat from and the other the Talenti for a bowl? Are you cold soaking for two in the Talenti? Does either one of you drink hot beverages, if so what are you using to drink from? We are just trying to figure out what process is working for you. Thanks.
Thanks for your comment. Our approach has evolved over time. On the Appalachian trail we carried an extra bowl to divide our meals, and we also both carried mugs for hot drinks. By the CDT, we were mostly just eating from the same pot and passing it back and forth. We generally didn’t do hot beverages but if we did we would just share from the pot. The talenti jar alone is a bit small to cold soak a meal for two, but worked for us because we usually cooked 2 meals and split them both. These days we more commonly just cook one big meal in our 1.3 liter pot and both eat from the pot. We both drink a cold coffee drink in the morning mixed in a water or Gatorade bottle. Some couples prefer to cook or cold soak individual meals. I’d suggest thinking about what you do at home and adapting that to the trail. We always cook and eat together at home so it was natural to do that on trail. We also share our lunches but each eat our own snacks and breakfasts. Fingers crossed for you for 2021!