Gear for 2025
Love and care for your gear. It’s your lifeline! Also, the longer your gear lasts, the less often you have to replace it, which means more $ for more trips! | Red’s Meadow Resort and Pack Station | John Muir Trail
Over the years I’ve been fortunate enough to test out many different brands and gear variations. The gear below is what I currently use and love. I stand by each one of these items. Each trail brings unique challenges and conditions, so although there is a general baseline for what gear to bring, a lot of it comes down to personal preference.
Let’s break it down!
Main Hiking Clothing & Essentials
1. Columbia Long-Sleeve Shirt
I have a combination of Columbia long-sleeved shirts that are all spectacular. They are moisture wicking, breathable, lightweight, and provide sun protection.
PFG Tamiami II Long-Sleeve Shirt
Silver Ridge Utility Long-Sleeve Shirt
Skien Valley Long-Sleeve Shirt | Additional built-in insect shield technology
2. Patagonia Baggies Shorts (5 in. inseam)
These shorts are my staple on any day hike, backpacking trip, or thru-hike. They are made with durable water repellent (DWR) to shed moisture, which helps keep you dry in changing weather conditions. These shorts are also lightweight, super breathable, and the 5-inch inseam prevents chaffing.
3. Darn Tough Micro Crew Cushion Socks
These socks are not only tough as stated in the name, but they also come in really fun color patterns. I must have 15 pairs. Why? Because I want to collect them all! Darn Tough also offers a lifetime guarantee for their socks. All you have to do is go to their website, fill out the Warranty Claims Form and you will receive a credit that you can use to purchase new socks on their site. I find the midweight socks fit my needs, but here you can find a full selection of their Micro Crew Cushion socks.
Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew Cushion Midweight Socks
4. Hat
I am a big fan of the trucker hat! I have three that I rotate through. When temperatures are cooler, I bring along my Montbell chameece cap with ear warmer, which is a game changer.
Patagonia P-6 Logo Trucker Hat
Montbell Chameece Cap with Ear Warmer
5. Footwear
This is a little tricky. When I find a piece of gear that I like, I usually don’t deviate from it. I generally wear Brooks Cascadia 12 or Cascadia 13s, which are very old editions and are no longer sold directly by Brooks so I have to find them through secondhand outlets like Poshmark, Ebay, or Mercari or by a vigorous google search. I have never not been able to get a pair, but when I can’t get my hand on any, I wear my Altra Lone Peaks paired with gaiters. What I like about the Brooks Cascadia shoes compared to the Altras is the incorporated rock plate, which adds a layer of protection to my feet on the trail. Both of these shoes are lightweight and provide a wide toe box allowing your toes to spread out naturally improving comfort and reducing the likelihood of blisters due to foot swelling.
Altra Lone Peak 8 Trail-Running Shoes
6. Sunglasses
VISE Z87 Sunglasses Tortoise Frame
7. Buff
I love a good buff because of the versatility of it. I use it for sun protection, extra warmth, and to wipe my face. The buff I currently use has UPF 50 sun protection, insect shield technology, and is quick drying.
Fiyeh Multi CoolNet UV® Neckwear
8. Garmin inReach Mini
My personal safety on the trail is paramount. Cellphones have limited coverage and battery, so having this piece of equipment gives me some serious peace of mind. I have never used it and I hope I never have to. To be able to activate search and rescue services, you need to have a subscription. I currently have the Contract Safety Plan, which is an older plan. As of 2024, new service plans are available that are month to month. The inReach Mini has since been discontinued and replaced with the inReach Mini 2.
9. Trekking Poles
I tend to only use trekking poles on backpacking trips, thru-hikes, or when I know a day hike has a steep decent. I’ve had my fair share of experimenting with trekking poles and the Leki Cressida Cork are hands down the most reliable and durable trekking poles I have owned. I have two pairs and that’s only because I was gifted an additional pair. My original pair are still kickin’! The cork handles are a must since they keep my hands dry and don’t rub off on my palms like other foam handles I have tried. Also the flip lock mechanism is essential. It allows for quick and easy adjustments and keeps the poles at my desired length. They have never failed on me. During The Colorado Trail I brought foldable poles with a push button lock and those broke after week on trail. Good thing I had duct tape!
Leki Cressida Cork Trekking Poles
10. Headlamp
Headlamps don’t need to be complicated. The one I use is affordable, lightweight, and simple. It can be recharged with USB-C, eliminating the need for batteries, which I know can be hard to find sometimes! The USB-C charging cord is included with the purchase and I pair it with my Anker PowerCore 10000.
Nitecore NU25 400L Headlamp w/ UL Headband
11. Power Bank
I always bring a power bank on every hike I do in the event my phone dies or I get into trouble and need to maintain the charge of my Garmin inReach Mini. You just never know. I use the Anker PowerCore 10000 for day hikes, short duration backpacking trips or thru-hiking carries between resupplies of up to 5 days to charge my phone or watch. If I expect to have longer carries I will use my Anker PowerCore 20100, which has larger capacity. Cables are included with both power banks.
Navigation
I always load my route on my smart phone for larger viewing, as well as my Garmin Fenix 6 Pro watch so I can quickly glance down to make sure I’m still on track. In wet or snow conditions when my smart phone touchscreen doesn’t work efficiently or when my gloves make using the touchscreen difficult/impossible to use, I’ll switch to my Garmin GPSMap 64SX, which has convenient buttons. Below is a list of the gear and apps I use:
1. AllTrails
The first place I go when I want to do a specific hike is AllTrails to check trail reviews and current conditions. I have the AllTrails+ account, so I have the ability to download offline maps, which I heavily rely on. I also can send my desired trail to my Garmin devices by utilizing the desktop AllTrails website. AllTrails was the first navigation app I used when I first got into hiking and I find it to be very user-friendly.
2. Gaia GPS
With Gaia, I can record my hikes, add waypoints and photos, as well as download offline maps of my creation or a particular region of interest with optional additional data layers. I regularly use the snow depth layer and fine it super helpful when planning for winter hikes to get an idea of current trail conditions.
3. Garmin GPSMAP 64SX
This button-operated and water resistant handheld GPS comes with preloaded TopoActive maps and has a large screen that makes for easy viewing. I mainly use it as backup navigation to my phone or when using my smartphone touchscreen is difficult due to weather conditions. I’m still exploring all of its capabilities!
Rain & Wind Gear
1. Rain Pants
When it comes to pricier items like rain gear or winter jackets, Montbell is one of my go-to brands because their products are high quality and their customer service is impeccable. These rain pants are very lightweight at 2.9 oz and pack easy. They also provide added warmth when needed. I just slip them over whatever I am wearing when I need them.
2. Rain Shell (pictured above)
This product is another one that has since been updated and may be difficult to find. I bought this back in 2018 prior to hiking The Colorado Trail and it’s still in perfect condition. At 5.5 oz, this shell made by Outdoor Research not only keeps you dry, but provides extra warmth and packs down small.
Outdoor Research Women’s Helium II Jacket
3. Umbrella
I thought carrying an umbrella was ridiculous weight..that was until I was on The Colorado Trail completely soaked and miserable and my fellow trail buds were completely dry and content in shorts under their umbrella. It really is worth the weight and can up your comfort level when weather hits. On really exposed trails, it also comes in handy for providing shade. Ever since the CT, I don’t do a backpacking trip or thru-hike without it. Live and learn.
4. Windbreaker
At 3.4 oz, having this windbreaker in my pack at all times is a no-brainer. It stuffs down super small, is incredibly lightweight, and adds a layer of warmth when I need it. It also is water resistant and performs well in light rain. I own two and regularly wear one when doing day-to-day activities off trail.
Backpacks
1. Daypack
For basic day hikes or peak bagging I currently use the Gregory Nano 22 L. It has a top zippered pocket, which I find incredibly useful for quickly grabbing snacks, sunscreen, or any other essentials. This pack comes with a 3L reservoir, which is why I purchased it to begin with as I wanted greater water-holding capacity. Though bladders are a serious pain to clean, I find they are the easiest when last-minute prepping for day hikes as I don’t need to worry about carrying multiple bottles of water that otherwise would take up storage space in the pack. If I know my water needs for the day will be beyond the capacity of the reservoir and I’m going to have to filter water, I usually just use my Zpacks Bagger Ultra 25L pack and bring Smartwater bottles compatible with my Sawyer Mini filter.
Gregory Nano 22 H2O Hydration Pack
Gregory 3D Hydro 3L Reservoir Replacement
I also use the Zpacks Bagger Ultra 25L pack, which is on the pricier side, but you really do get what you pay for. It’s very durable, lightweight, and is highly water resistant. It has a quick access zipper pocket on top of the pack for your essentials, which is always a plus! The foam pad for your back also doubles as a sit pad for when you’re taking a breather. What I love about Zpacks is the ability to customize their packs to your specific needs. I have the additional shoulder pouch and water bottle holder attached to my straps and two belt pouches attached to the waist belt for optimal storage.
Zpacks Bagger Ultra 25L Backpack
2. Backpacking and Thru-Hikes
I am a loyal customer of Zpacks as they produce backpacking gear that is high quality, durable, and with adequate care can last season after season. This pack is also highly water resistant. They also provide excellent customer service. This backpack has been with me on The Colorado Trail, Tahoe Rim Trail, the John Muir Trail, and multiple backpacking trips and is still kickin’! I am 5’3″ and around 130 lbs and the size small/short works great. I have the shoulder pouch attachment and water bottle sleeve on my straps, as well as two belt pouches attached to my waist belt like my day pack. Additionally, I have the V top strap to secure my bear canister on top of my pack when needed and the rain pack cover when the weather gets frisky!
Zpacks Arc Haul Ultra 60L Backpack
Water Filtration System
1. Sawyer Mini
I personally love the sawyer mini for shorter trips because of its lightweight design and ease of use. I pair it with Smartwater bottles that can be purchased at any gas station. I am a “get in and get out” type of hiker because I like to get in as many miles as I can when on the trail, so I just fill my bottles up with unfiltered water and attach the Sawyer Mini and drink straight from that rather than filtering clean water into my bottles, but that’s just my preference! It’s important to prevent the filter from freezing so on those cold nights, just throw it in your sleeping bag with you. It’s also important to back flush it after every trip to maintain the quality of the filter! A cleaning syringe and reusable squeeze pouch are included. I am not a fan of the squeeze pouches as getting water into them is extremely difficult.
2. Sawyer Full Size & Gravity Filtration System
When water along the trail is scarce resulting in longer water carries or I am doing a thru hike and need a more reliable filtration system, I opt for the full size Sawyer filter. The full size Sawyer allows me to fluctuate between a gravity filtration system and direct attachment to my unfiltered water bottles, which increases my water holding capacity. I just make sure to keep one Smartwater bottle clean to pair with the gravity filtration system. Be sure to prevent the filter from freezing.
I use a Katadyn 3L reservoir for my unfiltered water, which connects to my full size Sawyer. I use a 28mm Sawyer coupling to attach my Smartwater bottle to the full size Sawyer and let gravity do the work. Be sure to have the coupling lose when filtering your Smartwater bottle to allow air to escape. This coupling can also be used to backflush your filter with any of your water containers while on the trail. Be sure to use clean water!
Sawyer Squeeze Full Size Filter