*Ultimate Backpacking and Hiking Gear List for the PCT

Planning your hiking gear list for big backpacking adventures is almost half as fun as the hike right? Hell yeah! Sorta? Kinda? Not really? Okay so it definitely isn’t as fun as the hike itself, not even close, but it’s a mostly enjoyable process.. Especially for gear and numbers nerds like me.

Regardless of whether you enjoy it or not refining your hiking gear takes a lot of time and energy, that’s for sure, so getting the right gear the first time round, that lasts, is super helpful. Something that I definitely did not do for all of my gear… I’ve done loads of multi-day backpacking trips around Australia and have changed up my gear every single time. Anywho, I digress, read on for my hiking gear list, the good, the bad, the heavy and the ugly. Or jump to it on LighterPack here.

Now I know the title says this hiking gear list is for the PCT, but truth be told, this is the gear I would take hiking almost anywhere in the world. It has clothing layers, shelter, and a sleeping pad and a quilt for varied climates and weather conditions, so it can be altered very slightly to suit a lot of scenarios.

I have been chopping and changing my hiking gear list for years now. Every hike I take something out and swear I’ll never take it again, yet somehow by the time the next backpacking trip rolls around I’ve added it back in, or worse, replaced it with something else.

Needless to say my hiking gear list is in a constant state of flux, and thus far my base weight has always remained pretty unchanged. It’s never been super heavy, but I’ve carried items I definitely didn’t need, think 2 hats, spare clothes, a bowl, cup and cooking pot all at once. None of this is to shade anyone who likes to have these items, its a totally personal choice, but I’ve found that a lot of the time these excess items are unnecessary and often go unused.

With choosing the right hiking gear it is always a balance between being lightweight so that the actual act of hiking is enjoyable, without feeling like I’m going without certain items that genuinely improve my time whilst out hiking. 

I am working on my gear list currently, and getting it’s weight down with the hope of doing the Pacific Crest Trail next year (2025) !! As long as the permit, visa and stress fracture stars align it should be a go!

My LighterPack list is below, so please feel free to give me some kind, nice, helpful, aggressive or angry feedback on any or all of it if you desire. The list has a lot of gear I already own along with a few new bits and pieces I’ve bought to minimise weight and improve my eco footprint for the PCT (hello bidet & pee cloth)! 

*Now I need your help! I cheated a little when I named this post the ultimate list. I think it’s a great list, but I want feedback to refine it and make it as close to the ultimate hiking list as I can. Knowing full well of course that the ultimate gear list is specific to the person.

My base weight is currently sitting just under 7kg so there is absolutely room for improvement and adjustment. This list includes my kindle and probably one too many power banks along with random first aid and toiletries bits and pieces I probably won’t need.

There are also links to sites where I bought these items!! Some of which, full disclosure, are affiliate links, but they’re also the cheapest places I could find to buy these goodies! (Affiliate links won’t cost you anymore, they just mean I may get a lil commission! And I’d never share links to items I don’t use and love myself!)

Anyway, hiking nerds unite! Happy hiking (and packing) friends!