Even though I know the decision to cut my PCT hike short and return home to my family was the right one given the circumstances, I think about the trail every single day. Something inside me says I have to go back to the PCT and experience it the way I intended.
This year didn’t pan out due to various reasons, but it was definitely not a wasted effort! I gained a ton of experience, met some amazing people, and discovered beautiful yet challenging nature. I figured out my strengths and weaknesses, and I put my gear to the test. Here are my impressions:
I tested my gear and was mostly very happy with it:
Gossamer Gear MARIPOSA
I don’t think this pack fits me perfectly, and I was also surprised by its condition after such a short time. This experience caught me off guard. I’ll be looking into my favorite Osprey or maybe something from Hyperlite Mountain Gear, which caught my eye on the trail.
Gossamer Gear Shoulder Strap Pocket
No complaints here.
SIX MOON DESIGNS PACK LINER
Again, no complaints. Nothing to fault, everything worked great.
Fizan Compact 4
My beloved trekking poles took a serious beating here, but they’re still holding up, even though the design is pretty worn. I have no reason to switch and would definitely take them again.
Six Moon Design LUNAR SOLO – GREY
I dreamed about this tent; I spent months looking at it before buying. I tested it back home and on the PCT. Unfortunately, we just didn’t click. The main reason was significant internal condensation, leading to a wet sleeping bag and gear. I haven’t quite figured out why, maybe I just sweat more than others? In the end, I swapped it for the Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL 2 bikepacking Solution Dye, which suits me better. I added the original footprint, and I hope we’ll be together for a long time!
Big Agnes ZOOM UL INSULATED
I have mixed feelings about this one. The sleeping pad is wide, comfortable, and I have no issues in that regard. However, I don’t understand what I was doing wrong because I often felt cold from the ground at night. I don’t know if something is different with the pad itself, or if it’s a bad combination with my clothing and sleeping bag? I still need to figure this out.
Enlightened Equipment Enigma Quilt 20°F (-6°C)
Despite initial concerns back home, I think we’ve settled in and found common ground. Although, I often thought about swapping it for a traditional sleeping bag. I fear that might have been a bad combo, as mentioned above. We’ll definitely have more adventures together.
Sea To Summit Ultra-Sil Dry Sack
No complaints in any size; this item is an integral part of my gear.
Sea To Summit Ultralight Aeros Pillow
Overall satisfaction. A lot of bang for your buck, and it really helps with sleep. It’s true that after trying a competitor’s pillow from Nemo, it was still a bit more refined. But as long as it works, a replacement is unlikely.
Earplugs
My salvation, whether it was snoring tent mates in a hostel, on the trail, or just the feeling of peace and quiet when sleeping alone in the middle of nowhere.
Oasis Leggings with Fly
I basically only used these for sleeping, or in the morning when it was really cold, around camp while packing up.
Merino Lasting Long-Sleeve Shirt
I basically only used this for sleeping, or in the morning when it was really cold, around camp while packing up.
INJINJI PERFORMANCE OUTDOOR MIDWEIGHT MINI CREW
I basically only used these for sleeping, or in the morning when it was really cold, around camp while packing up.
SUNDAY AFTERNOONS PATCH TRUCKER ARTIST SERIES CAP
Couldn’t do without it. Combined with the Sunhoodie, shorts, boots, base layers, and socks, it’s the most used piece of gear. But it doesn’t have to be this specific type.
RAB MOMENTUM – MODEL 2021
Great choice, lightweight, breathable, quick-drying. Nothing to fault. Except maybe that they always felt a bit bigger after a few days 🙂
DARN TOUGH SUNSET RIDGE MICRO CREW LIGHTWEIGHT
The best socks I own. On the trail, I also added a pair with the PCT logo.
ICEBREAKER / Lasting Boxer Briefs
Nothing to fault. Both served their purpose. Maybe Lasting fit me better in the long run.
Decathlon Merino Neck Gaiter
I think I only used it at night to cover my head, face, etc. Otherwise, in that short time, I didn’t find any other use for it.
Nalehko Short-Sleeve Shirt
I actually used this in hostels, or in town when I was washing other clothes.
RAB SYNCRINO LIGHT FLEECE PULL-ON
I used this as an extra insulating layer, but sometimes in the morning, I’d rather put on my rain jacket. In the future, I’d like to replace it with a Polartec® Alpha hoodie. Better thermal properties and lighter weight.
Altra Gaiters
Despite the correct size according to the chart, they are too big. Next time, I’ll switch to a version from Nalehko.com.
ALTRA LONE PEAK 7
Perfect shoes that suit me completely. The only thing I expected was for them to dry faster. This is my second pair of the same model. These feel a bit better than model 6, which I had first.
RAB KAON (down jacket)
It wasn’t bad, but with the weather I had, I would have preferred a second down jacket with hand pockets. It would have increased my thermal comfort.
RAB DOWNPOUR PLUS 2.0
Absolutely no complaints. It held up through all-day rain, even with a pack on my back. I also used this jacket a lot in the mornings instead of a windbreaker when leaving early in the desert when it’s still cold.
RAB KINETIC 2.0
Absolutely no problems. They served their purpose both as rain pants and as pants for cooler weather when it was too cold for shorts.
REI Co-op Sahara Shade Hoodie
Maximum satisfaction for sun protection. Quick drying, breathable… Definitely recommend.
Primus Lite Plus
I think this is an unnecessarily heavy combination, as I have no complaints about its speed, comfort, or fuel efficiency.
Sawyer MICRO
Next time on such a long trail, I’d bring a “full-fledged” filter. It would increase my flow rate and save me filtering time.
Sea To Summit Spoon (titanium)
Handled everything I expected from it without any issues. Sometimes I struggled with where to put it in my pack.
Kalas (mug)
If I remember correctly, I used it once for morning coffee. I think next time I won’t bring it, or I’ll handle it differently.
Gas Cartridge Adapter
A very useful and frequently used item. I only used it once, but it’s worth having!
MamTam Tyvek Toiletry Bag
Excellent, nothing to fault. Everything worked great, and the volume was sufficient.
Sea To Summit Airlite Towel – Large
Honestly, I used it to dry the inside of the tent due to heavy condensation before packing, and once in the shower at a campsite. Otherwise, there were towels at the accommodations. Next time, I might not even bring it, or I’d opt for a smaller version.
Curaprox Travel Set
Excellent, all in one, and I don’t mind having it all in the original box. The set served its purpose well.
Victorinox Classic SD Colors 58 mm Mango
I think I used it twice? But it’s not a bad thing to have, and it’s staying with me.
Trowel
Mandatory gear on the trail, I have no doubts about its functionality and importance. For next time, I’ll try to come up with a separate case just for the trowel.
Culo Clean
I’ve actually only used this once. I need to get more comfortable with this item. I think it will be a great hygiene aid.
Nabalto Toiletry Bag
I used this for electronics. I carried cables, power banks, headlamps, etc. It was great to have everything together, which was especially useful for moving electronics into my quilt at night due to low temperatures.
ZERO Pump
An item I carried unnecessarily, extra weight for me. I only inflated my sleeping pad with the pump twice in total. The pump wasn’t capable of inflating the pad to the desired firmness, so I preferred using the original inflation bag.
NITECORE NB10000 Carbon Fiber Energy Brick
Perfect and lightweight power bank. Too bad this version doesn’t have 2 USB-C ports.
Alza 10000 Power Bank
I used this power bank more because it has a solar panel on it. So, I carried it on my backpack all day, and I think it always managed to catch something and add some energy. Not much, but a little. Next time, I’d rather opt for a combination of 2 Nitecores and a solar panel for charging.
Garmin Fénix 7
No complaints; I use it in everyday life. It measures routes, time, and health information excellently.
Cable Set
The most used were the USB-C cables from Alza.cz. They are long, braided, and in my opinion, quality cables that, in combination with an Anker charger, managed to charge everything very quickly.
Fénix HM51R Ruby V2.0
I’ve been using this headlamp for some time now. I have no complaints about it. With its size, lightness, and battery life, it offers me great lighting options, both white and the red light I use more often.
iPhone 13 mini 128GB
It handled everything with honor. I used several e-SIMs in it and finally stuck with prepaid AT&T. It was a struggle to get online, but eventually, everything worked out as it should. I’ve been using my iPhone for years and am satisfied.
Garmin inReach® Mini 2
I couldn’t have managed without this helper. It was a great help in areas with no signal. I used it daily to send preset messages to my family that I was starting or staying put. Everything was always sent, including coordinates. Another function was recording my location on a map that I had shared with my family. Fortunately, I didn’t have to use the SOS button.
Garmin Temperature Sensor
I didn’t even know it was on my backpack. When connected to my watch, I received more accurate temperature readings that weren’t skewed by my body heat.
AirPods PRO
No complaints. I occasionally used them on the trail, but always with only one earbud in. This was so I could hear rattlesnakes or other useful information. Here, the combination with a headphone lanyard from Aliexpress proved very useful. It weighed nothing but prevented the earbud from hitting the ground if it slipped out of my ear.
Mighty Wallet
Lightweight, but actually maybe too big and generally messy, especially when combined with coins. Next time, I’ll choose a different tactic for carrying money. I think a zip-lock bag will suffice.
Glasses Case + Cloth + Glasses Lanyard
I don’t think I used this even once. However, I would definitely take the lanyard again next time, as I feel it could be useful in other sections.
First-Aid Kit
I used it once to help a fellow hiker, providing him with tape. And once for myself, when I took ibuprofen. But it definitely has its place on the trail!
Every journey teaches us something, and the PCT was a huge lesson for me. Now I know what to work on and what to improve. I’ll definitely be back on the trail in the future – and hopefully, I’ll enjoy it to the fullest! 😊
