(My PCT starting list, which evolved over the course of the hike and is due for an annotated update…)
The Big 3:
Backpack, shelter, and sleeping system
| Backpack: ZPacks Arc Blast 60L backpack with ZPacks pack liner, shoulder pouch, belt pouch | 24oz |
| Shelter (shared weight): homemade Ray Way two-person tarp + two-person extra-large net tent, ZPacks & Gossamer Gear stakes, Tyvek groundsheet | 60oz |
| Sleeping bag: ZPacks 20-degree medium length regular width bag with zipper, ZPacks cuben fiber stuff sack | 20.8oz |
| Sleeping pad: Thermarest Women’s NeoAir X-Lite in stuff sack + Thermarest NeoAir pump sack | 15.5oz |
| Sleeping/sit pad: Gossamer Gear Thinlight 1/8″ insulation pad | 3.8oz |
| Pillow: Exped UL large pillow + Goosefeet Gear 1oz fill cover | 4oz |
| Total weight (with half of the shelter weight) | 6.1lbs |
Clothing Packed:
All clothes carried (sometimes worn, but not the default hiking outfit)
| Insulation/warmth: Mountain Hardware Ghost Whisperer hooded jacket, Merino Wool Buff, Icebreaker Sierra gloves | 9.9oz |
| Sleeping/”always dry” clothes: Polar Edge synthetic long underwear top & bottom, Sol socks, Sea to Summit Ultrasil 8L bag | 13.9oz |
| Spare clothes: Icebreaker Dart shorts, SmartWool PhD Outdoor Light Mini socks, REI silk liner socks, Ibex Balance sports bra, Patagonia Barely Hipster briefs, spare bandanna, Eclipse sun sleeves, Icebreaker Quantum arm warmers, Sea to Summit Ultrasil Nano 8L bag | 15.9oz |
| Rain gear: Outdoor Research Helium II hooded rain jacket, Sierra Designs Isotope Nano rain pants, Mountain Laurel Designs eVent rain mitts, mesh bag | 12.7oz |
| Camp shoes: Target flip-flops | 4.7oz |
| Total weight | 3.6lbs |
Eating/Drinking:
| Drinking: 3L Platypus reservoir with inline Sawyer mini filter, 2L Platypus reservoir, 1L Nalgene bottle, 2nd Sawyer mini with squeeze bag + plunger (shared) | 11.6oz |
| Eating: Ursack, 2 Opsaks, REI Campware long spoon | 11.1oz |
| Cooking (shared weight): Olicamp Kinetic Ultra Titanium Stove, small fuel canister, Evernew Titanium pot, homemade freezer bag cozy, homemade windscreen/heat reflector, REI 8oz camp cup, lighter | 19oz |
| Total weight (with half of stove weight) | 2lbs |
Toiletries:
| Morning/night supplies: Toothbrush, toothpaste/tooth powder, deodorant piece, floss, toenail clippers, misc | 9.3oz |
| On-trail supplies: Purell, sunscreen, campsuds, ibuprofen, eye drops, chapstick, Trail Toes | 9.8oz |
| Glasses, spare daily contacts and earplugs in Crystal Light case | 3.2oz |
| P-style in pouch, pee rag on mitten hook | 1.3oz |
| Wet wipes and Boudreaux’s Butt Paste in Aloksak bag | 1.7oz |
| Total weight | 1.6lbs |
Tech/Misc:
| Tech: Petzl E-lite headlamp; iPhone 6 in waterproof case with mini tripod, mount, and Ampridge Mighty Mic; iPod nano + Apple headphone; cables and charger; Leef iBridge USB/lightning stick for iPhone photo backup; iGo bluetooth keyboard; monocular scope; Aloksak waterproof bags; Think Tank pouch | 1.95lbs |
| Misc: Wallet, pocket knife, Photon Micro Light II, pen, sharpie, tiny notebook, styrofoam ball for massage, mesh bag | 3.8oz |
| Hiking Poles: Gossamer Gear LT3C poles | 5.4oz |
| Hiking Umbrella: GoLite Chrome Dome | 8oz |
| Homemade silnylon bucket | 2oz |
| Total weight | 3.2lbs |
| TOTAL BASE WEIGHT: | 16.5lbs |
Clothing Worn:
Basic hiking outfit, not counted in base weight
| SmartWool NTS Micro 150 T-shirt, Coolibar Trail Pants, Shock Absorber Flexiwire sports bra, Ibex Balance briefs, SmartWool PhD Outdoor Light Mini socks, REI silk liner socks, Dirty Girl gaiters, bandanna | 1.2lbs |
| Altra Lone Peak II shoes with SuperFeet berry insoles | 1.4lbs |
| Total worn weight | 2.6lbs |