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The original was posted on /r/Ultralight by /u/Dependent-Aspect3458 on 2024-10-11 06:00:04+00:00.
Good evening. I’m drinking tonight so I thought I’d contribute a novella to the oversaturation of PCT-related gear content on reddit ultralight backpacking dot com. I hiked the trail this past summer, and LASHes in '22 and '23 have contributed to a total of over 4,500 miles on the PCT. I’ve changed up my gear numerous times during these hikes but overall I have always been interested in the minimalist style. Ultralight as a whole changed the way I hike and I’ll always be grateful to this forum for feeding my interest and expanding my knowledge base. So shoutout you nerds who are always nitpitcking on here. I have some opinions to share that are likely not so far out of the ordinary as to to merit serious discussion. Regardless, I post. It’s an important part of being young nowadays. Here are some thoughts on some of the gear I used on the PCT this year.
Big three plus :
Pack: I’m using the Pa’lante V2. I replaced my ultra nasty delaminated 2021 ultra V2 with this year’s ultra version at the storefront in Bishop and I’m glad I did. In my opinion, these packs are still being improved upon, regardless of the fashion-forward marketing vibe the company has chosen to pursue. They are getting more durable. Weight creep is an issue that lots of people are worried about, and I agree that there are packs on the market that do the same things as the V2 for less weight. However, the little touches here are what keep me coming back. For instance, the curved bottom panel keeps stuff in the bottom pocket. The shape (wider than other packs I’ve used) is perfect for a regular reusable grocery bag. The dyneema mesh keeps stuff tight and doesn’t let in dust. I’m also satisfied in knowing that I could throw this pack off a train and it would look and function the same. I don’t worry about putting this pack facedown on rocks, or sitting on it, or using it as a shield in battle with violent wooks in Belden. In my opinon, it has all the features a backpacker needs and not too much extra. I don’t really use the stashable hipbelt but I didn’t cut it off my new one with the odd rock scramble or tree monkeying scenario in mind. The stake pocket is whatever, I kept my spoon in there most of the time. Other than that, it’s put together nicely out of nice materials. It has big durable hardware on it. I think it looks cool. It makes me kinda happy when I look at it. Sue me. In all, durability, usability, and aesthetics are the reasons I like these packs.
I have also used the popular Nashville Cutaway, and while I loved it too, I have actually found the number of pockets on the straps excessive for the way I pack. Additionally, the front-facing bottom pocket had the tendency to scoop up sand and debris when I picked it up without thinking. I try to think as little as possible so this was fairly constant.
Tarp: It’s a DIY mid tarp with a small beak I bought off someone on here a couple years ago who let it go because it was too condensation-y. Shoutout whoever that was, I don’t remember. I think I paid like 60 dollars for it. If you recognize it from my description know I’m very happy with it and it’s done about 3000 miles on the PCT with me. It’s made out of black silnylon and weighs a little over 9 ounces with a few guylines. I’ve pitched this thing maybe 15 times since I started using it. Most nights I am cowboy camping. I have had to scramble to pitch the tarp a few times when it starts raining on me mid sleep but the PCT is generally pretty friendly when it comes to moisture. I have not had to weather any hurricanes in it, but it has kept me alive in heavy blowing rain and cold and I’m confident I could push it further. It’s got one side that’s pretty open to the elements, so if I have to pitch in a storm, I face that into a bush if possible for extra protection. In the past, if I’ve been scared I’m gonna die, I’ll bust out the emergency blanket for the torso and sleep with my legs inside my pack liner (Trash Bag) to supplement warmth and waterproofing. Not that comfortable, but hey, I’m still here. It makes the sun feel a lot better when it does come out. I mainly use carbon @ stakes which weigh jack and usually don’t break. For the main guyline from the beak I use a full size MSR groundhog. I carry a few extra stakes because carbon stakes don’t always not break. I would love to make a clone of the tarp using silpoly for all the reasons that silpoly is better than silnylon.
Pole : BD alpine carbon cork. Just the one, the same one for ALL my pct miles. It’s very durable. Nice cork handle. I cut the strap off. Used it to savagely attack a manzanita bush that did me harm south of Shasta and it survived. The tip fell off somewhere along the way. I really like it.
Pad: Short Xlite. It weighs around 8 ounces. I use a pillow for me head (Sea to Summit Aeros Big Ass Purple Premium Head Cradle) so at six foot one inches the Mellow yellow bed goes shoulder to knee on me. I find this just dandy for my uses. I fold it up in the morning and put it against my back in the pack. Takes like seven big breaths to pump it up. Worth it! I have used foam in the past but I sleep pretty cold and have hip pains often so this pad is the ticket for me. My feet are on the ground, my elbows are on the ground if I’m sleeping on my back. I’m lucky to have slept very nicely on this trip. This kind of pad might not work for everyone, but I think people should try short pads out if they’re at all interested. It’s really easy to deploy and pack up, and provides many of the same benefits as a long inflatable for less fuss. I popped it twice on this hike, once really savagely, but was able to repair it on trail just fine. More on this later.
Quilt: EE Enigma 20º 950 reg long. It weighs like 21 ounces. It seems fine for me. Not a whole lot to say about it. It really needs a wash. I don’t have the straps. If it’s cold I just clip the clips together underneath me. This quilt has always kept me safe, but I think I’d like to get a Katabatic Alsek if I ever get around to it.
Bivy: Borah ultralight bivy. It weighs just over 6 ounces. It is Long and Regularly Wide and it is a chest zip and the top is made of Argon 90 and the bottom is made of 20d silpoly. I do not use a groundsheet anymore. Instead, I am careful about picking sharp things out of my sleeping area, and if I need to put my pad somewhere that looks sketchy, I put my pack liner underneath the bivy for extra protection. If that gets a hole in it there’s plenty trash bags at the hostels and hiker boxes to replace it with. I cowboy on top of the bivy most nights, and if it’s windy or cold I’ll get inside it, usually leaving my head out. I put the pillow in the mesh part so it doesn’t get away. This thing is super bomber and isn’t showing many signs of wear after many miles. When the bugs were crazy I’d zip it up over my head. I like how tiny it packs. It’s chill.
Packed clothing:
I was a long-time user of alpha direct products, but I changed my tune on this past hike, mostly because I like to spend time laying directly on the ground when I get tired. Alpha picks up everything and gets nasty easily. Obviously it is also less durable than some other options. I also happen to find it very uncomfortable when it’s gross. My town stops are short and sweet and often do not involve laundry. Sue me. I picked up a normal ass regular pile fleece out of the hiker box in Kennedy meadows on a whim and used it for the rest of the trail, sending my Senchi back home. I find it more comfortable against the skin and it provides a little wind protection without having to put my rain jacket on. I hike pretty hot, so it has to be cold for me to hike in a layer. If it’s cold enough for me to be wearing a layer it’s probably a little windy, so I like having that extra protection built into the fabric. I slept in it a lot. Yes, it is heavier. I don’t care. It’s pretty thin so it packs small and it’s green and I like it more than my Senchi products for dirty thru hiking. If it’s Really Cold i hike with my rain jacket over it, or in the sierra, with a puffy. I also always carry the EE Copperfield wind pants. They pack so small and are so lightweight and can conserve a huge amount of heat for me while moving. I wear them to sleep when I’m dirty. If I shit myself I can hike in them. This is a piece of gear I would not thru hike without. I use a frog toggs rain jacket. Yall know about those. And a warm little hat. One thing about me : I have a buff And. a bandana. I find these useful for different reasons and never regret carrying both.
Worn clothing: Mostly Some nike shorts and columbia tamiami short sleeve shirt. I started wearing cotton joke t shirts from resorts and grocery stores and stuff after this got shredded. I kept it in the pack though. Various hats that I find in hiker boxes and wear for a few weeks then decide I hate. I settled on a ciele short brim running cap eventually this time. Darn tough lightweight hiker crew socks. Lone peaks.
Sierra gear: I rented the bear can from the general store. I used a BV500 and strapped it directly to the top of my V2. YES this is possible you animals. YES it fucking hurt to carry that first day. (EDIT: I made this work by putting my quilt and puffy in the can during the day). I have switched to a framed pack in the Sierra before and decided it wasn’t worth the hassle this time. I committed to the bit and did the whole trail with the V2. My pack weighed 31 pounds off the gener…
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