Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail: The Gear I Used and Why

It was somewhat easy for me to decide to hike the Pacific Crest Trail. But a gigantic hurdle before me was the gear needed for the trip. Here was my — a beginner's — approach.

I am not an ultralight-gear fanatic. I wasn’t an experienced backpacker when I set out. Shockingly, I wasn’t someone with a plan. I was just someone with a passion, and a serious need to get away from my darkness and into the light of the wilderness.

Here is the gear that I used on my hike along the Pacific Crest Trail from head to toe, day and night. Yes, there’s lots of great gear out there, so how did this gear make the cut?

Through a combination of trial and error, a few handouts, some work ethic, and downright beginner’s luck. And I didn’t need to save thousands of dollars to purchase them, or research high and low, or obsess about ounces and tag-cutting. I did quite the opposite in fact. I somewhat closed my eyes and hoped for the best. And somehow it got me to the monument. Here’s how this process can get you there, too!

Read the entire list of gear that Sean Jansen used here.

DÈNYE MIZAJOU

October 30, 2024

Ekri pa

Sean Jansen se yon ekriven endependan ak gid dezè sezon nan Jòn Nasyonal Park. Pandan sezon li an gide, li patisipe nan yon litan de ekspedisyon ki sòti nan wout pou ale nan vwayaj Pasifik la nan dènye vwayaj li a, kanpe desann penensil Baja a nan Meksik. Atravè rekiperasyon soti nan alkòl, li te deplase nan yon van ak depanse tan li vole trennen, fòmasyon pou ultra-maraton, ak chèche kòt la pou vag navige. Avèk yon pasyon pou dezè ak kote sovaj, souvan li pran plim li ak papye sou vwayaj ak jwenn fason ke aktivite deyò li renmen ka retounen nan konsèvasyon ak zòn anviwònman ki nan bezwen.

Eksplore Plis kontni

Medya Mansyone

The Sawyer Mini is super lightweight, fits in your pocket, and filters up to 100,000 gallons of water.

Menachem Kossowsky
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Medya Mansyone

Sawyer’s picaridin spray works up to 12 hours, and the company’s picaridin lotion is effective up to 14.

Bruce Ingram
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Medya Mansyone

The Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter earns our top pick for its unbeatable mix of weight, longevity and versatility.

Meg Carney
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