The Evolution of My Gear Over 4000+ Miles on Three Continents
One of my favorite aspects of backpacking is that you really can get outside with very little. You can start with cheap options and get more and more dialed, and you don’t need to break the bank to be able to move efficiently in the mountains.
Last year when I climbed 27 of Colorado’s 14ers while thru-hiking the Colorado Trail, I ran into a woman on the summit of La Plata Peak who was hiking in a pair of Hey Dudes and carrying a Jansport with a metal water bottle inside. She drives to Colorado from Kansas to get into the mountains for a day. She was a little slower descending on the slick steep sections, but had hiked all of the 14ers she’s done in these moccasin-like shoes.
So, while we all love to obsess and nerd out over gear, I think it’s important to acknowledge that getting outside in whatever way you can, with the gear that you have, is the most important thing.
May 6, 2025
Jessica Guo
hi I'm stitches! I'm linking up the continental divide trail + great divide trail (CDT + GDT). that means I'll go through new mexico, colorado, wyoming, idaho, and montana... then BC & alberta, for a total of 3,700 miles, from april to september. if I do it, I'll be the first woman on record to complete both NOBO in one calendar year. I've also hiked the PCT nobo in '23 & the CT in '24. come along :) talk to you soon.
Eksplore Plis kontni
Medya Mansyone
We zeroed in on Sawyer Products 20% Picaridin Insect Repellent in particular because its smart, compact bottle design makes it easy to apply evenly and accurately.
Medya Mansyone
The Sawyer Squeeze epitomizes ultralight water treatment and has been a mainstay on the thru-hiking scene for years.
Medya Mansyone
“[Sawyer Permethrin] is a leave-in treatment solution, will last for up to six washings, and can treat up to five different outfits!”
Soti nan eskwadwon an
Konvèsasyon Kanfi ak kominote nou an, ki soti nan Manm Eskwadwon ak Anbasadè yo nan Brand Patnè ak ekip la Sawyer.
