Thru-hiking Gear: What's in my Pack?
3 hikers share their Ultralight (UL), Comfort, and Super ultralight (SUL) Gear Lists
August 11, 2023
Long distance backpackers Mike “FE Mike” Unger, Renee “She-Ra,” and Steven “Twinkle” Shattuck show-and-tell what’s in their backpacking backpack. These gear lists show an ultralight backpacking kit, comfort backpacking kit, and a super ultralight (SUL) backpacking set-up.
All of the gear in these lists have been used for thousands of miles on long trails around the world. Each gear list reflects the thru-hiker’s goals and philosophy, while taking into account the season and climate of where they are hiking.
“IRON Mike” Unger’s experience & Gear Goals
Mike “FE Mike” Unger is a double Triple Crowner, having thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Continental Divide Trail each twice. He’s also thru-hiked the PCT three times and is one of few hikers who has thru-hiked the PCT Northbound and Southbound.
Additionally, he’s thru-hiked many other long trails, including the Blue Mountains Trail, Ouachita Trail, Arizona Trail (twice), Wonderland Trail, and Oregon Desert Trail. He writes regularly for Treeline Review.
Over the course of his many thru-hikes, Mike has experimented with sub-10 pound base weights and above 20-pound base weights. He’s settled around 12 pounds and talks about how he’s found this base weight provides him the best balance of comfort while still being lightweight.
Selected stories by Mike Unger:
Lightweight Thru-hiking Gear List
| GEAR | MAIN GEAR ITEM | SOMETIMES USE THIS ITEM |
|---|---|---|
| Shelter | Six Moon Designs Skyscaper Trekker (1p) | Six Moon Designs Haven (2p) |
| Sleeping pad | Nemo Switchback (foam) Short | Therm-a-Rest ProLite Short |
| Sleeping bag or quilt | Katabatic Palisade 30 degree | Katabatic Sawatch 15 Degree |
| Backpack | Six Moon Designs Swift X | |
| Pack liner | Six Moon Designs Pack Liner |
Other gear Mike Unger likes not in gear list:
Shamwow to wipe condensation off the tent
Diaper pins to hang dry wet clothing from his pack
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm NXT sleeping pad for snow camping and very cold conditions
Power bank to keep phone, GPS watch, Garmin inReach Mini charged
Arcade Belt to hold up hiking pants after a thru-hiker loses some weight after weeks of hiking
Renee Patrick on the Blue Mountains Trail.
Renee “she-ra” Patrick’s experience & Gear Goals
Renee “She-ra” Patrick has been hiking long-distance trails since her first backpacking trip on the Appalachian Trail in 2002.
She is a triple-crown hiker with well over 12,000 trail miles under her belt and loves helping to develop new long-distance trails and routes. In addition to the AT, PCT, and CDT, she’s thru-hiked the Blue Mountains Trail, Arizona Trail, Oregon Desert Trail, Wonderland Trail, Tahoe Rim, and Northville Placid, as well as internationally on the West Highland Way and Sunshine Coast Trail and new routes like the Corvallis to Sea route.
Her favorite trail is the one she hasn't hiked yet. When she isn’t thru-hiking, she can be found packrafting, cross-country skiing, or just forest bathing. Renee moderated Treeline Review’s How to Packraft event.
Renee describes her gear philosophy as “not ultra-light, it’s ultra-right.” Renee often hikes off-trail routes solo with long water and food carries. She makes space for items she values that will increase her enjoyment of the wilderness, including a French press and reading materials.
Instagram:
@wearehikertrash
Blog:
www.sherahikes.com
Other gear She-ra likes not on the gear list:
Feathered Friends Down Booties a lightweight option to keep feet warm on cold nights
Petzl Bindi Headlamp for easily adjustable lightweight lighting
Six Moon Designs Umbrella to block out the sun in the desert and rain in colder conditions
pStyle Female Urination Device to make it easier to pee, especially in colder temperatures
Big Agnes Fly Creek double wall shelter for extreme cold and wet conditions
Tyvek ground cloth to sleep on top of during cowboy camping or to protect the bottom of the shelter
Do-It-Yourself Pot koozie. Here are directions to make your own pot koozie from upcycled materials
Comfort Thru-hiking Gear List
| GEAR | MAIN GEAR ITEM | SOMETIMES USE THIS ITEM |
|---|---|---|
| Shelter | Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo | Six Moon Designs Deschutes 2-person |
| Sleeping pad | Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite | Gossamer Gear Thinlight Foam Pad – 1/8″ |
| Sleeping bag or quilt | Feathered Friends Flicker UL 40°F Quilt | Katabatic Gear Quilt 5°F (discontinued, 15°F shown) |
| Backpack | Six Moon Designs Swift X | |
| Pack liner | Trash compactor bag |
Steven “twinkle” Shattuck’s Experience & gear goals
Steven “Twinkle” Shattuck has thru-hiked the PCT, JMT, Long Trail, Colorado Trail, and Hayduke Trail as well as 2,000 miles on the Appalachian Trail and 2,500 miles on the Continental Divide Trail. He’s also hiked the Coast to Coast in Scotland, the Alpine Pass Route, Alta Via II, Toubkal Circuit, and Three Pass Trek in Nepal.
Steven hiked all the Colorado 14ers (14,000-foot peaks) and the Colorado Centennials (the top 100 tallest peaks). He’s also into canyoneering and is a photographer with interests in backpacking routes off the beaten path. Deeply committed to the outdoors, his day job is working for the Continental Divide Trail Coalition.
When on a long North American Trail, Twinkle’s goals are to hike as light and fast as possible, covering as many miles per day as he can. However, he’ll tailor his gear list to his goals, where he is hiking, and who he is hiking with. For example, on a canyoneering trip, he carries a rope and photography gear.
Super Ultralight Gear List
| GEAR | MAIN GEAR ITEM | SOMETIMES USE THIS ITEM |
|---|---|---|
| Shelter | Gossamer Gear The One | Gossamer Gear The Two |
| Sleeping pad | Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite | |
| Sleeping bag or quilt | Katabatic Gear Flex 30 | |
| Backpack | Gossamer Gear Kumo 36 | |
| Pack liner | Gossamer Gear Pack Liner |
Other gear Twinkle likes not seen in the gear list:
Petzl Bindi Headlamp for lightweight, easy-to-use light
Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL3 3-season tent to use on trips where comfort is a bigger priority, such as backpacking with a partner and a dog
Solo Tarp with bug head net for shelter on really ultralight trips
Sun hoody for sun protection. See our Best Sun Shirts guide for our recommendations.
Frogg Toggs Poncho/Backpack Rain Cover as an alternative to a rain jacket that also keeps your backpack dry
Sea to Summit Aeros Premium Backpacking Pillow as a luxury item for better sleep
Power bank to charge phone and headlamp
Closing Thoughts
Honing your thru-hiking kit takes time, knowledge, and experience. The gear a thru-hiker chooses can vary widely based on personal preferences, the specific trail, the season, and expected weather conditions. Many hikers evolve their gear lists over time, shedding weight and optimizing for their specific needs.
We have some more general tips to help you build your thru-hiking kit:
Take note of gear that you carry but never use.
Look for multi-purpose items.
Know how to use all of your gear properly.
Ask fellow thru hikers about their gear. After thousands of miles, we still learn new gear tricks.
Balance gear choices with the price. Is it worth $500 to save 5 ounces in a tent?
Buy your pack last. Figure out how much capacity you need, and keep your pack size to that.
