One of few people to thru-hike the PCT northbound and southbound weighs in on the differences in gear and strategy. Here’s the gear, strategy, and plan for PCT NOBO vs. SOBO.
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Updated for 2025, our gear list and strategy for the Appalachian Trail prepares you for a thru-hike or long distance section of the AT. As weather and ecosystems change, so should your gear. Here’s what we’ve learned from 5 thru-hikes and 11,000 AT miles of trial-and-error.
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More than just a gear list, read our comprehensive gear strategy for the Pacific Crest Trail. As weather and ecosystems change, so should your gear. Here’s what we’ve learned in 20,000 PCT miles of trial-and-error.
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We put in 125 hours of research and 500 days of trail testing to review the best GPS and ABC watches for hiking, backpacking, and multisport outdoor activities.
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An in-depth, trail-tested review of the MSR Hubba Hubba LT 3, a lightweight, durable 3-season tent with easy setup, excellent ventilation, and a spacious design for backpacking.
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We hiked 1000s of miles to find the best hiking boots for men, women, wide feet, hiking and backpacking. We test for fit, support, durability, and breathability
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We review the best 4-season tents for mountaineering, backcountry ski trips, gusty winds, cold weather, heavy precipitation, and challenging conditions. We looked for 4-season tents with headroom, easy set-up, solid pole structure, good ventilation and that can take heavy snow loads.
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Looking for a way to stay upright in icy conditions? Sure-footed traction in snow and ice allows you to carry your outdoor life into the shoulder seasons and beyond.
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Get to know the Therm-a-Rest NeoLoft Sleeping Pad—lightweight, lofty yet packable, and eco-friendly with 4.7 R-value insulation for all-season backpacking comfort.
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We review top-rated hiking gaiters for all terrains and budgets, and provide tips on choosing the perfect fit.
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We review the best men’s and women’s lightweight hiking boots for day hikes and lightweight backpacking, including the top waterproof and Gore-Tex models.
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If you’ve yet to find the right pack that can hold your water, snacks, layers, kid, and their water, snacks, layers, diapers, etc…the Poco Premium offers the most amount of pockets, storage, and carrying comfort we’ve seen so far.
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We spent 200+ nights testing the best headlamps for brightness, battery life, comfort, and ease of use for backpacking, hiking, running, climbing, and camping.
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We review 20 of the most popular synthetic insulated jackets and tested the top models for months in conditions as diverse as mountains in Arizona to snow storms near Bend, Oregon to walking a toddler in Portland. We considered models by Patagonia, Arc’teryx, L.L.Bean, Mountain Hardwear, Rab, Outdoor Research, The North Face, and Montbell.
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We reviewed 44 down jackets to find the 7 best puffy jackets for most outdoor activities: hiking, camping, backpacking—ultralight to extreme cold.
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We reviewed waterproof, breathable, and packable rain gear for hiking, backpacking, and travel to find the best lightweight rain jackets.
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We ran 2,000 miles in 24 of the most popular trail running shoes to find the best trail running shoes for hiking and backpacking, road-to-trail running, narrow feet, wide feet, beginner trail runners, and distance running.
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Trekking poles are one of the most multi-purpose gear items you can carry into the backcountry. We've tested dozens of models over thousands of miles to find the best.
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Stay safe, stay connected, and stay found in the backcountry with a satellite messenger or personal locator beacon.
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We researched, tested, and used our own experience to find the best lightweight backpacks for backpacking. We researched 20 packs to find the best overall for most people, best Dyneema (DCF), high volume, heavy loads, budget, frameless ultralight packs for multi-day trips in the backcountry.
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