Gear
Gear & food
Ultralight gear for long-distance hiking
Everything I carried on the Te Araroa, the Pacific Crest Trail, the Tour du Mont Blanc and the Pyrenean Haute Route, with weights, tips and what I would change.
Gear lists
Four trails, four lists
Each list contains every item with its weight in a table, plus trail-specific advice and answers to the most common questions.
PCT gear list
4.9 kgbase weight- Backpack: Hyperlite Mountain Gear 2400 Southwest
- Tent: Zpacks Duplex
- Sleeping bag: Western Mountaineering Summerlite
Te Araroa gear list
16 → 5 kgbase weight from start to finish- Backpack: Hyperlite Mountain Gear 2400 Southwest
- Tent: Zpacks Duplex
- Rain: Rain jacket + Zpacks rain kilt
TMB gear list
4.8 kgbase weight, full circuit in 4 days- Style: 4 days, wild-camping every night
- Backpack: Hyperlite Mountain Gear 2400 Southwest
- Tent: Zpacks Duplex
HRP gear list
4.8 kgbase weight, wild-camping every night- Backpack: Hyperlite Mountain Gear 2400 Southwest
- Tent: Zpacks Solplex
- Stove: Jetboil Zip
Know-how
Tips, resupply and food
What the gear lists don't tell you: resupply strategy, food, cameras and the small things that make a long hike easier.
My 11 “unusual” tips for a long distance hike.
My re-supply strategy for the PCT
Follow up on re-supply, food, camera and blogging questions on the PCT. Questions from the readers…
Queenstown – first gear review on the Te Araroa
Preparation for the PCT – some of my new toys…
5.000km, ripped and reborn – the pinks shorts are back alive!
More
Gear stories from the trail
Gear changes, repairs and reviews along the way.
PCT #132, 2533mi: Trying to run away from the rain - no chance...
Running away from the rain was quite a challenge today. The day started with a 2,700ft climb and a 3,000ft decent continued with a 3,000ft climb before we ended with a 3,700ft roll down. No flat part.
But all started nicer than expected. Dry and not to cold.
Beautiful streams and cascades.
But you could slowly sense the clouds pushing in. So only a tiny "2nd breakfast break" how we call our 1st break at around 10am after four hours of hiking. We sat down in the middle of a huckleberry field and started eating. Huckleberries as well. But mainly our food. For 20 minutes we ate and shuffled food into us without a break. If anyone - besides hikers - had seen us they probably would have thought we are insane. But it's mostly about energy now. A bit like our friends here - the fat marmots. Stuffed to the maximum now 😂
The last views for a while I guess.
On the last climb the rain started. First slowly and then in a constant "flow". So the last three hours of the day meant head down and run. We were prepared and the rain gear was accessible. But it still sucks. On the uphill part you sweat like crazy and downhill you still get cold. Especially fingers and feet. Well, I guess that's my life now. Forecast for the next four days: NOSIG (no significant change) 😝
PCT #125, 2382mi: Feeling like a pulled-pork sandwich. 100 miles in 3 days!
We got up early again. At least another 30 miles was the target for today so that we would only have 10 or less to get to Snoqualmie the next day.
After only a couple of miles we hit the smoke area. The smokey valleys we have been seeing - now we were part of it. At the beginning we were all excited because rhe smoke reminded us on ribs, barbecue and FOOD!!! But it became old and annoying quickly.
After lunch we said good bye to Kayla and Drew for now. They didn't want and have to do another big day so they stayed a bit longer for lunch. See ya in Canada!!! 🤘🏼
The rest of the day was tough. Not because of the trail. It was nice and cushioned again. No, I was exhausted. My feet were calling for a break. At the end of tbe day we will have done 100 miles in three days.
We were just quiet and tried to put one foot in front of the other. Mirror Lake was the target. Since this is day 10 without a shower we couldn't wait to jump in for a quick rinse. 13 hours of hiking again. I am done.
PCT #117, 2180mi: Welcome to Washington and probably the end of good pictures... 😔
Yesterday we only made it a few miles into the trail since all of the things we had to finish took a bit longer. But the few miles were enough to get to Washington!
We finally walked over the Bridge of the Gods 🤘🏼
On our way in we could see the firefighter planes flying into Eagle Creek trying to put out the fire. The fire which stopped us already from going through the creek four weeks ago. Four of them flew in and out without a break collecting water in the hood river.
After a 3,500ft climb we got one of the probably last views of the Hood River.
And the rest of the day. A lot of up and down in the forest. A bit of the Oregon-story-continues... 🙈 But the forest has changed more to a jungle style now.
And the lowlight of the day. While we were getting water from a stream a backpack was pushed over accidentally which fell onto my pack and mine fell into the creek. And with this my camera went swimming - unprotected. And now it's dead. The lense is flooded and it also just doesn't turn on at all anymore. It really sucks! It's only three more weeks. And we are going to hit some of the most scenic spots on the trail now and I don't have a camera anymore. It's a real bummer. It was a shitty day. What can I say. I enjoyed the photography part on the trail so much. But I guess that's it for now. Only my iPhone with a scratched case is left to document the one or other thing. But no more great pictured from now on... 😔
Needless to say I have to carry the dead weight of camera & equipment around now for nothing. And I even have to loo at it all day still clipped into the camera clip on my shoulder strap since my pack is so full with food at the moment that there is no room insight 😝
Well, guess I gotta find a new hobby now for the next three weeks.
PCT #116, 2144mi: Portland! Two days of rest for the beaten bodies & a lot of good stuff 😊
On our way to Portland Kaylee had the fantastic idea to get our bodies checked at Complete Nutrition.
The facts: we are super fit! What a surprise 😂. But pretty cool results. My weight is down to 155lbs. But overproportional muscle mass even in my uper body - still. So no signs of deterioration yet. And body fat at 11% 💪 No worries 7-13% is the athlete range for man and it only becomes critical below 5%. So all good!
First stop in Portland: seafood. I had craved good seafood for weeks now! Smoked scallops & salmon 😊
And then it was time to treat ourselves. My dearest collegues were so happy and glad when I left my job that they gave me cool hotel voucher for the Best Western to make sure that if I didn't like the tent-life I could go into a hotel and wouldn't come back to the office instead 😂. No, since they knew that I couldn't carry anything they gave me these vouchers to treat myself when it was necessary. And that's what it was now. So a big "Thank You" to all my former colleagues for this 😊
We restored ourselves for the public and did the usual chores. Here the pre-washing of the socks. If you put our socks in the washing mashine without it is that everything else also smells like death and gets brown but nothing gets clean... 🙈
When we were about to leave for dinner the reception called and asked us if we had any plans for tonight. They wanted to invite us to the Grand Opening of the Cirque Du Soleil in town. What??? Seriously? I have no clue how and why but 30 minutes later we had two tickets for the show and off we went. If you have never been to anything like that it's a a fantastic show with stunning acrobatics...
That of course was a cool surprise! Thank you whoever chose us 🤘🏼
The rest of Portland is told quickly. More great food...
exploring Portland...
rested in style...
more seafood with good German Riesling...
and the usual gear issues. My pack is in its last days of duty. So I had to fix and tape the biggest rips and tears...
the last pair (hopefully) of shoes...
And then the coolest moment after two days in a fancy place when you don't have to pay... 😂
PCT #115: Back to Belden. Bye bye California 🤘🏼
Today was the day - the last day in California. After all the flip-flopping we connected our footsteps completely now: Campo to Kearsarge Pass,
Belden to Cascade Locks and now Kearsarge Pass to Belden
California, done.
Oregon, done.
2144 miles in, 506 left.
So the motivation was high to get done today. We left ourselves 23 miles to Belden. Wake up call at 4.45 and on the trail at 5.45 with head lamps. We rock 🤘🏼
After the last 1,500ft climb of California we were able to look back at the rolling hills we have been forced up and down the last days...
On our way we scared the next bear who disappeared in a big cloud of dust running away from us. I love them. They are so georgous 😍 Also the cats had been out last night a mile away from our camp on the trail. According to the size of the print I would guess it was rather a bob cat than a mountain lion. Or maybe a very little one. Too bad we were to late to see them 😔
From the highest point of the climb we made use of cell phone reception and organised the next two days. Rental car, hotel, etc. And then? 4,000ft straight down to Belden. On the other side of the valley we could see the trail which we had taken up 2.5 month ago. Glad we don't have to go up there again today! Only difference to 2.5 month ago - the top third of the entire mountain range was still completely covered in snow then!
Back in Belden - after 90 miles in less than three days we mad it "back" here. We couldn't resist to get food since we ran out of it this morning. Living life on the edge! (@Arno Schurmans) 😂
A quick shower - the first one after 9 days and back over the bridge to get a ride to Chico where we had to pick up our car. Remember the picture from 2.5 month ago? Same, same. Only new shirts 😉
Michael stopped and gave us a ride all the way to the rental car company which was out of his way. And he gave us a great and interesting lecture about farming and history in California having grown up on a farm himself. So many great people out here!
We made it all the way to the first Starbucks before I had to get a proper coffee.
And guess what. The next stop? The second Starbucks on the road ten minutes later for number two 😂 Couldn't resist. #happyhiker
We drove through the Golden State (guess why it's called this way) and made it to Mt. Shasta where we had to stop for dinner. And then we crossed the border to Oregon and said good bye to California! Tomorrow
the rest to Portland for a couple of days of recovery with some special treats planned and organised 😉
PCT #113, 1234mi: The solar eclipse
Easy morning. We snoozed hard and only left at 6.40am. But who cares - we are on vacation 😂
We had 10 miles to our first water source today. Doing the ridge line cruise this morning.
A view back on our camp spot from last night right below the Sierra Buttes (no, it's not the Sierra's Butt what I thougt and was corrected by my charming language assistant)...
And then it was time for the all hyped up solar eclipse. The last one I had seen was almost 20 years ago in Germany. Unfortunately all the glasses were sold out when we were in Truckee so the only trick was looking through the camera. Buy of course what had to happen first - a cloud formed right in front of the sun maybe half an hour before the spectacle started...
I am glad we didn't pay! We found a perfectly designed couch made out of rock facing the sun at our rest spot. I even had some popcorn left. It was like watching a movie 😂 And then the eclipse happened shortly after 10am. We did get a few nice views through the clouds which was cool!
A nice and different highlight on the trail. After 45 minutes we packed up and left the movie theater. The rest of the day was hard work. Rolling hills and constant up and down. Since it was already day 7 without shower for me I jumped into a little pool in one of the creeks and also gave my shirt a wash. Feels like being reborn 😊
More forest and ridges later...
...we called it a day after more than 13h of hiking and over 30 miles again. 😴😴😴
PCT #105, 1067mi: Crushin' miles, missing "Smiles"...
The lack of motivation kept me in the tent pretty long this morning. Didn't leave camp until 7:15 even though I wanted to get some miles in today. But since there was nobody waiting or anyone I could feel guilty against for being late I just kept on snoozing.
It was still weird to walk alone. But the motivation was big to just get to South Lake Tahoe. So I started hiking fast again. Passed lakes and more ridges:
Before I decided to make this the Day of the Flowers. I have passed these amazing wild flower meadows during the last days quite frequently but never took the time to capture them properly. A massive variety. And this is only an excerpt!
Apparently I moved through an old glacial river bed all day as a geologist who I met on the trail told me. It was great scenery again!
Since I was hiking by myself the voices were pretty strong today. Walking was definitely only the second priority or respectively focus. A lot of thoughts of the after-trail-life. Not that they haven't been there before but today they were loud again. Let's see where this will lead to. I definitely miss my hiking partner... 😔
Met Amber and Nick on the way which we know from former hiking days. Camped together and will probably also roll into town together.
PCT #104, 1035mi: All by myself...
This morning went differently to the expected. Well, maybe not completely. Without talking about it we hadn't set an alarm but let our bodies decide about when it was time to get up. But when we woke up Kaylee felt worse again - coughing, hot and just weak. Not good.
And something was in the air. Not spoken out yet but still tangible somehow. I asked her what she wanted to do now. More rest? And then she said it. She doesn't want to hike anymore. She feels too weak. And she just doesn't enjoy hiking anymore. Not even yesterday where the landscape was so stunning. The last week she had fought with this feeling every day. Some moments it was better in others it was worse. Even though we had talked about it and it did not come as a real surprise I still didn't expect it to happen and not today.
She herself is torn. Torn between the will to finish and going to Canada and on the other side listening to her body and mind which are saying "I don't like this anymore". I told her that I could try to help her by making the hike more enjoyable, more breaks or other things in between. But walking she had to do by herself. And also the will to continue was something I couldn't "produce". It's a very difficult call. Especially after having hiked for 2,000 miles already and only having 750 left. But it is what it is. It is a personal journey. And it's not really about getting to Canada. If you along the way realise that you are in the wrong place and you don't enjoy yourself then you should not continue. A very tough call. Something which also Matthias did earlier in the season. It takes a lot of strength to stop and not to do what others and yourself maybe expected you to do. Failure of not making it to Canada. I don't think that's what it is. Same as Pengu's story - it is about finding your environment and of course to "Do What Make Good"...
After breakfast she had decided to try to stay with her cousin in South Lake Tahoe - 75 miles from here. He had expected us already and wanted to host and hike with us for a bit. By this she had time to recover and think about how to continue with a bit of distance. Not having to do what you feel that you don't like makes it easier to take a rational decision - I guess.
Even though we knew that we would see each other in only two or three days again and nothing was decided on it was a tough good bye. We have spent the last 2.5 month together - every day. The longest we had been separated from each other was probably half an hour. Hiking together is very intense. Your personal space almost doesn't exist if you hike with someone. You share everything. From moods over smells to food but of course also views, happenings, a lot of joy and fun. It was a long and big hug before I went up the road to catch a ride back to the trail and she went back to the porch to wait for her cousin.
When I got to the road Flame was still sitting there waiting for a ride. Nothing for 45 minutes. Very unusual. Maybe because she was using the wrong sign???
Quiet a while later someone had mercy with us and took us to the trial. We wished each other "Happy Trails" and set off into different directions.
For me the first time on the PCT that I really hiked on my own. So far I had either hiked in bigger or smaller groups or with Kaylee. It was weird. Not to follow someone - that's how we had always hiked. Kaylee in front so she was able to set the pace and I wouldn't run off. Now there was nobody in front. Nobody to share thoughts with. Nobody who would request a break and you would be happy to have an excuse to stop as well. I guess on the one hand side we had become an amazing team - sharing tasks, planning, doing but also enjoying this hike which made it so much fun. And on the other hand I guess as Janet Jackson once sang "Don't know what you got till it's gone"...
This day was weird.
Even my first bear sighting couldn't really cheer me up. A mother with her cub was sitting right on the trail when I came over a little saddle. Not a good situation. I gave them space and made a lot of noise talking to them in deep and loud voice and tried to appear as big as I could. Not easy if you only have a 157 pounds left 😂. But it was enough to scare them off. I saw the cub running up hill when I passed them - extremely cute. I guess I will be able to appreciate more tomorrow.
PCT #103, 1017mi: A surprising change in scenery.
We woke up completely soaked. The water was dripping from the tent walls, sleeping bags wet as everything else. We had camped a bit too low and too close to the meadow so we were covered in fog. A shitty start of the day...
After a more or less rather "unspectacular" morning with a little pass and lakes suddenly everything changed.
We climbed for 2000ft out of the tree line and back into volcanic environment.
And the PCT made an exception this time and let us walk on the ridge for more than six miles! We were surrounded by mountains everywhere. Some granite ones similar to the Yosemite Valley and others clearly volcanic origin.
It was a great treat after again 2.5 days of more or less just rolling.
The evening also held a surprise. Just shortly after us an old friend showed up - Flame!
Last time we had met her was in the Marbles. And unbelievably - she had gotten rid of a lot of stuff and was crushing bigger days. Committed to make it. Rock on 🔥!