With another season of thru hiking approaching, I wanted to share with you all exactly what gear I will be using for my next adventure. I find that gear lists tend to be pretty short when hikers share them online. They will mention the main items like their tent, quilt, pad, and clothing. But when it comes to personal care items, consumables, and first aid, hikers tend to shy away from providing each and every little detail about what they take with them. As someone who has thru hiked over 22,000 miles and has seriously dialed in my backpacking gear, I would like to share those little details with you guys. I’m not someone who carries an excessive first aid kit or everything you would need in case of emergency, but I think I bring just enough gear so that I’m prepared for just about anything that could arise. Here is everything that I’m taking with me to hike the 800~ mile Arizona Trail this October.
Everything I will be taking with me on the Arizona Trail!
The Big 3:
Palante Desert Pack
I’ve been using the same “big 3” gear items for over 10,000 miles and for the first time in years I am switching things up, at least a little bit. This year I’ll be taking my Palante Desert Pack once again, this time in the grid stop material rather than the ultra weave 400 that I used last year. The ultra weave material was very durable, but I prefer the color and texture to the regular grid stop material. This backpack in particular has thousands of miles on it already but I think it will still hold up for a while longer.
My Palante Desert Pack and Palante Sidebag.
Katabatic Sawatch 15 Degree Quilt
In 2025 I hiked over 10,000 miles all while using 1 Katabatic Quilt, the Palisade 30 degree. That one quilt hiked across 24 states with varying temperatures, and kept me comfortable in places like Florida, as well as areas such as Montana and Colorado. I love that quilt and it is definitely something I will likely use again. However, when it comes to hiking the Arizona Trail I wanted to be a little bit more prepared for increment weather. That means I’m switching over to the Katabatic Sawatch 15 degree quilt to provide a little additional comfort. After putting so miles on my previous quilt it no longer has as much down and does not keep me warm at the same low temperatures that it isued to. This 15 degree quilt is a bit heavier and bulkier but I’m looking forwared to being incredibly warm in Arizona and trying out this new model.
Katabatic Sawatch 15 degree quilt. I’m so excited to try this out and let you all know what I think!
ZPacks Plex Solo Lite
It is hard to imagine embarking on a thru hike where I don’t take my plex solo tent with me. I am on my second Zpacks plex solo now and it has been incredible to see how that piece of gear holds up. The first plex solo that I used held out for over 10,000 miles before I finally replaced it. Then I took the new model out on trail last year and hiked over 10,000 miles with that tent in a single calendar year. As someone who is 5’6, the tent is the perfect size for me. The bathroom floor keeps you perfectly dry in almost all conditions, aside from flash flooding, and I’ve never had issues with leaking in this tent. Single wall tents tend to accumulate more condensation than others, which isn’t ideal but has never been enough of an issue for me to stop using a small trekking pole tent. These tents are expensive, but they are well worth it when you think about the big picture. This is a tent that you can triple crown with or use for a lifetime of shorter backpacking trips.
In New Mexico on the Continental Divide Trail.
Clothing:
Topo Terraventure 5s
I have used a whole lot of Topo’s hiking shoes, and these have to be my absolute favorite. When it comes to a pair of shoes that can survive road walks, dirt, technical terrain, and protect your feet from kicking rocks, these are my go to.
Topo Terraventure 5 shoes, my holy grail for any thru hike.
Zpacks Clothing Bag
My Zpacks clothing bag which I keep all of my extra clothes inside of and use as a pillow.
Sambob Alpha 90 Pants & Top
This set of alpha 90 by Sambob survived 10,000 miles of hiking in 2025 and is still going strong! I’m taking it back out onto trail to see how it lasts on the Arizona Trail this time around. I love this set and it is so unbelievably comfortable, warm, and breathable.
My Sambob Alpha 90 top and bottoms. My Zpacks clothing bag which I keep all of my extra clothes inside of and use as a pillow.
Ibex Wool Aire Puffy
This is something new that I am going to be using on a thru hike for the first time ever. I have been taking this puffy out on trails for the last couple of months and am really loving it. The wool fabric is incredibly comfortable and doesn’t stick to your skin like a standard puffy jacket might. I appreciate having extra features such as a hood and numerous pockets, which certainly result in a heavier weight. But in my opinion it will be well worth it when I’m dealing with colder temperatures on the AZT.
In this photo I am wearing the ibex wool airea puffy.
Montbell Rain Jacket & Pants
I used my Montbell Versalite Rain Jacket and Rain Pants for 10,000 miles last year. I love this rain gear, it is light weight, breathable, reliable, and comfortable.I also like that it has large pockets on each side.
Montbell Rain pants.
Montbell Wind Jacket & Pants
My wind pants and wind jacket are two of my favorite pieces of gear that I’ve ever used. It was a game changer trying those out for the first time last year, and it’s hard to imagine going on a long thru hike without them.
This wind shirt and pants weigh in at less than 4oz together, and are a very versatile piece of gear.
2 Pairs of Darntough Socks
Appalachian Trail Darn Tough socks and a fresh pair of Topo shoes.
2 Pairs of Underwear
Buff
Sometimes I use a buff to cover my eyes while sleeping, pull my hair back, or cover my face from wind, dirt, and direct sunlight. It is a very versatile piece of gear.
A buff that I got in Nova Scotia on the International Appalachian Trail.
Outdoor Research Gloves
A nice, basic pair of gloves.
Bandana
I got this bandana at Trail Days on the Continental Divide Trail.
1 Extras Pair of Shorts
As someone who has had a pair of shorts rip completely while hiking, I personally like to bring an extra pair just in case. This whole be great if you got soaked wet, stained in some way, or tore straight through your shorts and weren’t able to repair them. It is a luxury that has saved me many times before from being uncomfortable.
Generally, while thru hiking I wear a pair of 3-inch Nike spandex shorts.
Electronics:
PD charging cables (3)
A mini USB-C cord by Nitecore.
Micro usb cable
Watch cable
USB to pd cable
USB to pd adaptor piece
I carry a small adaptor so that I could plug a USB-C cord into a USB input, just in case certain inputs are not available for charging.
Nitecore 20000 power bank
One of the many power banks that I will be taking with me. This Carbo 20,000 bank should last me 4-5 full charges on my phone.
Nitecore 10000 power bank water proof
This power bank is sleek, light weight, and waterproof. I like to bring multiple separate power banks with me to eliminate the risk of multiple devices failing or dying simultaneously.
Nitecore 10000 NB Plus.
Nitecore 10000 power bank copper
The Nitecore Carbo 10000. This is one of Nitecore’s newest power banks and is supposed to hold charge within the device more efficiently, as well as drain less battery.
Nitecore headlamp
This headlamp is incredibly lightweight, bright, and holds a charge quite long. You can get away with night hiking numerous nights in a row on one charge.
Nitecore headlamp.
Garmin INREACH mini
A satellite phone in case of emergencies.
Wireless headphones
JBL headphones.
Nitecore 5000 NB Air
This tiny power bank fits perfectly into a fanny pack and is waterproof.
GoPro, case, and mini tripod
I often get asked, how many electronics does someone need to carry on a thru hike if they are producing videos and blogs. This is everything I am carrying, except for one or two last items. I carry around 40000 in battery power to ensure that I can write, take photos and videos, edit videos, and upload while I am out on the trail.
All of my electronics, including my Gopro Hero 12 and tripod.
Coros Vertix 2S Watch
Microphone kit
A new addition to my electronics is this small microphone set. This will allow me to take higher quality videos even when there is wind and background noise.
Personal care items:
My Matador Flatpak back for my personal care items. It is waterproof inside so that your items won’t spill out into the rest of your pack.
Other gear items that I keep inside of this personal care bag are:
2 pairs contacts
contact case
contact solution
glasses and case
tissues
tampons
safety pin
patch kit
KT tape
ear plugs
I don’t typically carry much first aid when I go thru hiking. I always have a bandana that I could use to tie off a serious wound. In my opinion, though, injuries on trail usually fall into one of two categories. You are either scraped up, bloody but otherwise fine, or you have an injury so serious that you need immediate medical attention. Carrying a satellite communicator allows me a safety net in case of true emergencies. Though, you cannot rely on the quick response of search and rescue in the backcountry. Other than that I carry minimal first aid and accept the fact that I might have to sacrifice a clothing item to stop bleeding.
Miscellaneous:
Platypus filter
My platypus filter on a smart water bottle.
Thermarest NeoAir XLITE
My sleeping pad, a thermarest Neo Air XLITE.
Pump sack
Toaks camp cup
MSR pocket rocket
There have been times when I chose not to use a stove while thru hiking. However, I generally really enjoy the luxury of a hot drink in the morning and a hot meal or drink at night. Especially when the temperatures start to drop or I am hiking a trail during a colder time of year. Yes, it is heavier than cold soaking. But it is also a whole lot more satisfying.
Water bottles
I will be carrying the water bottle capacity of about 5L, with an emergency 1 or 2 playpus storage bags for additional capacity. The Arizona Trail is known for having long water carries and unreliable sources. Having a larger capacity will make it easier to have control over the mileage that I do each day.
Sun umbrella
A sun umbrella to me is one of the most critical pieces of gear that a hiker can over while going through a desert environment. On a brutally hot day with no shade in sight, the umbrella provides unimaginable relief from the elements. I can’t imagine hiking through a desert without one.
Sparkle & I at the end of the CDT with our sun umbrellas.
Gossamer gear trekking poles
Some smaller items that I am also taking but do not show photos of here are a sun hat, trowel and wipes, and tent stakes.
ZPacks Food Storage Bag
Fanny pack
My palante sidebag, the best fanny pack I’ve ever used.
I usually keep my sidebag loaded to the brim with everything and anything that I could possibly need. Some of the items that can typically be found in there are:
Ombraz sunglasses
Headphones
Tooth brush and tooth paste
Pen with leukotape on it
Credit cards/ID/money
Chapstick
Mini aquaphor
Swiss Army knife
Squirrel nut butter mini
Phone cord
Power bank
Hair claw clip
That is every little thing that I will be taking on the Arizona Trail! In the past, my base weight (weight of my pack without food and water) was always around 10lbs. I think that the weight is probably right around there now, but possibly a little heavier because I am carrying a warmer quilt and some warmer layers. I also will be trying out some electronics for video editing and creation that I have never carried on trail before. I am really looking forward to sharing this adventure with all of you.