Across four years and two thru-hikes, my pack tells a story without me saying a single word. Every scratch, patch, and carefully selected item reflects lessons learned over thousands of miles of experience: cold nights, sore hips, gear failures, and the realization that what works for someone else won’t always work for me.
My gear on the Appalachian Trail in 2021 looked very different from what I carried on the Pacific Crest Trail in 2025, not because trends changed, but because I did.
I set out on the Appalachian Trail in 2021 with minimal backpacking experience. Six months and several thousand miles later, I had my pack dialed in and a much clearer sense of what worked and what didn’t. I summited Katahdin on September 7 and shortly afterward began working as a backpacking guide in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.
Hiking through a forest of blooming rhododendron on the AT in 2021.
Over the next few years, I guided for three seasons and completed a LASH of the Arizona Trail and a thru-hike of the West Highland Way. In 2025, I embarked on another epic journey, this time to complete the Pacific Crest Trail.
When I compare my gear from 2021 to 2025, it didn’t change as dramatically as you might expect. The AT taught me foundational lessons, and guiding and other hikes helped refine them.
Yet the changes I did make over the years were deeply intentional. By the time I stepped onto the PCT, I trusted my gear and my decisions far more. Here’s how my setup evolved between the two thru-hikes.
Pack
I fell in love with Gossamer Gear’s Mariposa on the AT and have used it on every backpacking trip since. I originally chose it because I saw it on several influencers’ gear lists but was impressed by the amount of pockets and how comfortable it felt even when it was packed to the gills.
My Mariposa pack loaded down with a long food carry and snow gear in the Sierra on the PCT in 2025.
My first Mariposa carried me the entire length of the AT and through three seasons of guiding. My second handled the AZT, WHW, and the PCT. Both packs are still in great shape after nearly 3,000 miles each.
I love this pack because I believe it is the most ultralight you can get without sacrificing comfort. The padded shoulder straps and hip belt, combined with the aluminum frame, make long food carries manageable. At 60L, it easily accommodates my cold-weather gear, and the external pockets make it easy to access essentials throughout the day.
The biggest pack-related learning curve on the PCT was carrying a bear can. After experimenting with different setups, I found that strapping it horizontally on top and folding the pack’s “brain” over it was the most comfortable solution.
In the future, I’d like to downsize to something closer to a 50L pack, like the Gossamer Gear Gorilla. The newly released Alchemy Collection also intrigues me since it’s made out of waterproof ALUULA Graflyte V52, though jumping from a 60L to the 40L Mirage would be a significant change.
Shelter
The biggest change between the AT and the PCT is that I now hike with my husband. Truffles and I met on the AT and have completed all of our thru-hikes together.
When we met, I was using a Tarptent Rainbow and he was carrying a Zpacks Duplex. Once we got together, I basically moved into his tent, and we continued using that two-person shelter for years until the Dyneema material finally began to fail.
My Tarptent Rainbow doubling as a clothes line in Shenandoah National Park on the AT in 2021.
For the West Highland Way in 2024 and the PCT in 2025, we upgraded to a Zpacks Triplex Pro. The extra space of a three-person tent allows us to comfortably fit ourselves and all our gear, especially during bad weather. The tradeoff is a larger footprint, which can make campsite selection trickier.
When I hike solo, I still carry my trusty Rainbow. The silpoly material makes it heavier than some ultralight options, but it’s incredibly durable. My tent is still going strong after five years with no tearing or damage. I used it while guiding for three seasons and only ever had to send it in once for a zipper repair. Tarptent’s customer service was fantastic; they fixed it quickly, and I only paid a minimal fee.
If I were shopping for a one-person tent again, I’d buy the Rainbow again in a heartbeat. I may eventually upgrade to the Double Rainbow for a little more space and shave off some weight by splurging on the Dyneema version (Rainbow Li).
Quilt / Sleeping Bag
When I started buying gear for the AT, I was a novice backpacker and was only familiar with sleeping bags. I had never heard of a “quilt” and didn’t see one until my first night on trail.
I originally planned to start the AT in March with a 20-degree sleeping bag, but after a chilly February shakedown hike, I decided I needed something warmer and bought the cheapest 0-degree bag I could find. It never occurred to me how heavy it would be, and I layered it with a sleeping bag liner because I was terrified of being cold (classic “pack your fears” mentality, I know).
Huddled up in a shelter on the AT in 2021. My 20° sleeping bag and Nemo Tensor sleeping pad helped to keep me warn on cold nights.
Over the course of the trail, I cycled through three different sleeping bags depending on the season.
After my first guiding season, I switched to a quilt and never looked back. I purchased a 10-degree Enlightened Equipment Enigma in 2022 and have used it on every backpacking trip since. To keep it fresh, I typically sleep with a liner and hand-wash the quilt with down wash after each thru-hike. Between shorter trips, I fluff it in the dryer on low heat with tennis balls to keep the down lofty.
I now prefer a quilt over a sleeping bag for the weight savings and versatility. I opted for a sewn-in footbox, but I can still stick an arm or leg out if I get too warm. When it’s cold, I use the pad straps to cinch the quilt around my sleeping pad, cocooning myself inside and cutting down on drafts. I also carry down booties and a down hood since my quilt doesn’t have one built in.
On the PCT, I was introduced to several other quilt brands I’d be interested in trying in the future, including Katabatic Gear, Feathered Friends, and El Coyote.
Cowboy camping on the PCT in 2025. Still using a Nemo Tensor sleeping pad, but now I use an Enlightened Equipment quilt.
Sleeping Pad
I started the AT thinking my sleeping pad didn’t matter and assumed I would be so tired that I would fall asleep instantly no matter what. I was wrong. My super-thin Therm-a-Rest Trail ProLite was a nightmare for a side sleeper like me. After talking with other thru-hikers, I realized that getting good sleep in the backcountry was possible with the right gear.
I splurged in Hot Springs, NC, on a Nemo Tensor and haven’t looked back since. I’ve continued buying this pad ever since. (Note: Nemo revamped the whole Tensor line in early 2024, and I’m now opting for the Tensor Trail.)
If I upgrade again, it will likely be to the All-Season or Extreme Conditions version, since I sleep cold and would benefit from a higher R-value.
Liner
I carry a liner for added warmth and cleanliness. On the AT, I used the Sea to Summit Reactor Fleece, and on the PCT I switched to the Reactor Extreme. The weight difference was minimal, and the switch mainly came down to wear and tear.
Wrapped up in my Sea to Summit liner and 0° sleeping bag early on during my 2021 AT thru-hike.
Biggest Gear Upgrades From the AT to the PCT
Electronics
My electronics setup improved significantly between hikes. For instance, I started the AT with a cheap battery bank before upgrading to a more reliable Anker model. On the PCT, I needed a battery bank with fast-charging capabilities, especially during quick in-and-out town stops when I wasn’t spending the night in town. Before entering the Sierra, I invested in a fast-charging battery bank and a multi-device charging block.
I also added a Garmin inReach Mini on the PCT for emergency communication. While I managed without one on the AT, having an SOS device provided peace of mind, particularly in remote sections like the Sierra.
Other small but impactful upgrades included switching to a rechargeable Nitecore NU25 headlamp and cheap Bluetooth headphones.
Our Zpacks Triplex tent with my pack in WA along the PCT in 2025.
Trekking Poles
- Walmart Brand → REI Flash Carbon Compact
On the AT, I went through two cheap pairs of trekking poles before upgrading to the REI Flash Carbon Compact poles in 2022. While not the lightest on the market, they’ve proven durable and were with me on the AZT, WHW, PCT, and while guiding.
PCT-Specific Equipment
- Added microspikes, ice axe, and bear canister for the PCT
Even in a cold year or with an early start, AT thru-hikers rarely carry microspikes or ice axes. On the PCT, however, these are standard requirements for the Sierra, along with a bear can and additional layers depending on snow levels.
The PCT was my first experience using microspikes and an ice axe, and I felt nervous and uncomfortable with them at first. Thankfully, there are plenty of opportunities to practice after leaving Kennedy Meadows South. I used Black Diamond Access spikes and the popular CAMP Corsa ice axe.
The ATC officially recommends carrying a bear can on the AT, but I opted for a bear-hang system instead. After using a BearVault BV500 Journey bear can in the Sierra, I still find them cumbersome, but they’re undeniably more convenient than throwing a bear line every night.
Wearing all my layers and my snow gear on top of Mount Whitney on the PCT in 2025.
Cook System
I started the AT with a heavy pot, pan, cutlery set, and large stove. Thankfully, my tramily convinced me to ditch all the kitchen gadgets and just use a pot and stove with a single long-handled spoon.
For the AZT in 2023, I upgraded to a lightweight Toaks titanium cook pot and invested in an inexpensive ultralight stove and have used both ever since. The same GSI long-handled spoon has traveled with me since the AT and seems to be holding up well.
My first ever Ramen bomb! I used my bulky cook set that thankfully didn’t last long on the AT in 2021.
The Gear That Stayed the Same From AT to PCT
Clothing
I run cold and tend to carry more layers than some hikers. On the AT, I started with an entire extra set of clothes but quickly ditched them. Now I know I like to carry a dedicated set of baselayers, a town dress for laundry days (and morale), a puffy, a midlayer, an extra pair of socks and underwear, and rain gear.
For the most part, my PCT clothing setup was very similar to what I ended with on the AT. The biggest difference between my AT and PCT clothing setups wasn’t quantity, but quality. I’m now more willing to invest in higher-quality pieces instead of whatever is the cheapest.
Wearing all my layers in the Goat Rocks Wilderness on the PCT in 2025.
Conclusion
Backpacking gear and equipment are constantly evolving. New fabrics and materials are introduced annually, and cottage companies continue sprouting up with lighter and more minimalist designs. Building a solid kit is an investment, but the good news is it’s an ongoing project. You can continue to tweak and upgrade your gear as technologies evolve and your needs as a hiker change.
And the more you get into backpacking, you’ll likely end up with a few different setups tailored to specific trip conditions. What you carry in the summer will vastly vary from what you carry in the winter. The gear required on the AT looks different from what’s needed to succeed on the PCT.
Looking back, the differences between my 2021 AT kit and my 2025 PCT setup didn’t happen because I was chasing the lightest gear or the newest releases. The changes in my setup were all about confidence. The AT taught me what didn’t work, guiding refined what did, and the PCT was proof that I could trust my choices and invest in high-quality items. My gear evolved slowly, intentionally, and with thousands of miles behind each decision.
Featured image: Graphic design by Zack Goldmann.