What Pacific Crest Trail hikers carried in 2025
Halfway Anywhere’s 2026 guide compares the most-used and highest-rated equipment from its survey of the 2025 hiking season.
Published in 2026, Halfway Anywhere’s Pacific Crest Trail Gear Guide draws on 790 survey responses from the 2025 hiking season. The sample includes completed and incomplete thru-hikes, with the categories identified in the results. Survey methodology and results.
The guide’s most-common equipment list includes:
- Backpack: ULA Circuit.
- Shelter: Durston X-Mid Pro 1.
- Sleeping bag or quilt: Enlightened Equipment Enigma.
- Sleeping pad: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT.
- Shoes: Altra Lone Peak.
- Stove: MSR PocketRocket 2.
- Water treatment: Sawyer Squeeze.
Popularity and satisfaction are different measures. The survey’s highest-rated backpack was the Atom Packs Prospector, illustrating why the two lists should be read separately.
The category tables are useful for comparing hikers’ experiences, especially when popularity and satisfaction point to different products. Route conditions, fit and the rest of a hiker’s equipment still shape an individual choice. Read the full guide.
