CDT Gear List

I did a round-trip on the CDT in 2007, so this an old gear list. If I were to redo this gear list for 2020, I could shave off 20% of the weight thanks to the recent fabric and technological improvements. A base pack weight of 5 pounds is easily attainable nowadays. Still, I'm leaving this gear list in its 2007 state because it's still helpful for anyone preparing for a thru-hike. The items you must bring haven't changed, even if some of their ultralight weights have.

My CDT pack, without food and water, weighs 6.6 pounds or exactly 3.0 kilograms (post-trip update: my pack-weight would end up being under 6 pounds). On an average day, with food and water, my pack weighs under 15 pounds.

Some backpackers say they couldn't get by with so little weight because "I'm into my comforts."

So am I.

I don't find carrying more than 30 pounds comfortable.

Moreover, I sleep soundly, stay dry, stay warm, stay hydrated, and well-fed.

What more do I need?

In short, I'm pretty damn comfortable and have an embarrassing amount of gadgets to entertain me if I ever get bored.

Being ultra-light and comfortable are not incompatible; they're complimentary!

I have strong opinions on how to calculate pack weight. Here's the itemized list for the gear heads. You can also download it as an Excel file:

Thoughts and conclusions:

• My base weight, without food and water, will be 6.6 pounds (3kg), including the above-mentioned stuff, a camera, PDA, and solar panel.
• If I left my electronic gadgets at home, my pack weight would be under 5 pounds. Post-trip note: This is what I ended up doing. I left the gadgets behind. However, I added a tad more warmth, so my base weight was just under 6 pounds.
• My dry weight, which includes whatever I'm wearing, is 9 pounds.
• My skin-out weight (which includes food and water) will vary between 9 and 21 pounds.
• In desert sections, I might carry up to 30 pounds because of all the water weight.
• On an average day, if you were to pick up my pack, it would weigh about 15 pounds (with food and water).
• In an effort to make their backpacks seem lighter than they are, some backpackers categorize the following under consumables: first aid stuff; soap; fuel; toothpaste; sunscreen; repellent. I don't, even though I understand the logic. I put those items under pack weight. I figure I'll usually have some of that stuff on me, even as I approach a re-supply point. Excluding them underestimates my realistic pack weight. I'd rather overestimate it. I can rant on this kind of stuff for hours.

Below is gear that I will carry during limited periods to deal with extreme snow, bugs, or dryness.

Why give up the umbrella in Colorado? Umbrellas become less effective in the snow (due to the sun's reflectivity off the snow) or when the temperature gets near freezing (because you'll want another clothing layer anyway). Both conditions will exist in Colorado, especially in May. Umbrellas excel in most 3-season backpacking when it's not near (or below) freezing. If it's above 5 degrees Celsius, I'll carry an umbrella.

Post Trip Report: this worked out perfectly. I did use an umbrella in Colorado in September and was happy I had it.