AZT Thru-Hike Packing List

So that I could unpack, clean, and put away my thru-hiking gear, yesterday I made a video showing what was in my pack (below). I tried to make it accessible and keep beginners in mind when offering explanations.

If you don’t need that sort of detail or walk-through, simply scroll down for lists (and photos) of what I brought along on the hike.

I’m sharing all of this information not as a recommendation for what you should bring, but as an example of what worked for one person. I used existing gear (from two conservation corps gigs) and invested in some ultralight things that I’m going to use long-term. You do you!

 

What I Wore

Clothes worn on AZT thru-hike

  • Two bandanas
  • Darn Tough socks
  • Patagonia tank top
  • Thrift shop button-up long sleeve shirt
  • Thrift shop athletic shorts

 

Main Hiking Gear

Thru-hiking backpack, trekking poles, shoes, and gloves

 

Sleeping Gear

Ultralight tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad

 

Cooking Gear

Ultralight stove, cooking pot, spoon, fuel

Dry bags

  • Ultracompact 20L “backpack”(Quechua)
  • Dry bag 13L (Sea to Summit)

I used both of these bags to store my food and smellies (toothpaste, trash, etc.). (Here’s what I ate on the hike.)

 

Additional Clothing

Socks, underwear, extra shirts

  • Second underwear + cloth panty liner
  • Second pair of socks (Darn Tough)
  • Athletic t-shirt
  • Lightweight longs sleeve layer

 

Long sleeves, jacket, leggings

  • Thrift shop leggings
  • Pee rag
  • Buff
  • Thin “warm” hat
  • Thin athletic long sleeve hoodie (thrift shop)
  • Old Patagonia puff jacket

My leggings were thicker and not made for athletic use. If I did a long hike through Arizona again, I might try thinner leggings that are intended for both warmth and sun protection.

And as I say in the video, I mailed this second long sleeve ahead to Flagstaff as soon as I got to Patagonia. I could have done the hike without it, but used it in the final two weeks since I had it along.

Rain gear

  • Rain pants (Cabela’s)
  • Rain jacket (REI)

Both of these I already owned—the rain pants had lasted a year of rough conservation work, so I wasn’t worried about bringing them along, but I was a little hesitant to bring my nice rain jacket. It worked well and didn’t take a beating! I kept it folded up nicely in the above packing cube when not in use.

 

Water Filtering Gear

Water filtering gear for AZT

  • Water filter, bag, and syringe (Sawyer Squeeze)
  • Extra water bottle caps
  • Aquamira A & B
  • Sunscreen
  • Biodegradable liquid soap (Sea to Summit)
  • Two 1L Smart water bottles [not pictured]
  • Two 32oz Gatorade bottles [not pictured]

I could write a full post reviewing the Sawyer Squeeze—maybe I will. I had to buy a second set a few weeks into the hike, and now they’re sending me two replacement bags as well (because mine broke). Be sure to sleep with your filter so it doesn’t freeze, and note that the bags will likely form a hole near the pour spout.

Don’t buy the 2oz bottle of Aquamira like I did, because they only have a pour spout—no dropper! Get the 1oz bottles so you can squeeze out the correct number of drops each.

Note: You cannot use biodegradable soap in streams/water sources! See this LNT post for more info on this and other Leave No Trace principles.

 

Electronics

Solar charger, headlamp

  • Solar charger (Goal Zero Nomad 7)
  • Headlamp
  • Solar light (Luci lantern)
  • iPhone charging cord + block
  • iPhone 5 [not pictured]
  • iPod mini + headphones [not pictured]

 

Medical/Personal Hygiene/Etc.

Toilet paper, med kit

  • Toilet paper
  • Menstrual cup (Lunette)
  • “Med kit” ziplock with bandaids, cough drops, ibuprofen, earplugs, and nail clippers.
  • Thermarest mattress repair kit
  • Sunscreen chapstick
  • Pocket knife
  • Moleskin
  • Tent repair patches
  • Antibacterial wipes
  • Ziplock “wallet” with credit card, debit card, license, and cash [not pictured]

Toothbrush and wet wipes

  • Toothbrush, toothpaste, and retainer
  • Wet wipes
  • Notebook, pen, paper maps [not pictured]

I used a wet wipe most nights to clean my feet/toes after taking off my shoes and socks, and occasionally the face or other areas. I think I had a pack of 40 to start, which got me to Flagstaff. In Flag I bought the above wipes, which was a big mistake because I somehow missed they’re made with coconut water. So they smelled like coconut big time, which is something you would normally want to avoid when camping. (I still cleaned my feet each night.)

And that’s everything I brought on my AZT thru-hike! What questions do you have? Leave a comment below and I’ll gladly respond.