My Gear

There are a lot of options out there for hiking and backpacking gear, so it's easy to get overwhelmed. I've linked all of my favorite pieces of gear below to help make the buying process a little less intimidating.

As always, make sure to check out used gear whenever available at retailers like REI.com/used to help lower your carbon footprint while also saving tons of money.

Find Used Gear

Electronics

• Garmin inReach Mini 2 satellite communication no matter where the trail leads

• Anker 337 Power Bank for fast charging of electronics

• TOZO Magnetic Wireless Charging Station to recharge your (wireless charging) phone, even if the charging port gets wet

Traction Control

• Leki Lhasa Trekking Poles with Cork Handles to save your knees on rough terrain and give you confidence in your footing

• La Sportiva Bushido II Trail Running Shoes for grippy traction and all-day comfort for hiking, trail running or comfortable everyday wear

• La Sportiva Ultra Raptor II Mid GTX Hiking Boots for those who love the comfort of a sneaker but need the stability and support of a boot

• Kahtoola MICROspikes Traction System are tire chains for your shoes and a staple for any cold-weather hike

Camp

• Therm-a-Rest Trail Pro Sleeping Pad for a comfortable night sleep in any season

• TheTentLab The Deuce #2 UL Backcountry Trowel because, well - iykyk

• JetBoil MiniMo Cooking System is your perfect compact, luxury cooking system (camp stove) for hot food or drinks in minutes

• Contigo Byron 2.0 Travel Mug for luxury (non UL) hiking to satisfy your inner coffee addict (leak proof and super insulated)

Drink

• CamelBak Crux 3L Reservoir (not compatible with my Gregory pack, but adapted it with some rope) is great for long hikes and easy to clean with wide mouth opening

• CamelBak Classic Lite Hydration Pack is perfect for short summer hikes or trail running - 2L reservoir included

• Nalgene Wide-Mouth Bottle for added (emergency) hydration during your hike - always keep extra water if hiking with a reservoir since you never really know when you're out of water until its too late. Pro tip- add hot water to your Nalgene, close it up tight and throw it in your sleeping bag before settling in for the night for extra warmth on cold nights.

Pack & Accessorize

• Gregory Jade 28 Pack is perfect for year-round long day hikes or the "prepared for anything" day-hiker

• Gregory Jade 63 Pack has been discontinued but still available in some outlet locations or can sometimes be found on rei.com/used

• goodr OGs Sunglasses for carefree trail sunnies

• Arc'teryx Wool Ball Cap to keep your head warm in the winter, cool in the summer and protect those peepers

• CamelBak Classic Lite Hydration Pack (also listed in "Drink") is also great for short hikes to store essentials like phone, wallet and keys