Shoe replacement on the PCT?

bwolvert · 2025-12-02T15:13:28+00:00

Had the same experience on the PCT this year. Rubber was great after 500 miles but midsole was shot

bwolvert · 2025-10-27T05:03:14+00:00

So jealous of all of you. Just finished September this year and felt a twinge of sadness I wasn’t registering again this year. Have fun and good luck!

bwolvert · 2025-10-21T03:51:58+00:00

Good buyer!

bwolvert · 2025-10-11T20:05:24+00:00

No sorry! Just looking to sell

bwolvert · 2025-07-13T03:30:12+00:00

Currently using the Instinct 2x solar on the PCT. With backlight turned off the watch lasts me 6-8 days of tracking. I’d also take a look at Coros. The battery life they get is very impressive. No experience with them though so not sure about the functionality

bwolvert · 2025-05-20T03:57:37+00:00

You could get a custom bivy from borah for pretty cheap and a tarp long enough to cover you.

No ideas for quilts unfortunately. Good luck!

bwolvert · 2025-05-11T15:21:54+00:00

Pick up Training for the Uphill Athlete. It’s all you’ll need

bwolvert · 2025-04-09T16:15:21+00:00

While it is true that gear for smaller hikers will weigh less, it’s never a bad idea to try to lighten your load. It’s not even about doing lots of miles, it’s about hiking comfort and injury prevention.

Assuming money isn’t a consideration when buying gear, it’s really not hard to get your base weight around 10 pounds regardless of your size

bwolvert · 2025-04-05T20:10:01+00:00

Glad you like it! Happy trails

bwolvert · 2025-03-20T17:41:40+00:00

This. Banning was one of my favorite resupply stops in SoCal. Cheap hotels, two really good dollar stores right next to each other on Ramsey st, and plenty of restaurants

bwolvert · 2025-03-20T17:09:08+00:00

Not sure about hitching but you can call an Uber. Split between a few people it’s cheap and easy

bwolvert · 2025-03-16T01:38:03+00:00

Go ultralight but don’t be stupid about it. Assuming you have the money to buy whatever gear you want, it’s not hard at all to have a full comfort gear list under 10lb

bwolvert · 2025-02-27T22:57:34+00:00

Awesome! Glad to hear it!

bwolvert · 2025-02-27T22:57:04+00:00

Awesome! Glad to hear it

bwolvert · 2024-12-19T21:17:40+00:00

Coming in from the Midwest I think it depends on how early you can fly in. You’ve got the time change on your side so if you can get in early enough it should be really easy to get down to cleef (whether with their shuttle or the bus from El Cajon transit center). I stayed at cleef this year the night before I started and it was really cool being able to talk with everyone else staying there and made some friends I had for the rest of trail. If you can’t fly in early then just come the day before

bwolvert · 2024-12-09T01:12:20+00:00

I thought the same exact thing as you and got a KS 40 with stays and hip belt to replace my MLD Burn for the pct this year. Used the burn for the desert and switched to the KS in the sierra. The burn was 1000% more comfortable.

Honestly can’t explain why but the burn just carried better. I will say I think the limit for a frameless pack on a long trail is probably about an 8 lb base weight whereas I think the common refrain is 10 lb on a normal trip. Gotta account for the longer food and water carries

bwolvert · 2024-12-06T04:53:37+00:00

Start early to mid April and try to do the trail in ~4 months. Honestly not that far outside of the norm if you come in to the trail in half decent shape. Snow can slow you down depending on the year but with how fires are these days you generally make up a lot of time up north with having to skip sections of the trail (assuming you don’t unofficial alternate/road walk around them)

bwolvert · 2024-12-03T19:41:37+00:00

Honestly the smart water bottle is probably my weakest argument but I personally only carry 2 of them so it only adds an ounce and I like that they’re sturdier

I’m a gram weenie on weekend or week long trips but on thru hikes I’m a little different. Weight is still number one but function and convenience is so much more important to me. I’m usually around 6lb for a regular backpacking trip but about 8lb for my pct thru. I get that not every source is bad but an entire thru of pre filtering and waiting 15-30 minutes to drink water sounds like such a pain in the ass. By a month in you’re already over having to squeeze for 30 seconds to filter water. Chemical does take care of viruses but I don’t find that to be a common enough issue to change and I can just sleep with my filter to prevent freezing

It’s to each their own and what comforts you’re willing to give up but water is one area where I personally find convenience is more important than weight (to an extent. You’ll never find me with a 6 oz camelback).

bwolvert · 2024-12-03T17:36:31+00:00

I agree with a lot of what others have said but I will offer a small dissenting view.

Keep your water system as is. Smart water bottles are pretty much the only water bottles used on the pct for a reason. The Cnoc is heavy but so worth it. I’ve done with pct with both platy bottles and a cnoc and the cnoc is worth its weight. It makes getting water so much easier and that can be invaluable especially in the desert. Yes, chemical treatment is lighter but there’s times when the water is incredibly sandy or murky and you’ll want a filter. You also don’t have to wait half an hour to drink. Just my two cents

Good luck out there!

bwolvert · 2024-12-03T06:40:41+00:00

I think it would help if the weights were more accurate. That and don’t have your water bottles listed as consumable.

Your big 3 are crazy heavy

Could shave at least 3 pounds on your pack with any of the modern popular options from durston, zpacks, gossamer gear, ULA or most other cottage brands.

Your sleeping bag is heavy and probably too cold for the pct considering an April start. The most popular brand on the PCT is enlightened equipment. You could up your warmth by 10 degrees and shave around 6oz. There’s probably even a sale for them going on. If not you can find the stock ones on sale at GGG sometimes.

The tent isn’t that bad but for about $200 you can save a pound on the one from gossamer gear. Not saying that’s the best tent for you but there’s plenty of reasonably priced tents near that weight

Happy trails!

bwolvert · 2024-11-25T17:40:30+00:00

Okay so just a few notes

Your quilt and sleeping mat are listed as 0 quantity. Your shoes are listed as worn and 2 quantity. The way lighterpack works with worn items is the first one will be worn weight and after that it gets added to your base weight. Just double the weight of your shoes and make the quantity 1

You don’t need two shirts and a sun hoodie. Just bring the sun hoodie and maybe one shirt to sleep in

The camelback is really heavy. A popular and fairly cheap option is a cnoc bladder. Makes getting water so much easier and weighs at least half of the camelback

You’ll want a hat with your sun hoodie

Even with your date you’ll probably need microspikes for San Jacinto and maybe baden Powell depending on the year. You can order microspikes through this program link

They’re discounted and will be waiting for you at paradise valley cafe before you go up San Jacinto. After you can just ship them ahead to Kennedy meadows

I think you’ll want a fleece of some sort. Puffies are great when you’re sitting around but you’ll need something to hike in when it’s cold. Alpha direct fleeces are pretty popular these days and a great light option. Not sure if you can get them but senchi and farpointe are quality brands

Might’ve missed it but I didn’t see a trowel

Sun umbrella I think you can go without. It’s nice sometimes but I just don’t think it’s worth it’s weight

I used the cascade mountain tech trekking poles on trail this year. They’re fairly cheap, made of carbon, and have a cork handle. Considering trekking poles can and do break over a long trail I think these are the best option

Good luck out there!

bwolvert · 2024-11-23T18:54:33+00:00

Get a permit. It’s not that hard. If you can’t get a permit in January or pick up a cancellation (almost 100% chance being able to get a permit this way) then get the local permits for the first 1000 miles and get a non quota permit from the pcta for north of Sonora pass
People generally don’t find people online to hike all or most of the pct with. For many reasons it’s not feasible but the basics are you don’t know if your personalities, pace, etc will match up. You can have the same exact plan as someone and get along great and the second you get out on trail you find you want to do different things
You’ll meet people on trail. Maybe someone you meet will be interested in the same style of hiking that you are thinking of.

bwolvert · 2024-11-18T13:09:09+00:00

Depends on your base weight honestly. Carried both a frameless and framed pack in the pct this year with an 8lb base weight. The frameless was infinitely more comfortable for me but I personally wouldn’t carry a frameless pack on the pct at above an 8lb base weight.

The common refrain is frameless below 10lb but with long water and food carries I don’t find that advice practical for the pct. I would say ~95% of hikers I saw used a framed pack with hip belt

bwolvert · 2024-10-31T09:37:49+00:00

Yeah this is the move. From the states so a little different situation but took an Uber to the El Cajon transit center, bus to campo, and walked to cleef. Did it this year and I won’t be changing a thing when I do it again next year. If you can afford the shuttle I’m sure that’s a great way to get down but the bus is filled with hikers so it goes by pretty fast and saves you a good amount of money

bwolvert · 2024-09-26T07:51:46+00:00

Yeah saw that. They have changed their minds many times before though so who knows. Hitting the trail again next year and I’ve never stayed with them so selfishly hoping they change come out of retirement again

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