Granite Gear Vapor Ki Backpack
Pros: Was the only pack I found that fit my body without
hurting or chafing my back, hips, or shoulders. Many hikers had to replace
packs, and this pack easily withstood the abuse of 5mo on the trail. Has an
exterior pocket to put my water bladder in without having to get into my pack
every time to refill it.

Cons: Not the lightest of packs. Has a built in back support
that adds weight and can soak up sweat/water. The few pockets were not
practical. (I ended up using my crocs hanging on my pack for easy-to-reach
snacks and gear. I regularly needed to retighten the straps to keep it
adjusted. I had the top loading bag, so I had to remove everything to get to my
gear on the bottom.

Bottom Line: It was an acquired taste, but I really grew to
trust it. I envied hikers with ULA packs, and would like to give one of those a
try, if I decide to get a new pack.

Tarptent Contrail Tent
Pros: Light and spacious. It kept me dry and safe from the
elements. It dried out quickly after rain or a night with high condensation. I
liked the door with a lot of mesh for fresh air and a great view. I really like
it! Great individual customer service from the maker Henry Shires.

Cons: Some hikers found this tent frustrating and switched
to one that was easier to set up. Once I learned how to set it up properly, I
became a big fan. It is not free standing, so it needs to be staked securely
and that can require some creativity on certain terrain. I never had a problem
and always found heavy rocks if I couldn’t stake it into the ground. Comes with
four stakes, but I recommend using 6-7 for the best set-up. Long design whipped
around a lot in high winds, but all tents did. Like many other tents, towards
the end of the trail, the zipper would split due to built up dirt and grime. It
is apparently an easy fix and I’m getting new zippers from Tarptent soon.

Marmot Helium Sleeping Bag
Pros: Awesome bag! Light, warm, soft, and water resistant. I
struggled to get out of it each morning and dreamt of getting back in its
cushy, heavenly, warmth all day. 

Cons: Sometimes too warm and it is pricey…but totally worth
it! Marmot has come out with a new one that’s even warmer, lighter, and more
expensive.

Pros: Added that extra warmth on cold nights and used as a
light blanket on warm nights. Some say it also extends the life of the sleeping
bag by keeping skin oils away.

Cons: Took some getting used to so I didn’t get tangled in
it. Could be considered a luxury item, but I don’t think I would have slept
well without it.

Caldera Cone Stove Set
Pros: Light, efficient, simple, and sturdy.

Cons: Took some practice to use properly. It doesn’t have a
simmer setting, so care is needed for doing more than boiling water. Hard
plastic container can take up space, but I used the top as a cup. The base of
the container gets way too dirty/sooty to use as a bowl as advertised.

 Evernew Titanium Pot

Pros: Wonderful! Small, light, gets the job done.

Cons: Careful not to burn things to the thin bottom.

AntiGravityGear Pot Cozy

Pros: Kept food warmer longer and allowed me to easily hold
my hot pot when I ate out of it.     

Cons: It got torn up and mold/mildew grew on it. I found
that it wasn’t really needed and ditched it halfway through the trip.

Katadyn Hiker Water Filter

Pros: Reliable, durable, and trusted for water filtering.
Nice to have for the questionable desert water sources.

Cons: Added a lot of unnecessary weight to my pack. I found
that in this high water year, I didn’t need it and ditched it in Tehachapi.

Aquamira Water Treatment
Pros: Reliable, small, and light.

Cons: Need to wait 5mins for it to mix before putting it in
water and another 20-30mins before drinking.

Bottom Line: I ended up using just one Aquamira container to
hold Clorox bleach (two drops/liter and wait 30mins).

Cannon PowerShot
SD 1100 IS Camera
Pros: My favorite camera that I’ve used for years. Simple,
fairly tough, and takes great pics.

Cons: The black one can chip its’ paint off easily and look
worn. It isn’t waterproof and I ruined two of them after unintentionally
soaking both in water. They can withstand some moisture, but I soaked them.

SanDisk Sansa Clip
Pros: One of my favorite pieces of gear! Held all my songs and audiobooks easily. Also, small and clips to clothes or pack for easy use. Plus, it tapes radio!
Cons: Doesn’t hold as many songs as more expensive players. Small and easy to lose if you’re like me.

StickPic
I had a lot of people ask how I shot my videos while I was walking. I used the awesome StickPic. It allows you to attach your camera to the end of your hiking pole for both pictures and video. Love it! You can buy it at kick-off or order it online. Careful, they are easy to lose, so I recommend putting it on a carabeener. Also, if you lose the nut that tightens it to your camera, you can use medical tape on the screw and it tightens just fine.

Sea to Summit
Ultra Sil Dry Sacks
Pros: Come in various sizes and colors for organizing small
things. Light, resilient, and water resistant. Those who used Cuban fiber sacks
had difficulty with them shredding apart.

Cons: Not waterproof…even if they say they are. The black
one I had drove me nuts at night and in the early morning because I always had
trouble finding it in my tent or pack.

 Sea to Summit
eVent Compression Sack
Pros: Compressed my sleeping bag and kept it dry.

Cons: For some hikers, it could be considered a luxury item
that adds weight.

iPhone 4
Pros: Amazing! It was my own personal computer, phone,
camera, alarm clock, and GPS all in one. I really liked how vivid some of the
scenic pictures were too. It was really cool to be able to Skype friends and
family from the top of scenic views. Love it!

Cons: Be aware of battery life. I didn’t use it as an MP3
player for that reason.  I heard the
iPhone 4S has longer battery life. It can drain quickly using the GPS. Just
keep it in airplane mode whenever possible. The pictures in HD can sometimes
have hues around edges if the camera is not held very still.

Black Diamond Spot LED Headlamp

Pros: Did great! Had various light settings and guided me
through a lot of dark hiking.

Cons: Probably not the lightest one out there, but it’s what
I’ve always had.

MSR Packtowel Nano

Nice to have for washing off in streams. Dried very quickly.

Pros: Reassure your family that you are okay on a regular
basis. I know of hikers who had to use theirs to get emergency help from Search
and Rescue, and it works. The customer service is very attentive and helpful.

Cons: I had difficulty with my SPOT devices. My first one
randomly broke after 600mi, and I had to order a new one. There were many times
when I later found out from my family that they never got my nightly signal.
Most nights, I had my cell phone and could make sure the signal sent out the
email, but the point is to know it works when you don’t have cell service!
Apparently, the button needs to stay lit for a lot longer than I originally
thought. Once I figured that out, it worked much better.

Bottom Line: Worth having, but I can’t say it’s 100%.

Sea to Summit Insect Shield Head Net

Leatherman Style CS Multitool
Pros: Small, light, has multiple tools (including
scissors!), and has a carabeener to clip it to my bag for easy access.

Cons: Could be considered by some to be a luxury item that
just adds extra weight.

Erik the Black’s PCT Atlas Books
Pros: Gives a lot of information in a compact format.

Cons: Many cons. The books cost more than they should, and I
don’t feel great about where the money is going. At times, many hikers found
the information to be wrong, incomplete, or misleading. This can get really
frustrating if it’s your only resource and you need something that can be
consistently trusted. For example, some campsites or water sources no longer
existed and that’s important! Most frustrating for many hikers were the
elevation charts, which were either incorrect or too general. Also, some of the
trail town information is outdated and no longer relevant. Trust Yogi for trail
town information!

Bottom Line: It’s difficult for me to fully recommend this
resource when there are Halfmile’s maps, which are free(accepts donations),
from a respected trail angel, and much more reliable. I rarely used my ETB
maps, except for checking where campsites and water sources might be. The PCT
is pretty easy to follow, so you’ll be okay with ETB. My moral compass doesn’t
feel great about using them, but they’ll get the job done. I wouldn’t want to
rely on it as my sole resource.

Halfmile’s Maps
Pros: These maps are free(donations accepted) and can be
printed out. They can also be uploaded onto GPS units and phones, which is
awesome! The maps have good detail that I was able to use when looking for
stealth campsites. The elevation charts were great and summarized all the
needed information.

Cons: If you print the maps out, they can take up many
sheets of paper. Halfmile has yet to hike the Washington section of the PCT, so
he does not list many campsites and water sources through there. I know this is
improving, but at that point, I was secure enough in my skills to find water
and campsites just fine. Halfmile will usually list water that is
guaranteed(with some seasonal options). With this year being a high water year,
I was easily able to get water from the seasonal sources in ETB’s book too.

Bottom Line: I would definitely recommend Halfmile maps as
your sole resource if you are looking to save money. If you don’t mind spending
the money, I recommend that you use Halfmile maps on a device with GPS
capabilities and only print out the elevation charts and trail notes. The elevation charts
include the points of interest, campsites, and water sources. Then I recommend
carrying ETB to have paper maps if you need them. Plus, then you have
additional campsites and water sources that Halfmile may not have included.
It’s nice to have both to have the most information.

Yogi’s PCT Handbook
Pros: I really liked having this reliable resource. The
details in trail towns change often and Yogi does a good job of keeping things
as up to date as possible. What I didn’t realize until later on the trail, was
how helpful Yogi’s notes about the trail are. I recommend glancing through it
every night/morning. There are great suggestions for water sources, campsites,
stream crossings, hidden huts, etc. Every year, there are a ton of questions
asked on the PCT-L about preparation, mail drops, trail towns, etc. GET YOGI’S
HANDBOOK!!!

Cons: Some of the suggestions are from many years ago and
could use some updating. I’m sure she is working on this, but overall, the
information is helpful.

Bottom Line: GET YOGI’S HANDBOOK!!! There are some hikers
who pride themselves on saying that they don’t use it…but then those are the
same people who end up asking me if they can borrow my pages or if they can
copy some information out of the handbook. I agree that it isn’t essential to
have the handbook to successfully hike the trail, but it will make the
experience much more enjoyable.

Powermonkey eXplorer Solar Charger
Pros: Has an external battery that stays charged and can be
used when needed. The battery can be charged using the solar panel or more
quickly with a wall outlet. It comes with many adapters, so I could use it to
charge my phone and MP3 player.

Cons: Not as resilient as I would like it to be. I give it
credit because I made it about 1,000mi before I needed to replace the solar
panel. I had been too rough with the connecting cord and it detached from the
solar panel. The company was great and sent me a replacement for free. The
adapter for the iPhone had to be ordered separately when I bought it, and it is
also VERY fragile. Be gentle with it and I suggest keeping it in its’
protective case when not in use. It definitely doesn’t hold as much charge as
it claims, but it got the job done for me. It takes longer than I’d hoped for
it to charge both by wall socket and solar panel. I had to be more conservative
on the northern part of the trail because of overcast and forested areas.

Bottom Line: I used my gadgets A LOT and it kept me
connected. It isn’t perfect, but it seemed to be the best option for what I
needed. I know solar chargers are still being developed and newer ones may
prove to be better, but I’d recommend this one.

Okay ladies, just like you, I worried about how I’d handle
my monthly period on the trail. If you have to deal with it, then I suggest the
Diva Cup. Look it up. I would definitely practice using it before going on the
trail if you’ve never used it before. I like it because it’s minimal, I don’t
have to worry about accumulating trash, and depending on the day, I could go
the whole day without having to worry about it. I love that it is
environmentally better AND saves me money. I have converted to using it in
everyday life and I really recommend it.

OR Helium Rain Jacket
Pros: Very light and compact.

Cons: If you sweat a lot, it may not be the jacket for you
because it has no vents. Also, to save weight, there are no side pockets. After
using it the whole trip as my main jacket, I found out the hard way that my
pack had rubbed out the waterproofing and it was no longer fully waterproof in
a full day of cold WA rain.

Bottom Line: Great jacket! If you use it the whole trip and
find yourself finishing close to October, I recommend sending yourself a warmer
jacket in WA or waterproof it again before you hit the northern rain.

Insulating Jacket-Patagonia Nano Puff
Pros: Small, light, compact, warm, resilient, awesome!

Cons: Expensive.

Bottom Line: Loved it! I used the one with the hood because
I get cold easily, but many hikers saved the weight, and had the zip or the
pull over.

Balega Socks
I loved these socks. My feet had bad reactions to wool and
these were great. I only needed eight pairs the whole trip.

Icebreaker BodyFit 200 long sleeve top(sleep top)
I really like this top, but I found that I was plenty warm
and didn’t need it, so I sent it home. I mostly ended up sleeping in my hiking
clothes after awhile. I just wore my Nano Puff Jacket to sleep if I needed
something warmer.

Adidas Wind Pant w/mesh liner (pajama bottom)

These pants weren’t essential, but they were nice to have at
camp for warmth, when my pants were wet, or just to have something clean to put
on at the end of the day.

Seirus Hyperlite All-Weather Gloves

I really liked these gloves! No gloves are truly waterproof,
so I suggest getting a pack of latex gloves to wear over the gloves in the rain
or in the mornings when taking down a wet tent. The latex ones lasted a long
time, but I threw a new set in each resupply just in case. A simple thing that
made my days so much more enjoyable!

ExOfficio Underwear

Loved it! I only needed two pairs that I rotated on the trip
and I had a third for sleeping.

Nike Pro Core Sports Bra

I rotated two the whole trip and they were great! Also, it
doubles as a great swim top.

SmartWool Heavy Cushion (Sleep Socks)

Heaven:)

Montrail AT Plus Hiking Shoes

Some hikers chose to use less sturdy running shoes, but this
is what I needed. A wide shoe, enough mesh to be airy without letting in a ton
of water/debris, good grip on the sole, and durable. I do suggest inserts to
make them more cushioned. I only needed four pairs the whole hike. I also
suggest that if you think you’ll be in WA near fall, think about getting the
waterproof ones for that section. I needed much more warmth in the cold rain.

Lynco L405 Sports Orthotic Insoles
I knew I’d need some type of added support to hike the trail and another hiker told me about the Lynco Insoles. I am a neutral walker and tend to need something for the ball of my foot. These are very unique and I recommend using them for a good month before the trail if your feet are new to them. They have a lump under the upper part of the arch of your foot. There are other styles for different needs. The unique form takes some getting used to, but I found them to feel great and also relieve a lot of the pressure on the ball of my foot. Totally worth the price for me. I bought a new pair with each pair of shoes. Many people bought insoles more often than that though.

Black Diamond Trail Back Trekking Poles

I chose to go cheaper and heavier with my hiking poles, but
they worked out great. They were durable most of the hike. Anything that can
last that many miles gets a thumbs up from me. I did have to replace the tips
in Shasta after the lava rocks of Hat Creek Rim. Boo! Then, I randomly slipped
and bent one of my poles on a snow patch in OR. The company was easy to work
with and I was able to easily order my replacement part to be delivered to the
next town.

Mizuno & Adidas Dri Fit running tops

I randomly chose to use these tops that I had and I love
these short and long sleeves. They made it the whole hike and I still wear them!

White Sierra Teton Trail Convertible Pants

Awesome pants! They hung on with a few minor repairs and
made it through the whole trail. It was nice to have the option of shorts or
pants. They have lots of pockets for my gadgets and snacks. The only pants I
could find that weren’t form fitting and tight in the thighs. I wish they came
in XS because they ran a bit big and I had to get them taken in.

Andiamo skins (unpadded) biker shorts(black)

Great for added warmth and those who experience chafing. I
bought two pairs and only needed one the whole trail. They were also great to
wear for swimming. A suggestion from the maker is that if they are being used
for hiking, cut off the tight elastic band on the thighs. Worked great for me!

Dirty Girl Gaiters

Love em! I was able to use the same pair the whole hike, but
I recommend buying two pairs and switching in N Cal. I once tried to go a week
without them and I couldn’t stand all the debris that got in my shoes. Also,
without them, my socks were quick to get holes in them.

OR Women’s Verglas Gaiters

With all the snow we had this year, I found these to be very
useful in deep snow. Especially in the cold Sierra mornings. I might recommend
using them if you are headed into WA late in the season. I saved the weight and
didn’t use them, but they would probably save your rain pants from shredding
with all the brush.

Pine with the BearVault and me with the Bearikade.

Bearikade Weekender Bear Canister

Pros: The lightest and smallest option out there. They have
a rental program if you don’t want to buy a bear canister because these are
expensive. Others who used the other popular bear canister (BearVault)
sometimes had problems screwing the lid off in freezing temps. Not a problem
with the Bearikade.

Cons: Probably won’t fit all your food. The hard metal edge
at the top wore a hole in my pack. You need to have a coin (or something) to
undo the screws at the top. It isn’t clear, so you cannot see all that is in
it.

Bottom Line: It gets the job done, but won’t hold all your
food if you are planning on doing more than 5 days. Most hikers used BearVault,
which are slightly bigger, and seemed to be okay with them.

Katoola MICROspikes

Awesome! With all the snow and ice this year, I got to know
my microspikes real well. They were perfect for the conditions we were in. We
would hit varied patches of snow, ice, mud, rocks, water, etc. Those who had
crampons, found them to be aggravating and useless when they had to stop often
to take them on and off. Those with Yaktrax didn’t have enough grip and they
broke easily. Definitely go with the microspikes.

Black Diamond Raven Ice Axe

I really liked my Ice Axe and a lot of other hikers had it too.
Some hikers used the C.A.M.P Corsa or Whippet to save weight, but it’s all up
to personal preference and how much security you feel you’re comfortable with.
As for length, longer is better. You want something long enough that you can
comfortably hold onto like a cane on steep snowy traverses. If it is too short,
you will be bending over and off balance. There is no point in saving on weight
if it negates the point of having an ice axe to begin with.

Whew! I’m glad I got this done before Christmas since I know
many of you are making your wish lists. I hope this helped some of you with
your research. Good luck!