Well well well. If it isn’t Maggie reappearing at yet another *tumultuous* time in her life. I am nothing if not predictable, and when I have any sort of mini-crisis, I run away and do something fun.
Last time I was confused about tHe StAtE oF tHiNgS, I flew to Denver and hiked the Colorado Trail. This time I nabbed a one-way ticket to Tucson to start the Arizona Trail next month. Eventually I’ll write more about the mindset that preceded this, but for now, in the interest of general gear and also the off-chance we can fund more trails with affiliate links this month, this is the gear I’m taking on the Arizona Trail.
I’m heading northbound starting in mid-March, with a base weight of 10 pounds. There is the potential for chilly desert nights and scorching days. While it is a spring desert hike, my gear is similar to my summer gear for the Colorado Trail. I was really happy with that setup, and with a few minor tweaks, much of my clothing, temperature ratings, and small items will be the same. I’m carrying a dress and flip-flips for town though … I found I really missed having town / laundry clothes last year, and the extra few ounces are totally worth it.
Arizona Trail Gear List
Arizona Trail Shelter, Pack, Sleep System
Pack: LiteAF 40L Curve – This pack was supposed to be a 46L, so I’ve linked to that model. This came as a 40L, but it has my cat all over it so I have still never been happier. This pack has been comfortable for hundreds of miles, is in incredible shape for having taken some abuse, and is fully waterproof thanks to the rolled top and DCF material. I have Superior Wilderness Designs hip-belt pockets, which saw some tearing last season, so I’ll probably drop some stitches in there before heading out. That’s a lie; I probably won’t do that. But the thought is there. I can reach the big mesh pocket in the back while hiking, as well as the side pockets for water bottles.
Sleeping Bag: Therm-a-Rest Hyperion 20 – Back for my fourth year with this reliable, lightweight, warm sleeping bag. Since the weather won’t be extreme on the AZT, I don’t need super warm protection, but I do expect cold nights and I am a cold sleeper in general. This is also so light that I don’t mind carrying a bit more for how warm it is. The bag has 900 fill down and weighs just 20 ounces, and while I have newer, lighter bags, I don’t mess around with staying warm at night, so I’ll bring this one again. It is a bit long though, so if Therm-a-Rest wanted to make a women’s-specific Hyperion, I’d be all about it.
Sleeping Pad: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite (Women’s) – I’m switching back to this from the Sea to Summit model I used last year. It was a great pad, but water carries will be longer on this trail, so I wanted to shave ounces wherever I could, and this weighs around 4 ounces less than my sleeping pad last year. Therm-a-Rest also revamped the valve, so it takes fewer breaths to inflate than it used to, which was a major detractor. I love an inflatable pad, but 30 breaths to fill each night was a drag. I’ve had some bad luck with popping these pads, so fingers crossed this one survives the whole trail.
Tent: Gossamer Gear The One – Once I figured out how to efficiently set this up, it was fast and stable to pitch. I loved the spacious vestibules, roomy one-person interior, and easy tensioning on the guylines. This tent does sag in heavy rain, which I experienced a lot of on the CT last year, and hopefully won’t as much on the AZT this year. This tent is 45 inches tall at the peak and has 35 feet of interior space, which is insane. I’ve slept two people in here and it wasn’t much of a stretch. It weighs around 18 ounces and I can pitch it in just a few minutes.
Arizona Trail Thru-Hike Clothing
Puffy Jacket: Jack Wolfskin Mountain Down Jacket – I tried a lot of down jackets over the past year, and this one sits nicely in the middle of the pack. It’s sleek and fitted but not too tight, compact but still feels protective, and though it’s lightweight (think Ghost Whisperer) I don’t feel like I’m going to separate the zipper or rip the face fabric. I tend to go with a combination of durable and weight-savings in my gear, and though this jacket is largely untested as of now, I’m confident it can do its insulating job.
Rain Jacket: Enlightened Equipment Visp – This is my go-to rain jacket. It weighs less than 5 ounces and has a long hemline, making it perfect for wearing under a pack. It has pit zips but no hip pockets, and like every other rain jacket I’ve ever worn, it will feel saturated after wearing it in a downpour for hours on end. That said, it fits well, packs down to almost nothing, and the weight can’t be beat.
Shoes: Altra Lone Peak – Same shoes, different pairs. I have two pairs for this trail. One I’ll start with, the other I’ll send to New Hampshire (right?!) because I have to fly out for my brother’s wedding in April. Like I said last year, hikers love the wide toe box and natural foot strike thanks to the zero-drop, and my feet are no exception. I would love it if my feet were able to wear other shoes for hundreds of miles, but it’s simply not the case. I have a pretty durable body overall, but my feet are finicky little witches.
Socks: Swiftwick Pursuit Hike and Smartwool Full Cushion – I wear the Pursuit Six (mid-height linked above), as it helps keep sand and debris out of my low-top shoes. Smartwool’s revamped full-cushion socks have somewhat more padding than the Swiftwick socks, but I like to alternate between styles every few days. It’s probably my imagination, but I feel like it helps prevent blisters.
Hiking Shirt: Outdoor Research Astroman Hoodie – I am a total convert when it comes to sun shirts on exposed trails. I loved the Echo Hoodie I wore last year, but it smells terrible so I’m wearing this one instead. This shirt feels lighter than the Echo, but less silky. We shall see which one I like better. I will also bring a full Sawyer Sunscreen for my face and legs. I got really bad heat poisoning on my legs in Colorado and I feel like I should try to avoid that in Arizona.
Hiking Shorts: Tracksmith Session Shorts – I took a chance on these shorts last year and they came through in a huge way. I never got chafing, they didn’t ride up or down, and they never felt like they were pinching. The light, fluttery material barely feels like it’s there, and the slightly longer inseam helps prevent thigh rub. These are pricey, but I cannot recommend them enough.
Midlayer: AppGearCo All-Paca Fleece – Everyone loves these pullovers and no one can get them. These sell out of each run, and for good reason. The alpaca wool is wicking, warm, and stays stink-free. It’s not as itchy as sheep wool, but feels a little more abrasive than merino, so I usually wear a layer under it.
Sports Bra: Brooks Dare Crossback Bra – This is my favorite sports bra. It’s so light and seamless it barely feels like anything in your hand, and when worn, it’s supportive without constricting. It’s wide and rather long, so it might look like a lot of material, but it’s one of the only bras I forget I’m wearing. I wore this last year, and while it’s a bit on the faded / stained side, it’ll be fine for another 800 miles.
Base Layer Top (Camp): Tracksmith Brighton Base Layer – This has been my go-to packable base layer top for the past year of backpacking. It’s soft and not bulky, so I don’t feel bad about the extra weight in my pack for camp clothes.
Base Layer Pants (Camp): Smartwool 150 – I like having pants to change into at camp. These aren’t super flattering, and I wish they were a bit stretchier, but they’re packable and light, and I use them mainly as a “clean” pair to sleep in, and occasionally for insulation if it gets unseasonably cold.
Beanie: Smartwool Merino Sport 150 Beanie – I’ve had this beanie since the Appalachian Trail in 2015, and it has sentimental value while still actually being a great piece of durable, packable, warm gear.
Gloves: Nathan Reflective Running Gloves – Gloves might be overkill, but I really hate being cold, and my hands get colder than the rest of my body. These have a light fleece lining, fit great, and are *supposedly* touch-screen compatible, though I usually get annoyed and pull the glove off to use my phone.
Sunglasses: Ombraz – I finally bit the bullet on trying these armless sunglasses after other writers on a media trip said how comfortable, durable, and convenient they are. They aren’t my favorite style (I like square frames) but I’m hoping these solve my problem of losing and breaking sunglasses. These lie flat in your pack without arms to snap off—instead, they have an elastic that goes around the back of your head, which also means I can drop them down around my neck when I’m not wearing them.
Arizona Trail Accessories
Trekking Poles: Gossamer Gear LT5 – I didn’t break these poles last year!!!! I love them and I hope I don’t break them this year! Ultralight, stowable, stable, and easy to adjust. Since they are so light (4 ounces each) I’m extra careful with them and try to avoid yanking them out of holes or out from between rocks.
Headlamp: BioLite HeadLamp 330 – If we’re being honest, I feel like I should replace this headlamp. While it’s bright, compact and comfortable, the battery life isn’t super impressive and the button is small and annoying. I got it for free though, and I’m too cheap to buy this NiteCore model, which everyone says is better.
Filter: Katadyn BeFree – I gave this filter a try a few years ago when they first came out, and it was fast at first, then got really slow. I’ve heard they’ve improved, so I agreed to take this on a test run. It also screws onto my HydraPak Seeker, the 2L reservoir I’ll carry. Water carries are a bigger concern on this trail, so I’ll have at least 4-liter capacity at all times.
Charger: BioLite Charge 80 – I might end up replacing this if someone has a better suggestion. I like having 20,000MhZ so I can charge my phone (pics, music, GPS app, audiobooks, and Kindle), headlamp, and headphones. I might be able to get away with a smaller, lighter-weight model, but unfortunately I am a trash millennial and I feel lost without technology, and the idea of my phone dying between towns is stressful.
Toiletries, Etc: My toiletries are minimal. A handful of Advil, a bottle of Sawyer Sunscreen, toothbrush / toothpaste, Joshua Tree Lip Balm (the best), and a wide-tooth comb.
