2016 PCT list – early first pass :)

[Lachlan Fysh]

Edit: List and questions edited – seems I'm down to just the Mont Bell hood concerns :)

[Easy Peazy]

Bring a groundsheet, tyvek over poly. I would expect many nights when you'll want nothing to do with the bivy. Now I'm hardly the most gentle on gear, but I went through a poly sheet every 300 miles or so when I used them. Replacing them on-trail is a pain. Keep it simple, the tyvek Just Works. Xlite over ridgerest for warmth and comfort. There's not really much of a cost savings when you figure you'll blow through a couple ridgerests. My first Z-Lite was toast by Tehachapi. I'd want my shelter to be more comfortable than the tarp/bivy combo. At 6'1" the space of a Solplex was about right for me, and I'm a stubborn cowboy camper. When you're eventually forced into your shelter, you may be there a while. Use a 2nd pair of hiking socks. Maybe 3 in the desert. If you know what you're doing with the camera, don't mind the haters. I strongly preferred having sleep clothes. I would choose a lighter, cooler sleep sock though, especially if you stick with the bivy. You could probably make an ohm work, but it might require carrying the can on top. I'd prefer something in the circuit class if not the circuit itself. I really enjoyed my fusion 65 and the new fusion 50 looks to have addressed my complaints and be of similar size.

[Justin Baker]

Looks good. Personally, I would consider adding a 100 wt fleece when you hit the high sierras in early season. Those cold storms can really chill you if you are wearing is a poncho and base layer. But I get cold easily.

[Lachlan Fysh]

Thanks for the feedback. Justin, I'm carrying a wind shirt, but even so I also get cold easy, and am considering a capilene thermal weight zip neck in place of the lightweight which can double as sleep wear and warm trail clothing… This may be something I bounce along the trail since I don't think I'll need it the whole way? Interested in the recommendation of tyvek over poly, I've never found it to be a super durable groundsheet, in that my pieces haven't stayed very waterproof (pinholes etc)… I'm not scared of bugs and probably will go sans bivy a bit… so yeah a groundsheet (of some material) is probably in. I own a few inflatable pads, but the logic on CCF was just being able to roll it out and sleep, and more importantly just roll it up in the morning without hassle. Inflating an deflating pads is the one camping chore I really loathe… Comfort levels on CCF will be tested before I commit to this though. Also, internet claims state that ridgerests last for eternity and it's only the z-lites that flatten… but that's hearsay. Should have stated I also have a cuben duomid and depending on how my timing is looking getting into Washington I may swap for that towards the end… Poncho tarp is mainly a Cali thing, where I hope to not use it much?

[Easy Peazy]

I went heavier-weight and double-duty'd a Cap 4 hoody as a sleep top and warm hiking piece. It was phenomenal, especially combined with a windshirt. If you wear your sleep top under your poncho and it gets wet though, you're up the creek. I ended up adding another synthetic top in WA to fully commit the Cap 4 to hiking duty. When tyvek's performance degrades, it seems to retain moisture and allow bits to get pushed through. Not ideal but not debilitating, unlike the polycro that tears apart. I got rain & sleet in each of the 5 major sections and saw snow in 3. A poncho tarp would have worked I imagine, but it's a big comfort trade-off. Duomid is overkill but if you already have it, it's tough to argue with.

[Frank T]

I've been able to fit everything including a BV500 bear can and a full 2-liter water bladder inside my Ohm 2.0. The huge side pockets help. Loads up to 32 lbs. are managed quite comfortably.

[Lachlan Fysh]

Yeah the delrin suspension just makes me nervous… It's also not *that* light – like less weight I could replace my HMG with a 2400 (and suffer more sweaty back) or for roughly the same I could get an Elemental Horizons Kalais with side pockets, which I assume would carry well, based on SOTM results for the Aquilo… That's before I even look at anything from Gossamer Gear or Six Moon :( This is obviously going to be the hardest decision of all – Ohm isn't out of the running, but since ULA advise against it for air travel snd any pack I buy will do plenty of that it's a hard one…

[Brian Lewis]

"Ohm isn't out of the running, but since ULA advise against it for air travel snd any pack I buy will do plenty of that it's a hard one…" Not to divert the topic here, but there are strategies to allow taking a fragile pack on a plane. And for that matter, my go-to pack is a ULA circuit and I wouldn't check that as baggage without somehow protecting it anyway — any backpack has too many straps and buckles and so forth that can get ground up in the machinery, straps caught and then just cut by a baggage handler — that sort of thing. You can search online for options, but what it comes down to for me is: (a) no poles or knife and go with carry-on, don't check baggage. Or check only a minimal cardboard box containing poles and knife and maybe a handful of other things. (b) sturdy cardboard box as checked 'baggage'. Possibly a challenge to do this when going back home, however (c) Use a contractor yard waste bag (the sturdy type) as a pack liner. Prior to flying, put this on the outside of the pack, and have extra duct tape along to tape it well, around the top of pack in such a way as to leave the carry strap free. (d) buy a cheap duffel bag or even a large suitcase from a thrift store, drop it off somehow (other thrift store?) on the other end. Or if it's a lightweight low volume duffel (can buy such a thing pretty inexpensively), could bounce this if you're using a bounce/drift box (e) Ship most of your gear ahead UPS or FedEx I've used all of these strategies (with success). It's of course situational which is best, though I will say that most recently the UPS/FedEx solution has become more expensive. But you have to pay these days to check a bag on the plane anyway. For long distance hiking trips typically there's a hostel or trail angel you can ship things to. Bottom line is that I wouldn't buy a pack based on how it works as checked baggage, or at least not for long distance backpacking (I do own a convertable travel pack, but not for long distance lightweight trips).

[Frank T]

So, on the subject of sweaty backs… I just finished a 2-section PCT hike through the Sierras with my Ohm and although I love the load-carrying capability and overall comfort of the pack to death, having that pack against my back for 10 hours a day really took its toll from a moisture management aspect. I had a river of sweat running down into an area that doesn't play nice with it; not to mention exacerbating the problem of trying to stay hydrated in an area of scarce water sources. I am a profuse sweater and although I'm in the minority, I may have to make the sad decision, after 3 seasons with the Ohm, to go to a different pack design that keeps it off my back. My buddy used an Osprey Exos 58 and he said he experienced about 1/4 of the normal sweat problems as when he used his previous internal-frame pack. Sorry to go off on a bit of a tangent, but if sweat management is a big concern then that's another decision point in pack selection.

[Lachlan Fysh]

Hey guys, thanks for the feedback – I have updated my list a little and the original question post :)

[J-L]

I used to own a Circuit. It really doesn't allow for a lot of ventilation. If you have a sweaty back with your HMG pack, the problem will be about as bad with the Circuit. The Circuit is also kind of an outdated design. It's relatively heavy for its 30lb max recommended load. Packs like the Exped Lightning 60 and Katabatic Helios/Artemis carry better for similar or lower weight and have much better ventilation. The ZPacks Arc Haul also looks interesting, but I have not tried it

[Jon Fong / Flat Cat Gear]

2016 is expected to be a strong el Nino year. That being said, you might consider looking at your gear in terms of higher than normal rainfall. Keep and eye on the weather over the next few months. Best regards

[Lachlan Fysh]

Thanks for shaking my resolve guys :) El Nino is a very big concern to me – mainly because an epic snow year could make the hiking window very short, possibly forcing me to delay to 2017… But assuming it doesn't write the hike off it may still drop some rain. What about this quite different alternative to the poncho tarp? -Much bigger cuben tarp from zpacks (e.g. 8.5 x 10) – 7oz -Don't need bivy for splash with big tarp, so just a Simblissity Inner Peace net tent or a S2S nano net – 4 or 5oz -Arc-teryx Tecto FL – 10oz (already owned) -Don't need wind shirt with Gore active jacket which breathes well, saves 4oz -Still not bringing rain pants, maybe a cuben kilt This comes in only a little bit heavier, but should offer me a bit more comfort in the rain?

[Brian Lewis]

"Still not bringing rain pants, maybe a cuben kilt" I own a cuben kilt and have enjoyed using it when appropriate. I wouldn't bring it (or rain pants) on a PCT thru-hike. Maybe send or bounce it to Cascade Locks.

[Matthew Perry]

Just remember, it's not a kilt if it doesn't have pleats. It would be a rain "skirt", and women wear those. Also, an UL sporran is an absolute fashion MUST.

[John Rowan]

I switched into a Circuit in Bishop after losing enough weight that my Exodus hipbelt wasn't staying up anymore. (Nothing at all to do with MLD's workmanship, which was, as always, fantastic.) Once you drop some of the extras (hydration sleeve, etc.), I don't think it's a whole ton heavier than the 3400 (which I think are like 32oz or so?). Also, as far as flying goes, I've gotten the Circuit in on a number of overhead bins, and the airlines have never said boo about it. The frame might be a TAD longer than what they say you can have, but in reality, it actually fits much nicer than most rollers, so it's never been an issue. You just can't have it fully loaded, but I just put my initial food in a small bag as a personal item and carry it on that way. Knife and poles get mailed (still cheaper than a checked bag fee) and I buy my fuel when I get where I'm going (since you can't get it on a plane no matter where it goes). I really love my Circuit and will be happily carrying it for whatever I do in 2016, and when I try the PCT again in 2017. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend the Exodus (with suspension mods) that I used as well (would have stuck with it for the whole 1,100 miles that I managed if not for me getting too damn skinny), although you'll need to be a bit more careful about what you carry and how you carry it, especially if the water situation is as bad as it was this year (42-mile dry stretch due to one of the springs drying up).

[Eli Zabielski]

I actually like Polycro a lot on the PCT. You just have to take care of it, it's really not that hard. It doesn't randomly rip in half or anything. I used one sheet from Mexico-KM and then picked up a new one in my resupply box there, even though my current one was fine. The 2nd sheet lasted me the next 1900 miles with only a few small holes patched with duct tape.

[Lachlan Fysh]

New site seems to have blown away all but the last edit of my first post :(

Anyway, list is getting there… About to pull the trigger on a Katabatic Artemis… A bit heavy, but the 420d feels like a good long term investment.. Good call right?? Big investment :(

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