PCT Sobo Gear List

Add:

compass
pealess whistle
backup fire source
sunglasses
gaiters?

Is the small tarp without a bivy going to work in windy rainstorms in more open areas?

+1 on the bivy. With just a 5X8 tarp I think you're going to want some more protection. When I was choosing a tarp, everyone that told me 5X8 to also get a bivy. When I was first trying out tarping, I had a 6X10 blue cheapo tarp, and I spend a very stormy night under it, and it was blowing all sorts of rain in on me.

Go for a light, breathable bivy like the SMD Meteor. I just built one and havent tried it out but it looks awesome.

I would definitely start with a real sleeping bag and not the thermal sheet, even given the puffy clothing you have to wear inside it — assuming perhaps a June start, northern WA is going to have a lot of snow.

Personally, I’d rather have a slightly warmer bag to switch to when it does warm up for you. I’m not saying that I know this combo won’t be a good one — I have no idea. Going NOBO, I used a 20F bag for the first thousand miles and a 32F bag from there on (both WM bags), and these worked great.

To put this another way, if it were me the 6.2 oz of your down pants would be applied instead to a warmer sleeping bag, as I’d have my legs in the bag most of the time while in camp.

Floss wrapped around toothbrush? You are into ultralite — seems like a bit of a PITA to me, and not as clean. If you want to really save tiny bits of weight there consider tooth powder rather than paste. Nice thing is that a pretty small quantity (I repackage into the little BPL mini bottles) can last the whole trip.
I wouldn’t repackage the aqua mira on a thru-hike — you go through it often enough that IMO it’s not worth the hassle, to include bounce box or whatever way you would refill.

I suggest that you mail home the rain pants after you get somewhere into Oregon — won’t use ‘em much in CA if at all, and very possibly not in Oregon either.
I suggest that you augment the Neoair with a 1/8” thinlight to improve chances of not having to patch your inflatable. And perhaps bring a stripped down version of a patch kit.

You might find that you want a thinlight on *top* of the neoair in the first few weeks to augment pad warmth.

Bivy: I'd start with one (not just a bug bivy), and decide for yourself when to swap to the bug bivy; about the time you mail home that rain skirt I would guess. Maybe get it back for the Sierras; or maybe not, you might be able to do a good enough job with site selection, and it won't be as cold going through there for a SOBO.

I use a 8×5' tarp as well and I don't consider my bivy as optional, w/o it I would have been wet more than a few times

I see the bivy as a great multi-functional item- rain spray sure, but also a nice bump in temp rating of your bag, the bivy effectively cuts the wind and allows me some sanctuary from the bugs- all for 6 oz :)

in regards to the thermal sheet, I'd give careful consideration to a warmer bag/quilt- I don't think it would be to unrealistic to see temps into the 20's- w/ 4.5 oz of fill it's not too far off it's 50F rating

does the Ohm fit a canister? curious as I have one on the way :)

I've got a montbell breeze-dry tec bivy I'll consider bringing. It faired well on my cross country uni tour last year. I'm kinda die-hard, so i'd be inclined to choose the bivy with guyed umbrella OR just the tarp.

As far as the bag, maybe I was a little optimistic with my thermal sheet, the thing's warmer than you think(especially with a VBL). I'll prolly just bring my WM Ultralite.

I've heard about the risk for puncture in Cali especially. I actually was planning on bouncing a thinlite pad as an alternate. The Neoair has faired well with me snow camping.

If its raining I'm generally inclined to just walk through till I find adequate protection.

I've added storm-proof matches after it being pointed out on the camping reddit. That's my blunder. I also like to carry food that is optionally prepared cold, in case i don't feel like cooking.