Every piece of gear in my pack has earned its place through a lot of miles. Over multiple thru-hikes I’ve kept only what’s proved durable, comfortable and lightweight-ish.
I’m not really into chasing the newest gadgets or shaving weight just for the sake of it – for me there’s a lot of value in getting the most out of what I already own. I only replace or upgrade gear when there’s a meaningful improvement – something that genuinely makes my hikes lighter, safer, or more comfortable.
This approach not only reduces waste but also gives me confidence in the gear I carry, knowing it’s been out on multiple trails and stood the test of time!
In this guide:
My Hiking Style & Priorities
Most of my hiking revolves around long-distance trails, but I also enjoy occasional weekend or day trips up nearby mountains. I currently stick to three-season hiking and generally avoid winter conditions (though I am hoping to gain more experience here – watch this space!).
Over time my gear philosophy has become pretty simple:
- Go lighter where it makes sense
- Keep comfort high
- Prioritise reliability
- Don’t replace gear unless the upgrade is genuinely worth it
My gear has to perform consistently, whether I’m on a multi-week thru-hike or a quick overnight trip, and it needs to strike that sweet spot between weight savings and dependable comfort.
The Gear
Backpack
Backpack: Osprey Eja 58 in M/L
Raincover: Osprey Ultralight Raincover
Pack Liners: Osprey Dry Sacks of various sizes
Shelter
Tent: Durston X-Mid 1 Solid
Groundsheet: Durston X-Mid 1 Groundsheet
Tent Stakes: MSR Groundhog Tent Stakes
Sleep System
Sleeping bag / quilt: GramXpert eLite Quilt – APEX 267 (-6°C) with webbing straps to attach to my sleeping pad
Sleeping pad: NeoAir XTherm NXT MAX Sleeping Pad
Pillow: Discontinued Nemo Pillow with Memory Foam, very similar to Nemo Fillo Backpacking Pillow
Clothing
Worn
Top: Artilect Women’s Exposure Sun Hoodie
Shorts/skort: Toad & Co Skort – not an exact match but closest to the one I have
Trousers: Mountain Equipment Chamois Women’s Pant
Fleece: Leve Alpha 90 Hoody or sometimes Ayacucho Fleece if I want something heavier
Underwear: Utenos Women’s Merino Wool Underwear
Sports Bra: Discontinued North Face or Champion Shock Absorber
Socks: Injinji liner socks & Darn Tough Lightweight Merino Sock
Footwear
I usually wear either trail runners or boots depending on the trail, plus sandals.
Waterproof Boots: Meindl Bhutan Boots
Trail Runners: Topo Traverse in wide
Hiking Sandals: Terra Fi 5 Universal Hiking Sandals
Camp Sandals: Teva Original Universal Sandals
If there are no river crossings, I swap the hiking sandals for light/cheap slides.
Waterproofs
How many waterproof layers I take depends a bit on the trail, but this is my main setup.
Main Jacket: Mountain Equipment Manaslu Women’s Jacket
Lighter Jacket (used on PCT): Black Diamond Highline Stretch Shell
Trousers: Berghaus Deluge 2.0 Trousers
Socks: Sealskinz Cold Weather Socks
Gloves: Sealskinz Kelling Waterproof Gloves
Additional Carried Clothing
Base Layers: Icebreaker Merino Top & Icebreaker Merino Bottoms
Sun gloves: Antcher UV Protection gloves
Cap: Sports Cap with ponytail hole
Hat: Mountaineering Scotland Beanie
Buff: Merino Buff
Cooking System
Stove: Camping Moon Folding Stove
Pot: MSR Titan Kettle 900ml
Spoon: Sea to Summit Long Handle Spork
Electronics
Headlamp: Black Diamond Storm 500-R Headlamp
Battery Pack: Nitecore 10000mAh battery pack & Discontinued Xtorm 20000mAh battery pack
Electric Pump: Flextail Pump 2 Pro
Satellite Device: Garmin inReach Mini 2
Water System
This setup works, but I’m definitely considering some upgrades (more on that below).
Filter: BeFree Katadyn filter
Water Storage: Cnoc 3L VectoX
Drinking: Camelbak 2L Water Bladder & a small plastic bottle for electrolytes
Additional Comfort Items
Hiking poles: Leki Khumbu AS
Sit pad: Exped Flexmat (I did end up shortening this)
Sun Umbrella: Gossamer Gear Sun Umbrella with the hands free kit
What I’m Thinking About Switching or Upgrading
Here’s everything that’s currently on my radar, from highest priority to lowest.
My water System:
I’m thinking of revamping my entire system. I never minded manually filtering using the BeFree before the PCT, but seeing other people hang up their Sawyer filter while they did other things filled me with envy – it’s attachable to water bottles and the BeFree is not, so it’s a truly hands free system. I’m also not happy with the water bladder, and am considering a large bottle with water hose attachment so I can still have that convenience.
Battery pack:
While it still works fine, I noticed on the PCT that my larger 20000mAh battery charged so slowly. Every time I didn’t stay in town overnight it was an inconvenience I was left waiting on. The nitecore by comparison was much faster.
Pillow
The pack size and weight is just a bit excessive, I haven’t replaced it yet because there’s nothing technically wrong with it, but I probably will next time I do a big thru-hike. My ideal replacement would have a strap to avoid the pillow sliding around.
Pump
I stopped using my current pump on the PCT – I sent it forward to try and save weight – and honestly didn’t miss it as much as I thought I would. If I do replace it I will probably look into the new ultralight options.
Tent
I don’t plan on replacing my X-Mid Solid in the near future because it was so expensive to import, however I am thinking about going back to a freestanding tent.
Final Thoughts
A gear list is never really perfect – there is always something to fine tune here and there. But this setup is the gear I trust right now and it’s served me well on everything from wet and wild trails in Scotland to the alpine terrain and long dry stretches of the PCT.
Looking for your next long distance hike? Check out some of my guides:
→ [ West Highland Way ]
→ [ Cape Wrath Trail ]
→ [ Scottish National Trail ]
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