Buying gear can be stressful at the best of times, let alone when you’re first starting out. Once you’ve done a few trips, you’ll know more about your hiking style and can choose with more conviction.

If you are just starting out or looking to learn more about (thru)hiking gear, then this post is for you!

My transition from camping to thruhiking happened over the course of a year. I was in school at the time, so needless to say, there wasn’t a big budget to work with. Thruhiking required gear that was more lightweight and compact than I had.

I spent quite a bit of time researching, but I could never seem to find the perfect items. After completing my thruhike, I realized it was like that for a reason. There are so many trade-offs in a single piece of gear, and finding the “perfect” piece of gear is rare.

Buying new equipment that you have never used before feels impossible, because you don’t want to throw you money away!

The trouble is that we want a durable, cheap, light object that doesn’t take up too much space. You will rarely find an object that fits all of these criteria. There is always a balance, and there will always be a trade off.

In this post, I will outline the most important considerations when buying new thruhiking gear.

Gear Considerations:

Price

Not all equipment is made equal! While price is generally a good indicator of quality, it doesn’t necessarily tell you what will stand the test of time.

Cost is something you should look at right away in case an item is way out of your budget. If it is around or just over the upper limit, then continue to examine other factors before making a final decision. If in the end, the product seems to be the best choice for you, you may be able to reallocate funds from another part of your hiking budget.

Make sure to take extra time reviewing items outside of your price point though, because the goal is not to go in debt. Keep in mind, there are a lot of items to carry and you don’t want to blow the bank on a single item.

Your Pack

First and foremost, your pack is one of the most important considerations. That might seem obvious, after all, it is called “backpacking”, but it’s aptly named.

You can weigh the pros and cons of each individual item all day long, but none of it matters if it doesn’t fit inside your pack. So, pick your bag carefully.

Your pack is one of the objects you should be more comfortable loosening the purse strings on. It is worth putting more money into your pack than some other objects, because your pack is going to be a limiting factor in so many ways.

In terms of your comfort, what you can carry, how it distributes weight across your body (whether it causes injury), durability, and so much more.

Take it from somebody who has had a few poor experiences from ill-fitting packs. You can get away with almost anything in the short term, but for a longer trips like a thruhike, you need a solid pack.

Weight

I never gave much thought to the weight of items I carried until I got into thruhiking. It is such an important factor in selecting your backpacking gear. It doesn’t matter how functional that tent is if it weighs 8 lbs!

If you already have a heavy object at home, then go ahead and use it if it makes sense. I would recommend against purchasing something that weighs a lot if you are buying new hiking gear, though.

You don’t have to be an ultralight backpacker to realize that an 8 lb., bulky tent is not well-suited for a 5-month adventure. If you are putting up some money for a new item, it should be suited for its intended purpose.

Weight is discussed so frequently in terms of backpacking gear, because it is something you notice after a long day. Not only that, but after months of hiking with all of that weight on your back, it can be hard on your joints.

More pressure on your joints everyday can lead to injury over the long term, so keep that in the back of your mind. One heavy item is fine, but if you opt for the hefty items each time you make a decision, your body will not be pleased with the cumulative weight.

Material (durability + weight)

The material a product is made of gives you a lot to think about as a consumer.

Material determines the durability (how tough an object is), which in turn relates to the length of time you will be able to use that object and have it be functional with normal use.

Some materials are stronger than others, and thus should have longer lifespans. The longer the lifespan the more an item usually costs, but it is usually worth it spend more money on more durable equipment.

There is typically a trade-off between the durability and the weight of the material.

If a material is not very durable, and is more susceptible to damage or failure, they may need constant replacing. These are not objects you should spend a lot of money on.

That seems pretty straightforward but it’s hard to know which materials are durable unless you’ve looked into this or use the material before.

(With that being said, socks and shoes are an important exception to the rule, which I describe in a later section).

Consider whether you would rather spend more money on a lightweight, durable object or spend less money on slightly heavier item with a (potentially) shorter lifespan.

It seems like an obvious choice, but make sure the cost difference reflects the functional difference.

Item Size

All right, so we’ve covered price, your pack, weight, and material.. so, what’s next? Size! We can’t forget about size.

The size of an object is really important whether you’re on a day hike or a thruhike. You have a limited carrying capacity (as determined by your pack). Smaller items are usually more money, but they take up less space. You might even be able to downsize your current bag, eventually!

Sleeping bags are one of the items that tend to take up the most space, so the more compact, the better (in terms of size, at least)!

Ultimately, if everything you need fits in your pack, you’re doing just fine! This consideration is basically just a reminder for common sense.

Frequency of use

As a general rule, investing more in an object that you use ALL DAY LONG is going to have the highest reward.

For example, your pack, shoes and socks, and your clothes are items you are going to wear for a large chunk of the day.

An item like you pack will (probably) last you the entire trip… but your shoes and socks, not so much. That does not mean you should ignore the importance of proper shoes and socks.

If your feet are uncomfortable, swollen, or covered in hot spots it will influence how you experience your trip. Your feet need to be kept in tip-top shape on a long journey! You can certainly push through, but there is no better feeling that a well-fitted shoe with comfy, protective socks!

The objects you don’t use very often are those you can probably cut costs on. The exception to the rule would be emergency equipment.

Perhaps you want a satellite device, or you want to spend more on a sleeping bag to prevent hypothermia in colder climates. These items may not be used all day, but that does not take away from their importance in the case of emergency.

You need these objects to do their job if and when you need them, so it’s worth thinking about before you go to purchase.

Seasonality

Seasonality goes hand-in-hand with frequency of use… kind of. Basically, it means that you may use an item during a certain time of year. When it comes to the trail, I almost think of it as the section of the trail where you need an item.

For example, on the Pacific Crest Trail it might be something like an ice axe – an item you definitely want for certain sections, but not something you should be carrying in the desert. These items include those that are deadweight outside of their intended use.

These items can be easy to skimp on because you only need for a short time. The trade-off is that you need it to perform during that timeframe, or you wouldn’t be mailing it to yourself. Consider whether the item is life-saving or for comfort, and that should help you determine how much you should be investing.

Price

Now, I know we started with price, and compared price with other considerations, but it’s also where you end. After considering all other factors, reassess the price and incorporate the other forms of value that it holds.

Make sure the price tag reflects the items worth to you, all things considered. If it fits the bill, you have a winner! There are so many brands and products out there to choose from, so if you can, take your time! If not, you’ll make it work, regardless 🙂

---

All things considered, it still costs a lot… but it’s worth it.

Okay, so here’s the down side. After reading all of that, I’m sure you’re sitting there thinking “Yes Taylor, I know all of that. I was looking for how to reduce my costs”.

The thing is, costs are set and thruhiking is pretty darn expensive when you’re starting out. Once you’ve had time to use the items on a few trips, you see that some of those items are overpriced and some are underpriced. It’s not always possible to tell which is which.

Most objects cost that much because they are of good quality and will last you quite a while. If you’re like most thruhikers, you will use that gear until its reached expiration, so chances are you’ll milk it for all its worth.

What about aesthetic?

You will notice that I did not include aesthetic as a consideration, but it absolutely could be. It’s entirely at your discretion.

Function is far more important than aesthetics when you’re on trail, but that doesn’t mean I’m unhappy when something comes in my favourite color!

It’s more important to get out there than to get the most beautiful equipment though, so don’t let a product’s appearance hold you back. Your items most certainly do not have to match!

What about ethical production and sustainability?

Another consideration is item production methodology and how it related to sustainability. Outdoor brands are aware that their consumers (you!) love nature, and that their community is more inclined to protect it than the average population.

If finding sustainable or ethically-produced gear is important to you, take the extra step by exploring the brand’s website!

Individual item vs. the pack

Finally, keep in mind that these considerations are regarding a single object, but that you should also look at the big picture.

It’s about a balance among all items in your pack and the cumulative effect of all of your gear more so that it is about any individual product.

Overall, the most important factors to consider before purchasing thruhiking gear include the cost of an object, size of your pack, as well as an item’s weight, material, size, frequency of use, seasonality, and price (again!).

Don’t be worn down by decision fatigue! Go with what feels best, and get out there! You will learn if it was the right choice one way or another.

Happy trails!