I am hiking the Pacific Crest Trail as a part of a bigger lifestyle experiment, one that designs work around life instead of the other way around. 

As someone who lives and travels in an RV, I think about gear differently. Everything I own either earns its place or gets left behind. The same mindset applies to my PCT setup. This list reflects deliberate trade-offs between weight, comfort, durability, and long-term sustainability. 

It’s important to note that some items, such as the bear canister and ice axe, are location-specific and will rotate in and out depending on terrain and season. Also, this list excludes worn items and pocket gear, such as my hiking clothes, shoes, phone, and wallet. 

My base weight is 207 ounces (12.94 pounds) with a total cost of $2,754 for the gear (purchased new; tax not included). With four days of food and four liters of water at full capacity, my total pack weight comes out to about 29.7 pounds. During warmer sections like the Mojave Desert, I will drop enough gear to fall into the ultralight category, under 10 pounds of base weight. In colder sections like the High Sierra, I shift into the lightweight range, between 10 and 20 pounds of base weight. 

I am not chasing the absolute lowest possible base weight. I care more about finishing strong than winning a spreadsheet competition. Over 2,650 miles, comfort, sleep quality, and recovery matter. The goal is consistency, not minimalism for its own sake.

Below is the full breakdown of what I plan to carry, including weights and costs. For me, this is not just a packing list. It is a system designed to support months of forward motion while keeping life flexible beyond the trail.