This article originally appeared on The Trek, which you can read here.
When I started the Pacific Crest Trail at Campo, I was confident I had everything I needed to make it to Canada. I’d spent months refining my LighterPack and leaned on gear that had served me well on the Appalachian Trail and Arizona Trail. I also knew that, worst case, I could buy what I needed along the way.
Yet despite everything, once on trail I discovered that there were multiple items I wished I’d brought along. Each section of the PCT presented challenges I hadn’t fully anticipated. I finished the trail without these items, but I spent plenty of miles wishing I had them.
None of the items discussed in this post are essential — you can absolutely survive without them. However, each item would have made my hike more comfortable, efficient, or preserved my sanity. In this post, I’ll break down all the gear I wish I’d had in each section, and why.
Read Next: The Surprising Ways My Gear Changed From the AT to the PCT
The Desert
1. Sun Gloves
Before the PCT, I thought sun gloves were unnecessary and goofy. I wore a sun hoodie with thumb holes and assumed that would be enough. It wasn’t. While the backs of my hands stayed covered, my fingers were constantly exposed. I relied on sunscreen, but I wished I’d invested in proper sun gloves from the start. Outdoor Research’s ActiveIce gloves were the most common pair I saw, and by the end of the desert, I understood why.
Read Next: Desert Hiking Clothing: The Backpacker’s Guide
2. 3L Dirty Water Bag
I carried a 2L CNOC VectoX, which worked fine overall. I love the wide-mouth design for shallow sources, and the durability held up for the entire trail.
Yet on long 20+ mile water carries, I was jealous of friends with 3L bags. We often strapped full dirty bags to our packs between sources, and that extra liter of carrying capacity made a real difference.
I compensated by carrying additional bottles, but that meant more frequent refills. After a long, hot day, the last thing I wanted was multiple trips back to a distant source. For an extra 0.45 ounces, the 3L version would have been well worth it.
3. High-Quality Sunscreen
The desert sun is relentless. Early in the trail, as bodies are still adjusting to long days outside, sunscreen feels non-negotiable. The cheap stuff I grabbed from Dollar General didn’t cut it, and I quickly upgraded to a thicker, mineral-based SPF 50+ option. Blue Lizard and Thinksport both worked well for me. This is not the place to skimp; your skin will thank you.
Listen to Backpacker Radio: Skin Protection on Trail: Sunscreen, Clothing, and Supplements with Dr. Katie Manno
4. Vaseline
Despite my best efforts, I still got sunburned, especially on my lips and nostrils. It was painful, flaky, and deeply annoying. A friend’s tiny container of Vaseline saved me, and I bought my own in the next town. The 0.25-ounce “lip therapy” size lasted months on trail and doubled as a solid all-purpose salve for cuts and scrapes. I don’t carry antibiotic ointment, and Vaseline filled that gap nicely.
5. Sun Umbrella
This is one piece of gear I did carry and used constantly. My umbrella came out daily in the desert and again in burn zones through Northern California, Oregon, and Washington. Having portable shade was a morale booster, and my friends were endlessly jealous.
I used the Gossamer Gear Lightrek, but similar options from Six Moon Designs and Zpacks are just as popular. If you go this route, a hands-free clamp is worth it.
The Sierra
6. Waterproof Socks
Before the Sierra, I’d never heard of Sealskinz. After days of snow travel and river crossings, I couldn’t stop thinking about them. My feet were perpetually wet, temperatures hovered just above freezing, and once my shoes soaked through, they never really recovered. Friends with waterproof socks stayed warmer and more comfortable, and I wished I’d carried a pair specifically for this section.
7. Real Rain Pants
I’m generally a Frog Toggs loyalist. They’re cheap and effective until you start glissading. Mine shredded quickly on snow and ice. In Bishop, I upgraded to a used but durable pair of rain pants, which held up far better. The rain pants were heavier but weren’t torn by the ice and snow on long slides down mountain passes.
8. Snow Baskets for Trekking Poles
Without snow baskets, my poles constantly sank into soft snow. The repeated stop-and-yank motion added up fast and zapped my energy. Snow baskets would have saved effort and frustration during long snow traverses.
9. Bear Can Key
Bear cans are mandatory in the Sierra, and opening them repeatedly with cold hands is miserable. My partner carried a CTUG Bear Can Key, and it was a tiny miracle. At just 0.14 ounces, it made every meal easier and saved our fingernails and patience.
10. Ice Axe Accessories (Leash and Spike Protector)
With little prior snow experience, I didn’t realize my ice axe was missing a leash until I reached Kennedy Meadows South. I managed without one, and many hikers improvised, but a leash can prevent disaster if you slip and lose your axe.
Similarly, a spike protector would have spared me the duct-tape workaround I used to keep my pack from getting punctured when my ice axe wasn’t in use. Neither item is essential, but both add peace of mind.
11. Rain Mitts
One of the few rainy days I experienced in the Sierra was also freezing. My gloves soaked through quickly, and I spent the rest of the day wishing for rain mitts. They’re rarely used, but when you need them, you really need them. Ultralight options like this one from Zpacks are popular for good reason.
12. A Larger Battery Bank
Town stops in the Sierra are sparse, which means longer stretches between outlets. I upgraded to a fast-charging 20,000 mAh battery and added a 10,000 mAh backup shared with my partner. Thirty thousand mAh may sound excessive, but I never ran out of power while charging my phone, GPS device, and headphones. If you rely on FarOut or Gaia, adequate battery capacity is critical.
Read Next: The Ultimate Guide to Thru-Hiking Electronics
13. Sunglasses with Side Shields
Sun reflecting off snow is no joke. I wore sunglasses from dawn to dusk in the Sierra, and even then, light crept in from the sides. Friends with side shields had a noticeable advantage. One hiker even duct-taped cardboard to his frames out of desperation. Next time, I’d opt for full coverage.
Northern California
14. Strong Bug Spray
At some point, everyone encounters the mosquitoes. I was plagued from Yosemite through South Lake Tahoe. We started with Picaridin and quickly escalated to high-strength DEET.
People often avoid DEET because it can break down ultralight material like Dyneema and can be toxic if ingested. We were desperate for a reprieve and would have bathed in it for relief. 100% DEET did the trick.
15. Bug Net
This was another item I carried and used constantly. During peak mosquito season, any exposed skin was fair game. The bug net was often the only way to stop swatting long enough to eat or rest.
16. Permethrin
Treating clothing with permethrin is common on the AT, where ticks are abundant, but less so on the PCT. In hindsight, I wish I’d done it before entering heavy mosquito sections. Any layer of defense would have helped.
17. Hydrocortisone Cream
Bug bites are inevitable. A small tube of hydrocortisone cream was the only thing that kept me from scratching myself into madness. Bring whatever anti-itch remedy works for you. You’ll be glad you did.
18. Earplugs
After many sleepless nights in crowded AT shelters, I learned to always carry earplugs. On the PCT, they were invaluable for noisy campgrounds, town stays, and roadside camps. Paired with a Buff as an eye mask, they made sleep possible almost anywhere.
Oregon
19. Fuel Transfer Valve
A fuel transfer valve lets you consolidate nearly empty canisters into one usable container. Hiker boxes are full of almost empty cans. I stopped buying fuel entirely once I started carrying a transfer valve. The Alpenflow valve is especially appealing at just 0.09 ounces. It’s one of those small items that pays for itself quickly.
20. Superglue
Oregon is where my gear started to fail. My shoes were on their last legs, and superglue helped patch the holes long enough to reach town. I also attempted to fix broken pack buckles with it. A tiny tube weighs almost nothing and can be a lifesaver for quick repair jobs.
21. Lightweight Pants
On peak mosquito days, I desperately wished I had breathable hiking pants instead of shorts. Rain pants were too hot, but exposed legs were unbearable. I never fully committed to the switch, but it was tempting.
Washington
By the time I reached Washington, my kit finally felt dialed in and I didn’t want to add anything more. If anything, I considered sending gear home. We had warm, dry conditions in September, and my partner mailed his puffy home from Cascade Locks. I debated doing the same with my base layers but kept them as insurance.
Conditions in Washington can vary wildly depending on timing, so plan according to what the forecast looks like for your year.
I walked from Mexico to Canada without most of the items on this list. Gear is deeply personal, and there’s no one-size-fits-all pack list. Experience matters and advice helps, but the only real test is time on trail.
Magic in the Mountains 
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