It’s been said that, as far as human-powered feats go, completing any long distance hiking trail is heavy enough. You don’t need anything extra weighing you down—whether that’s excessive gear, or the kind of mental clutter that will get in your way on the trail.
Ultimately, thru hiking the Appalachian trail or the Pacific Crest trail is a simple act. One foot in front of the other, 2000+ times. Of course, that’s once you’re actually out on the trail. Beforehand, there’s a mountain of logistics to sort out and gear to make sense of.
That’s why we’ve turned to experienced thru hikers who’ve gone the distance—in some cases, completing the Triple Crown of Hiking (AT + PCT + CDT)—to pull apart their packs and show us the way to thru hiking nirvana. Hyperlite Mountain Gear is also proud to partner with the PCTA and other conservation organizations to be able to bring you up-to-the-moment information on trail conditions and protect the experience for generations to come.