PCT Thruhike Ultralight Gear - Sub 8 lb!!!

[@DJDavidShmosh]

Just section hiked near castle crags. It’s always nice to see a woman’s perspective on gear. I’m a man who’s such a princess with comfort gear lmao. Nice video!

[@barnaclebill1615]

Ounces equals pounds and pounds equals pain😁. I carry a lot of Zpacks gear. Those who don’t ounce count are usually confused when I tell them “my back really doesn’t care how much a piece of gear costs when I’m in the middle of nowhere”. Research extensively, think multipurpose and enjoy the trail.

[@davidp6913]

Speaking of ounces she forget to include her herb weight

[@tomvu7880]

@@davidp6913 That's a consumable

[@Matt-to1bi]

I love that you have a letter from a friend so cute

[@Casual_BackPacking]

New favorite channel

[@ripleylacross]

Hmm I don't know about liners being unneccessary after the desert! When I ditched mine I got crazy rashes on my feet that lead to a staph infection and getting off trail. Liners are a life saver!

[@monkiesblogg]

Kerstin LaCross What are liners? I’m Norwegian and im not familiar with the word x

[@Diego20253]

Elise Askim sock liners. See 10:25

[@WyeExplorer]

I liked the Patagonia and 'think I just got like a bad one' - there's a sense of humor in there somewhere. Enjoyed that. Mark

[@CoteziHikes]

The Near Xtherm! The patagonia was great.

[@WyeExplorer]

I've just put in my data base for future reference on account of the video. Many thanks. Peace...

[@wongtong754]

Why are the shoulder straps so close together? Seems like it would be uncomfortable.

[@weathersbk]

I liked that you included packing up the bag at the end :-)

[@PhoenixGenesis]

Thanks for the video. I also hated my REI Flash air mattress on the PCT. I would roll off it and end up on top of my poor dog in the middle of the night. Also, in the Sierras, I was dead tired and it took so much energy to blow it up. I switched back to my foam pad again and loved it.

[@lauradonofrioart]

I love my katadyn be free filter and recommend that. I didn't see your first aid kit other than band aids? Good idea to have a kitchen bag instead of contractor bag to save on weight.

[@MauraTierney]

And nail clippers 😱 but the scissors probably work for that

[@hollyhopalong7405]

Pricy kit, but I am so jealous! This is a late comment, hope you enjoyed your hike. Great choices on equipment.

[@livesoutdoors]

A small bit of advice from my experience, tablets will scour your intestines if used constantly.....destroyed my good bacteria. :-(

[@guavavodka]

what tablets?

[@Diego20253]

Tallboy She talks about switching to water purification tablets at 2:48

[@woodsonsanders1112]

Clorox yes, iodine wont hurt your stomach

[@backwoodstrails]

@@woodsonsanders1112 Iodine does not kill cryptosporidium - www.cdc.gov/healthywater/pdf/drinking/Backcountry_Water_Treatment.pdf

[@rebekahm.3351]

You can collect your water with the smartwater bottle and then attach your Sawyer directly to your smartwater bottle. And drink directly from the Sawyer.

[@MauraTierney]

I tried that and for me the bottle with the Sawyer was just too long? Maybe I'll give it another go, but for now it's Katadyn Befree all the way.

[@rebekahm.3351]

@@MauraTierney I found two different sizes of Smartwater bottles, if that helps.

[@TheOrigionalArroyo]

You filmed this on breakneck mountain didn't you?! I'm from that town, its a great little hike

[@lauradonofrioart]

Wait, where is your food bag? Or...bear canister? What do you do with your food?

[@marktomasko7863]

Hi luv...I used a z-pack arc-blast for my AT thru-hike and am going to use it again this year on another thru-hike of the AT...lol..yeah..I kno.... But I love this trail!!!..My point?...never used a pack cover and never had a spot of water leak in!!! ALL the seams are taped. I am not a fan of ULA as I prefer external frames and thats what the Arc-blast is..and its still lighter than the ULA...go figure, huh?!? You shoud try z-packs...sometime....also, the AT is a very wet trail unlike the PCT so leakage matters...hmmm...

[@paultorres8995]

but wait there's more there's a 1972 Buick parked in the left hand corner of that backpack holy cow. Jill says it slices it dices laugh out loud. good informative video keep them coming we can see you and your sister are cut from the same cloth enjoy their videos as well hope yours grows just as large and it will take care Paul and Jill

[@tommohren9488]

best ul equipment video i ever saw ...and i watched a lot....think you choose practicly and aestheticly the best stuff....thank you

[@AdventuresinBackpacking]

Nice list. I didn't see toilet paper on the list. Are you one of those hikers that's all about water enemas and such when using the restroom on the trail? Also, I didn't see hand sanitizer ...

[@piuvbn]

When i was small used to dream about going to places mentioned in history, geography books. Those dreams came true in such a way that rarely I got to stay at home, the home I am so found of. I miss my cats, dog, those tall trees, insects, my villagers, the seasons so badly. And now, at the end of my years, I ask myself is it (the dream that became true) worth it?

[@CoteziHikes]

Go back and visit!

[@piuvbn]

@@CoteziHikes I left job to stay at home. But after some three years of stay I started feeling as if I am missing something, then again my old company called me back. So the cycle started. I remember the essay of Charls Lamb ' Superannuated Man'. Anyway you are doing nicely i.e. with your description of travelling/hiking, whatever you want call it. Wish you all the best. Please be safe.

[@nuclearoutdoorscampingtips5850]

Look up the iridium stove....it's amazing and no moving parts .....does not fail....cooks awesome....duel fire apps........guaranteed for life.....best pack stove ever.......

[@MrChristosks]

Love your attitude and it was great following you along on your hike!

[@CoteziHikes]

Chris H thanks Chris!! Just me being me lol. Stay tuned for more vids :)

[@ungerwhere.]

Hahaha! "Its probably polyester...its 100% NYLON!" I love this. Its so good to hear your voice. Keep it up!

[@CoteziHikes]

Ryan Unger thnx unger!! Miss you!! :)

[@LO_FIDELITY]

What is the name of the backpack it didn’t seem to say it anywhere

[@sergeant_2778]

Nice view of the Hudson River on top of Breakneck Ridge.

[@CoteziHikes]

It sure is!

[@weepywalks5956]

If a foam pad doesn’t work u might check out the Therm-A-Rest prolite xs it’s like torso sized it has a foam pad inside it and mostly self inflates just a couple breaths. It works better than straight foam pads for a side sleeper. That’s what I switched to after useing an xlite and a foam pad. I hate blowing things up too.

[@CoteziHikes]

but how much does it weigh

[@weepywalks5956]

Cotezi Hikes think it’s around 8-9 oz still less than the xlite and way better comfort than a foam pad.... I’ve tried sleeping on foam pads for a while I sleep on my side and have never been able to make it work

[@CoteziHikes]

I'm intrigued! @@weepywalks5956

[@mruzaman5016]

How do you arrange them..?

[@sophiehellinger]

The BeFree filter by Katadyn is way better than the Sawyer, doesn't get moldy and doesn't have any parts that can fail. I highly recommend it

[@CoteziHikes]

Have never tried it. How does it work?

[@sophiehellinger]

It's a 0.1 micron absolute hollow fiber filter 99.99% effective at removing Protozoa and 99.9999% effective for bacteria. It has won a few awards in the backpacking industry. The fibers are exposed within a cage which allows them to quickly dry (no mold). It's also a somewhat "built-in" straw, so it doesn't take up that whole 2 inch space above the bottle like the Sawyer. It filters as you drink and can filter 1 liter in 30 seconds. You can buy it at REI, Amazon, etc. I love it, it's my favorite piece of gear. And it's only $25

[@natereim]

Have you considered trying a katadyn be free? I think they are great for mountain hiking. inexpensive at around $40 .

[@CAG-1227]

Are you sure that all that stuff together is under 8 lbs?! Its looks about 15 at least...

[@user-nd9re8vr6l]

no bear canister?

[@julien7980]

Waow. What a great video. Totally linked to your minimalism spirit. You don’t fill your bag with a lot of “as if” stuffs. The greatest example is for the gloves. Why should I take some of it if I will have cold hands ? I have socks na ? Love it. Few questions. I do it short. Put all of them, feel free to answer. 1- You used a palantepacks (Simple Pack) but you talked about 2400 Series - 40L Southwest Ultralight Backpack. Why ? 2- You used a 13400mAh RAVPower charger portable and you envisage to switch it for a 10000mAh. Why ? Lighter ? 3- Did you often use your gaze stove ? Easy to find recharge on tracks ? Will you share with us your food habits on the trek ? 4- it seems you took 2 jackets : Patagonia Storm Racer and U.L Thermawrap Parka. Why 2 ? 5- what did you use for soap and laundry ? Thanks. Big Smiles.

[@CoteziHikes]

Thanks for the feedback! 1. I noticed that too after I had already shot it and didn't have time to re shoot it so... LOL. Thinking about doing a specific Palante Pack review video in the future though ;) In conclusion though I love both packs. The hyperlite wasn't love at first sight though it took some getting used to (I had a Deuter pack before that on the JMT last year). The Simple was more like love at first sight but the shoulder hurt a bit after using it the first couple weeks. To fix that problem I just shed more weight then it was solid! Plus having no hip belt with the simple allowed he hip belt bruising from the hyperlite to start going away. 2. Yeah the 13400 is a lot of power that honestly you don't really need on trail. I got it because I thought my sony rx100m3's battery would be dying a lot of trail but I realized that if it's on airplane mode it actually lasts quite a lot. Then you just have to be conservative with phone usage. So yeah going to 10000 would help in bulk and weight. 3. I used my stove every night to make ramen bomb and backpacker meals. Go check out my newest "What I ate on Trail" video on my channel! there was fuel availability pretty much all thru out the PCT. 4. The storm racer was just to have a second layer of warmth plus rain/snow protection. Doesn't rain/snow a lot on the PCT except the very beginning if you start the trail early and then the very end mid Sept. So really it's main purpose was for an extra warmth layer. it's a great wind barrier. 5. No soap. usually hotels and trail angel houses have that stuff so you could use it when you stay there in towns. The only thing I washed while hiking was socks but no soap used for that. Hope this helps!

[@julien7980]

Thanks for that :) Palante Pack waterproof ?

[@CoteziHikes]

Julien HAASS the material is but its not seam sealed/taped so no.

[@julien7980]

Cotezi Hikes How did you deal with when it rained ?

[@julien7980]

Cotezi Hikes you still recommend this bag with all your experience with !?

[@kadinoff1]

Is that the Hudson River behind you in the video? Small detail, but I just kept getting distracted by the view because it looked so familiar.

[@CoteziHikes]

It is! I’m actually at the top of breakneck ridge.

[@znicholas145]

Nah, I agree on the Xtherm. I got a lemon as well but because I got it posted to me in Australia from overseas they declined the warranty and shifted the blame to the retailer. It crapped itself on the first time I used it in the middle of the bush and I had a tiger snake curl up under my shelter that same night which was a bit hairy. Was pretty expensive as well. What did you replace it with?

[@CoteziHikes]

yikes. I think having a snake crawl up under my pad/tent would be the grossest/creepiest thing I could think of! I replaced my xtherm with an xlite, then I got tired of blowing that up and just hiked with a zlite which works fine in summer. recently I bought the new Uberlite though and its been noiiiiiice.

[@znicholas145]

@@CoteziHikes haha yeah, I got an uberlite and it shat itself as well... Might just sleep standing up like my grandpa used to after breakfast brandies.

[@oneofsevenproject]

Did you ever have sleeping/camp clothes?

[@jasonhoyt8232]

How did you lose your knife? That's a bummer considering it's the most important tool a person can have. That's why I normally carry 2. What knife did you end up buying to replace it with?

[@hankg6955]

Hi, if you don't carry a small shovel how do you dig a hole to poop in?

[@CoteziHikes]

rocks, sticks, etc.

[@breezyjones5148]

Check out Warby Parker sunglasses, contacts are a pain while hiking! Also just curious, what do you do for health insurance while thru hiking? On my past hikes I was covered under my parents, but now that I'm older I won't have insurance when I quit my job :/ Just want to see what the general consensus is for thru hiking

[@billderinbaja3883]

I do have a question... I have been thinking about a lightweight tablet. In one device: Low power use, high quality camera & video, cell phone, electronic trail maps (better, easier, lots more info), I can use at night with Nightsky for star gazing, can load a couple of novels to read, reference books on plants/animals/insects/geology/medicine, can load movies for nights I can't sleep, music for my travel instrument, headphones for trail music or book on tape, and about a million other uses. iPad mini 4 is only 11 ozs... Any thoughts on this?

[@EpiDot52]

Favored synthetic quilt?

[@tomdickson4460]

Thank you for the information. It's helpful. Breakneck is one of my favorite hikes I live very close I go there constantly. Keep on Hiking

[@CoteziHikes]

Thanx for watching! Breakneck is a gem. So many ppl though. I legit had a group of like 10 ppl staring at me the whole time while making this video. See ya around!

[@aidenhall559]

Wow, i also had a thermarest i also kept patching, it didn't stop deflating for me either!

[@CoteziHikes]

Aiden Hall the worst 😩

[@mtadams2009]

Is that the Hudson River in the background?

[@loerkue]

How does a person just "lose" stuff? hahaha - My suggestion would be to get an inventory and do a check-list. Cheers.

[@CoteziHikes]

I've been asking myself that question my whole life.

[@nevadagrace3514]

Lost in space!!!

[@DWNY358]

The location reminds me of Breakneck Ridge in the Hudson Highlands in NY - my backyard.

[@CoteziHikes]

Carl K it is!!! :)

[@jimshireman2683]

Hi.... was there a reason you didn't use a stuff sack for your sleeping bag?

[@CoteziHikes]

cuz it would be one more thing to have to fidget with in the mornings and I'm already a super slow packer-upper to begin with!!! plus, a regular tall kitchen trash liner did the job just fine when it came to rain :).

[@lzllbelvx6372]

Great video. How did you pack your bear canister when it was required?

[@CoteziHikes]

Im not sure if I replied to this already but yeah I carried one in the Sierra. Bearicade by Wild Ideas. Lighter than the Bear Vault everyone gets at REI but wider so take that into consideration.

[@CoteziHikes]

Whoops. I just re-read your question and it asked HOW. Lol. Well I didn’t have the simple pack in the Sierra I had my Hyperlite instead. My Hyperlite is similar volume to the simple pack so I just strapped the container outside of the pack on top using the top pack strap. Worked good especially when I put some KT tape on the surface of the can to give it some traction,, otherwise it would slip a lot.

[@AmyB.]

Oh, I never thought of the sawyer filter having mold in it! Hope that's not true, but makes sense that it could. Love your video. Great job! I'd like to try the palante pack too. Happy trails! 😆

[@CoteziHikes]

Amy B Ive never confirmed it but there’s always some kind of moisture in it right?! Nice. They have the new V2 now which looks pretty sweet 👌

[@nicktombs1876]

You can always run some water through it with either a little bleach or a water purification tablet in it and that should help stop/eliminate any mould.

[@riekko3135]

Nice video...whats next?

[@adventurenomad777]

Hi Cotezi, I just went through your lighterpack and I'm inspired to drop some weight! I just noticed that your puffy isn't in the list though. And you didn't get cold hands without gloves?

[@CoteziHikes]

Hi! whoops! yeah that should be on there. Will fix it now. My puffy was a Montbell UL Thermawrap parka. Super breathable, but also the right amount of warmth. No gloves or beanie. If hands got cold, just put on socks! Hoodie in the puffy combined with my brim hat was good enough to keep head warm.

[@adventurenomad777]

Thanks!

[@eba1592]

Thanks so much for this! Some four-eyed questions: did you carry all your contact lenses for the hike with you or did you ship new pairs to yourself along the trail? did you bring a spare pair of glasses?

[@CoteziHikes]

Liz Albert hi Liz! I didn’t carry any extra pair of contacts on me. I would just have them shipped to me (to a town post office I would be stopping at) like a week before I knew I would need them (I had help from family friends shipping me things!). For most of the hike I did carry my glasses as back up but I ditched them somewhere in Washington cuz I knew it would get rainy and glasses don’t do well in rain! It worked out great.

[@Sayfeijai]

did you hike the pct yourself???

[@jess3836]

Just curious if you had to fit a bear canister in that pack. thinking about getting the V2, but not sure about the BV450 fitting in there. great vid. thanks :)

[@CoteziHikes]

Jess Serko no cuz I had the Hyperlite when I passed thru the Sierra. You can watch johns video about him fitting a nc 450 into the simple. In the palante channel

[@CoteziHikes]

Jess Serko bv*

[@lrose711]

Great video, thankyou! Can you tell me what pack you ended up with? And also maybe post a link to your raingear and tent? I didn't see links to these. Thanks!

[@CoteziHikes]

Lynette Rose I ended up with a simple pack by palante packs (check them out on insta and KZbin) raingear consisted of a trash bag and a rain jacket. Will be posting a what i wore on trail video soon. Stay tuned :)

[@lrose711]

Great! Thanks for your response! Did it bother you not to have a hip belt with your pack?

[@fireyourrocketts]

Thank you for sharing what you carry, I am always blown as to how light people manage to get; No matter what I do, I can not compete! The only thing you should have there is a Zpacks backpack, if it is lightest than the one you use; at least it is very water resistant as all seams comes taped. Say..if you are only backpacking, you are in the wrong setting :) actually, you should be modeling!

[@samsmith8870]

How did you about using a Bear Canister? Don't see it fitting in that pack.

[@CoteziHikes]

Sam Smith when I was required to use a can i still had my Hyperlite 2400 so i would strap the can to the top/outside using the v/strap. But on the simple pack I know u can fit a BV450 as shown by John Z on their channel.

[@malloryroe4702]

for oregon shoud i take a ursack and hang my food or keeping it in a grocery sack and in my tent at night will be alright? and wondering if I should take the 10 ounce footprint for my tent (msr flylite).... will be hiking through the state the month of september.... ps you are awesome! so glad i found your videos! so helpful!

[@nathanrieck2112]

As far as extra clothes what do people typically carry? I carry like one extra underwear, extra sock, and depending on length of the trip I’ll bring and extra shirt (like over a week). On the JMT I ended up wearing the same shirt for 18 days with just rinsing it off sometimes. I had two pairs of underwear that I would change out and wash maybe every 4th time I wore them(not really sure). Now I’ve switched over to running shorts with the liner built in. I’ve found that with the built in liner, it’s not comfortable to also wear underwear. So I guess my question now is: do people normally end up cutting out the liners and just use underwear or do they just end up wearing the one pair of running shorts everyday or bring two and just switch them out and just wash them whenever they can. Today I finally made up my mind and I’m going to attempt a thruhike the PCT 2019. I’ve wanted to do it for a few years now and I knew I was going to get a 500 mile permit for this coming summer but looking at my schedule next year could easily work, just take the semester off and start around April and I would have plenty of time. Anyways, any thoughts on this topic are welcome

[@CoteziHikes]

I just have one pair of shorts w liner in them no extra underwear needed. Just wash the shorts in town every couple of weeks or so or more often. They dry quick.

[@HeavenCatenSings]

Did you ever hike with base layers? And if so, when did you ditch them?

[@CoteziHikes]

Yes, top and bottom. Ditched them in Washington. 10/10 regret!

[@backpacker3421]

Just a guess here... were you SoBo? You said it doesn't rain a lot on the PCT. Maybe WA and OR are a distant memory. If you didn't catch much rain there, you must have hit it at just the right time. Great video though! Nice set up. I'm not a UL hiker. My barebones rig is just over 10lbs and I'd never take that out for more than a weekend or 3-day. I'm still shaking out a through hike rig, but I think that's going to come in around 16 dry. I have tons of respect for UL through hikers. That takes some serious dedication to minimalism.

[@backpacker3421]

Never mind. Listening further, sounds like you were NoBo. Congrats on the through hike!

[@CoteziHikes]

NoBo. It doesn't rain a lot in the grand scheme of things considering all 2,650 miles. I can count with one hand the number of times it substantially rained/snowed on the PCT for me this year. Once in the desert, a couple times in NorCal (it hailed pretty crazy), and the last two days right before reaching canada (it was rain/sleet/snow).

[@pauljosephp1]

For awhile I thought about thru hiking but I couldn't get past the destination mind set.

[@CoteziHikes]

But it's a loooooong way before you get there. I love it because it's such a thorough journey!

[@ovenordstrom4601]

Great Video, nice music🙂. How did you fit a bearcanister in your Palante?

[@yvette3123]

Hi, I was wondering if you brought some long johns or anything else for clothing then your puffy, raingear and extra socks, because I didn't see those. I never thought about leaving those out of my system, but could you stay warm enough while you where waiting for your food to cook? And what would you do if you brought a 10 degree sleeping bag? Would you bring long johns and a thermo shirt or not? (I'm hiking the PCT 2018 and I'm trying to lower my packweight, right now I have a baseweight of 12 lbs)

[@CoteziHikes]

hi! I started off in the desert with baselayers (top and bottom) and like 3 extra pair of socks, puffy jacket, rain/wind pants and jacket, beanie... I ditched all of that in washington and just stuck to rain/wind pants, rain/wind jacket, puffy jacket/hoodie, and just 1 extra pair of socks. NOTE: in Norcal I ditch my puffy and since it was so hot and my base layer and rain/wind jacket was perfect for when it did get cold. I only experienced true bitter coldness the last 2 nights on the pct when all my stuff was wet but I just sucked it up. normally, on cooler nights and mornings the rain jacket and rain pants was perfect! My sleeping bag was a 0 deg so thats probably why I stayed "warmer" without baselayers and such. but if I got rally cold i'd just sleep with all my rain gear lol. i mean they're layers after all. idk, you get creative. and it's fun trying to see just how much you can push it! :)

[@mars_hikes967]

Theoretically you can get prescription sun glasses with adapted lenses. However they cost a lot and are a big problem when hiking in wet environments or when sweating. Contacts definitively provide more security, depending how good you see without optical correction.

[@CoteziHikes]

mars_hikes I thought about those! Might consider them for my next thru. Also considered just getting lasik but got no moneys for that...

[@CoteziHikes]

Yeah. I don't remember my hands ever being sterile. Even after a shower in town...

[@CoteziHikes]

$7 total?? sounds unreal...

[@jhonyermo]

Zenni is great. Just fill in their blanks from your prescription . Easy peasy. Well made and quick service. I have been wearing Zennis over ten years.

[@davidbarclay3651]

Great gear video. Good ideas. Couldn't you just stick with Smart water bottles and just screw it on to the bottle when you drink? That way you filter while you drink and can use the badder for higher water need days.

[@CoteziHikes]

It's really annoying to the squeeze a smart water bottle though!!! The sawyer squeeze o-ring that's all distorted too when screwed on too tight. -_____-

[@davidbarclay3651]

I️ like the new MSR filter. It’s like the Sawyer mini, but it’s encased in a silicone pump with a hose attached. It comes out like a water fountain. Pumps 1 liter per minute.

[@CoteziHikes]

but how much does it weigh tho??

[@davidbarclay3651]

Cotezi Hikes I️ seem to remember 4 or 5 oz. The tube is only about 18” long to save weight. You wouldn’t have to carry a large water bag.

[@modurr]

What torso size palante pack did you get? 16 or 18 inch?

[@coreycrane8120]

Nice! You are Breakneck Ridge. I hike there all the time.

[@tannenherz]

High C., i like to know more about your sleeping-bag, because of the camo-design. What material and weight does it have, and who is the seller ? Kindly Fiete

[@garybolenable]

Could you make the Palante Pack and a bear canister work?

[@megahannahrobinson]

Thanks Cotezi, that was super helpful! Did you wish that you had a sleeping liner/did you have to wash your quilt on the trail?

[@CoteziHikes]

Hannah Robinson i o my wishes I had a liner when it was super hot some nights but it would be instead of my sleeping quilt not both. I never thought about washing my quilt all trail. I guess it never really got that bad/i didn’t care lol. I washed my quilt the week after trail with some tech wash and it was fine.

[@georgeturbyfill603]

Hey! Planning on thruhiking the CT this summer and am trying to decide of whether to keep my EE 20 degree syn quilt or get a high fill down one from EE. My synthetic one takes up SO much room in my bag (seriously, it’s a beast of its own). As a fellow vegan, I’m having an internal conflict with purchasing down, any thoughts?

[@johnanderson8096]

Please share your answers to all these really good posted questions... or do another video... thanks.. and excellent video!!!

[@CoteziHikes]

I JUST DID! Sorry I was in hawaii for the past couple weeks but I'm back now :P

[@johnanderson8096]

Welcome back... and thanks again!!!

[@alwaysanamateur]

What were the main heavy things that you eliminated along the way? Were there any comfort items that you wish you would have had at times?

[@CoteziHikes]

Sydnee Tigert hey sydnee! Besides swapping my original Hyperlite backpack for the current Simple Pack, I didn’t get rid of many heavy things, just a lot of little things. I had a lot of toiletries starting off in the desert and a lot of extra socks and clothes in general. I often wished I had sandals/camp shoes. I actually did have some in the Sierra which was nice, but that’s it. :)

[@roamingbeyond1232]

Hey there! Sorry if I missed it but what did you use for food protection (outside of the Sierra). An Ursack or something similar? Can't find anything in your packlist.

[@CoteziHikes]

roamingbeyond outside of the Sierra I just had my in a typical grocery bag, nothing fancier than that. I tried posan for a while in the desert but the zipper would never stay shut so I just ditched it

[@DirkCannon]

Very simple, I love it.

[@CoteziHikes]

TheKillzone1511 thanks!! :)

[@jimclean2]

Does apple still do updates to that nano? They don’t make that model anymore and I think it’s the best one. I’m trying to find one to buy.

[@CoteziHikes]

I've no clue!

[@homatekk]

I lose everything. 😂 Just laughing at you drop everything, but awesome video. I love watching gear videos. 💜

[@TheSlywright]

Did you have plenty of room for decent size food carries with the simple pack? I'm wanting to use a small pack on my thru hike as well. How many liters is it on the inside?

[@CoteziHikes]

For me, the pack was comfortable with 3-4 days of food, higher than that it would hurt a bit in my upper back between shoulder blades. But I imagine you could technically hold up to 7 days in there and it would probably be ok for most people with really strong upper body/neck. Pa'lante does offer the V2 now though w/ the stackable hipbelt so that's an option.

[@iflymatt]

What kind of pack is the backpack itself? I apologize if I missed it but I heard the name of the pack you started with but not the pack you had in the video.

[@Stampistuta]

Laziest hiker in the game!! Lol. Great gear you’ve got there.

[@CSFRazielCSF]

Researching with my gf. Would've loved to learn more about your toiletries situation.

[@CoteziHikes]

it honestly varies by a little bit from hike to hike but the essentials are: - kids toothbrush cut in half - small toothpaste tube - floss - tp - kt tape (a few pieces) - a couple bandages - cbd creme/salve - cbd capsules

[@lauradonofrioart]

And ibuprofen!

[@sophaagitations3339]

You should try ordering shades Warby Parker. Online + you can try on 5 pairs before deciding. only $95!

[@CoteziHikes]

hmmmmm

[@KLB5420]

What volume is that pack? Thanks.

[@CoteziHikes]

32L internal, I believe... check out their website palantepacks!

[@Aholeintheozone]

Nice setup, I'm debating frame vs frameless for the pct next year. One thing I learned on the at, if you use an evernew bag the gasket won't fall out of your Sawyer. Thanks for sharing

[@CoteziHikes]

Even when I had my Hyperlite for most of the trail, I had it with the frame removed. The only time I put the frame in was for the Sierra because of the heavier carry, but even then the aluminum poles would dig into my low back but maybe it was something I was doing wrong? If you keep your base weight low (

[@justrione]

Thank you

[@rhianpickering6229]

Hi Cotezi! You're vegan right? I would love to know what you're resupply was like and how you handled the food situation during your thru-hike!

[@CoteziHikes]

Rhian Pickering that’s on my list of videos to make cuz its a VERY popular question. Stay tuned! also thnx for watching :)

[@stuminnis4050]

Yes yes yes. I want to know more about this too.

[@CoteziHikes]

On it!!

[@r.kolunen]

when when when?! ;)

[@TrafficsKindaBad]

Vegans suck

[@martindohnal55]

Hi, what did you use to keep the odors from your food in bear area? Thanks, happy hikes :)

[@CoteziHikes]

I used the carbon fiber Bearikade bear can from Wild Ideas in the Sierra, since bear cans are required there. In the desert I used the opsack which is basically a glorified zip lock but it didn’t work any better than an actual zip lock it was actually worse becuase the zipper area wouldn’t properly close for me. For most of the trail I basically just used zip locks and just grocery bags and slept with my food in my tent. Only saw three bears (mom n 2 cubs) on the entire trail and it was in Goat Rocks Wilderness (WA).

[@matthewazevedo7714]

hey from a fellow cold sleeper, do you think the xtherm was overkill, or just right? Thanks!

[@CoteziHikes]

Matthew Azevedo for the pct, overkill. The Xlite would’ve been fine. Most hikers out there have it. I do think overall issues tend to occur w the valve on these neoairs so look out for that.

[@matthewazevedo7714]

Cheers thanks for the knowledge. I'll be sure to pray to the Neoair gods before I leave.

[@hannahroonie]

Hey, fellow vegan here hoping to do the PCT in 2020 - thanks for the informative and inspiring videos! Just wondering about the sleeping bag: I've thought it may be impossible to avoid down due to weight/bulk vs warmth - watching this it seems you used a down sleeping bag. Any advice? Do you think it's possible to go synthetic? I'm also in Australia so it makes knowing exactly what's needed a little harder! Cheers :)

[@CoteziHikes]

Hi! It's totally possible to do synthetic. The only thing is not a lot of ultralight options currently, unfortunately. I'm currently eyeing MLD's Spirit 28 (heard good things about it) for overall average weather hiking, but will hang on to my EE 0 deg for colder trips. :)

[@DirkCannon]

Idk why it was so funny but that little clip when you hit side pockets made me crack up idk I'm weird ok bye

[@AungMoeWin]

Very good presentation. Hoping for more videos. Please.

[@Hvn1957]

Just caught this video. I followed your hike last year, but unsubbed at some point. Nicely done and very simple kit. I got a chuckle, since I instantly recognized West Point over your shoulder there. A place I know well. Do you ever hike with HVH?

[@CoteziHikes]

Nice! What's HVH?

[@Hvn1957]

It’s a Meetup group called Hudson Valley Hikers. It’s mostly strong, fast hikers. The hikes generally have a “come prepared, no sweep” policy. Fun people, good hikes. I’m usually a solo hiker, but sometimes it’s fun to hike with people who really move along 😊.

[@Ridogg81]

You mentioned being vegan. What was the thought process for getting a down sleeping bag? Also, The sound is off or funky on this. The down blanket seemed to be over the microphone or making white noise over it and then muffling the sound. Very odd and distracting for the sound to be so funky. But still I appreciate these videos. Especially from a vegan point of view. Thanks for the video

[@CoteziHikes]

I was traumatized from freezing my butt off on the JMT in 2016. I should've known that the pct wouldn't get near as cold as it did on that hike though. So basically just made the decision out of fear. I'm so ready to switch to a full blown synthetic gear kit though. Looking at the MLD Spirit 28. My friend who I just recently hiked OR with had one and it looked/felt great. And he loves it.

[@djkoenig4716]

About contacts vs glasses, I cant wear contacts but I always have glasses with the add-on: the sun-activated sunglasses in my lense glass. I'm so glad not to keep up with sunglasses anymore!! 🤓🤠👍

[@ErikaCourtney]

If you were to do it again would you go with a 10 degree EE quilt instead? Or were you happy with the 0 degree despite it being overkill some nights?

[@CoteziHikes]

No because I'd rather just downsize my sleeping pad. Mine was super overkill and bulky. I'm looking into those 1/8 inch foam pads by Gossamear... Also I'm looking to downsize my overall shelter to more minimalist so my current 0 deg is perfect I think! :) Are you looking for a zPacks Solplex by any chance?!

[@ErikaCourtney]

Awesome! I went with the 0 degree as well. I'm hiking the trail with my boyfriend so we're going with the duplex.

[@CoteziHikes]

You’ll be toasty! Especially cuddling with someone. :). Good choice on the duplex. I don’t have it but I loved my solplex.

[@tightropehikes]

Solplex is presumably for sale?

[@CoteziHikes]

maybe... will decide within the next few weeks. yer looking?

[@lokatelis311]

This place looks familiar, is NY ! Awesome vids , hike life inspirational

[@CoteziHikes]

breakneck ridge

[@tobinbennett]

Would be great to connect for some backpacking if you’re ever looking for others to have a long. Cute video!

[@jongrall]

Nice gear rundown Cotezi. I noticed you didn't mention a bear canister, which is required for some sections of the PCT. Did you carry a canister for those sections, and did it work with this pack? Also, I wear contacts in normal life, but for the trail I really don't want to risk dealing with eye problems. I'm a bit of a germaphobe, so the idea of touching my eyes with dirty hands is a no-no, and washing/sterilizing them all the time on trail seems impractical. My solution is to bring my normal glasses, and then invest in some prescription polarized sunglasses from Warby Parker. That way I can still go without contacts and have sunglasses that allow me to see. They also make lenses that darken in bright sunlight if you want to carry just a single pair. Something to maybe try in the future.

[@gytisdramblewolfskis8521]

the *chameleon sunglasses suck, they often get darker when not needed, and usually they are too light for staying in sun 8 hours. There is a better option of glasses with magnetized, clip sunglasses on top, (order specifically for your metal glasses or get new glasses with it) last option huge sunglasses made for being over the top of other glasses, most look quite ugly, but gets the job done.

[@mountainmike3242]

Good video

[@claycodes6226]

Thanks for the info! I definitely want a simple pack :D any plans for other long distance trails?

[@CoteziHikes]

Yeahhhh. I want to eventually hike the CDT and AT(?) but not next year I don’t think. I really fell in love with the PCT so much i might hike parts of it again next year. AZT is also in my mind next year. Basically just really need desert in my life lol...