As a thru-hiker with more than 11,000 miles under my hipbelt, I know exactly what I want and need in order to thrive on trail. I keep my gear light, strong and multipurpose so I can carry a kit that carefully balances weight, comfort and functionality.
The lighter my gear, the less strain on my body while I hike, reducing my risk of injury and allowing me to hike farther while expending fewer calories and carrying less water. Proper technical clothing and supportive, well-designed gear keeps me comfortable for long days and in varying conditions. I choose items that can perform multiple functions so I can carry less in my pack (for instance, a layer that keeps me warm and is thick enough to protect my skin from foliage; or trekking poles that double as tent supports). The gear also needs to be tough enough to withstand months of heavy use in rugged terrain.
Because I’m often traveling thousands of miles at a time, you’d think all I’m bringing are thru-hiking essentials to sustain my basic physiological needs, but that’s not entirely the case. When you are on trail for six months, separated from friends, family and community, you are removed from the forms of self-expression and fulfillment you have access to at home. And those are important too.
Related reading: The Ten Essentials
In thru-hiking, people carry what are called “luxury items”—anything that carries value beyond meeting basic survival needs. Mine usually provide comfort and entertainment, help me connect with other hikers and allow me to express myself authentically on trail.
Let’s talk about a few of my most important pieces of gear, and then some of the more comforting, whimsical and enjoyable luxury items in my kit.
My Essential Gear
Every long-distance trail is different, from red-rock desert to lush alpine forest and everything in between. No matter where I am, there are a few pieces of gear I consider indispensable.
Deuter Aircontact Ultra 35 L
I’ve hiked 7,000-plus miles using Deuter packs. This will be my third year hiking exclusively with Deuter packs, and my second year using the Aircontact Ultra lightweight backpacking pack.
One problem with many lightweight packs is they sacrifice load-carrying capability and comfort in the name of being “ultralight.” This can be a sound strategy for folks on mroe-developed and better-resourced trails, but I’m often taking on 120-plus mile sections through desert that require me to carry up to a week’s worth of food and 4 or more liters of water at a time. If I were to carry a featherlight, frameless pack, it could fail under that weight. Even If the material didn’t fail, the pack straps would likely be digging into my shoulders, the hipbelt would rub my hips raw and, without load lifters, the weight would sag backward, straining my back. This is a recipe for fatigue, injury and discomfort.
For me, the solution is my Aircontact Ultra. It’s the perfect combination of lightweight, durable and functional for my remote, long-distance treks. The weight (just over 2.5 pounds) is lighter than traditional backpacks in its size range, while maintaining an internal frame for back support. The Aircontact Ultra’s judiciously cushioned shoulder straps and hipbelt that rides comfortably on my hips all day long make it sustainable for me to wear for months on end. I’ve never had any rubbing issues with this pack, and the load lifters are a big help during those long food and water carries. Buy here.
Related reading: How to Choose a Backpack
Microfleece Mid-Layer Hoodie
I have worn a Burgeon Outdoor Highlander Hoodie for over 6,000 miles on trail and have always trusted its warm, comfortable and quick-drying design to cover me when it’s cold. These microfleece mid layers are made in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, so they’re smartly designed to handle rapidly changing, extreme weather at elevation, while being durable enough to withstand the sharp pulls that come with narrow, overgrown trails and thick evergreen bushwhacks.
Get Outside Like Lyla: A lightweight fleece pullover provides warmth and protection from the sun (or stray branches and other scratchy trail encounters), but without bulk. The Patagonia R1 Air Full-Zip Hoodie features a 100% recycled polyester jacquard fleece with hollow-core yarns that create a zig-zag texture, and reviewers like it for its layerability and light weight. Breathable and quick-drying, it’s also flexible enough for varying conditions on the trail. “It can be worn under a shell or on its own. It is very stylish and warm,” says one customer-reviewer. Buy here.
Related reading: Layering Basics
Sawyer Squeeze Water Filter
My Sawyer Squeeze is the one piece of gear that I’ve taken on every thru-hike I’ve ever done. Whether it’s green water from cow troughs in the New Mexico desert or the dark swamp water found all over Florida, safe drinking water is often my biggest concern, and the Sawyer Squeeze filter takes care of that for me. It’s intuitively designed with a lightweight body that attaches easily to standard water bottle mouths. This allows me to squeeze my bottle of untreated water with the attached Sawyer Squeeze to pour the filtered water directly into a clean bottle. With proper care, I’ve used the same Sawyer Squeeze for multiple thru-hikes. The Squeeze removes the stress from water safety concerns no matter where I am. Buy here.
Related reading: How to Choose a Water Filter or Purifier
My Luxury Items
Purple Hair Dye
My hair has been dyed purple for years, so it feels like my natural color at this point. But it tends to fade after a couple weeks of sun and sweat. For me, feeling like my best self is worth carrying a 3-ounce bottle of hair dye for a hundred miles or more. That way, when I occasionally stumble upon a stainless-steel sink, I have what I need to re-dye my hair, which makes me happy.
Black Nail Polish
Many of us have been taught that expressions of femininity on trail are only for people who aren’t “serious” about their outdoor activities. I’m here to tell you that’s false. I revel in my ability to show my femininity while thru-hiking. Wearing black nail polish is one of my favorite ways to do that. I carry a bottle not only to beautify and make my hands look cool, but also as a way to connect with other hikers and encourage them to express their own femininity as well. I enjoy offering to paint people’s nails during lazy days in town, or over a long dinner with friends. The time spent painting their nails is a great way to connect with hikers who I may not have spoken with at length in the past. These mini manicures often provide cisgender men an opportunity to step outside what they might consider acceptable behavior for themselves, and let them try expressing themselves in a new way in a safe and supportive environment.
Friendship Bracelet String
Thru-hiking is an awful lot like summer camp sometimes. Why not lean into that and spend down time during breaks, dinnertime and rest days making fun, colorful bracelets for yourself and others? I like to give them to new friends I make while on trail. It’s an enjoyable way to cure the boredom and monotony that creeps in occasionally during a thru-hike.
Get Outside Like Lyla: If you’re looking for an arts-and-crafts session that works double-time, consider making a paracord bracelet. Weave bracelets from the handy, thin rope that comes in a rainbow of colors, then share them as gifts and keep one on hand—paracord is endlessly useful in a pinch, for anything from replacing broken shoelaces to standing in as a guy line on your tent. Shop all paracords.
Tarot Cards
I believe in magic. Not in a Harry Potter, lightning-zapping-out-of-a-wand way, but rather the understanding that the energy and intention you put into an exercise will determine its outcome and the value you receive from it. For me, tarot readings—the exercise of interpreting images on graphic playing cards to gain personal insight—aren’t a way to foresee the future, but a way to connect with my heart to determine the truths of my life and settle upon a path forward. I’ve found tarot cards an excellent way to process what’s going on in my life and to stay in touch with myself. Sharing tarot with friends is also a rich way of getting to know them on a deeper level.
Thrift Store Finds
There are some amazing thrift stores in small “trail towns” near long-distance routes. If you have a few minutes, digging around in one may yield some unique finds that you want so badly you’re willing to carry them up and down mountains for months. Like the “Never Underestimate a Nana That Listens to Elvis Presley” T-shirt I found in Yreka, California, during a rainy rest day on the Pacific Crest Trail. These items are a fun way to be silly and express yourself when you’re in town, so they’re worth the extra ounces to me.
Extra Power Bank
Portable power is essential for hikes with sections that can last a week before resupply points. I use the Nitecore NB10000 Power Bank to keep my GPS running for tracking and safety purposes, and for my headlamp to enable hours of night hiking and to use in my tent before bed.
My phone serves as my map, connection to the outside world, and workspace for creating and editing photos and videos of my journeys. Those tasks require a lot of battery power on their own, but my phone also provides the luxury of entertainment and mental stimulation from audiobooks, podcasts, music, shows and movies. While on several-month excursions where I’m primarily alone, staying entertained with media for a couple hours is a great way to break up the day. For example, when midday hours are too hot during desert hikes, I’ll take a siesta in the shade, and might use that break to watch an episode or two of a show.
Get Outside Like Lyla: Clocking in at just over 1 pound, the Charge 80 PD Power Bank from BioLite holds enough charge for a 13-inch laptop or multiple small devices—which you can plug in at the same time, using the power bank’s two USB-A and USB-C and output ports. (The latter is especially helpful when you need to charge something quickly.) Co-op testers found its plastic-reinforced casing durable enough to get banged around in a pack on long trips, too. Buy here.
Related reading: How to Choose Solar Chargers and Portable Power
Stickers
I carry a plastic bag of stickers I collect on my travels, both on and off trail. They remind me of places I’ve been and friends I’ve made, and they allow me to express myself when I choose to place them on my water bottle or meal pot. Stickers act like a kind of “yearbook,” capturing moments and experiences I want to carry with me.
Get Outside Like Lyla: For every water bottle that does not yet feel sufficiently personalized, there is an oddly specific sticker. (Just remember to pack out that sticker backing!) Buy here.
Pack Decorations
My pack is like my house when I’m thru-hiking. Everything I own is in it, and I rely on it for safety and comfort. Just like any home, I like to make it my own by adding decorations from time to time. Pictured are some colorful puffballs I tied to my pack, which were left over from a friend’s on-trail birthday party. Other examples could be pins and patches, and during Pride month I secure a Pride flag to my pack.
Get Outside Like Lyla: While the sky (and the amount of free surface area on your backpack) is the limit when it comes to pack decorating, patches and pins are always a fun place to start. Buy here
Follow Lyla’s adventures on Instagram: @seltzerskelter