Right here is all the data you’ll need on your ultralight CDT gear record. I used plenty of the gadgets on this gear record and have carried out evaluations of many of the gear.
I accomplished my thru-hike of the Continental Divide Path and realized rather a lot about what gear works and what to steer clear of.
When thru-hiking the Continental Divide Path you may be conscious that you’ll want to hold high quality backpacking gear that’s ultralight. When you find yourself on the path, be sure you are utilizing the Farout Information, formally often known as the Guthook App
Check out the CDT gear record beneath and begin reducing the burden of your gear to tackle this epic path.
Finest Ultralight Tent for the CDT
One of the best tent for the Continental Divide Path can be ultralight and capable of maintain you heat when wanted. Keep in mind, that is the coldest of all of the climbing triple crown trails. You’ll face many mornings beneath freezing. One of the best tent for the CDT is any of the tents listed beneath.
Finest 1P Tent for CDT
Finest 2P Tent for CDT
Finest 3P Tent for CDT
Finest Backpack for the CDT
One of the best backpack for the Continental Divide Path is ultra-lightweight. With such a protracted path you’ll respect any weight saving that’s doable. So check out Ultralight backpacks solely.
The backpack for the CDT also needs to be snug and powerful sufficient to face up to months of abuse. I like to make use of a big compactor trash bag to maintain issues dry inside, don’t spend the cash on a heavy dry bag to maintain your stuff dry.
One of the best backpacks for the CDT are:
Finest Sleeping Bag for Via-Mountaineering the Continental Divide Path
One of the best sleeping bag for climbing the Continental Divide Path is a degree-rated sleeping bag round 10F and 20F. The CDT is colder than many of the different long-distance thru-hiking trails. There can be a major quantity of nights effectively beneath freezing. Not too many thru-hikers complain about having a sleeping bag that’s too heat.
Here’s a record of very extremely really helpful ultralight Sleeping Baggage for the CDT.
Any of the sleeping baggage on this record can be nice for the CDT. As this path is kind of a bit colder than many different trails a sleeping bag is a greater choice for most individuals.
Finest Ultralight Quilts for the Continental Divide Path
Ultralight Sleeping Quilts are very fashionable amongst ultralight via hikers. In lots of conditions, they’re a greater light-weight various to a heavier sleeping bag. However they’ve limitations in actually chilly climate. I might not advocate an ultralight quilt for the CDT. In very chilly climate a number of levels beneath freezing a sleeping bag is extra environment friendly at maintaining you heat. Should you select to take a Quilt on the CDT, Here’s a record of very extremely really helpful ultralight quilts for the CDT.
Actually, any of the quilts talked about above can be nice on the CDT. It is very important perceive that the CDT is a really chilly path and backpacking quilts are inferior to sleeping baggage in very chilly temperatures beneath freezing. Should you sleep chilly then positively take into account a sleeping bag as an alternative.
Finest Sleeping Pad for the CDT
Being snug at night time results in night time’s sleep. Nothing contributes extra to night time’s sleep than a cushty sleeping pad. Ultralight foam sleeping mats are in style on the CDT for his or her light-weight and sturdiness. Can’t get a flat mattress when it’s foam!
Here’s a record of all one of the best ultralight Sleeping mats for the CDT.
Footwear is a private alternative. Simply bear in mind that thru-hiking the CDT requires lengthy days of climbing and the highest quality ultralight footwear is greatest. Additionally, bear in mind that the CDT is chilly and generally path runners usually are not the best choice, particularly in Colorado throughout early season snow.
Wait, each different web site tells me path runners are greatest for thru-hiking. Sure, I agree, however not when climbing in temperatures beneath freezing or in knee-deep snow sporting snowshoes.
Take into account two shoe choices which you could swap out and publish to your self when wanted. Waterproof boots for the chilly snowy sections and ultralight path runners for the dry sections.
For slim toes, the higher choices are Saloman and Brooks. For wider toes, Altra and Merrell are greatest.
Listed here are my 3 suggestions for one of the best sneakers and boots for the CDT Via-Hikers are:
Listed here are my 3 suggestions for one of the best path runners for the CDT Via-Hikers are:
Socks for the CDT
Darn Powerful. Darn Powerful and Darn Powerful. They’re the most well-liked for good motive.
Finest Clothes for the Continental Divide Path
One of the best clothes for thru-hiking the CDT is one thing that includes layers. Whereas there won’t be too many days of utmost warmth or humidity like another path you will be assured it will likely be chilly.
Layers that you need to take embody a puffy down jacket, mid-layer, baselayer, climbing shirts, climbing shorts, and rain gear.
Down Jacket
Fleece Mid Layer
Baselayers
Mountaineering Shirts
Mountaineering Pants
Mountaineering Shorts
Finest Rain Gear for the CDT
Don’t overlook Rain Pants such because the Outside Analysis Helium Pants or the ultralight Zpacks Vertice Rain Pants.
I’ve used the Six Moon Designs Silver Shadow Carbon on some trails I like it. At solely 8 ounces it’s effectively definitely worth the added weight, particularly within the sizzling desert of New Mexico, you’ll be able to at all times ship it house from northern New Mexico.
Cookware – Stoves & Pots for the CDT
You’ll respect a heat meal at night time and perhaps a sizzling espresso or tea within the morning. Listed here are a few of the greatest cookware units, stoves, pots, and different gear you’ll need for the path.
Water on the CDT
Total the water high quality on the CDT is kind of poor. As with nearly each backcountry journey, you need to deal with the water and carry sufficient on your wants. Whereas on the CDT I acquired sick twice from not filtering water. Listed here are some really helpful water therapy units, water storage bottles, and bladders.
Trekking Poles for the CDT
To scale back put on in your physique high quality set of trekking poles needs to be used. Listed here are one of the best choices for the CDT:
Snow Gear and Bear Canisters for the CDT
The CDT Gear Listing ought to embody winter to cope with the tremendous chilly temperatures. The Continental Divide Path is the coldest of the Triple Crown Via Mountaineering Trails. So be ready for the chilly.
Take into account snowshoes, microspikes, ice axe, and gaiters if is a giant snow 12 months which appears to be most years. You’ll be able to ship them house when the snow melts.
Cameras and Electronics
With so many electronics that we tackle the path today, it may be onerous to resolve what to take and what to go away behind. Check out a few of the gadgets chances are you’ll want and comply with the hyperlinks to my detailed guides about which of them are one of the best.
- Finest Mountaineering Cameras for Via-Mountaineering – For the photographers. Most individuals can be comfortable sufficient with the standard of their smartphone.
- Finest Battery Financial institution for Via-Mountaineering – Crucial to have a high-quality battery to recharge all of your electronics.
- Finest Mountaineering GPS – Not wanted for the path as most individuals can navigate OK with a smartphone App.
- Finest GPS Mountaineering Watch – Increasingly individuals are climbing with a GPS watch. They’re nice however will want charging each night time so make sure you take a transportable battery financial institution with you.
- Finest Satellite tv for pc Messenger for the CDT – Extremely really helpful for thru-hiking the CDT. Many individuals get into issue on the path and certainly one of these can save your life. Additionally they work effectively to speak with members of the family to allow them to know your location.
- USB Wall Charger + Cables.
Different Gear
- Plastic zip lock baggage
- Cash / ID / Credit score Playing cards
- Blister pads
- Strapping Tape
- Foot an infection anti-biotic
- Ibuprofen
- Tweezers
- Toothbrush and Toothpaste
- Security Pin
- Needle
- Deet insect repellent
- Sunscreen
- Lip Balm
- Rest room tissue
I hope this helped along with your planning in a roundabout way. Should you want extra assist with all one of the best light-weight climbing gear then check out my Gear Guides.
What Dimension Backpack For The Continental Divide Path?
One of the best dimension backpack for the Continental Divide Path is round 50 liters. There are a few sections with very lengthy meals and water carries however 50L is the candy spot. Don’t be a type of hikers beginning with a 70-liter rucksack. You might not final very lengthy earlier than your physique is worn out.
What’s the Finest Sleeping Bag for the CDT?
The Continental Divide Path (CDT) may be very chilly. Most Via Hikers will need a sleeping rated to round 10F -20F. Chilly sleepers will go for the lower-rated sleeping bag.
What’s the greatest gear to tackle a thru-hike of the CDT?
One of the best gear to take thru-hiking on the CDT can be ultralight and sturdy sufficient to have the ability to final a number of months of harsh therapy when backpacking on the Continental Divide Path. The gear record on this weblog publish has each bit of drugs that’s adequate for the CDT.
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The writer, Brad McCartney from BikeHikeSafari is a small unbiased adventurer and outside gear tester who owns and runs BikeHikeSafari.com.
BikeHikeSafari is just not half of a giant weblog community and is proudly unbiased. All evaluations on this website are unbiased and sincere gear evaluations of out of doors merchandise by the writer.
The writer, Brad McCartney is a really skilled triple crown thru-hiker, adventurer, and bike tourer having spent 1000s of nights sleeping in a tent and sleeping bag (Learn extra). He was a supervisor of an outside retail retailer and may be very skilled in what’s necessary when utilizing and testing gear for evaluations like this.
BikeHikeSafari won’t ever obtain any cash for evaluations and they don’t settle for sponsored evaluations on this web site. All of the feedback in regards to the gear evaluations are from the writer primarily based on his years of expertise. Hope this unbiased evaluation was useful for you.