Right here is all the data you will want on your ultralight CDT gear record. I used loads of the objects on this gear record and have carried out critiques of a lot of the gear.
I accomplished my thru-hike of the Continental Divide Path and realized quite a bit about what gear works and what to steer clear of.
When thru-hiking the Continental Divide Path you can be conscious that you will want to hold high quality backpacking gear that’s ultralight. If you find yourself on the path, be sure to are utilizing the Farout Information, formally often known as the Guthook App
Check out the CDT gear record under and begin decreasing the load of your gear to tackle this epic path.
Finest Ultralight Tent for the CDT
The most effective tent for the Continental Divide Path will likely be ultralight and capable of preserve you heat when wanted. Bear in mind, that is the coldest of all of the mountaineering triple crown trails. You’ll face many mornings under freezing. The most effective tent for the CDT is any of the tents listed under.
Finest 1P Tent for CDT
Finest 2P Tent for CDT
Finest 3P Tent for CDT
Finest Backpack for the CDT
The most effective backpack for the Continental Divide Path is ultra-lightweight. With such an extended path you’ll recognize any weight saving that’s potential. So check out Ultralight backpacks solely.
The backpack for the CDT also needs to be snug and powerful sufficient to resist 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.
The most effective backpacks for the CDT are:
Finest Sleeping Bag for Via-Mountain climbing the Continental Divide Path
The most effective sleeping bag for mountaineering the Continental Divide Path is a degree-rated sleeping bag round 10F and 20F. The CDT is colder than a lot of the different long-distance thru-hiking trails. There will likely be a major quantity of nights properly under 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 will likely be nice for the CDT. As this path is sort 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 highly regarded amongst ultralight through 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’d not advocate an ultralight quilt for the CDT. In very chilly climate a number of levels under freezing a sleeping bag is extra environment friendly at holding 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 will likely be nice on the CDT. It is very important perceive that the CDT is a really chilly path and backpacking quilts are not so good as sleeping baggage in very chilly temperatures under freezing. Should you sleep chilly then positively contemplate a sleeping bag as a substitute.
Finest Sleeping Pad for the CDT
Being snug at evening results in an excellent evening’s sleep. Nothing contributes extra to an excellent evening’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 the most effective ultralight Sleeping mats for the CDT.
Footwear is a private selection. Simply bear in mind that thru-hiking the CDT requires lengthy days of mountaineering and the highest quality ultralight footwear is greatest. Additionally, bear in mind that the CDT is chilly and typically path runners aren’t 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 mountaineering in temperatures under freezing or in knee-deep snow sporting snowshoes.
Think about two shoe choices that you could swap out and submit to your self when wanted. Waterproof boots for the chilly snowy sections and ultralight path runners for the dry sections.
For slender toes, the higher choices are Saloman and Brooks. For wider toes, Altra and Merrell are greatest.
Listed below are my 3 suggestions for the most effective sneakers and boots for the CDT Via-Hikers are:
Listed below are my 3 suggestions for the most effective path runners for the CDT Via-Hikers are:
Socks for the CDT
Darn Robust. Darn Robust and Darn Robust. They’re the preferred for good purpose.
Finest Clothes for the Continental Divide Path
The most effective clothes for thru-hiking the CDT is one thing that includes layers. Whereas there won’t be too many days of maximum warmth or humidity like another path you could be assured it is going to be chilly.
Layers that it is best to take embody a puffy down jacket, mid-layer, baselayer, mountaineering shirts, mountaineering shorts, and rain gear.
Down Jacket
Fleece Mid Layer
Baselayers
Mountain climbing Shirts
Mountain climbing Pants
Mountain climbing Shorts
Finest Rain Gear for the CDT
Don’t overlook Rain Pants such because the Out of doors 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 properly well worth the added weight, particularly within the sizzling desert of New Mexico, you may all the time ship it house from northern New Mexico.
Cookware – Stoves & Pots for the CDT
You’ll recognize a heat meal at evening and perhaps a sizzling espresso or tea within the morning. Listed below are a number of the greatest cookware units, stoves, pots, and different gear you will want for the path.
Water on the CDT
Total the water high quality on the CDT is sort of poor. As with virtually each backcountry journey, it is best to deal with the water and carry sufficient on your wants. Whereas on the CDT I received sick twice from not filtering water. Listed below are some really helpful water remedy gadgets, water storage bottles, and bladders.
Trekking Poles for the CDT
To scale back put on in your physique an excellent high quality set of trekking poles ought to be used. Listed below are the most effective choices for the CDT:
Snow Gear and Bear Canisters for the CDT
The CDT Gear Checklist ought to embody winter to cope with the tremendous chilly temperatures. The Continental Divide Path is the coldest of the Triple Crown Via Mountain climbing Trails. So be ready for the chilly.
Think about snowshoes, microspikes, ice axe, and gaiters if is an enormous snow 12 months which appears to be most years. You possibly can ship them house when the snow melts.
Cameras and Electronics
With so many electronics that we tackle the path today, it may be arduous to determine what to take and what to go away behind. Check out a number of the objects you could want and comply with the hyperlinks to my detailed guides about which of them are the most effective.
- Finest Mountain climbing Cameras for Via-Mountain climbing – For the photographers. Most individuals will likely be joyful sufficient with the standard of their smartphone.
- Finest Battery Financial institution for Via-Mountain climbing – Crucial to have a high-quality battery to recharge all of your electronics.
- Finest Mountain climbing GPS – Not wanted for the path as most individuals can navigate OK with a smartphone App.
- Finest GPS Mountain climbing Watch – Increasingly persons are mountaineering with a GPS watch. They’re nice however will want charging each evening so make sure to 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 one among these can save your life. Additionally they work properly to speak with relations 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
- Bathroom tissue
I hope this helped together with your planning indirectly. Should you want extra assist with all the most effective light-weight mountaineering gear then check out my Gear Guides.
What Measurement Backpack For The Continental Divide Path?
The most effective 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 kind 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?
The most effective gear to take thru-hiking on the CDT will likely be ultralight and sturdy sufficient to have the ability to final a number of months of harsh remedy when backpacking on the Continental Divide Path. The gear record on this weblog submit has each bit of drugs that’s adequate for the CDT.
BikeHikeSafari Gear Evaluate Course of
The writer, Brad McCartney from BikeHikeSafari is a small impartial adventurer and outside gear tester who owns and runs BikeHikeSafari.com.
BikeHikeSafari shouldn’t be half of a giant weblog community and is proudly impartial. All critiques on this web site are impartial and trustworthy gear critiques 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 vital when utilizing and testing gear for critiques like this.
BikeHikeSafari won’t ever obtain any cash for critiques and they don’t settle for sponsored critiques on this web site. All of the feedback concerning the gear critiques are from the writer based mostly on his years of expertise. Hope this impartial evaluation was useful for you.