Right here is all the knowledge you have to to your ultralight CDT gear checklist. I used quite a lot of the gadgets on this gear checklist and have carried out critiques of a lot of the gear.
I accomplished my thru-hike of the Continental Divide Path and discovered lots about what gear works and what to avoid.
When thru-hiking the Continental Divide Path you may be conscious that you’ll want to hold high quality backpacking gear that’s ultralight. If you find yourself on the path, be sure you are utilizing the Farout Information, formally referred to as the Guthook App
Check out the CDT gear checklist under and begin decreasing the burden 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 in a position to hold 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 a protracted path you’ll recognize any weight saving that’s attainable. So check out Ultralight backpacks solely.
The backpack for the CDT also needs to be snug and robust 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.
The most effective backpacks for the CDT are:
Finest Sleeping Bag for Via-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 checklist of very extremely really useful ultralight Sleeping Baggage for the CDT.
Any of the sleeping luggage on this checklist will likely 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 through hikers. In lots of conditions, they’re a greater light-weight different to a heavier sleeping bag. However they’ve limitations in actually chilly climate. I might not suggest 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. In case you select to take a Quilt on the CDT, Here’s a checklist of very extremely really useful ultralight quilts for the CDT.
Actually, any of the quilts talked about above will likely be nice on the CDT. You will need to perceive that the CDT is a really chilly path and backpacking quilts are not so good as sleeping luggage in very chilly temperatures under freezing. In case you sleep chilly then positively take into account a sleeping bag as an alternative.
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 snug sleeping pad. Ultralight foam sleeping mats are fashionable on the CDT for his or her light-weight and sturdiness. Can’t get a flat mattress when it’s foam!
Here’s a checklist of all the most effective ultralight Sleeping mats for the CDT.
Footwear is a private alternative. Simply remember that thru-hiking the CDT requires lengthy days of mountaineering and the highest quality ultralight footwear is finest. Additionally, remember that the CDT is chilly and typically path runners should not the best choice, particularly in Colorado throughout early season snow.
Wait, each different web site tells me path runners are finest for thru-hiking. Sure, I agree, however not when mountaineering in temperatures under freezing or in knee-deep snow carrying snowshoes.
Think about two shoe choices 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 slender toes, the higher choices are Saloman and Brooks. For wider toes, Altra and Merrell are finest.
Listed below are my 3 suggestions for the most effective footwear 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 cause.
Finest Clothes for the Continental Divide Path
The most effective clothes for thru-hiking the CDT is one thing that entails layers. Whereas there is not going to be too many days of utmost warmth or humidity like another path you might be assured will probably be chilly.
Layers that you must take embrace a puffy down jacket, mid-layer, baselayer, mountaineering shirts, mountaineering shorts, and rain gear.
Down Jacket
Fleece Mid Layer
Baselayers
Climbing Shirts
Climbing Pants
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 adore it. At solely 8 ounces it’s properly definitely worth the added weight, particularly within the sizzling desert of New Mexico, you possibly can at all times ship it dwelling from northern New Mexico.
Cookware – Stoves & Pots for the CDT
You’ll recognize a heat meal at evening and possibly a sizzling espresso or tea within the morning. Listed below are a few of the finest cookware units, stoves, pots, and different gear you have to 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 must deal with the water and carry sufficient to your wants. Whereas on the CDT I obtained sick twice from not filtering water. Listed below are some really useful water therapy gadgets, water storage bottles, and bladders.
Trekking Poles for the CDT
To cut 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 embrace winter to cope with the tremendous chilly temperatures. The Continental Divide Path is the coldest of the Triple Crown Via Climbing Trails. So be ready for the chilly.
Think about snowshoes, microspikes, ice axe, and gaiters if is a giant snow 12 months which appears to be most years. You possibly can ship them dwelling when the snow melts.
Cameras and Electronics
With so many electronics that we tackle the path nowadays, it may be laborious to determine what to take and what to go away behind. Check out a few of the gadgets it’s possible you’ll want and comply with the hyperlinks to my detailed guides about which of them are the most effective.
- Finest Climbing Cameras for Via-Climbing – For the photographers. Most individuals will likely be comfortable sufficient with the standard of their smartphone.
- Finest Battery Financial institution for Via-Climbing – Essential to have a high-quality battery to recharge all of your electronics.
- Finest Climbing GPS – Not wanted for the path as most individuals can navigate OK with a smartphone App.
- Finest GPS Climbing Watch – An increasing number of persons are mountaineering with a GPS watch. They’re nice however will want charging each evening so make sure you take a conveyable battery financial institution with you.
- Finest Satellite tv for pc Messenger for the CDT – Extremely really useful for thru-hiking the CDT. Many individuals get into issue on the path and certainly one of these can save your life. In addition they work properly to speak with relations to allow them to know your location.
- USB Wall Charger + Cables.
Different Gear
- Plastic zip lock luggage
- 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 not directly. In case 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 measurement 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. It’s possible you’ll 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 desire a sleeping rated to round 10F -20F. Chilly sleepers will go for the lower-rated sleeping bag.
What’s the finest 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 therapy when backpacking on the Continental Divide Path. The gear checklist on this weblog publish has each bit of substances that’s adequate for the CDT.
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The writer, Brad McCartney from BikeHikeSafari is a small impartial adventurer and outside gear tester who owns and runs BikeHikeSafari.com.
BikeHikeSafari just isn’t half of a giant weblog community and is proudly impartial. All critiques on this website are impartial and sincere gear critiques of outside 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 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 primarily based on his years of expertise. Hope this impartial evaluate was useful for you.