HomeHikingContinental Divide Path (CDT) Ultralight Gear Record

Continental Divide Path (CDT) Ultralight Gear Record [2024]


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Right here is all the knowledge you will want in your ultralight CDT gear record. I used numerous the gadgets on this gear record and have performed evaluations of a lot of the gear.

I accomplished my thru-hike of the Continental Divide Path and realized so much about what gear works and what to avoid.

When thru-hiking the Continental Divide Path you may be conscious that you will want to hold high quality backpacking gear that’s ultralight. When you’re 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 burden of your gear to tackle this epic path.

Hiking the Continental Divide Trail - BikeHikeSafari


Finest Ultralight Tent for the CDT

The perfect tent for the Continental Divide Path shall be ultralight and capable of preserve you heat when wanted. Keep in mind, that is the coldest of all of the mountaineering triple crown trails. You’ll face many mornings under freezing. The perfect 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 perfect 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 perfect backpacks for the CDT are:


Finest Sleeping Bag for Via-Mountain climbing the Continental Divide Path

The perfect 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 shall 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 Luggage for the CDT.

Any of the sleeping baggage on this record shall be nice for the CDT. As this path is sort of a bit colder than many different trails a sleeping bag is a greater possibility 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 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 maintaining you heat. For those who select to take a Quilt on the CDT, Here’s a record of very extremely really helpful ultralight quilts for the CDT.

Truthfully, any of the quilts talked about above shall be nice on the CDT. You will need to perceive that the CDT is a really chilly path and backpacking quilts are inferior to sleeping baggage in very chilly temperatures under freezing. For those who sleep chilly then positively contemplate a sleeping bag as an alternative.


Finest Sleeping Pad for the CDT

Being snug at night time results in an excellent night time’s sleep. Nothing contributes extra to an excellent night time’s sleep than a snug sleeping pad. Ultralight foam sleeping mats are standard 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 very best 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 very best quality ultralight footwear is finest. Additionally, remember that the CDT is chilly and generally path runners usually are not the most suitable 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 sporting snowshoes.

Think about two shoe choices that you would be able to 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 ft, the higher choices are Saloman and Brooks. For wider ft, Altra and Merrell are finest.

Listed here are my 3 suggestions for the very best sneakers and boots for the CDT Via-Hikers are:

Listed here are my 3 suggestions for the very 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

The perfect clothes for thru-hiking the CDT is one thing that entails layers. Whereas there is not going to be too many days of maximum warmth or humidity like another path you will be assured it is going to be chilly.

Layers that you must 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 find it irresistible. At solely 8 ounces it’s properly definitely worth the added weight, particularly within the scorching desert of New Mexico, you’ll be able to at all times ship it residence from northern New Mexico.


Cookware – Stoves & Pots for the CDT

You’ll recognize a heat meal at night time and perhaps a scorching espresso or tea within the morning. Listed here are among the finest cookware units, stoves, pots, and different gear you will want for the path.


Water on the CDT

General the water high quality on the CDT is sort of poor. As with virtually each backcountry journey, you must deal with the water and carry sufficient in your wants. Whereas on the CDT I acquired sick twice from not filtering water. Listed here are some really helpful 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 needs to be used. Listed here are the very best choices for the CDT:


Snow Gear and Bear Canisters for the CDT

The CDT Gear Record ought to embody winter to take care of 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 a giant snow yr which appears to be most years. You’ll be able to ship them residence when the snow melts.


Cameras and Electronics

With so many electronics that we tackle the path nowadays, it may be exhausting to resolve what to take and what to go away behind. Check out among the gadgets you could want and comply with the hyperlinks to my detailed guides about which of them are the very best.


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 along with your planning indirectly. For those who want extra assist with all the very best light-weight mountaineering gear then check out my Gear Guides.

Hiking the Continental Divide Trail - BikeHikeSafari


What Measurement Backpack For The Continental Divide Path?

The perfect 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 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 finest gear to tackle a thru-hike of the CDT?

The perfect gear to take thru-hiking on the CDT shall 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.

BikeHikeSafari Gear Evaluate Course of

The writer, Brad McCartney from BikeHikeSafari is a small impartial adventurer and out of doors gear tester who owns and runs BikeHikeSafari.com.

BikeHikeSafari just isn’t half of a giant weblog community and is proudly impartial. All evaluations on this web site are impartial 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 essential 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 concerning the gear evaluations are from the writer based mostly on his years of expertise. Hope this impartial overview was useful for you.

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