In March of this year my partner and I and our then five year old son hiked out of Campo with the loose notion of thru hiking the PCT. Since we were unsure how far or how long we would be on trail we didn’t over think our gear selections, rather grabbing what we had already in the garage or what we could beg off of friends. Our “big 3” gear selection was quickly complete and we headed south for Campo.

Most gear lists for thru-hiking and backpacking focus almost exclusively on the “big 3” which makes sense as they make up the bulk of your weight. Backpack, shelter, and sleep systems are critical for a safe and enjoyable hike (which is why they get called the “big 3”). However, this list is going to ignore those three and instead focus on three pieces of gear that were total surprises and genuinely made my hike more successful (and way more enjoyable).

Six Moon Designs Silver Shadow

This one was a total surprise. My partner, Purple Rain, had an umbrella prior to this hike and swore by it. I always felt it was a bit of hype but was pressured into leaving Campo with two of these in my pack (one for me and one for our son, Bedtime). Although my initial hesitation wasn’t unfounded-these are hard to use in the wind and awkward to carry-the umbrella was a savior on the hottest and most exposed days in the desert. Many thru-hikers choose to night hike much of the desert. With our son in tow this was not an option. The umbrellas allowed us to hike longer during the heat of the day. We still employed siestas to avoid the long afternoon heat in the Mojave and walked a bit after dusk, but for the most part maintained full days of hiking using the umbrellas. We did send Bedtime’s home a few weeks after starting as he wasn’t able to manage it on his own. For the most part, however, I could shade him by changing whether I was in front of him or behind him depending on the angle of the sun. No heat stroke or sunburn on this hike!

Sawyer Products Backflush Attachment

Being a trio on this hike we needed to carry and filter a lot of water. 10 years ago when I started backpacking we used aqua Mira drops to filter water and on long trips (when in full  hiker trash mode) we would switch to bleach. When Purple Rain and I set off on the Grand Enchantment Trail in 2015 a friend gifted us a sawyer squeeze. What a development for the backpacking community! Our system now includes CNOC bags which are basically indestructible for squeezing and carrying loads of water. The one thing we were missing was this two dollar attachment that allows you to effortlessly gravity filter your water while doing NOTHING. I hate doing chores (like squeezing water) on my breaks. I want to simply take my shoes off, kick my legs up and eat (and watch my kid draw or play legos). This attachment also allows you to back flush your filter without that goofy syringe piece sawyer includes in the squeeze package. Absolutely brilliant.

Purple Rain Adventure Kilt

I had worn the kilt on previous trips, my partner makes them after all and I liked it. I didn’t view it as gear, however. Clothing had always seemed somewhat unimportant: Long sleeve dress shirts and running shorts from a thrift store would suffice. After spending four months in the adventure kilt, however, my mind has changed. This kilt is a piece of gear. Just as important to my kit as anything in the “big 3”. Airflow is the key to avoiding chaffing. With the kilt your sweat dries instantly while you hike, avoiding the discomfort of wet fabric against skin. The yoga-style waistband leaves nothing to ride awkwardly when your backpack waist strap is cinched tight (crucial with some of the heavy loads we carried as a trio). The pockets are accessible while being big enough to hold a phone and extra snacks. I took a ton of photos of our son and needed to bribe him with snacks often. I think my favorite aspect is how you can layer with it. Cold mornings: keep your sleep layers on for the first mile or two and then take them off with ease. Going to town: put your boxer briefs on and snap the kilt into “shorts mode.” I initially started the hike with a pair of soccer shorts as backup for camp/town due to personal modesty. I quickly sent them home, however, as I didn’t use them at all. The kilt, plus boxer briefs, plus leggings was perfect for me. I felt covered up when needed, warm enough when cold, cool enough when hot, and swam in my boxer briefs. I just returned from a weekend solo trip in the Marble Mountains. I took my kilt as it is an irreplaceable part of my kit now. Never leave home without it!