Choices of the pros
Want to go on a major hiking trek? Gear matters a lot!Recently, an American media outlet interviewed five hikers who completed a cross-country trek across the U.S., asking them about their most essential pieces of equipment.
These five hikers are long-distance trekkers on the Pacific Crest Trail. By the time they reached Ashland, Oregon, they had already covered 1,706 miles (approximately 2,745.5 km). As seasoned hikers, they shared some very practical tips. Below is the interview (all using pseudonyms):
1,Sketch
Name origin: “I wanted to sketch (sketches).”
Hometown: San Francisco, California
Age: 36
Tip: One cheap pair of shorts. “If you can hike happily in shorts, then that’s truly low-tech gear. You can get them at a second-hand store or supermarket. The only thing to note is to find a pair with pockets,” Sketch said. Also, they’re inexpensive and easy to replace.
2,French Fry
Name origin: “I really, really love French fries, especially McDonald's fries. I'm a healthy person, but this is my weakness.”
Hometown: Temecula, California
Age: 26
Tip: “Have a large pocket on the waist belt [of your backpack].” French Fry said. Why? Because with a large pocket, you can carry lunch and eat while walking—this is important, especially when you plan to hike long distances. Also keep water there—hikers recommend using a personal hydration system or making sure your water bottle is easily accessible in your pack.
3,Blue Cheese
Name origin: “Blue Cheese smells a bit like my feet in some ways.”
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
Age: 22
Tip: Starting with cheaper gear and upgrading as you go is essential. Blue Cheese didn’t want to waste money on the wrong equipment, so she started with items she already had at home and added new ones during the trip—from stores along the way. So far, she has bought a new backpack, a new sleeping bag, and a new tent—all tailored to her specific needs.
4. Vertigo
Name origin: “I was 300 miles (about 482.8 km) from the Carion Pass, and I was only sober for one day while stumbling for three.”
Hometown: Lake Manitoba, Winnipeg
Age: 36
Tip: You can wear the same set of clothes for weeks. It turns out: Vertigo walked hundreds of miles in a pair of shorts, a shirt, one set of underwear, and two pairs of socks. He likes wool because it helps reduce the inevitable smell; he recommends buying good brand gear like an icebreaker because high-quality items can better withstand being “abused.”
5. Cookie Scrambler
Name origin: “I started with a lot of Swiss chocolate chip cookies and shared them with other hikers... I also often climbed on boulders to take the best photos, which is why I’m called the scrambler.”
Hometown: Zermatt, Switzerland
Age: 35
Tip: When hiking or backpacking, you don’t necessarily have to choose ultralight gear. “I can’t afford ultralight gear. In Europe, it’s very difficult to get ultralight gear, so I carefully selected what to bring (trying to minimize the weight),” she said. Without water, her pack weighed 45 pounds (about 20.4 kg), but she devised the right strategy to keep up with other hikers along the way.