Gear I’m Packing for an Epic Colorado Trail Thru-Hike

Summer is finally here, which means it’s backpacking season! My heart was settled on attempting a Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike this year, however, with historic snow levels in the Sierra I found myself searching for yet another way to spend the summer, thru-hiking. I’ve backpacked in Colorado once before, a couple of years ago during Labor Day weekend in 2019, and quickly realized they don’t call it colorful Colorado for anything!

The Colorado Trail is a continuous 567-mile path that travels from Denver to Durango. The trail passes through six national forests and six wilderness areas and is considered one of the most beautiful trails in America. Unlike the John Muir Trail, both hikers and bikers, as well as horses and dogs are allowed on certain parts (if not most) of the Colorado Trail.

I begin my thru-hike mid-July going Southbound to Durango. Here is everything I am packing for my Colorado Trail thru-hike. If you followed my journey on the JMT, you’ll notice that not much of my gear has changed. Over the years, I’ve tested different set-ups and this is one I’ve come to love.

So, I’m just going to come out and say it. Will I be carrying a bear canister on the Colorado Trail? Yes. I’ve gone back and forth on this for a while and as excited as I was knowing that it is not a requirement to carry, I’ve decided that I am used to packing my backpack a certain way. Besides comfort, I like having to not stress about little critters or properly hanging a bear bag. It’s all personal preference and I honestly do not mind carrying the extra weight.

Disclaimer: Some of the links on this blog post are affiliate links, meaning I receive a small percentage of every purchase at no additional cost to you.

BACKPACK

I’ve said this once and I’ll continue to say that your backpack is one of the most important pieces of gear when..backpacking. And while you don’t have to have the most expensive pack out there, you definitely need to find one that is right for you and your backpacking needs. Last year, I hiked the JMT with my Hyperlite Junction 3400 and really enjoyed it. I will be taking this pack with me on the Colorado Trail. It is 55L.

SHELTER

Sticking with the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL1, this has been my go-to home away from home for the past few years. It was home on the JMT for 2 years and will be home on the Colorado Trail this summer. It weighs just under 2lbs with stakes and rainfly.

SLEEP SYSTEM

A good nights rest is important for any backpacking trip.

Sleeping Quilt: These are the items that make up my sleep system. After making the switch from a sleeping bag to a quilt, I haven’t looked back. I absolutely love and highly recommend a quilt from Enlightened Equipment. I have a 0 degree Enigma and I love how you can customize to your needs.

Inflatable sleeping pad: I’ve recently switched from Thermarest’s Insulated NeoAir to Nemo’s Insulated Tensor and I’ll tell you why. Simply, the noise. I never realized how sensitive I am to unnatural sounds (if that makes any sense) but I had a very hard time (even for 2 thru-hikes) getting use to the NeoAir because of the crinkly sound it makes. Hikers have often said the more you use it, the less sound it makes, but this never got to be the case with mine. I now use and really enjoy the Tensor from

Inflatable pillow: If you think this is a luxury item, I feel sorry for you. I love the Aeros inflatable pillow from Sea to Summit It’s lightweight, comfortable, and packs down really well.

CLOTHING

Leggings

Fleece

Shorts

Patagonia Down Jacket

Sun hat/ baseball cap

Sunglasses

Long sleeve Sunshirt

Socks

ELECTRONICS

GoPro Hero 10 Black: Taking this adventure blogging to the next level. Also, cause I just run out of storage when I try to film YouTube videos on my iPhone. So, I’ve upgraded to a GoPro 10!

Garmin InReach Mini: This portable GPS device goes with me just about everywhere! I use it for hiking, camping and of course backpacking! I love having the ability to connect with family and friends while out on the trail for an extended period of time.

iPhone: I currently have the iPhone 11.

Anker chargers: I carry two just because I feel that I have a lot of things to charge between the GoPro my iPhone and my Garmin.

Black Diamond Spot 400 headlamp

SD Card Reader for iPhone