My Complete John Muir Trail Gear List for 2021

JMT hiker on trail looking at mountain view

Backpackers and thru-hikers often love to talk about gear. Everything from what has worked for them over the years, to the newest and greatest lightweight options out there. Let me start off by saying that you do not need to break the bank and purchase all new gear for your hike.

As a matter of fact, if you’re new to backpacking and thru-hiking start off with the idea that your gear preferences will change over the course of time, experiences, and different trips and trails. While the John Muir Trail was my longest thru-hike to date, my gear list for thru-hiking the Trans-Catalina Trail is quite different, but I’ll always carry some form of the Ten Essentials.

In this post, I’ve compiled a list of the gear I carried with me for 25-days hiking southbound (SOBO) from Yosemite Valley to Whitney Portal on my JMT 2021 thru-hike.

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

Overnight Backpack

Backpack: ZPacks Arc Blast 55L Ultralight Backpack, Autumn Orange

I fell in love with this pack on my very first trip. The ZPacks Arc Blast was my first-ever lightweight backpack. I made the switch from an Osprey Aura and haven’t looked back since. This 55L pack held up pretty well during the 25-days I was on the JMT. I added a V-strap to my pack (prior to purchasing) to be able to strap a BV500 bear canister on the outside, allowing for maximum space however it wasn’t really needed. Don’t let the weight of this pack fool you, weighing slightly over 1 lb (19.9 oz) this lightweight pack is light but mighty and can hold up to 5-6 days worth of food with no problem. The large outside mesh allows you to shove any snacks, or wet clothes, or have easy access to any necessary items outside of your pack.

Shelter

Shelter: Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL1, Orange

The Big Agnes Copper Spur UL1 was my home for 25-days on the JMT last summer. I have zero complaints about this tent. Weighing in just a little over 2.2 lbs with the rainfly and tent poles! This awning-style tent allows you to use two trekking poles to be able to create a front awning, which is perfect for both sunny and rainy days- although I didn’t really have time to use this feature on the JMT.

Sleep System

Sleeping Quilt: Enlightened Equipment Revelation 0°

The Revelation quilt from Enlightened Equipment was my first ever backpacking quilt and I do not foresee myself going back to a regular sleeping bag. As someone that likes to be all bundled up, I was almost certain that I would not like not being able to tuck my head into my sleeping quilt- but that’s not the case at all! The 0° down bag is perfect for those cold winter nights and I have slept very comfortably in freezing temps. Pro: the warmth to weight ratio is incredible! Con: down fill takes forever to dry if it gets wet.

Pillow: Sea to Summit Aeros Premium Pillow

If you would have asked me two years ago about my favorite backcountry luxury item, I would tell you all about my favorite inflatable pillow from Sea to Summit. Fast forward two years and this inflatable pillow have easily become a necessity, especially weighing only 2.7 oz!

Sleeping Pad: Therm-A-Rest NeoAir XLite

We all have that one piece of gear that you don’t really care for, but it’s kinda sorta necessary to have- right? The NeoAir XLite from Therm-A-Rest is that piece of gear for me. Don’t get me wrong- it’s comfortable and has not given me any deflating or bottom-out issues…but after my 20th or so day on the JMT I could no longer stand the sound of the trash bag I had been tossing on every night. Thank goodness I literally camped by no one to even annoy them cause I surely annoyed myself.

Clothes

Sun shirt: Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Hoodie The only thing missing here are thumbholes. Otherwise, I’d forever hike in this shirt.

Jacket: Eddie Bauer MicroTherm 2.0 Down I actually won this jacket in an Instagram contest. Still remains my favorite down jacket. Lightweight and super warm!

Fleece: Melanzana MicroGrid Hoodie

Leggings: Hereafter The Earth Legging Silver tech kills 99.9% of odor-causing bacteria. More wear fewer wash times in between adventures. Oh- pockets. Nuff said.

Sports Bra: Lululemon Wunder Train Longline Cute, comfortable, and a little longer than normal sports bras.

Socks: Darn Tough Kelso Micro Crew Light Cushion Sock Darn tough.

Shoes: Altra Lone Peak 8

Baseball cap

Packed clothing: extra socks, base layer pants, a long sleeve, beanie, extra leggings, and shorts.

Electronics Gear

GPS: Garmin InReach Mini

I didn’t want to hop on the JMT solo without first being able to contact a family member at any moment’s notice. Having this GPS device with me was more for a piece of mind, and I recommend it to anyone going out in the backcountry. Some may say it’s a little excessive, but I did check in every day with a family member, and it was fun for them to follow my tracks and watch my progress.

Portable Charger: Anker PowerCore 20,100mAh and PowerCore 1000

Yes, I understand that carrying 2 portable chargers is a bit much- but I actually used them both up and was able to recharge at both Tulomune Meadows and MTR resupplies.

Phone: iPhone 11

Entertainment: Powerbeats by Dre Okay, let’s just say this is my luxury item. Music’s good for the soul. Enough said. 🎵