Wonderland Trail Gear List 2024
This is all the gear I took with me on my solo counterclockwise “CCW” thru-hike of the Wonderland Trail in 2024! I started August 25th, 2024 and finished on August 30th, 2024 to give you an idea of what my weather window was.
The Wonderland Trail is a 93-mile trail that circles Mount Rainier, also known as Tahoma, the original name given by the native Puyallup Tribe, meaning 'the mother of waters' or 'snowy peak’. The Wonderland Trail (“WT”) is known for its challenging elevation profile, with over 23,000 feet of elevation gain and an equal amount of elevation loss.
My base weight (base weight is the weight of all your gear not including your worn weight, e.g. clothes you wear and shoes, or consumables like food, water, and fuel) was 10.64 pounds. Without my camera gear, my base weight would be 8.15 lbs. Here is my LighterPack with each item’s weight listed.
It is important for me to mention that the gear I brought on my Wonderland Trail thru-hike was very specifically picked for the exact week I went based on the weather conditions that were forecasted the night before I started. Please plan accordingly for your own hike, as the temperatures and weather will likely be different.
I’ve organized my gear into the following sections if you want to jump ahead:
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Backpack
Backpack
The Cutaway by Nashville Pack - 16” 20L ALUULA Graflyte™ in Blaze White (13.3 oz)
Nashville Pack Cutaways are by far my favorite backpacking packs. I’ve used their packs for thousands of miles backpacking and they are my go-to for ultralight setups. I took the 20L version of this pack with me, but would have brought a 30L version if I had either brought a warmer/heavier quilt or a tent instead of a tarp. The gear I brought on my Wonderland Trail thru-hike was very specifically picked for the specific week I went based on the weather conditions. The 20L Cutaway is perfect for a warmer weather gear setup and/or tarp setup. If it was any colder, I likely would’ve needed to bring warmer/additional layers and insulation, and, therefore, also a slightly larger bag.
Pack Liner
Gossamer Gear Clear Waterproof Pack Liner (1 oz)
I lined my bag with the Gossamer Gear Clear Waterproof Pack Liner to keep everything dry. These bags are fully waterproof, ultralight, and very affordable at $5.00 for a two-pack of liners.
Shelter
Tarp
High Tail Designs Ultralight Catenary Curve Tarp, color Alluvium 7 (7.3 oz)
Since I hiked the Wonderland Trail in late August, I knew the bugs weren’t going to be bad so I opted to bring my High Tail Design tarp, which is made out of Dyneema Composite Fabric (DCF) and is incredibly light. What I love about tarp camping is how connected to nature you feel, there's no wall separating you from the outdoors. It rained and hailed 2/5 of the nights I was on the Wonderland Trail and this tarp kept me perfectly dry. I was also happy to cowboy camp two of the nights.
A couple more budget friendly tarp options are the Gossamer Gear Twinn Tarp (9.7 oz) or the Gossamer Gear Solo Tarp (7.1 oz).
If I brought a tent, instead, I would have brought my Gossamer Gear The One tent (17.7 oz), which I used on my Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike and on other various backpacking tents. I love how that tent is both ultralight but also pretty affordable in terms of ultralight backpacking gear.
Tent Poles
Durston Gear Z-Flick Tent Pole x1 (3.1 oz) & Six Moon Designs Carbon Fiber Pole, 45 inches x1 (1.7 oz)
This tent pole combination worked really well for me. Alternatively, if you use trekking poles, you could use those to pitch your tarp or trekking pole tent, I just personally don’t hike with trekking poles.
Stakes
Vargo Ti Shepherds Hook Stakes x6 (8 grams/stake) and MSR Groundhog Stakes x2 (0.5 ounce/stake)
I brought six (6) of the Vargo Ti Shepherds Hook Stakes (8 grams/stake) and two (2) MSR Groundhog stakes (0.5 ounce/stake) for the ridgelines. No issues with any of these stakes.
Groundsheet
Duck Brand Indoor Window Shrink Film Insulator (1.76 oz)
As a groundsheet, instead of a traditional groundsheet you buy, I like to use window plastic covering (Duck Brand Indoor Window Shrink Film Insulator) cut down to a size that fits under my tarp. You might be wondering…why? Because it is super light at only 50g (1.76 oz)! And it packs down really well to stuff in your bag.
Sleep System
Sleeping Quilt
Enlightened Equipment 40°F Enigma Quilt (12.5 oz)
The quilt temperature rating is, again, a decision I made the night before my Wonderland Trail hike based on the weather forecast. I did a lot of analyzing of weather forecasts before my trip and saw that it wasn’t forecasted to be colder than the low 40s at the elevations I was going to be camping at. While I did bring a 40°F quilt, I would recommend bringing either a 30°F or 20°F for the Wonderland Trail since the weather can change so quickly in the mountains and it really depends on what elevation you’re camping at. Bringing a 40°F quilt was definitely a bold and risky choice that I felt comfortable making for myself and based on the rest of the gear I brought, but it did unexpectedly go down to the upper 30’s one night…I was fine, but a 30°F quilt would have been a safer choice.
Again, choose a temperature rating based on the forecast and what you’re comfortable with. Some people sleep colder, some warmer. Prepare for the coldest temperatures on trail.
If I had gone with a 30°F rated quilt, I would have brought my Hammock Gear 30°F Burrow Quilt. If I wanted an even warmer quilt, I would have brought my Katabatic Gear Sawatch 15°F Quilt.
Curious about what a sleeping quilt is? It’s like a sleeping bag without the back so it is lighter. Check out my blog post Ultimate Sleeping Quilt Guide: Why I Use a Quilt Instead of a Sleeping Bag for 3-Season Backpacking for more information about quilts and why I prefer using them over sleeping bags.
Sleeping Pad
Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite Sleeping Pad - Short (12 oz)
This is my go-to sleeping pad for backpacking. I find it super comfortable. Plus, it has a 4.5 R-value, which means it is warmer than closed-cell foam sleeping pads, such as the NEMO Switchback or the Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol, which have a R-value of 2.
Worn Clothes
Shirt - Cotopaxi Sombra Sun Hoodie - This is my favorite sun hoodie. I have a shorter torso, so I love this shirt because it isn’t as long as most sun hoodies. Plus, it usually comes in fun colors!
Shorts - Lululemon Fast and Free 6” Pocket Shorts
Shoes - Altra Lone Peaks
Socks - Injinji Trail Midweight Crew - These are my favorite socks for hiking and backpacking. Once you start using toe socks, it's hard to go back to normal socks. They help prevent blisters by keeping all of your toes separate and also allow your toes to not be squished together.
Sports Bra - Vuori Yosemite Bra - Very comfortable. I also wore this on the PCT, AZT, and CDT. I like that it can double as a swimsuit top.
Underwear - Patagonia Active Hipster - This underwear is comfy and doesn’t chafe.
Sun Gloves - Outdoor Research ActiveIce Sun Gloves
Hat - DIY Wonderland Trail Hat (I sewed a Wonderland Trail patch that I designed onto this hat)
Gaiters - Ultra Glam Gaiters
Sunglasses - Goodr Circle Gs Polarized
Packed Clothes
Puffy Jacket - Arc’teryx Cerium (8.9 oz) - This is my favorite down jacket for backpacking. It’s very warm, lightweight, and comes in the best colors.
Fleece - Senchi Designs Alpha 90 Hoodie with Half Zip (3.7 oz)
Sleep/Backup Socks - Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew Cushion Socks (2.0 oz)
Fleece Gloves - Outdoor Research Vigor Heavyweight Gloves - Women’s (2.5 oz)
Rain Skirt - Enlightened Equipment Rain Wrap (2.4 oz) - Lighter than rain pants and easier to put on.
Rain Jacket - Versalite Jacket Women's (4 oz) - This rain jacket works super well. I sized up so it would be extra roomy to fit over my puffy jacket and fanny pack. A cheaper alternative that works just as well is the Frogg Toggs Ultra-Lite2 Rain Jacket.
Leggings - Lululemon Wunder Train High-Rise Leggings (5.6 oz)
Beanie - Carhartt Beanie (2.5 oz)
Camera Gear
I’m a photographer, so bringing a full camera setup instead of just using my iPhone or a point-and-shoot camera is non-negotiable. I know this means extra weight, but that’s why I try to make the rest of my gear lightweight. My camera is most definitely my “luxury item” of my entire gear setup, but I never regret bringing it.
Camera - Sony A7RIII (24.59 oz, including battery in it and 2 SD cards)
Lens - Sony Sonnar T* FE 35mm f/2.8 ZA Lens (4.16 oz)
Camera Pod - Hyperlite Mountain Gear Camera Pod (2.8 oz) - This is how I carried and protected my camera. My Wonderland Trail thru-hike was the first time I used this camera pod and I wish I had started using it years ago. Full review to come soon.
Extra Camera Battery - Sony NPFZ100 Z-series Rechargeable Battery Pack
Lens Cloth - Generic Cloth (0.18 oz)
Tripod + Clamp - Ulanzi MT-16 Extendable Mini Tripod + Desmond DAC-25 25mm Mini Clamp (7.6 oz combined)
Phone Clamp - Peak Design Phone Mount (0.42 oz)
Electronics
Headlamp - Petzl Actik Core Headlamp (3.1 oz)
GPS - Garmin InReach Mini (4.0 oz)
Phone - iPhone 14 Pro (9.6 oz, including phone case and screen protector)
Battery - Nitecore NB10000 (5.29 oz)
Earbuds - Apple EarPods with Lightning Connector (0.4 oz)
Wall Charger - Anker 511 Charger (Nano) (2x1.02 oz, 2.04oz total)
Lightning SD Card Reader - Apple Lightning to SD Card Camera Reader (0.6 oz)
Cords - USB-C to USB-C (0.28 oz), Phone Cord (0.28 oz), Micro-USB (0.46 oz)
Ditty Bag - High Tail Designs Drawstring Stuff Sack (6.8 g)
Cooking Gear & Food Storage
Pot - TOAKS Light Titanium 550ml Pot (2.6 oz)
Stove - MSR PocketRocket Deluxe Stove (2.9 oz)
Spoon - Sea to Summit Spoon - Long (0.4 oz)
Food Bags & Storage - Mountain Laurel Designs DCF Food Bag - Large (1.2 oz) - Each backcountry campsite in Mount Rainier National Park has a pole with hooks to hang your food off of. All you need is some sort of stuff suck or bag that can be hung from a hook. I like the DCF food bag because it is very lightweight, but I recommend using something you already have if possible.
Water
Water Filter - Katadyn BeFree 1.0 L Water Filter Bottle - (1.8 oz) - I typically use a Sawyer Micro Squeeze, but I already had a Katadyn BeFree on-hand and I like that it can double as an extra 1.0L in water capacity, if needed. I knew the water sources would most likely be clear and flowing well on the Wonderland Trail, so I was happy to use the Katadyn since it filters super fast when the water is clear.
Water bottles - Smartwater bottles (1.2 oz x2) - I carried one 1L and one .7L bottle for the Wonderland Trail.
Water Treatment - Aquamira Water Treatment - If the water didn’t have any floaty things in it (i.e. dead bugs or whatnot), then I like to just use Aquamira.
Toiletries, First Aid Kit, and Repair Kit
Toiletries
First Aid Kit
Homemade Kit stored in a Plastic Baggy
I typically bring a small amount of each of the following items. If you don’t want to buy everything separately, a good place to start is this pre-made travel/mini sized first aid kit or this Adventure Medical Kit, and then you can add in additional items you would like to bring.
Band-Aids - I take a few of each size.
Antiseptic Wipes - Bring a few.
Ibuprofen - I like to bring a small amount and store them in a small pill pouch.
Allergy Medicine (non-drowsy) - I like to bring a small amount and store them in a small pill pouch.
Leukotape - I only bring a small amount, not the entire roll. I like to wrap a small amount of it around my trekking pole.
KT Tape - I bring a few strips.
Tums - I like to bring a few and store them in a small pill pouch.
Repair Kit
Nothing fancy here, just a few items that could be useful if any of my gear breaks:
Duct Tape - I just bring a small amount that I wrap around a trekking pole or tent pole.
Sewing Kit - I usually bring a needle, one small thread roll, and a needle threader
Miscellaneous
Wallet
Nothing fancy here. I just carry a plastic bag with my license, credit cards, and cash.
