8 Items Thru-Hikers Are Ditching Mid-Trek

Hiking hundreds or thousands of miles in a single push is a surefire way to figure out what you need and what gear is unnecessary. Thru-hikers pass through multiple mountain ranges, hike as the seasons change, and live outside day after day. In order to keep their kits streamlined and packweights sustainable, they often make gear changes on the trail, swapping out certain items for others, and sometimes, ditching pieces of gear altogether. On-trail shakedowns are especially common for first-time thru-hikers during their first few hundred miles as the realities of carrying the essentials day after day sink in.

Continue reading to learn more about what not to pack for a thru-hike, written by Zoe Gates.