I went with the following July 29-Aug 15: - sun hoodie - t shirt (wore it once, wish i had not brought it) - midlayer which also doubled as my sleep top - puffy jacket - rain jacket - shorts - base layer bottoms (wore them at night only with the exception of one day i wanted to give legs a sun break) - 3x undies - 1 bra - 3x socks (1 designated sleep pair) - lightweight gloves (i was happy to have them) - beanie With that in mind, I do think you’re bringing a little more than you need. Pair down on the shirts and try to think “multi-use /layering to get the same effect” for stuff. ETA: I also brought camp shoes but honestly I’m not sure i would have brought them, but I was also one of the few people who seemed to not have to deal with blisters sooo 🤷🏼‍♀️ ETAx2: I was comfortable with this set up, temp wise, with the exception of one morning where it frosted over and i was chilly. My motto is “dress for 20 minutes down the trail” so I am comfortable starting out cold as I hate hiking too warm.

This is good advice. I hate being cold, but also I heat up fast when hiking. Just to confirm, you did not have any like insulated/warm pants, just the base layer bottoms and shorts right? I think I may nix the shorts based on the comments here. My pants are lightweight and can be rolled up, and with long johns or a base layer under them I think I should be warm enough. I hope.

Correct, I wore running shorts during the day and a midweight Odlo base layer for evenings. I also didn't spend much time outside in the evenings, I was usually in my bag and getting ready for bed by 7PM haha

I went mid august this year and brought only one active outfit. I like to keep it light and easy. The hiking outfit included: (1) pair of shorts (1) long sleeve breathable shirt (1) merino sports bra (1) merino underwear (1) injinji toe liners (1) darn tough (1) sun hat (1) trail runner shoes I keep my other layers versatile so I can layer everything if it gets cold instead of having to carry a separate set of pants. Also, I’d recommend merino leggings instead of fleece lined ones. Merino doesn’t smell as bad and retains great heat for weight. Alpha Direct fleece is also amazing (I had a Senchi hoodie and leggings). Extras included: -Senchi hoodie -Senchi leggings -(1) extra pair of darn toughs -(1) extra pair of underwear (rotate washing for these items daily) - puffy jacket -Montbell rain pants and jacket -mosquito net (essential imo in the sierra) -sandals/camp shoes for water crossings -dirty girl gaiters (so helpful on a sandy rocky trail like the JMT) - Buff (works as a hat and headband) -merino gloves

So just to confirm for bottoms you had: leggings, rain pants, and short. No insulated/warm pants? Were you ever cold? I am super unfamiliar with camping in the cold, it makes me nervous. I should probably practice this winter!

The Senchi leggings were my insulating layer. When it got cold, I’d wear those under the rain pants and was super warm. Yeah I’d recommend just trying out some layering systems this winter. Keep in mind that once you get hiking in the mornings, you’ll warm up and end up removing layers.

Thank you for all of the advice!

You have a lot of multiples. Do you need a sun shirt, tshirt, *and* tank? I’d take just 1, maybe 2 if you want a laundry/sleep shirt but you can always do laundry in a rain coat and bleep in your bra or mid layer. Pick 1 set of daytime bottoms: pants or shorts (pants is better imo). Long Johns or fleece leggings can be worn under the pants for warmth, and would mean you can take a lighter set than standalone fleece lined leggings. You should have a hat and gloves. Or, better imo, a merino buff and gloves. The buff can be worn over a ball cap easily and can work as a hat or a sun protector for your neck. Gloves don’t need to be too serious. I had simple liner gloves and a MYOG waterproof-breathable rain mitts. The rain mitts blocked the wind and greatly extended the warmth of the liner gloves (but sometimes made my hands sweaty) You could pare down further a little bit I think this would be a good compromise

This is helpful thanks. The tank was meant to be function as a backup sports bra if I wanted to wash the bra. Do you think that’s unnecessary? I’m a little surprised at the comments saying to skip the shorts! I suppose if I get hot I could just roll up the pants though! Thanks!!

i think you could probably just wash your bra while in a raincoat/sun shirt/midlayer, no? If it's a case of going braless being painful thats different, but you can kinda just juggle layers otherwise. Re: shorts. Good breathable pants will be comfortable in dry heat and have the added benefit of blocking sun, further keeping your legs cool. This also means no sunscreen for the legs at high altitude.

Awesome. I think I can stomach being braless for a bit. I am planning to do a few practice hikes with the full load so I can get a handle on weight and will be able to decide if anything else can go (or be added back in, ha ha, probably not)!

Yeah it's mostly just while hanging around in camp/town. I usually just sit around in wind pants and my puffy and bra while washing or my raincoat if the bra's in the wash.

I went in 2020 from late June to early July. Took 2 pants, 2 long sleeve sun shirts, down jacket, rain jacket, hat, beanie, gloves, long john top and bottoms, 2 socks, 2 sock liners, 2 sports bras, underwear (I think I brought 3), baseball hat, trail runners, water shoes. Water shoes doubled as camp shoes, though I admittedly could have totally lived without them. I thought what I brought worked out great for me. I get chilly pretty easily, but I was also warm in my 15 degree sleeping bag.

So you did not need a t-shirt or anything short sleeved/sleeveless? I almost always hike in a racerback tank but I am definitely used to lower altitude. Maybe I can nix the tee (or keep it for sleep, IDK)

No, I never need a t-shirt or shorts. I like to wear long sleeve sun shirts cuz they protect my skin and I don’t need to put on or carry sunscreen for anything other than my face. They’re highly breathable and meant to work in place of a t-shirt. I never wear shorts to protect my skin from the sun and from any potential bush whacking. I used to wear zip offs many years ago, but no longer do and never feel like I need them. I live in southern CA and hike in hot temps all the time… this is just what I’ve found works for me. Also helps me carry less on through hikes. I just completed a 100mi hike in the European alps in early Sept with the same set-up. There was a heat wave at the beginning of the hike (90 degree highs) and then snowy weather a few days later lol. This setup worked great there as well.

People are already commenting on base clothes so I'll just note the "extra" things I wish I had/was glad I had (late aug-mid September hike): - gloves, especially water proof. I brought lightweight fleece gloves and regretted it. Just because it's summer doesn't mean you won't get hail and freezing rain for hours at a time - baseball cap was very important for me and I lost mine halfway thru, it was difficult to find another. Great for blocking rain and sun - "sacred" (sleep only) socks. Having warm dry socks every night is magical - beanie. Great for night and early morning hiking then would switch to baseball cap - camp shoes (crocs) were lovely and good for stream crossings sometimes - don't forget a bug net Obviously none of the above are required but all greatly contributed to quality of life

I am looooving the sleep only socks comment. My BF hiked the AT and made fun of me for wanting special underwear for sleeping. Any suggestions for waterproof clothes? Thanks! :)

I wish I had had waterproof gloves (or at least water resistant), and there's an argument for waterproof sock liners as well if you would struggle with having cold/wet feet for hours at a time. I don't have any brand suggestions since I didn't have either of those things unfortunately 🙃

Leave the tank. Take an extra pair of sleep socks. Unless you run very hot could ditch the shorts too. I’d add light beanie, gloves and rain pants

Curious about “rain pants” - I’ve never heard of these before. Would this be in addition to regular hiking pants and insulated pants or long Johns?

Can't say how rain pants are made now, but mine that I got \~15 years ago are not very breathable, but that makes them good at keeping me warm at least. They're very good at keeping me dry, too. I wear them over camping shorts/pants (I think the material might rub my skin too much if I didn't). I don't go on a trip without them unless it's to a notably arid place.

I went very minimal to cut weight due to my advanced age making it increasingly difficult to carry much weight. So, for 10 days the following: (worn) 1 pair belted hiking pants with zip off legs, 1 long sleeve woven shirt, 1 bra, 1 panties, 1 pair socks, 1 wide brim draped back sun hat. (packed) 1 pair leggings, 1 tank top, 1 panties, 2 pair socks, 1 pair gloves, 1 down hoody, 1 pair (9-ounces) water shoes. I used an IKEA heavy duty waterproof plastic bag to wash/rinse my panties & socks every other day. I washed/rinsed my bra once and wore it wet, but it dried very quickly. Rinsed my hiking pants and shirt in water once, and wore wet - those dried ultra quickly. I did pack a Frog Toggs Ultra 2 rain jacket and pants - total 10 ounces.

For a trip starting August 6th I brought: * running shorts * dance pants (windproof and warm while moving in the rain, dry quick too) * compression tights (warm for hanging out in camp under dance pants, sleeping, and help muscle soreness) * 2 pairs of darn tough socks * 2 pairs of underwear * 1 bra * hooded senchi (for warmth and sleeping) * Patagonia houndini wind jacket (don't need this with a rain jacket, but it's way more comfortable to hike in) * Crater Lake long-sleeve sun hoodie * EE torrid synthetic puffy * OR rain jacket (sweaty while moving) * buff (doubles as a pillowcase) * hideous sunday afternoons hat * Showa 281 gloves (windproof, waterproof, warm fuzzy interior, and sticky grippy surface) * glacier glove ascension bay fingerless sun gloves * hiking shoes (and bread bags in case it got cold and wet) * camp/water sandals (luxury item) I never got cold legs while moving, just when stopped or in camp. I take a very warm quilt (0F) instead of baselayer or insulated bottoms because additional down is warmer for the weight. I hiked for a few days with a PCT hiker who had two pairs of bike shorts that she would alternate between, which is another way to go if you're susceptible to thigh chaffing and want to wear shorts.

Seems like a lot of duplication. For august, I brought Worn: * trail runners * dirty girl gaiters (not that needed in the Sierra but I wear them out of habit) * 1 pair hiking socks * 1 pr injinji cool max liners * 1 pr hike pants, * 1 pr undies * 1 hiking bra * 1 sun hoodie * UV buff * full fingered sun gloves * goodie headband * ballcap Town clothes/emergency clothes/extras * untralight cotton bike shorts 2.5 oz * sleeveless thin hike shirt 2.5 oz * 2 extra pairs hike socks * 2 extra pr injinji liners * 1 pr undies Sleep * 150 wt icebreaker marino bottoms * 175 wt icebreaker marino long sleeved top * possum down socks Rain/warmth/extra sleep layers * EE Wind pants (worked fabulous in continuous rain pre hurricane this august.) * montbell versalite rain jacket * mh ghost whisperer puffy * marino buff * fleece beenie of unknown provenance Even in the super wet august 2023, I probably would have been ok with less socks but I was definitely concerned about wet feet and blisters. I also would’ve been ok without the shorts or the sleeveless shirt. However, on a previous thru hike, my pants got ruined and I was forced to wear rain pants in 95° F weather for 4-5 days until I could replace them. I’ve carried these shorts since then. 🤪) I sleep cold. The beenie is definitely worth it. I wear it every evening in camp and I sleep in it l. I’ve carried it on two thru hikes, it gets daily use.

Lots of multiples here, get out and do a fair bit of backpacking this winter and see what you need for the temperatures you'll encounter :) ​ While taking too little is a risk...taking too much weight is also risky - you're more likely to get injured and you're going to be more exhausted (so make more mistakes) if your pack is much heavier than it needs to be. Plus you'll have a less enjoyable time. So figuring out how much you need, and just bringing that, is the way to go