Ultimate WCT Packing List

Backpacking the West Coast Trail is an amazing accomplishment but it can be challenging when your pack is heavy. It’s much more enjoyable if your backpack doesn’t weigh a ton. One-third of my weight (maximum ideal backpack weight) would be forty-three pounds. With my pack at forty-one pounds, I found it extremely heavy for seven days of backpacking. Wanting to cut back on weight for next time, I created an ultimate WCT Packing List weight breakdown of everything we brought to give you a rough idea of how much your pack might weigh. This will make it easier to figure out what essential items to bring and those that are more luxury items when backpacking.

My pack and Kris’ pack weighed forty-one pounds each. At the end of this post, I explain items that will be left behind on our next adventure for an even lighter pack. Our ultimate WCT packing list for two people will help guide you in your planning.

Clothes

Pants and Long-Sleeve Shirts

One pair of convertible pants made sense since they’ll get dirty the first day. I enjoyed having a 250 top base crew shirt to wear when it was chilly outside and raining at the campsite. A base layer crew shirt is nice to wear while hiking early in the morning. Two bras to switch halfway once one got dirty was a good decision. A fleece was warm to change into once it got cold at the campsite after hiking all day but it was bulky to carry. A down jacket would have been better as it’s lighter and just as warm.

T-shirts

I had three t-shirts: one t-shirt for sleeping, one that got soaking wet the first day, and the grey one I wore the rest of the time. I appreciated being able to change into a dry one and not have to suffer in my wet t-shirt. Having a clean pair of underwear each day is essential in my books. So much sweating happens every day of backpacking – it’s an excellent way to start the morning which a fresh pair of underwear.

Hiking Socks

Five pairs of hiking socks ensure that even though my hiking boots were wet (they dried a bit overnight), I could have dry feet the following morning by changing into new socks. It helped to prevent blisters. Unfortunately, without enough time and sunlight to dry our boots at the campsite, dry socks didn’t do the trick by day five and blisters started to form. At least we were more than halfway through our 76-km trip at this point.

WCT Packing list Tip

Hiking socks only weighed in at 0.87 lbs for all five pairs. The more socks you bring, the happier your feet and you will be! Putting clean, dry socks on every morning will help to prevent blisters. Blisters make walking incredibly painful, especially with a big pack on your back. Try to avoid getting blisters for as long as possible by taking the right precautions.

Food

The first picture is all the food that Kris brought including snacks and meals. The second picture is all my food. After I took the picture, I put a red X on the items I decided not to bring backpacking because they were too heavy. For a detailed list of food items I brought, check out West Coast Trail: Exciting Food for a full list to bring with you, if you decide to tackle this challenging adventure. In a table below, I list all the food (including weight) we brought to help you compare it to the food you might think of bringing. We also adjusted our list at the end of our trip wanting to save more weight for our next adventure. We’re hoping it helps you save on space and weight as well.

Tip #1: I found it helpful to pack meals and snacks for each day, instead of visualizing how much we’d need for the week – I tend to overpack otherwise.

Tip #2: Keep the snacks and lunch you’re having that day readily available instead of in your bag with the rest of the food. It makes it easier to eat lunch and snacks when accessible.

Equipment

All the campsites are along the beach. Most of the campsites offer beautiful views by the ocean.

You can see the Anker portable charger in the shade because by the time we arrived at the campsite, the sun was close to setting. Due to the long hiking days we didn’t get much use out of it, unfortunately.

Boots and Gaiters

Hiking boots with good sole grips and ankle support are necessary to avoid twisting an ankle. Gaiters are important if you want to keep your boots, ankles, and calves mud-free and as dry as possible. As you can see from the picture, mud tends to cover your bottom half. This was day 2: Thrasher Cove to Campers. On Day 3 from Campers to Walbran, the mud was much higher up our legs!

Creek Crossings

To cross the creeks we attached our gaiters and boots to the outside of our packs, as shown in the pictures above. Their weight is included in the table below to let you know how heavy they are when you’re temporarily carrying them across creeks. These key items in the WCT packing list are not included in the total pack weight.

WCT Packing List: Equipment Kris Brought (41 lbs)

Backpacking Gear (21.09 lbs)

Item	Weight
Osprey Aether AG 60 Pack	5.20 lbs
Osprey rain pack cover	0.20 lb
3L CamelBak Crux Reservoir with 2.5 L of water	5.60 lbs
1 can bear spray + holster	1.60 lbs + 0.13 lbs = 1.73 lbs
Hiking boots (removed from calculations)	2.60 lbs (wearing 1st day, added when crossing creeks)
Keen sandals	1.80 lbs
Komperdell C3 hiking poles (removed from calculations)	1.00 lb (using them to backpack)
Gaiters (removed from calculations)	0.40 lb (wearing 1st day)
First aid Kit	0.40 lb
S10+ phone to take pictures	0.60 lb
Anker portable solar charger	0.92 lb
Hat	0.16 lb
55L dry bag	1.50 lbs
10 L dry bags	0.50 lb x 3 bags = 1.50 lbs
Garmin inReach Explorer	0.40 lb
GoPro	0.30 lb
Battery pack (Goal zero flip 36)	0.40 lb

WCT Packing List: Clothes (7.84 lbs)

Arc’teryx Beta LT Rain Jacket (removed from calculations)	0.80 lb (wearing 1st day)
Arc’teryx Beta AR Rain Pants (removed from calculations)	1.00 lbs (wearing 1st day)
Underwear	0.23 x 7 = 1.6 lbs
Socks	0.23 x 7 = 1.6 lbs
Arctyrex Rho LT Zip fleece	0.44 lb
Lightweight t-shirts	0.33 x 3 = 1 lb
The North Face convertible pants	0.80 lb
Swim trucks	0.60 lb

Sleeping Gear and Shelter (11.65 lbs)

Marmot Limelite 3P (Old Style) tent with poles, ground sheet & pegs	7.20 lbs
Sea to Summit Ascent AC Regular Sleeping Bag	2.60 lbs
Exped DownMat Lite 5 M Sleeping Mat	1.40 lbs
MEC Deluxe Pillow	0.25 lb
Headlamp	0.20 lb

Cooking Gear (1.40 lbs)

1 Full 591 mL fuel bottle

1.40 lbs

WCT Packing List: Food (3.87 lbs)

Stinger Organic Chews	0.10 lb x 7 = 0.70 lb
Granola bars	0.07 lb x 5 = 0.35 lb
Aero Chocolate Bar	0.20 lb
Hot chocolate	0.1 lb x 2 = 0.20 lb
Beef Jerky	0.60 lb x 2 = 1.20 lbs
Backpacker Pantry Fettucine Alfredo with Chicken	0.42 lb
Alpine Aire Sweet and Sour Grilled Chicken	0.40 lb
Alpine Aire Ginger Stir Fried Rice with Beef	0.40 lb

Toiletries (0.95 lb)

Travel size toothbrush	0.10 lb
Travel size toothpaste	0.10 lb
Travel size deodorant	0.10 lb
Sunglasses	0.10 lb
Toilet paper	0.25 lb
Hand sanitizer	0.10 lb
Mini sunscreen	0.10 lb x 2 = 0.2 lb

If you typically drink a lot of water on the trail, you’ll need to account for that in your weight; your pack will be heavier, like Kris’ pack. The CamelBak Crux Reservoir can be purchased in different sizes depending on how much you like to drink.

WCT Packing List: Equipment Chelsea Brought (41 lbs)

Backpacking Gear (16.54 lbs)

Item	Weight
MEC Ibex 65 backpack	6.20 lbs
Rain pack cover	0.20 lb
2L CamelBak Crux Reservoir with 1.5 L of water	3.50 lbs
Hiking boots (removed from calculations)	2.00 lbs (wearing 1st day, added when crossing creeks)
Keen sandals	1.80 lbs
Komperdell Ti-7 EXP Powerlock Poles (removed from calculations)	1.00 lb (added when climbing ladders)
Gaiters (removed from calculations)	0.40 lb (wearing 1st day)
S10+ phone to take pictures	0.60 lb
A couple sheets of paper for journaling	0.10 lb
Hat	0.16 lb
Deet (Mosquito Repellent)	0.20 lb
10 L dry bags	0.14 lb x 2 bags = 0.28 lb

WCT Packing List: Clothes (8.50 lbs)

MEC Terrena Stretch Convertible Pants	0.94 lb
5 pairs of hiking socks	0.87 lb
1 Regular white sock	0.13 lb
1 Fleece jacket	0.70 lb
1 Micro fleece jacket	0.50 lb
Merino Base Layer Crew	0.48 lb
Merino 250 Top Base Layer 1/4 Zip Long Sleeve	0.50 lb
Merino pant base layer	0.46 lb
3 Smartwool t-shirts	0.45 lb x 3 = 1.35 lbs
2 Bras	0.20 lb
7 Pairs of underwear	0.033 lb x 7= 0.23 lb
Swimsuit	0.20 lb
Ultralight towel	0.10 lb
Beta LT Rain Jacket (removed from calculations)	0.77 lb (wearing 1st day)
MEC Hydrofoil Stretch Rain Pants (removed from calculations)	0.86 lb (wearing 1st day)
Thick hat	0.20 lb
Mitts	0.013 lb

Sleeping Gear (4.91 lbs)

MEC Delphinus -9 Down Sleeping Bag	2.82 lbs
Exped Downmat UL7 Sleeping Pad	1.64 lbs
MEC Deluxe Pillow	0.25 lb
Headlamp	0.20 lb

Cooking Gear (5.19 lbs)

GSI Escape 2L Pot (collapsible to save on space)	1.13 lbs
Sea To Summit XBowl	0.17 lb x 2 = 0.34 lb to carry both of ours
Sea To Summit X Mug 480ml	0.13 lb x 2 = 0.26 lb to carry both of ours
Spork	0.02 lb
500 mL water bottle	0.20 lb
MSR WhisperLite stove	0.73 lb
1 full 591 mL fuel bottle	1.40 lbs
1 pack waterproof matches	0.05 lb
1 cloth for washing	0.15 lb
1 cloth for drying	0.15 lb
Biodegradable soap	0.10 lb
MSR HyperFlow Microfilter	0.66 lb

WCT Packing List: Food (8.61 lbs)

Sour Patch Kids	0.20 lb
Ritter sport peppermint chocolate bar	0.22 lb
Pro bar	0.15 lb
Clif bars	0.15 lb x 6 = 0.90 lb
Tuna package + wraps + pumpkin seeds + seaweed	1.00 lb
Hot chocolate packages	0.10 lb x 3 = 0.30 lb
Oatmeal packages	0.09 lb x 7 = 1.26 lbs
Stinger Organic Chews	0.10 lb x 7 = 0.70 lb
Hummus package	0.21 lb
Rice Crackers	0.22 lb
Couscous + chicken + peas + corn + green beans	0.40 lb
Uncle Ben’s rice + chicken + corn + green beans + carrots	0.40 lb
Beef Jerky	0.15 lb
Cup-a-Soup	0.10 lb x 4 = 0.40 lb
Polenta Cheese Stew	0.40 lb
Pork Pad Thai	0.40 lb
Nut mixes	0.10 lb x 4 = 0.40 lb
Almonds	0.10 lb
Babybel bag	0.50 lb
Fresh pea bag	0.30 lb

Toiletries (2.62 lbs)

Travel size toothbrush	0.10 lb
Travel size toothpaste	0.10 lb
Travel size deodorant	0.10 lb
Elastics	0.10 lb
Glasses/case	0.10 lb
Contacts	0.10 lb
Sunglasses	0.10 lb
Toilet paper	0.41 lb x 3 = 1.22 lbs
Hand sanitizer	0.50 lb
Birth control	0.10 lb
Pads	0.10 lb

CamelBak Crux Reservoir

A CamelBak Crux Reservoir is ideal to drink from on the trail. They come in different sizes depending on how much water you intend on drinking. You can drink on the go. A water bottle will cause you to stop and take off your pack (or get someone to grab it for you and give it to you) which kills your momentum just to have a drink – which is not ideal.

Sandals and Poles

Sandals are critical to help provide grip when crossing creeks. Wearing your boots would soak them, making them uncomfortable to walk in (and potentially creating blisters). With slippery rocks, going bare feet would provide no stability, making it dangerous to cross waterways. Poles will also help with your balance hiking in the woods, in the mud, on the beach or while crossing creeks.

WCT Packing List Tips

One 10 L dry bag each for Kris and I worked well to carry our food and store it in the bear-proof bins each night. Put your small inflatable pillow in a compressed sleeping bag to save on space. I chose not to bring a hair brush – the traveling size ones were too big for my taste. I put my hair in a pony tail with my hands which seemed to do the trick. It’s not ideal, but with the pack size I had, I decided to compromise with myself as I didn’t want more weight added!

Overall Pack Weight

After completing our trip we realized that we could do some additional weight trimming. The tables below show more items we could eliminate from our next backpacking trip.

WCT Packing List: Equipment Kris Would Eliminate

Equipment	Weight	Reason to Eliminate It
Heavy sandals	1.80 lbs – 0.83 lb = 0.97 lb	Too heavy, get lighter ones (0.97 lb)
Anker portable solar charger (to charge your phones)	0.92 lb	Too heavy and bulky. It requires lots of sun to charge which is rare on the WCT. Use battery pack only.
GoPro	0.30 lb	Didn’t take any pictures with it. The S10+ phone was fantastic to take pictures and is also waterproof.
Marmot Limelite 3P Old Style tent	7.20 lbs – 1.10 lbs = 6.10 lbs	Get a lighter tent (6.10 lbs)
A second 591 mL fuel bottle	1.40 lbs	One was sufficient. We didn’t need to bring two bottles.
Chocolate bar	0.20 lb	It wasn’t necessary, could have it at the end of the trail as a reward for completing the West Coast Trail
Total Weight Saved	4.89 lbs

After eliminating his non-essential items at four pounds, he would have had a lighter, more manageable pack weight at thirty-six pounds.

Anker Portable Charger

The Anker is big, bulky, and awkward to carry since it needs to be stored straight up in the backpack. We didn’t get to use the Anker very often as it requires full sun and by the time we arrived at the campsite the sun was close to setting. Kris strapped it to the outside of his backpack when we had a full day of the sun walking on the beach – this worked but wasn’t entirely practical. Portable battery packs would be easier to charge (without needing sunlight) and more compact to carry.

WCT Packing List: Equipment Chelsea Would Eliminate

The 500 mL water bottle created extra weight that wasn’t necessary. My chicken and vegetables reconstituted themselves in the boiling water the following nights while cooking supper. I wouldn’t recommend rehydrating meals while backpacking and won’t be bringing the extra bottle for future trips.

Equipment Removed

Equipment	Weight	Reason to Eliminate It
MEC Ibex 65 backpack	6.20 lbs – 1.73 lbs = 4.47 lbs	Too heavy, buy a lighter one (4.47 lbs)
Heavy sandals	1.80 lbs – 0.83 lb = 0.97 lb	Too heavy, bring lighter ones (0.97 lb)
500 mL water bottle	0.20 lb	Wasn’t required, dehydrate veggies and chicken in pot while cooking it
Cloth for washing	0.15 lb	Too heavy, bring light sponge
Cloth for dying	0.15 lb	Too heavy, bring light sponge
Green fleece jacket	0.50 lb – 0.30 lb = 0.20 lb	A fleece is bulky and heavy to carry. A down jacket is more compact, just as warm, and lighter (0.20 lb).
Sea To Summit X Mug 480ml	0.26 lb	We rarely drank from them
2 packages of cup-a-soup	0.20 lb	2 cup-soup packages would have been sufficient
15 sour candies	0.15 lb	five sour candies would be sufficient
Hummus package	0.21 lb	I didn’t eat it
Chocolate bar	0.20 lb	Not necessary
2 nut mixes	0.20 lb	It’s heavy to bring 4 packages
Bag of almonds	0.10 lb	I barely ate any
6 Babybel cheese	0.25 lb	Kris and I didn’t eat a whole bag.
Total Weight Saved	4.93 lbs

After eliminating five pounds of non essential items, my pack would be thirty-six pounds, losing a total of five pounds. It would have been a much more enjoyable trip if my pack had been lighter.

Tip #1: Re-assess your clothes, equipment, and food after finishing your backpacking trip. It’s much easier to make a list and decide what to leave behind after having finished your trip than try to remember what you didn’t want to bring when you start packing for your next trip. I keep thinking I’ll remember but the truth is, I really don’t remember the packing details from my last trips, especially if it’s been a couple years in between.

Tip #2: Try to pack in advance so that you can weigh your pack early and eliminate unnecessary items before you start your trip. We got caught having heavy packs with no time to readjust our chosen items.

Final Thoughts

Now that we have completed the WCT trip, it’s much easier to know what not to bring. These tables provide equipment weight and an understanding of what is important to bring and what is classified as a luxury item for future outdoor adventures with my family and Kris. To get fit for the West Coast Trail, make sure you backpack different hikes first to get trained and be in strong physical shape. Read 33 Lessons I Learned from backpacking the WCT Twice to get ready for your trip. This ultimate WCT packing list has everything you need to get you on the right track to have a reasonable backpack weight.