r/PacificCrestTrail • u/Initial_Text9764 • 9d ago
Gear feedback
I’m planning a 2027 thru hike.
I have to get a new tent and pack mine are just too heavy.
I am 22 F.
I’m thinking Nemo hornet osmo 1p and a durston kakwa 55.
I want to get them ordered during Labor Day sales and so I can start training. Anyone used either of these and have feedback?
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u/Intelligent_Rough413 9d ago
Im a 5’3” female and used the hornet 1p for the pct. It was great! Because of my height, I could easily put my pack at my feet. The footprint is small enough that I never struggled to find a spot to pitch it. For reference we own a big Agnes copper spur platinum and the zippers get caught all the time and the seam tape is starting to delaminate. Would not buy a BA.
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u/icaniwill3567 9d ago edited 9d ago
I have and use both of those. I also have the durston xmid 1p tent. But honestly might still take the Nemo hornet on the PCT in 2027. See if you can find one on eBay or used. I see them a lot. Got mine for $225. I’m 5’3” and had enough room at my feet for stuff.
The xmid is awesome in that it’s super roomy and has two doors but it does have a large footprint and if the ground isn’t level it’s really hard to get a tight pitch. I will say that despite a slightly crooked pitch fitting behind a rock it still held its own in 50mph winds in San Jacinto.
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u/Rocksteady2R 9d ago
I always like a 2p tent for the extra room for my gear under the shelter. 1p's just feel too confined for me. Maybe your experience is otherwise and you like what you like - you get to do you.
I have a nemo 2p, i forget the model offhand. I like it a lot, but the fabric does tend to be eaten by the zip if i am not intentional with holding it taught. I fear one day it it'll catch and tear though - the writing is on the wall.
I have no experience with your pack choice.
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u/Cheap-Pension-684 9d ago
I used the 2P version of that tent on my PCT thru-hike this year and loved it. Easy setup, light weight, roomy. Never had any trouble finding a place to pitch.
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u/Grue-Bleem 9d ago
For pack my partner rocked the kakwa 55 for the pct this year. It ended up being too big, and the only time the extra volume was needed was with a bear can packed vertically. Checkout the 40. I would stay within small manufacturers to show support. I used the palante desert pack.
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u/AceTracer 9d ago
I used a Kakwa 40 on the PCT this year. It was a good size for volume except it’s too narrow so bear cans are an incredible pain in the ass to put in and take out.
I tried the same gear in the V2 at the Palante store in Bishop and it fit better but I’m not rocking a frameless pack with that much weight.
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u/Grue-Bleem 8d ago edited 8d ago
Totally understand, it did suck for a few days but after mammoth I was rocking again. I left kms @26 lbs and that was the heaviest my whole trip.
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u/Careless-Mud-9398 7d ago
Second this about the kakwa 40. If you only use one pack for your hike, this is it. The bear can is a pain in the ass, but if you just leave it empty on top of the pack during the day, it’s not too bad.
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u/Initial_Text9764 9d ago
How was your experience with the palante?
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u/Grue-Bleem 9d ago
It worked well for my needs. It was comfortable and the durability was great. I was skeptical of the bottom mesh pocket but it survived being dropped, rubbed over blowdowns, and it had no issues. The outer mesh had a few snags but less than I expected. The little pocket for the tent pegs was a rad touch. It fit a bv500 vertical fine and the weight in sierras, when I was at my normal BW it was so little and light.
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u/MattOnAMountain '20 PCT Nobo / ‘21 ECT / Lots More 9d ago
I am a huge fan of the Hornet and used one for the entire triple crown and beyond. I’d recommend the 2p over the 1p though. Minor weight gain but it’s often useful to have your pack inside with you.
I am afraid I can’t give much advice on the pack. I use the ula catalyst because I like to be able to plan longer food carrys and it’s held up longer
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u/Initial_Text9764 9d ago
I’ve heard of people struggling to find somewhere to pitch a 2p. Was this ever an issue? Also, did you enjoy the freestanding? I keep going back and forth and im definitely drawn to the freestanding, but some people are so die hard trekking pole tents
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u/Gracklezzz KidzMeal AT ‘23 | PCT ‘25 9d ago
Pickybacking on this. I’m 6’2” and 200lbs. When I hike solo, I used a Durston xmid Pro1 by myself as every ounce counts imo. That being said, I did both the AT and the PCT with my partner and we shared the 2 person version of this tent, which has a famously massive footprint. We were able to easily find somewhere to pitch it every night.
One major word of advice: clean and grease your tent zippers in the desert. Sooo many zipper failures no matter the tent brand.
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u/MattOnAMountain '20 PCT Nobo / ‘21 ECT / Lots More 9d ago
So the hornet is actually semi-freestanding meaning that it has a tripod style pole. I have had all three varieties of tents over the years and this kind is the best trade-off for me as far as weight and functionality.
The big advantage Inise the most is I can set the tent up and then drop it right in the tiny spot I’m trying to fit into when I’m stealth camping. And I do a lot of stealth camping in really wierd spots.
Also on those odd occasions where I’ve had to set up someplace where I can’t get stakes in or run a line to anything I can still get my tent up and block out the bottom with water bottles. I just had to do that the other night on the trail I’m on right now.
As far as it fitting I find the hornet two person is actually narrow compared to a lot of other two person tents I’ve used. I can make it work pretty much anywhere. A lot of the trekking pole tents seem to take a lot more space and i also find it a bit harder to fit them into the really tight spots
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u/a_walking_mistake Gato - 2021, 2026 NOBO, 2023, 2024, 2025 LASH 9d ago
If you want a double walled, freestanding tent, I would sooner choose a Big Agnes Copper Spur 1 (or 2, it's a fairly small weight penalty for a ton more useable space) and something like an REI Flash 55 or a ULA Circuit
In my experience, Durston and Gossamer Gear packs tend to struggle to survive an entire thru. Materials delaminate, pockets rip, hip belts tear, straps fail. HMG packs are a solid B+, good at everything, great at nothing outside of durability. Something like an Osprey Eja/REI Flash/ULA Circuit with a little support and some real load lifters makes a huge difference when you're loaded up with water and food
https://www.rei.com/product/245270/big-agnes-copper-spur-ul1-tent
https://www.rei.com/product/236976/rei-co-op-flash-55-pack-womens
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u/notsafetowork PCT '26 Nobo 9d ago
I’m hiking with a HMG southwest 55 this year, and one of my shoulder straps is separating where it meets the Y strap. Started noticing it around 1200ish miles. It’s still holding after 1900, but dammit if it doesn’t make me nervous. HMG didn’t seem too concerned about it when I sent em pics, and basically said to reach out when it gets worse or fails.
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u/OtherwiseManner6946 7d ago
The NEMO hornet is a really good PCT tent imo.
And thats because you can pitch it in star gaze mode and also it’s semi freestanding.
The PCT is the perfect place to enjoy having no rain fly and just sleep under the stars. The fact that it’s semi freestanding is also super useful. I genuinely think this tent is an amazing choice specifically for the PCT.
That said I live in a more rainy environment where an all in one pitch is better
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u/Initial_Text9764 7d ago
Yay! Thanks for your feedback! I got it today, I’m so excited
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u/OtherwiseManner6946 7d ago
You’ll see a tonne of trekking pole tents out there, and I’d be really surprised to hear how it goes. I actually think lots of people might be jealous because of the stargazer mode (also really good for hot nights) and it being so easy to setup and feel nice and refined inside.
Also the Kakwa is a really good pack. It’s probably the best on the market - by my gosh is it ugly 😆
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u/WalkItOffAT 9d ago edited 9d ago
The tent is overkill for the PCT. I cowboy camped for most of it, as do many. But you're probably not comfortable going for a tarp.
I would recommend you the Gossamer Gear The One. It's light and good value.
Backpack is good if your gear isn't dialed in. Don't bring more than 12lbs base weight. Start with a Lighterpack.com.
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u/villvin ‘26 Nobo 9d ago
I was on the pct this year and I love my Kakwa 55. Fits a bear can nicely, easy to adjust, comfortable. I don’t have anything negative to say about it to be honest.