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Catching Z's on the PCT
Getting Great Sleep on the Pacific Crest Trail
The best consistent sleep I’ve ever had was out on the PCT. When you think about it, it’s actually not that surprising. As you analyze everything that goes into the day to day of a thru-hike, it’s basically a prescription for great sleep.
- You generally wake up and go to sleep with the sun, following a much more natural circadian rhythm.
- You burn an INSANE amount of energy each day, ensuring that when your head hits the clothes- or food-sack that serves as your pillow at night you will be out like a light.
- While you use apps like Halfmile and Guthook, you are generally on your phone significantly less than at home. Studies have shown that less screen time leads to better sleep.
- A very regular bedtime routine of cooking and setting up camp helps prime your body and mind for sleep.
- The actual environment that you’re sleeping in is about as good as it gets. Experts recommend that your room should be dark, quiet, and cold for optimal sleep. Sound familiar? Like sleeping out in the middle of the wilderness? Yes please.
So What Did All of These Thru-Hikers Use to Get This Legendary Sleep?
The exact sleep system used by thru-hikers on the PCT was probably one of the most varied systems out there. The majority of hikers are solo hikers and used all kinds of ultralight tents, sleeping pads, sleeping bags, hammocks, cowboy camping, and other styles.
Since that was not how we did it, I can’t attest to many of those personally. Instead I’ll break down how we decided to tackle this aspect of the hike as a pair of hikers. There were plenty of adjustments we needed to make throughout the trip, but this was the set-up that worked the best for us.
Double D’s 2016 PCT Sleep System
The Numbers:
Weight (with fly, footprint, poles, stakes):
Dimensions: 90” x 54” at Head, 90” x 44” at Feet
Floor Area: 28.7 feet
Season: 3-Season
People: 2-Person
What We Liked: There is a lot to love about this lightweight tent from REI. A lot of “2-person” tents really feel more like 1.5 person tents; when 2 people actually try to fit inside it feels cramped and claustrophobic. This is not the case with the Quarter Dome. The headboard and overhead storage makes it easy to get all your crap out of the way and feel plenty spacious inside.
The design simplicity and effectiveness was also great. The singular hubbed poleset made it easy for me to set-up by myself in a short amount of time. It also had PHENOMENAL ventilation compared to other tents we tried. The top head vent allowed heat and condensation to be released, while the slightly raised vestibules allowed just the right amount of air movement inside to fight condensation. Top marks in this category.
It might seem like a small detail to focus on, but we also loved that it had two doors (one on each side). We started the hike with a Big Agnes Fly Creek 2 and it’s singular front door made getting in and out for each of us a major hassle in the mornings and evenings. The dual doors let each of us get settled in the tent without bumping into the other too much and helped keep packs and gear separated under each of our own vestibules.
The final thing that sets this tent apart from other lightweight tents is the price point. We ended up getting it on sale and it was easily less than half the price of some others that we were considering.
What Could Be Improved: That decreased cost comes at a price… Well, at a weight price anyways. Although it still lands in the lighter side of lightweight tents, there are some much lighter popular ultralight options like the Big Agnes Copper Spur 2 out there. I haven’t used the Copper Spur 2, but admit I’m a little skeptical. It gets some great reviews from other folks online, but every Big Agnes tent that I’ve used has always had some significant problems with condensation.
The durability of the zippers also left something to be desired. I get that they are trying to cut down on weight, and so decided to go with a smaller thread and zipper, but we ended up having to exchange ours right before Washington due to the zippers failing on Doug’s side of the tent. I think it would be worth a tiny bit of added weight to improve the durability there.
The Big Picture: The REI Quarter Dome 2 is a great lower-priced alternative to many of the ultra-expensive, ultralight tents out there. It provides a roomy and dry freestanding shelter at a very light weight, especially if you are able to split that weight between two people.
Dodge’s Bedding:
Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol Sleeping Pad
The Numbers:
Weight: 14 oz. (Regular size)
Dimensions: 72 x 20 x 0.75 inches (Regular size)
R-Value: 2.6 (R-Value is a measure of insulation / warmth provided)
What I Liked: There was a lot that I loved about this affordable sleeping pad, enough that it’s going to be hard for me to go back to my old inflatable pad.
The weight is a great place to start. With the full-size pad weighing in at 14 oz., it’s lighter than quite a few inflatable pads out there. It’s also much easier to get set up, involving essentially no time to throw it down and unfurl it. The same goes for packing it up in the morning; it’s a great time-saver to get out of camp by the time that you want to and hit the trail before it heats up too much.
I also loved the versatility and durability of it. I can’t count the number of times I used it to sit on all folded up when a good rock or log wasn’t readily available. It was also great being able to throw it down right on the ground to grab a quick nap after lunch and not have to worry about it being punctured like an inflatable one could be.
The relatively cheap price point doesn’t hurt, and neither does the fact that you slide and squeak significantly less on this closed-cell design than you may on a traditional or ultralight sleeping pad.
What Could Be Improved: To be perfectly honest, there was a bit of an adjustment period to get used to it. It doesn’t offer as much cushion as an inflatable and if you have hip or knee problems, that may be too much to overcome (as was the case for my dad). By the end of the trip I also noticed that it had lost a decent amount of its cushioning relative to when it was brand new, but this wasn’t terribly surprising.
Also for packing it away, it needs to be lashed to the outside of the pack, making it a little more cumbersome than one inside would be. Minor detail.
The Big Picture: I ended up loving my sleeping pad WAY more than I thought I would originally. It was an incredibly versatile, functional, durable, and comfortable enough sleeping pad that comes in at a price point that is low enough to make getting two over the course of a thru-hike a realistic option.
The Numbers:
Fill Weight: 27.9 oz.
EN Lower Limit: 12 degrees Farenheit
Style: Mummy
What I Liked: As hikers get further north and the months get closer to December, one will notice that the temperature starts to drop significantly every night (along with the standard pre-dawn drop). When this became the norm I was so glad I had a bag that was rated as low as it was. Over the course of a thru-hike, bags can lose their insulation due to a number of factors including the accumulation of dirt and body oils. I heard complaints from other hikers who started with a 30 degree bag and it wasn’t even that warm by the end. Was it harder to get out of my toasty sleeping bag on a cold morning in the Northern Cascades? Yup. Was I glad that I had that warm little toaster to climb into at the start of frigid night after night? You betcha.
What Could Be Improved: The only thing that really bugged me about my sleeping bag was the weight. I already knew my Big 3 could have been reduced significantly from what it weighed, and so the added physical stress of carrying more combined with the nagging knowledge that I was carrying too much sometimes got to me. This was especially true through the desert when I had trouble sleeping because I was too sweaty and warm in that bag.
The Big Picture: I would highly recommend contributing a significant part of your thru-hike budget for gear towards an ultralight, low-temp-rated sleeping bag. It’s one of the few things that you’re going to be using for 100+ nights in a row, so you might as well spend a little more and get it right! I would still opt for something on the warmer side (think 25 degrees and below), but with an emphasis on cutting weight down significantly.
