>>2520592You'll notice that the PCT is in fact an established trail and that most thru-hikers are not headed into the backcountry. You won't believe this but you can actually tailor your kit to the task. You always balance risk with your plan and kit, otherwise you wouldnt leave sight of a trauma center. And most times you have minor issues like a cut, sting, or rolled ankle, very rarely major injury, and even more rarely postulated scenarios where you could survive if you had major injury BUT ALSO have a broken SOS unit.
>>2522007Middle of the road choice type stuff would mostly be a nylon or polyester shelter, a less Gucci sleeping pad, using a fleece or other jacket and not a down jacket, frogg togg rain gear, etc. There's a lot gear that is both good and cheap though. And of course there's a lot to be said by just not bringing stuff. Just watched a gear brake down and this dude barely brought anything beyond sleep gear and cheap food. Really does work out if all you do is walk sun-up to sun-down.
