Complete Teton Crest Trail packing list

backpack (50-75L): Osprey Aura AG 50 (Women’s) / Atmos AG 50 (Men’s)

I used my classic Aura AG 50 and easily fit everything inside for 5 days, including food, camp gear, and some light scramble gear.

mountaineering boots: La Sportiva Trango Tech Leather GTX Boots (women’s) / (men’s)

A bit overkill for the standard TCT, but they handled the rocky summit scrambles, scree fields, and heavy pack loads like a dream. If you’re doing Middle or South Teton, these offer more support and grip than trail boots without feeling clunky, so they’re a must!

helmet: Black Diamond Half Dome Helmet (women’s) / (men’s)

I brought this specifically for Middle and South Teton— loose rock and steep Class 2-3 scrambling made it essential for any off-trail activity!

trekking poles: Black Diamond Trail Trekking Poles

I used these every day on the trail and they were especially helpful on long descents and uneven terrain with a full pack. I collapsed and stashed them for the summit scrambles, but they saved my knees on the way down from the saddle!

PLB/SOS: Garmin InReach Mini 2

A Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) is your lifeline in the outdoors and I NEVER go hiking without my Garmin InReach Mini 2, which allows me to send messages, get weather updates, track location, and place an SOS call in an emergency, even without phone service. It does require a subscription (starting at $12/month), but it’s worth every cent and has literally saved both of my parents’ lives in the backcountry!

GPS: CalTopo app on mobile

The absolute best GPS resource is the smartphone you already own, paired with a reliable, low-cost GPS mapping app that allows you to access detailed offline Topo maps and navigate via GPS satellites, even without mobile service.

My go-to is CalTopo, which costs just $20/year and is by far the most feature-rich, affordable, and accurate mapping tool out there.

🗺️ I built a custom Teton Crest Trail GPS map with daily tracks based on my 5-day itinerary, dozens of waypoints + side-summits, and other essential navigational information to help you stay on track.

First Aid Kit: Adventure Medical Kits Backpacker

All the usual essentials:
• a mix of NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen)
• antihistamines (Claritin for allergies, Benadryl for bites/stings)
• a small selection of stomach meds (like Imodium or Pepto tabs)
• a roll of KT tape (insanely versatile for everything from blisters to rolled ankles)
• alcohol wipes, antiseptic, a few large gauze pads, and blister plasters like Compeed

headlamp: Black Diamond Spot 400-R

A bright, rechargeable headlamp is essential for evenings around camp and (hopefully not) late nights on the trail. Lightweight and easy to stash in a top pocket for quick access!

powerbank: VRURC Portable Charger with Built-in Cables, 10000mAh

I used my phone constantly for navigation and photos, plus needed power for my inReach and headlamp. I carried a 10,000mAh powerbank and a solar charger, which was just enough to stay topped up in the Tetons.

solar charger: BigBlue 28W Solar Charger

On multi-day trips with no access to power, a lightweight solar charger can be a great alternative to carrying multiple powerbanks. I definitely recommend one on the TCT to top up your phone, inReach, and headlamp during sunny lunch breaks— just enough to stay comfortably powered without the extra weight.

👉🏼 Want to see how we capture photos and videos on our adventures? Peak inside our camera bag!

backpacking tent: Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 (solo hikers) or Nemo Dragonfly OSMO 3P (for 2 sharing)

A lightweight 3-season backpacking tent is perfect for the TCT. Since I was camping alone, I packed my Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2, but the Nemo Dragonfly OSMO 3P would be a great upgrade in size for a couple sharing a tent.

sleeping bag: Sea to Summit Spark 0

A 0°F (-18°C) sleeping bag was more than enough for summer nights— probably warmer than necessary, but I appreciated the extra insulation at Garnet Meadows and on cooler mornings since I’m such a cold sleeper.

sleeping pad: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT Sleeping Pad

For backpacking, I always use an inflatable insulated pad with a high R-value (above 4). This is my favourite ultralight pad, but it pays to be honest with yourself— if you need a beefy pad to get good sleep, it will be worth the weight for you to upgrade to something like the Big Agnes Rapide SL that James uses.

camp pillow: Sea to Summit Aeros Premium

A camp pillow is a small, lightweight addition to your sleep system that is guaranteed to improve your sleep compared to stuffing clothes in a pillow.

camp chair (luxury item!): REI Co-op Flexlite Air

Not essential, but very nice to have—especially if you’ll be spending long evenings in camp. This chair weighs under 450g and packs small enough to justify the comfort on relaxed trips, so I loved having it on the TCT.

camp shoes: Teva Original

Easy to slip on after hiking boots, great for giving feet a breather, and worked well for setting up camp and short bathroom walks.

toiletries

Toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, deodorant, medications, contact solution… whatever you need to stay clean and comfortable for 5 days on the trail!

bear storage: Ursack Major Bear Sack + BearVault BV450 Jaunt Bear Canister

Bear safety is mandatory in Grand Teton National Park, and you’re required to use approved bear-resistant food storage at all campsites. I packed freeze-dried food in an Ursack Major, which is a lightweight and flexible anti-critter/bear bag (that must be hung away from camp), then shared a BearVault BV450 canister for fresh food/snacks (anything not freeze-dried).

camp stove (+ fuel): Jetboil Zip

Simple, reliable, and boils water fast—perfect for freeze-dried meals and hot cocoa at camp.

mess kit + cutlery: Sea to Summit Frontier Ultralight Collapsible 4-Piece Dinnerware Set

At the very minimum, your mess kit should contain a spoon and cup; at most, it might extend to a bowl and fork.

water filter: Katadyn BeFree 1.oL Water Filter

A compact squeeze filter is the easiest way to make clean drinking water from the many streams and lakes you’ll pass on the trail.

water reservoir: HydraPak Seeker 2L

On top of your filter and your water bottle, backpacking trips call for a water reservoir— a lightweight, collapsible container used to haul dirty water from a stream or lake back to camp. Use it to fill pots for dinner or filter into bottles without crouching over a creek for 10 minutes! Lightweight, packable, and seriously practical when you’re dry camping or need to filter for multiple people.

water bottle or bladder: Nalgene Wide Mouth or Osprey Hydraulics Reservoir 2L

I personally don’t like bladders on overnight trips since they can be especially challenging to fill when you’re filtering water (and the consequences of leakage can be catastrophic if it soaks your sleeping bag), so instead I pack 1-2 standard Nalgene bottles. As you like it!

electrolytes

If you’re sweating a lot and/or gaining serious elevation, drinking plain water simply isn’t enough to replenish the salts your body is losing. I recommend adding electrolyte tablets to at least half of the water you’re drinking during a multi-day backpacking trip to help with performance and hydration!

Best overall: Liquid IV

freeze-dried meals + snacks

Pack whatever you need for 5 days on the trail!

Favourite brands: Peak Refuel; Packit Gourmet; Backpacker’s Pantry; Real Turmat (European brand)

👉🏼 Check out this post for a breakdown on how we pack backcountry food for multi-day backpacking trips

2x sports bras + underwear

I’m not going to tell you what undergarments to pack, but just consider you’ll be doing a lot of sweating in the summer heat! I hiked in a sports bra and shorts every day, including for my scrambles.

hiking shirt: Arc’teryx Taema Crew Shirt (women’s) / Cormac Crew Shirt (men’s)

I’d suggest bringing just one shirt and washing it in the river partway through the trek!

wool base layer: Smartwool Classic Thermal Base Layer Top (women’s) / (men’s)

This was my base layer for sleeping, but didn’t get much use beyond that because it was so warm!

heavyweight fleece mid-layer: Arc’teryx Kyanite Zip Neck Top (women’s) / Rho Heavyweight Zip Neck Top (men’s)

I used this occasionally in the early morning or during side summit scrambles. It mostly stayed in my pack, but was a nice mid-layer to have when the wind picked up.

synthetic insulation: Arc’teryx Atom Hoody (women’s) / (men’s)

Perfect for camp comfort and summit day warmth, I used this jacket every single day as my outer layer. One of the very few backpacking trips I’ve ever been on without a down jacket, but I honestly didn’t need it in August! Earlier in the season, consider adding a lightweight down layer to your camp layers.

shell jacket: Arc’teryx Beta SL Jacket (women’s) / (men’s)

Lightweight, packable, and absolutely worth carrying in the Tetons— where a bluebird morning can still end in a 4pm thunderstorm.

hiking shorts: Lululemon Align shorts

I’m a fan of the lightest, most fitted athletic shorts for scrambling— I find it just keeps the focus on my feet and not on any clothing movement. Whatever your own preference, I’d recommend 1-2 pairs of shorts for 5-day route.

fleece mid-layer bottoms: Arc’teryx Kyanite Base Layer Bottoms (women’s) / (men’s)

I wore these as my camp pants and they were the perfect amount of warmth and comfort!

sun hat: Arc’teryx Gamma 5-Panel Cap

Worn daily on the trail, even under my helmet when scrambling.

glacier glasses: Julbo Vermont

From glacier travel to rocky scrambles, these are my favourite outdoor sunglasses.

neck gaiter: Buff Original

Lightweight and versatile, a Buff is essential for protecting against daily sun, sweat, dust, and wind.

lightweight hiking gloves: Outdoor Research Trail Mix Gloves (women’s) / (men’s)

Nice to have for chilly mornings or setting up camp in the wind. These were thin, breathable, and just warm enough without overheating my hands during movement.

2x liner socks: Injinji Liner Crew

I wore my favourite toe-sock liners under my boot socks to reduce friction and prevent blisters throughout the trail.

2x boot socks: Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew Cushion Socks (women’s) / (men’s)

My go-to socks for backpacking— durable, padded, and still comfy after multiple days of trail grime. I’d recommend 2 pairs of socks for this 5-day route.