Ultimate Wonderland Trail Gear List In 2025

There’s no better way to test new gear than on an actual trip, especially on the Wonderland hike around Mt. Rainier. I’m bringing a detailed list of equipment, including a rain wrap, because even in late July, the weather here is unpredictable. A little rain won’t bother me—it’s just another chance to see how my gear holds up on the trail.

Why Gear Choices Matter

Packing for this trail isn’t just about having the right gear; it’s about preparing for Mt. Rainier’s ever-changing conditions. My thoughts on each piece of equipment come from years of hiking, and this time, I’m excited to put some new gear to the test.

Wonderland Trail Gear List

🎒 Backpack Essentials

• Gossamer Gear Camo Kumo 36: My frameless pack choice for this light setup (only 15 lbs with food and water) Includes hip belt, Airflow Sit Light Pad, and nylofume liner – a perfect experiment in minimalism.

🛌 Sleep System

• Enlightened Equipment Enigma 10° Quilt: Paired with a Sea to Summit Aeros UL pillow
• Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Uberlite: Testing this light pad after 5 nights of success.

⛺ Shelter

• Big Agnes Tiger Wall 3 Platinum: A light but spacious three-person tent for backpacking
• Tested in car camping, now ready for the trail.

� Cooking Setup

• Talenti Jar and GSI plastic spoon: My ultralight kitchen
• Zpacks Food Bag: No bear canister needed – bear poles at all campsites

💧 Water Filtration

• Sawyer Micro Squeeze: Testing its flow rate for clear water (plus backup Sawyer 32 oz bag)
• Smartwater 1L bottle: Durable and sport cap-friendly

👕 Worn Clothing

• Mountain Hardware Crater Lake Hoody: Breathable hiking top that actually fits (unlike muggy Patagonia options) Patagonia Strider Shorts, Icebreaker merino wool underwear, and Injinji Trail socks Altra Lone Peak 4.0 shoes + Kavu Strapcap for sun protection

🎒 Packed Clothing

• Mountain Hardware Ghost Whisperer and OR Helium II rain shell
• Enlightened Equipment Copperfield wind pants: Proven on my Yosemite trip
• Rain Wrap kilt: For ventilation during rain
• Backup merino wool layers and Montbell rain mitts

🚽 Hygiene Kit

• Kula Cloth (the best pee cloth for backpacking women)
• Sun Bum SPF 30 lip balm/sunscreen and Body Glide for chafe healing
• Deuce of Spades trowel (despite pit toilets at campsites)

⚠️ Safety & Repairs

• Garmin inReach Mini: Compact but critical for battery life tracking
• First Aid Kit with Leukotape, ibuprofen, and alcohol swabs
• Repair Kit: Includes Therm-a-rest patch and duct tape on poles

🔋 Electronics

• Anker 10000 PD Power Bank: Half the size of my PCT 20,000 version
• Sony a6000 camera with 24-105mm lens – worth the 2.5 lbs for crisp pics
• Nitecore NU25 headlamp: Reliable and lightweight

🎯 Final Touches

• Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork trekking poles
• Base weight: 9 lbs (excluding camera gear)

Why go ultralight? To carry a big camera for beautiful pictures!

Wonderland Trail: Post-Hike Gear Analysis

🎒 Backpack Performance

• Gossamer Gear Camo Kumo 36 performed well overall despite early struggles with side pocket access
• Experienced neck/shoulder soreness for first 3 days – typical adjustment period for a new pack
• Airflow SitLight pad reduced but didn’t eliminate back sweat

🛌 Sleep System Success

• Therm-a-Rest Uberlite kept me warm in low 40s overnight
• Minor annoyances: slippery surface and loud on silnylon (quieter on DCF)
• No leaking or holes despite being ultra-lightweight

💧 Water Filtration Findings

• Sawyer Micro Squeeze worked with clear water sources but:
  • Gasket fell off after 2 days
  • Later clogged with lake water
• Sawyer filter bags FAILED – developed tears despite gentle use
• Ended up using 1L Smartwater bottle directly with filter

☔ Unused Rain Gear

• Rain kilt and mitts stayed packed – no heavy rain
• Skipping fleece gloves was the right call
• Balaclava unnecessary as temps stayed mild

👣 Clothing & Footwear Notes

• Forgot second pair of hiking socks but single pair held up
• Feet stayed dry – all water crossings were bridged or rock-hoppable
• Mild regret: should’ve brought bug spray for legs

🔋 Power & Navigation Issues

• Anker 10,000 insufficient for 7-day hike:
  • Only charged Sony a6000 to 10% once
  • Gave iPhone XS about 40-50% charge 5 times
• Garmin inReach Mini had worse battery life than Explorer+
  • GPS coordinates failed to send due to poor signal at campsites

🚽 Bathroom & Miscellaneous

• Trowel unused thanks to pit toilets at all campsites
• Bug net unnecessary – no swarming insects encountered
• Duct tape failed to repair torn filter bag effectively

Key Takeaway: While most gear performed well, the hike revealed critical weaknesses in power capacity and water filtration reliability that need addressing for future trips.