Aspen to Crested Butte Packing List

The hike from Aspen to Crested Butte is a Colorado classic. These two iconic mountain towns are linked by a spectacular trail that takes you over West Maroon Pass. You can read our Guide to Hiking from Aspen to Crested Butte here.

Below you’ll find our packing list for this adventure!

 

Personal Gear

Item	Our recommended gear
Backpack	Gregory Zulu 40L backpack	Perfect size for a quick overnight trip.
Pack-cover	Sea to Summit Pack cover	The best pack-cover we've ever used.
Camel Bak	Camel Bak Crux - 100 oz.	Way easier than a water bottle!
Dry bags	Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Dry Sack	Keeps your clothes and other items dry in a downpour!
Multi-tool	Gerber Suspension Multi-Plier
First-aid kit	Adventure Medical Kits
Trekking Poles	Black Diamond Trail Back trekking poles	Great on the long downhill sections.
Headlamp	Black Diamond Storm headlamp
Camera	Sony a5100 mirrorless camera

 

Men’s Clothing

Item	Our recommended gear
Underwear (2 pairs)	Exofficio Give-N-Go boxer	Highly recommended! You can easily wash these in sinks or showers. A must!
Socks (2 pairs)	Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew	In our opinion, these are the best hiking socks available. Your feet will thank you!
Long sleeve base layer (1)	Smartwool Men's NTS Mid 250 Crew	Very versatile mid-weight base layer
Short sleeve hiking shirt (1)	Moutain Hardwear Wicked shirt
Hiking pants (1)	Prana Brion pants	These are great for hiking and also look great walking around town!
Hiking shorts (1)	Prana Brion shorts	Awesome shorts that are great for hiking.
Down jacket	Patagonia Down Seater Hoodie	Super warm, and super packable
Rain jacket	Outdoor Research Helium II jacket	A good rain jacket is a must!
Hat	Outdoor Research Performance Trucker hat
Sandals	Chaco Z1	You'll definitely want these for the stream crossings.
Gaiters	Outdoor Research Crocodile Gaiter	Essential for stream crossings and thick willows.
Hiking boots	Vasque Talus Ultradry	Super comfortable and super waterproof!
Bandana	Levi's bandana
Digital watch	Casio Classic Sports watch	All you'll ever need
Poncho	Totes Rain Poncho	This is often the most effective way to stay dry while hiking. And it's cheap!
Sunglasses	Suncloud Mayor Polarized sunglasses

 

Women’s Clothing

Item	Our recommended gear
Underwear (2 pairs)	Adidas Climacool underwear	Very packable and easy to wash on the go!
Socks (2 pairs)	Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew	In our opinion, these are the best hiking socks available. Your feet will thank you!
Sports Bras (2)	Brooks Rebound Racer Sports Bra	This is the most versatile, comfortable, and high-quality sports bra that Emily has found on the market.
Long sleeve base layer (1)	Smartwool Women's NTS Mid 250 Crew
Short sleeve hiking shirt (3)	Mountain Hardwear Wicked shirt
Leggings (1 pair)	Nike Power Essential Running Tight
Flannel shirt (1)	Columbia Simply Put II Flannel Shirt	Emily enjoyed having something soft and cozy to put on after a day of hiking.
Running shorts (1 pair)	Lululemon Run Speed Shorts	These shorts are so comfortable, packable, and quick-drying, that Emily didn't even feel the need to buy hiking-specific shorts.
Down jacket	Patagonia Down Sweater Jacket	Lightweight, super warm, and packs down small. This jacket was perfect for this kind of trip!
Rain jacket	Kelty All-Weather Jacket	An affordable and high-quality all-weather jacket that packs up small.
Hiking boots	Keen Targhee II Mid Hiking Boot	Emily has had these boots for five years and hundreds of muddy, snowy hikes, and they are still going strong!
Gaiters	Outdoor Research Crocodile Gaiter	Essential for steam crossings and thick willows.
Sunglasses	Suncloud Loveseat Polarized Sunglasses	Good quality sunglasses are essential when you're in the mountains all day. And these are stylish too!
Underwire bra
Hat
Sandals/Camp shoes	Chaco Z1	These are a must for the stream crossings!
Bandana	Buff UV Headband
Poncho	Totes Rain Poncho