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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 |
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