The Best Gear for the Hayduke

The Hayduke isn’t your average thru hiker - you want to make sure you’re prepared for what this route can throw at you. Between third class plus climbs, extreme temperatures in either direction, and even needing to hitch a ride across the Colorado river, there's a lot that goes into planning for it. Here’s the important gear you’ll definitely want to consider.

This list comes from my own personal experience section hiking large portions of the Hayduke. I did this across one spring, starting on March 31 through early May I’ll speak on my own preferences, what gear worked, and what I might do differently next time.

Big Three

The most obvious and arguably most important gear you’ll carry is your big three: your tent, your backpack, and your sleeping system.

Shelter

While you definitely need some type of shelter, the Hayduke may be a good trip to bring a more minimalist shelter. I brought a one person trekking pole tent (the Gossamer Gear the One) and used it most nights, but I also cowboy camped on several occasions and could have many more nights. I always carried a ground sheet for cowboy camping or setting up under my tent. At the time, I used polycryo but now I’m converted to HDPE flashspun fabric (aka the type of fabric frequently known by the brand name Tyvek) that were use in our Cowboy Camping gear.

 A tarp would be a good choice for this trip as well. I did experience snow and cold temperatures at the beginning of my hike, so again make sure you have something that will work in those conditions, even if it’s not the most comfortable.

Backpack

For a backpack, I took a framed LiteAF 40L Curve. I’d strongly recommend a framed pack for the Hayduke, with it’s long food and water carries. I might suggest a slightly bigger pack than I carried as I definitely found myself struggling to fit the last of my food on a 7 day carry (don’t be like me). I’d also recommend more durable options for the fabric and mesh pocket on a pack, since you might be scraping it on rocks, in brush, and just general abrasion from sand on a desert route.

Sleep System

For my sleeping system, I used a 10 degree sleeping quilt and a 3-season rated sleeping pad, the Nemo Tensor I’d be prepared for temperatures into the 20s or lower potentially as the Hayduke is best hiked during shoulder season and it can get chilly at the start or end of a thru hike (depending on if you’re starting in the spring or the fall).

Clothing

You’ll want to be prepared for extreme temperatures in either direction for a Hayduke thru hike, and your clothes should reflect that. I carried a puffy, a microgrid fleece, and base layers in addition to the clothes I hiked in. Tons of options exist for all of these, so I won’t go into specifics.

You’ll also want good sun protection. A sun hoody that’s light enough to keep you cool, but still covered in the hot sun. My go to is the Mountain Hardwear Crater Lake sun hoodies, but there are lots of options out there. Don’t forget a hat and sunglasses, and sun gloves might also be a good idea. There are plenty of lightweight hiking pant options as well, but I chose to hike in shorts.

For shoes, despite this being a dry trail - be prepared for them to get wet. Large chunks of the route involves wading through streams in canyons. I actually chose to hike in sandals, Chacos specifically, for the entirety of my hike. When the trail isn’t wet, odds are you’re hiking through sand. Chacos made sense to me for this hike, making the wet and the sane more bearable. If it was cold, I could wear socks. Most people would still probably choose to hike in trail runners though. Shoes are a very personal choice, so do with this what you will. 

I’d also recommend carrying neoprene socks for the cold water, although I only used them on a couple of occasions they make a huge difference when you need them.
 

Additional Gear

Rope

 I’d recommend carrying about 30’ of rope strong enough to hold your pack if you need to lower or raise it up a cliff band. This is less essential if you’re hiking with a partner, but it still might be needed. I used it myself on multiple occasions for this purpose, and it has lots of other potential uses it could come in handy for, a clothesline, a bear hang, etc.

Satellite Communicator

I got my Garmin InReach Mini 2 specifically for this trip, and have loved having it on other trips since for the added peace of mind and just for texting back home too. The Hayduke is an extremely remote trail and I heard multiple instances of people I knew ahead or behind me having to use their InReach to be rescued. I wouldn’t do a trip like this without one.

Water System

You’ll need to carry water for long stretches of trail. I’ve always been a Cnoc user long before I worked here, so I carried a 3L Vecto, SmartWater bottles, and a Vesica that could be stowed away when not in use. If I were to hike now, I’d bring a 4L VectoPlus, ThruBottles, and still a Vesica.

In addition to a filter, I always carry a backup water treatment method like Aquatabs or a small amount of bleach.

Wag Bag

There are a handful of location along the Hayduke where you’ll need wag bags and many times where you might not be able to find a suitable place to properly bury your waste. I recommend carrying 1-2 on every stretch.

Umbrella

I didn’t carry an umbrella for this trip, but if I were to again I might try one out. Having shade when you need to hike through the heat is a huge help. There are lots of systems out there to attach it to your pack as well, though I can’t say I have any experience with them.

Sit Pad

Nowadays I don't go anywhere without my Gossamer Gear Thinlight Pad, but this was the first trip I started carrying one. It is a full length pad, but I typically just use it for sitting during breaks and as a mat in front of my tent. It's also great to have for cowboy camping to give your sleeping pad a bit more protection from the desert floor. It always weights next to nothing.

Hopefully this will help you get a good sense of how to be best prepared on your own hike, whether that be a section hike, the entire Hayduke, or your own desert adventure!