Packing for a Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) thru-hike is like a game of Tetris—only every piece carries its own weight, literally. Along the trail, I discovered that some ultralight backpacking gear, while beloved, just didn’t need to make the entire journey. Whether it had fulfilled its purpose, wasn’t necessary for the section ahead, or was simply impractical to carry any further, a lot of my gear ended up being shipped home.