What I packed to Hike the Grand Sawtooth Loop

Written By Nicole Hill

What to Pack

For the Grand Sawtooth Loop, we lean into lightweight backpacking. Carrying less gear lets you cover more ground, expend less energy, and focus on the adventure, not your pack. Overpacking on a multi-day trip like this can turn a stunning hike into a slog.

Tent

Campsites along the loop range from flat, hard-packed spots to bumpy, root-filled areas. We used:

Sleeping Bag

We hiked the Grand Sawtooth Loop in August, when the days were warm but the mountains can be unpredictable, temperatures can change in a split second. To stay comfortable and prepared for any sudden cold, we brought a mix of down and synthetic sleeping bags:

Even on warm summer nights, these bags were lightweight, compressible, and quick-drying, giving us confidence that we’d stay cozy no matter what the high-altitude weather threw our way.

Sleeping Pads

For sleeping pads, I brought along my

  • Big Agnes Q-Core Deluxe, which I’ve been obsessed with for over 10 years. It’s super comfortable and high quality, keeping me cozy even on chilly nights at higher elevations. Sure, it’s a bit heavier than some of the newer ultralight options, but I’d happily sacrifice a little weight for this level of comfort any day.

  • The group also used the Tensor™ All-Season Ultralight Insulated Sleeping Pad, which was lightweight, insulated, and comfy

Pillow

If there’s one thing I’m willing to sacrifice for the sake of weight, it’s a pillow. I usually roll up my down jacket into the hood to use as a makeshift pillow, or stuff a stuff sack with clothing. It’s simple, lightweight, and surprisingly comfortable.

Backpacks

For this trip, I carried the

While none of these packs are the lightest on the market, they make up for it with comfort and support, which is especially important on long multi-day hikes. I’ve always trusted Osprey for my back issues, the hip adjustments, lumbar support, and customizable fit make a huge difference, keeping me loyal to their packs year after year. The Deuter Aircontact Core is also incredibly well-designed, with a solid suspension system and plenty of storage for multi-day adventures.

All three packs handled full loads comfortably, making the long days on the Grand Sawtooth Loop much more manageable and less taxing on our backs and shoulders.

Cooking System

For this trip we brought one stove big enough for all three of us, a Jetboil Flash. It isn’t the lightest thing out there, but it boiled enough water for everyone at once, which made dinners quick and easy after long days on the trail.

Food

We packed five days’ worth of meals and snacks, aiming for lightweight, filling options that were easy to prep on the trail. Breakfast was usually a Honey Stinger bar, while lunch meant unwrapping a Fillo Walking Tamale hearty enough to keep us fueled through the afternoon. For snacks, we relied on Honey Stinger Waffles, and dinners were almost always Peak Refuel entrées (honestly, every one we tried was fantastic).

To save space and shave a few grams, we unpacked the Peak Refuel meals into zip-top bags before leaving home, a simple hack that keeps food organized and trims bulk in your pack. We always keep one original Peak Refuel pouch to use as our cooking bag for the week, since their packaging handles hot water so well.

Food Storage

Even though bear canisters aren’t required here, critters are everywhere. We used an Ursack for anything scented and kept smaller items in stuff sacks, then hung the whole bundle as soon as we set up camp. It’s a small effort that keeps your gear (and the local wildlife) safe.

Water

Streams and lakes were plentiful along the route, so staying hydrated wasn’t an issue. On the go, we used a Katadyn BeFree filter — fast, light, and easy to squeeze right into bottles.

Footwear

When it comes to tackling the rugged beauty of the Sawtooths, I’ve fully converted to trail runners and I’m never looking back. With wider feet, traditional hiking boots often felt restrictive, but everything changed a few years ago when I slipped on my first pair of Altra Lone Peaks. Since then, I’ve been a loyal customer, picking up at least one or two pairs from every new season’s launch. Right now, the Lone Peak 9s are hands-down my favorite. I love them so much I own two pairs in different colors. Out on the trails, I wasn’t alone in my preference; it felt like everyone was wearing Lone Peaks, which speaks volumes about their comfort and performance in alpine terrain.

Clothing

Here’s everything I packed for comfort and versatility on the trail:

Outerwear

  • Lightweight rain jacket

  • Packable down jacket

Base Layers & Tops

  • Sun shirt (long sleeve)

  • Tank top

  • Short-sleeve shirt (designated for sleeping)

  • Long-sleeve shirt for extra warmth or layering

  • Sports bras (1–2)

Bottoms

  • 2 pairs of shorts

  • 1 pair of hiking pants

  • 1 pair of leggings

Footwear & Socks

  • 2 pairs of hiking socks (to alternate and keep dry)

  • Tevas for water crossings and camp

Extras

  • Hat (for sun protection or warmth, depending on conditions)

Essential Gear & Accessories

Headlamp - The Nitecore NU25 400 UL Ultra Lightweight Headlamp (400 lumens, USB-C rechargeable) made navigating middle-of-the-night bathroom trips a breeze. Bright, compact, and featherlight, it’s a great choice for backpacking.

Maps & Navigation - To plan the Grand Sawtooth Loop, we relied on the guidebook Backpacking Idaho: From Alpine Peaks to Desert Canyons and used Gaia GPS to print maps and create an offline route.

Other Items

  • Cash & ID

  • Camp Chair

  • Sunglasses

  • Trekking Poles

  • Long Spork

  • Personal toiletries

  • Hand sanitizer

  • Wet wipes

  • Insect repellent

  • Power bank

Trail Mixz

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Trail Mixz 〰️

Nicole Hill