One thing I think this survey overlooks is the fact that we can and should change out gear fairly often on a trail as climatically diverse as the PCT. The Durston tent is indeed the real deal, but hauling it through the sandy, gritty desert is foolishness - you'd destroy the waterproof zippers in short order. A Gatewood Cape costs about the same as a night and a half in a motel room, and is vastly more suitable to SoCal than is ruining the nice Durston tent.
Same thing with rain gear - a cheap Frogg Toggs rain jacket is great for about 80% of the trail, but if you're in Washington in September, it's time to upgrade to something a little bit more substantial. Which is the best? Depends on the environment!
With as expensive as lodging has gotten post-covid, it makes more sense to spend money on gear. The cost of a nice comfortable tent in bad weather (for example, the Durston tent) will quickly be recouped if you have fewer 'bail to town during Hurricane Hillary' episodes.
www.halfwayanywhere.com
