View Full Version : no strange items
brit4jesus
11-12-2007, 21:57
ok so heres the deal im prepping for a 2009 thru hike leaving second week in march going ga-me and im broke, its bad enough i have to leave my wife at home to do this i dont want to bankrupt us too so no exspensive new fangled gear, that saying when you give me advice imagine im just some bloke who knows nothing (really i mean NOTHING) so what do i get ? im going lightweight coz 1) im really fat !!! (remember that an hold the spandex suggestions, noone wants to walk round the corner on the trail an see that) and 2 i want to go lite so that i have extra weight allowance to take a few luxurys (microwave, rollerskates ect) no seriously i dont intend on sleeping on a quater inch of foam for 5 months, so far ive bought a few bits listed below i figured id run all this by you guys befor i get too deep in buying stuff only to find i screwed up
gear so far :
(sorry not sure about all weights)
set of mapdannas
3lb 6oz tent cabelas $30.00
cabelas ultralight self inflating mattress 1lb 12oz
a internal frame backpack ive had for years an never used without the alu stays it weights 3lb 8oz
cabelas down vest 19.99 weight un known
eastern mountain sports /bergelene thermal half zip shirt (100% polyester) $15.00 on sale
14 yards of ripstop nylon bright orange (walmart 1.00 yrd) im pretty sure this is waterproff as i cant breath thru it
100' para cord.
1 pair knock off crocks -camp shoes
actual gear im pretty clear off its just what sort of temps should i exspect an how do i pack for that big a range of temps without brining an entire wardrobe, im thinking of taking a 30f bag made by eurika so pick it apart an steer me in the right directions remember cost cost cost so any walmart options would be good. ps my my wife can sew an i work construction so i have accsess to all the tyvek i need
Just a Hiker
11-12-2007, 22:02
I am sure you'll get alot of good advice, so I'll save the wear and tear on my keyboard; however, there are several good articles here on Whiteblaze regarding what a hiker needs on a thru-hike. Good luck to you!
Just Jim
Skidsteer
11-12-2007, 22:33
Have you read the article on dirtbagging? (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?p=206678#post206678)
Spirit Walker
11-12-2007, 22:55
Have you actually tried your tent in a real rain? A lot of hikers with cheap gear end up having to buy new at Neels Gap when they discover their cheap stuff doesn't work. They store at Neels Gap has good gear, but it's expensive.
Uncle Silly
11-13-2007, 00:44
cabelas ultralight self inflating mattress 1lb 12oz
"ultralight"?? that seems awfully heavy. a 3-season full-length thermarest would shave half a pound off of that weight; a z-rest (closed cell foam, not inflatable) cuts it in half. even a 4-season thermarest is a couple ounces lighter than this.
one question to ask is whether you'd really need a full-length mattress. many get by comfortably with a 3/4-length. i hike with a 3/4 z-rest; at 11oz, it's about as light as i can get for a pad, and is about as comfortable as i need. your mileage will vary!
Bootstrap
11-13-2007, 07:46
ok so heres the deal im prepping for a 2009 thru hike leaving second week in march going ga-me and im broke, its bad enough i have to leave my wife at home to do this i dont want to bankrupt us too so no exspensive new fangled gear
I haven't done a through hike, but someone here estimated that it costs $4,000 - $6,000 to do the entire trail.
Is that an accurate number? Can people start at the beginning of the trail broke and make it all the way? If so, how is it done? Besides paying for the gear to start with, what needs to be in place financially to do the trail from start to finish?
Jonathan
brit4jesus
11-13-2007, 07:48
i posted here not coz im trying for ultralight weight but so i can pick your brains for ways to help keep the weight down so i can have some luxurys- 6 months with only 3/4 protection from rocks an cold dosnt sound fun wont you lose all your heat through the part of you that isnt insulated by the mat ?
no ive not tried the tent yet im debating making a tarp with the ripstop nylon in which case i can take the tent back
no not checked out that dirtbagging thread , thanks !!
i posted here not coz im trying for ultralight weight but so i can pick your brains for ways to help keep the weight down so i can have some luxurys- 6 months with only 3/4 protection from rocks an cold dosnt sound fun wont you lose all your heat through the part of you that isnt insulated by the mat ?
no ive not tried the tent yet im debating making a tarp with the ripstop nylon in which case i can take the tent back
no not checked out that dirtbagging thread , thanks !!
I'd recommend trying a 3/4 length self-inflator with a piece of closed cell foam under your lower legs and feet. 3/8 inch foam should be more than adequate, though you can also get 1/8 inch foam from Oware in the USA or Gossamer Gear, also here. As for your tent, it may be ok, though a little heavy. Test it at home first. If considering switching to a tarp, look at the Wild Oasis from Six Moon Designs. Though relatively pricey for a shaped tarp, it should protect you from weather on all sides and from flying insects (but maybe not ticks or spiders). There are also Henry Shire's Tarptents, which you may be able to purchase used, because there are so many of them out there.
For bargains, look at Sierra Trading Post. If you are using a tent, get a down bag. If using a tarp, a synthetic bag might be better, or, better yet, a synthetic backpacker's top quilt.
For a stove, look at the homemade alcohol stoves (particularly Jim Wood's Supercat - probably the lightest and among the fastest at heating water). As for food, dried pasta dishes from Lipton-Knorr are the most popular, as is Mac N' Cheese. Breakfast can be instant oatmeal. For lunch, I like a peanut butter filled bagel.
Now, I'm a section hiker, and haven't been out for more than a week, but these ideas came from more than a few thruhikers that I've known.
For the single best source of information on hiking lightweight, get a subscription to backpackinglight.com. The name says it all.
Godspeed, Tinker (yank4jesus ;) ).
LIhikers
11-13-2007, 09:17
To save money consider doing some shopping in second hand thrift stores. I've found clothes and backpacks that way. The only thing is that you never know what they may have on any given day so you have to keep going back until you find what you want.
You have a year and a half to save up money for your thru-hike. How about you find a way to save $10 a week and maybe work one night a week at a side job for $100 a week, such as waiting tables? Or even better, if you work consruction you could easily pick up some skilled side work and maybe only have to work a few extra hours here and there to save up the money. $110 a week over 17 months will let you thru-hike any way you want to, and not have to 'dirtbag' it.
If you're starting the second week of march you should expect at least 10 nights with windchills below 15 degrees farenheit. A cheap sleeping bag will make you miserable.
With gear you generally get what you pay for. I know a hiker in '06 that started with a store-brand -15 farenheit bag; he froze at night. Sleeping bags are expensive, unless you want to sew it yourself.
The best, cheap gear that i can think of comes from the ray jardine do it yourself website (http://www.rayjardine.com/). You could start with a full setup of his gear, and if you sew it yourself for under $300. I'd honestly return the cabella's stuff, it's not going to end up working out.
You could also save money by starting 5-6 weeks later (last week of april or first week of may), because then you would not need cold-weather gear.
Blue Jay
11-13-2007, 16:03
Starting out fat is a huge advantage. I always try to do so. You start loseing overall weight almost immediately. After a few weeks you feel like you are flying. I always thought people who try to get in shape prior to a long distance hiker are not helping themselves. You're just walking, something you were designed to do.
brit4jesus
11-13-2007, 20:18
thanks for the info everyone im sucking it in , thanks for the website about making gear, i got a feeling that im gonna go with putting a small amount of cash aside each week when you look at it like that it will soon mount up
great tip of thrift stores my wife loves going to them anyway, ive herd silk shirst from thrif stores are really good an light any comments ?
Appalachian Tater
11-13-2007, 20:36
You're getting good advice. Definitely go for a good tarp rather a cheap tent, you'll get better protection from the elements. Rather than buying cheap stuff, make a gear list and save money, get a part time job maybe, and get some good basic gear: sleeping bag, shelter, pack. Safety is an issue with cheap stuff that won't keep you warm and dry. You can get decent gear for fairly good prices if you shop the sales and you've got a whole year to go through the various seasonal sales.
Silk is good for spring, and once it warms up and there are leaves on the trees you don't need a shirt at all.