Hello this is Beatbox. I have hiked for shorter periods (a week) before but am attempting a thruhike in 04. This is the gear I am planning to take. I know everyone is different, but I would appreciate feedback and suggestions. Thank You.

Gear:

- 2004 Go-Lite Gust Pack-1lb. 4oz.
- Lafuma Warm N Lite 800 Down Bag– Includes stuff sack. Rated at 27 degrees but with am 8 degree emergency rating. Cocoon silk liner for the winter portions of the trail. Total S: 1 lb.14 oz. W: 2 lb. 4 oz,
- Tarptent Virga – I purchased the tent equipped with a sewn in floor to help keep out bugs. The front tent pole can be subbed for hiking poles.1 lb. 7 oz.
- Z-Rest 3/4 sleeping pad- 11.5 oz.
- Plastic tarp ground sheet). 2.0 oz.
- Homemade alcohol coke-can stove that uses denatured alcohol.
Homemade windscreen/pot support made of aluminum flashing.
Empty coke bottle for fuel. Total 2.2 oz.
- MSR Titan .85 L pot w/ Snow Peak titanium spork - 4.8 oz.
- Polar Pure Iodine crystals – 3.0 oz.
- Platypus 4 L bottles with zip-lock top and a 32 oz. Aquafina bottle. ~5.0 oz.
- Aurora headlamp (w/3 lithium batteries) – 2.4 oz.
- Knife:Schrade Simon – 1.0 oz.
- Office:Guidebook/Data book sections (ripped out of book), journal, 2 Bic pens, license, money, ATM card, and credit card. ~4.5 oz.
- Cat hole Stake: 1.1 oz.
- Trip-tease guy line – 1.6 oz.
- First Aid Kit: includes 1 Velcro bandage, 1 safety pin, duck tape (also for tent repair), 2 After Scrape Medicated Wipes, 2 - 2in. x 2in. gauze pads, 2 band-aids, 2 butterfly bandages, 1 - 3 in x 4in. gauze pad, and 1 moleskin pad (As a note some of my toiletries should have been with my first aid kit). in a zip lock bag. 2.9 oz.
- Toiletry Kit(& More) includes 2 oz.rubbing alcohol , 1 oz. Jungle Juice insect repellent (summer only), 2 oz. Dr. Bronner’s Liquid Soap (Dish soap, personal soap, shampoo and toothpaste), Vaseline , Maximum strength Gold Bond, 8 Aleve, 4 Imodium AD, 10 Vitamins, tp, matches, and 5 rubber bands in a zip lock bag. S:8.1 oz.W:6.6 oz.
- Ultrathin Zondervan NIV Bible - 9.1 oz.
- Pot Cozy 1.0 oz
- Olympus Stylus Epic 35mm W/ battery - 5.3 oz.
Zip lock bags and Glad trash bags (pack cover and stuff sacks) - 3.6 oz.
Film/Batteries 24 - 35mm film and an extra Energizer Lithium Battery. 1.3 oz.

Total Dry Pack Weight minus clothes (Summer) 8 lbs. 15.4 oz.
Total Dry Pack Weight minus clothes (Winter) 9 lbs. 3.9 oz.

Clothing A * - means that an item is to be worn during daytime hiking.

- *Merrell Chameleon Gore-Tex XCR Low. Winter: 2lb. 6oz.
– *New Balance 804 Trail Shoes - Summer: 1 lb. 10 oz.
- *Smartwool low cut hiker socks (I hate liners).2.0 oz worn 2.0 oz. Pack.
- *MTS Balaclava and REI Men’s All Season Gloves. Winter - 3.4 oz.
- Base Layer (bottom) Patagonia Capilene Bottoms.Winter - ~ 7.4 oz.
- *Base Layer (top) REI Midweight top Winter: 6.0 oz.
- *Under Armor training tee shirt - Summer: 4.9 oz.
- Arc Teryx Theta SL – (Lightweight jacket for use in rain and cold) 14.0 oz.
- *ExOfficio Amphi Shorts- I will use mesh lining instead of underwear- 9.6 oz.
- REI Ultra light pants (rain pants) 9.5 oz.
*Trekking Poles - ? Any Ideas? - ___/pole
- REI Power Stretch Pullover (Fleece) Winter- 8.9 oz.
*3 Bandannas 1.2 oz. Worn 2.4 oz. packed

Total Carried Weight, Clothes - (Summer) 1 lb. 11.9 oz.
Total Carried Weight, Clothes - (Winter) 2 lb. 15.6 oz

Total Weight w/o Food and Water (Summer) 10 lb. 11.3 oz.
Total Weight w/o Food and Water (Winter) 12lb. 3.5 oz.

Max Trail Weight with 10 lbs. Food and 4 lbs. Water and 1 lb. Fuel (Summer) 25 lb. 11.3 oz.
Max Trail Weight with 10 lbs. Food and 4 lbs. Water and 1 lb. Fuel (Winter) 27 lb. 3.5 oz.

Thank you for looking. :D

I'll make the same suggestion I always make: Bring a set of earplugs. You can find them in the safety department of a hardware store. Cost about a dollar and weigh a fraction of an ounce. The rubber ones are better than the foam ones. You will spend nights in a shelter and you will find snorers there. You'll probably split motel rooms with snorers. You'll probably stay in hostels with snorers. You'll probably end up hiking with someone who yammers on and on and on (like this post). Just put your earplugs in and keep cruising on along.

Great gear list! You have really done your homework and had to do a lot of trial and error to come up with such a great list. When are you leaving for your hike?

I assume you are using the balaclava instead of any type hat and I also assume the Kelty cord will serve as your foodbag hanging cord. I use the cheap Masters hiking poles and will not replace them until I HAVE too. If I do I will probably replace with LEKI's because of what I have heard about their service/replacement/available everywhere assets.

Have a GREAT HIKE!!

You are taking almost everything that I am taking even down to the Larfuma warm n lite. Have you been following me around shopping. I live in Glen Burnie as well.LOL When are you heading out? I'm considering a different bag. The larfuma is not really 800 fill and even with a cocoon liner I think I may get cold for the first week or two but for the size and weight it will make a great late spring early summer bag. Like I said we are almost packed identically. A lot of good choices. Great minds think alike.

Thank you for the feedback so far. The earplugs would be a good idea, but my roomate snores like a mother and i'm use to it. I'm leaving on March 15th from Springer. As far as poles, I am debating between buying Leki's or the cheapest ones I can find :) . If anyone else has a suggestion on this feel free. I am so excited to start. Hopefully I'll see some of you out there. God Bless, BeatBox

First off, I have heard mixed reviews about GoLite's packs, including that they break and/or tear easily, are not comfortable on your back, and generally are not a good back pack. Actually, I haven't heard mixed reviews...I just have not heard any good reviews on their packs. Have you considered a Granite Gear Vapor Trail?

Another suggestion - - the thermarest is cushiony, but a 3/4 length will make you lose insulation. A z-rest, or other foam pad is lighter, covers your full length to keep the cold out underneath you, and generally costs 15-20 bucks.

Polar Pur, from what I have researched, does not kill cryptosporidiums. I believe that aqua mira does. Just a thought...

Also, are you prone to blisters? If so, then you may want to consider taking athletic tape with you (it works better than duct tape)...moleskin, in my opinion, just doesn't do much for you.

One more thing - - Aurora headlamps (depending on the brand) tend to break easily. I switched to Aurora in VA, and had to have it replaced about 700 miles later. Almost any Outfitter store will replace it for you without charge, but it is a pain if it breaks out on the trail, and you don't have an outfitter in town for a few days.

I think that's it for now, if I think of anything else, I'll let you know!

Ski poles - - while they do not have the shock absorption that lekis have, they're cheap.

You can usually find a pair (a) in your garage, or (b) at a sports resale shop.

Mine are (still possibly) at the PO in Hanover. I left them in a trail angel's car, and they mailed them up to me. Of course, by that time someone had lent me some poles, and I forgot to pick these up before I left town.

Another option would be just to pick up 2 sturdy sticks along the trail. Those make for great hiking sticks.

You could also hold off until you get to the A Rufus Morgan Shelter, just before the NOC in North Carolina, and pick up a pretty sweet cane (if it's still there). That was my first hiking stick, and I got so excited about hamburgers and nachos that I accidentally left it there, after stopping for a moment to check the shelter register.

I had a problem holding on to my various hiking sticks. :(

That being said, I have tried (and lost almost) all options. My favorite was honestly the cane. Lekis, while usually the most light-weight, and with that nice little shock aborption, can sometimes be problematic, even if you do clean them often. I have had them collapse on me several times, and have heard of countless others who have too. Ski poles worked well, and were lighter than the wooden hiking sticks and the cane.

Whatever you choose, just make sure you never leave them at a shelter, or in someone's vehicle!!

Another suggestion - - the thermarest is cushiony, but a 3/4 length will make you lose insulation. A z-rest, or other foam pad is lighter, covers your full length to keep the cold out underneath you, and generally costs 15-20 bucks.

True, but it's a matter of old bones vs younger bones. Older bones appreciate the cushion. If in doubt, I suggest that people get a closed cell foam pad and then try sleeping on their concrete basement floor for a few nights. 3/4 length works just fine for the AT. Don't need the insulation unless it's winter.

Polar Pur, from what I have researched, does not kill cryptosporidiums. I believe that aqua mira does. Just a thought...

Polar Pure is iodine crystals. It's OK for the AT and elsewhere in the USA.

Also, are you prone to blisters? If so, then you may want to consider taking athletic tape with you (it works better than duct tape)...moleskin, in my opinion, just doesn't do much for you.

You might consider Spenco 2nd skin.

A few comments on some of the posts.

1) To insulate your lower body while using a 3/4 length pad, stuff your excess gear into your pack and put it under your feet. This not only helps your feet, but it also gets your lower legs off the ground. A ridgerest is cheaper and more comfortable than a Z-rest.

2) Polar Pur is indeed just iodine crystals. One vial will probably last you two thru hikers. It will take out things like giardia, but it will NOT kill crypto. Fortunately, I do not think crypto hangs out along the AT, but I suppose it might be possible in Maine. Crypto is more of a worry in places like the UP of Michigan and Minnesota. Lots of warnings about it in CA, but I don't think it is much of an issue. Note that unlike Giardia, there is a reasonable chance that crypto will kill you.

Well, besides earplugs. Consider getting an "Ultrapod" from Campmor. Around $8 and at only 1.6 ounces it is a handy little tripod that will screw into the bottom of your camera and allow you to get in the picture with that great view or with a group of friends. Besides being a tripod, it has a velcro strip that will allow you to fasten it to a tree, limb or walking stick.

With the good job you've done so far on gear you can splurge another 1.6 ounces! Good luck.

While I appreciate the feedback on my sleeping I pad, I forgot to update my gearlist before posting. I carry the 11 oz. z rest, which I find to be more than adequate. I will send another if it flattens, they don't cost that much. I also found a 5 ounce full length bible and that has replaced the 9.1 ounce one on my list. I'm ok with the water thing, I almost did not bring a camera and have never used a tripod so I do not think that is my style (still appreciate the suggestion). As far as problems with the Go-Lite Packs I find that they have improved from earlier models and are ok if you don't overload them (never more than 30?).

Beatbox, Where did you find the 5 oz. bible?

I found the Bible at a Heaven and Earth Bookstore in Salisbury Maryland's Walmart. It was actually 6.0 oz. until I cut off the zipper and inner cardboard lining to make it 5 oz. I am headed that way today if you want me to see where they order from I would not mind. I believe it was called the World's Smallest Bible and it is a New King James.

It was nice to be able to throw on a dry shirt at camp. I always carried a midweight capilene shirt just to change into. The long sleeves helped with the bugs at night.

Any additional information would be greatly appreciated. Do you have the ISBN number?

I am debating between buying Leki's or the cheapest ones I can find :) . If anyone else has a suggestion on this feel free.

My opinion on hiking sticks is to stay away from the "shock absorbing" features. My opinion is that "shock absorbing" mechanisms add weight and NOISE and are a worthless feature anyway.

My wife and I have or have had wooden sticks, REI's, Kampenors (sp?), and Lekis. None of them are perfect, but all do a great job at giving you balance when you need it, and shifting work from two legs to two legs and two arms. We almost always use 'em.

Cost is an irrelevant indicator of value in trekking poles, I believe.

Rain Man

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I spent 6 days on Isle Royale with the Gust,,,,you can do better....this pack was designed for climbers and multi-day pitches up big walls aint nowhere close to what your going for. I'm not to list all the other excellent packs out there and yes the Gust has its place but its not what I would carry on a long hike.

Beatbox,

Great gear list. Seems that the only other thing I would consider changing is the 2 pens for a pencil--no ink run, less weight, and will last the entire trip.

btw, I was also gonna ask where you got that 5oz bible, then saw you got it in Salisbury--I live just an hour from there and know the store you are talking about. Cool.


Kyle '05

I see that bible is actually 9.1 oz, not 5 oz...sorry.

Kyle

The Bible packaged was 6.0 ounces. I cut off the zipper and cover cardboard to make it a 5 ounce bible (I replaced the 9.1 ounce one). It is a King James by World Publishing. The ISBN number is 0-529-05838-3. The store I bought it from is out of stock, but I would imagine the number would be all that is necessary to order it. I paid 28.00 for it but that was worth it to me because I can't imagine giong without a bible for 6th months but I also cant imagine carrying a book that weighs close to a pound.

I found the Bible at the following site for 20.95: http://www.booksofthebible.com/p3780.html.

I hope this helps out. It looks like I paid too much for mine:datz , oh well.


As far as gear I will adhere to the feedback and get non shock absorbing poles. I have an emergency pack if I hate the gust, but I would like to at least try it. I have extra capilene tees if I need them as well. I am using pen more for the sake of the writing lasting longer (am I wrong on this). I am not concerned about the 0.2 ounces of the pen. thank you all for your help :p .

God Bless