View Full Version : Preliminary Gear List-Advice Welcome
I'm planning a thru-hike for next year, and trying to decide whether I should stick with my current setup.
This is my setup so far, which I've used for a while now for small trips into my local mountains without any real issues:
Granite Gear Nimbus Meridian
Double Rainbow Tarptent
Therm-a-Rest ProLite 4 Sleeping Pad(Short)
Jetboil PCS w/canister
Golite Venture 20 bag
Total for this is about 11 pounds, according to my scale.
The rest of it varies by trip, but loaded up with 5 days of food and a few liters of water with clothes/toiletries/etc., usually puts me at around 30 pounds fully loaded, or within a few pounds over/under.
I'm wondering if I could take this same setup for an AT thru hike with no real issues, or if there are any really obvious spots I could be shedding weight that I've overlooked, especially the big 4 and stove.
hopefulhiker
12-05-2008, 19:46
You could drop some weight by going with a lighter tarptent and dropping the Jet boil for an alcohol stove.
mountain squid
12-05-2008, 19:57
http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/signs087.gifto WB, dbum.
You might post your entire list. There might be 'really obvoius' spots that you have overlooked within the rest of your gear. There might even be gear that you are missing.
See you on the trail,
mt squid
Blissful
12-05-2008, 20:37
Posting more of your list will help in cutting ounces that add up to lbs. The other items look fine to me.
http://www.freesmileys.org/smileys/signs087.gifto WB, dbum.
You might post your entire list. There might be 'really obvoius' spots that you have overlooked within the rest of your gear. There might even be gear that you are missing.
See you on the trail,
mt squid
Didn't post the rest because I'm not quite sure on the brands and such for the clothes. Most of it is nylon REI brand stuff. I hope to replace my hiking wardrobe before I leave, as most of what I've got is a bit ratty, but this is what I'm planning on:
Bandana
Ball Cap
Clothes: 2 shirts, 2 pair of pants w removable legs, thermal top/bottom, 3 pairs of socks, , belt, and a knit cap, and rain pants/jacket.
aqua mira tablets
plastic spoon
ibuprofen/stomach meds
duct tape
leki trekking poles
3 24 oz. gatorade bottles, or one and a 2 liter bladder(varies)
trail maps
good book
lighter
ursack
garbage bag for pack cover
small swiss army knife
headlamp and batteries
A few stuff sacks and ziploc bags with food and toiletries.
mountain squid
12-05-2008, 21:11
Doesn't look too bad. Some observations:
1 pr long pants should be ok
shorts for sleeping maybe
gloves
fleece jacket?
rain pants might be unnecessary
camp footwear
Companion/Handbook/App. Pages for town info
leave good book at home until you have 'trail legs'
a sil-nylon stuff sack is ok for food bag instead of ursack
50' of para cord
hand sanitizer
pencil/journal
needle for draining blisters
sunscreen
ear plugs
camera?
See you on the trail,
mt squid
rockdawg69
12-05-2008, 21:48
Not sure what you may be carrying for food but did not see the following:
1) small (5") frying pan for cooking food other than stuff made in Jetboil. Works well to simmer stuff on JB. I switched back to my stainless steel from titanium because of better heat transfer and cleanup
2) small teflon bowl ( in lieu of eating out of JB)
3) plastic measuring cup, 1 cup size - hot drinks and dipping water where the bottles and bladder won't work
4) line for hanging your food, clothesline, etc. - 550 cord or 2mm spectra - 25 feet???
5) camera!!!!!! and spare batteries
I use the JB to heat water only and put the food in the pan or bowl for cooking, etc. That lets me leave extra hot water in the JB for cleanup without doing two water boils. Cleanup is much easier.
I also found that 2 sil-nylon stuff sacks worked well, one for food and one for clothes. Light weight and relatively waterproof. Ziplocks inside to separate items.
rockdawg69
12-05-2008, 22:04
Forgot something.
In most places you can get by with 3 to 4 days food supply, depending on how much you want to eat, how often you want to get off trail for re-supply, and miles/day. Smokies and a few other places need 5 to 6 days supply depending on number of miles per day you can hike. And then there are those special places like the 100-mile wilderness and long stretches in the "north woods".
You might save a couple of pounds in many areas of the AT going with 3/4 day supply/re-supply.
Hey Mtn Squid! Planning to be up your way to start the VA section from Damascus in 3rd/4th week of March. I've gotten much lighter since I met you in Mar 07 at Springer parking lot. Go Army -Beat Navy!