MY clothing list.....I am sure to freeze!!??

[Stellbell3]

So I am hoping to get your advice on my pack list in pieces. One of my main concerns now is clothes. I start April 15thish in GA!!

Here is what I have so far......I am thinking I am going to want something to add warmth but I am not sure what to take. I have a fleece vest or a techwick long sleeve thing I could add but do I need more......

Two techwick panties
Three sock liners
Two pairs of merino wool socks (maybe three)
Asolo Attiva Boots (I have bad feet and ankles and need good support)
Crocs for camp

EMS lightweight techwick baselayer pants (i thought I got mid weight, will these do for the whole thru?)
Champion long sleeve poly shirt
Convertible pants/shorts
Poly hiking t-shirt

Long sleeve lightweight fleece
Eighth summit rain jacket
Nike nylon pants for rain

What should I look for in hat and gloves??

I have a 20 degree bag.

Thanks everyone!!!
Stell

[Blissful]

You need some kind of outer jacket etc. until mid May like a montbell thermarap, etc. I'd leave the lightweight fleece until then and switch out. Though I carried my Montbell throughout after swtiching out of my down jacket. Even thought I did not use it until New England. I'm one of those, better to be safe than sorry.
You won't hike in rain in rain pants. Too hot. You can carry them for camp until May then send them home until NH/ ME.
Take the third pair of socks. But unless your boots are the workhouse leather ones that weigh a ton they wont support your ankles much. The way you support them is a good shoe with a solid foot bed and strengthen your ankles with exercises before you leave. And use poles. Been there after suffering a severe ankle sprain for 2 years and then hiked half the trail in trail runners.
And just bring a poly fleece hat and gloves. You can probably get them cheap now.

Bag is good.

[Vagrant Squirrel]

I'd recommend looking into a balaclava to help keep your face and neck warm and to help make you look more ninja-like.

[garlic08]

I'd suggest a "poofy" layer, too, at least a vest. I packed a down vest at the last minute on April 4 last year and was very glad I did--two late-April blizzards, temps in the teens last year. Ditto on the hat or balaclava (great idea) and gloves, too.

[SGT Rock]

So I am hoping to get your advice on my pack list in pieces. One of my main concerns now is clothes. I start April 15thish in GA!!

Here is what I have so far......I am thinking I am going to want something to add warmth but I am not sure what to take. I have a fleece vest or a techwick long sleeve thing I could add but do I need more......

Two techwick panties
Three sock liners
Two pairs of merino wool socks (maybe three)
Asolo Attiva Boots (I have bad feet and ankles and need good support)
Crocs for camp

EMS lightweight techwick baselayer pants (i thought I got mid weight, will these do for the whole thru?)
Champion long sleeve poly shirt
Convertible pants/shorts
Poly hiking t-shirt

Long sleeve lightweight fleece
Eighth summit rain jacket
Nike nylon pants for rain

What should I look for in hat and gloves??

I have a 20 degree bag.

Thanks everyone!!!
Stell
Depends on how you hack the cold. I'd add some wool gloves, a wool cap, and maybe a neck gaiter.

[JAK]

I got a alpaca wool peruvian type hat with ear flaps, and a neck tube with it,
and together they are very versatile and can be used like a balaclava, but I can also use just one or the other, like the neck tube without the hat as ear muffs. They are both very light and might carry them in summer also. I lost the neck tube but since knit my own. Easy project. Just knit a rectangle and then sew it into a tube with the wool. There is probably a better way but that worked for me.

[Buckles]

I'd ditch the fleece for a Patagonia Micro-Puff vest, or something similar. Folds up into itself. Very low profile and great insulator. A balaclava for the head/face (and sleeping). Swix makes some nice gloves (for cross country skiers). They look like lobster claws. Keeps your fingers warmer with less bulk. I'd ditch one pair of sock liners.

[Ox97GaMe]

general rule of thumb.... ALWAYS have one set of dry clothes. Some hikers suggest putting these in a gallon zip lock bag and keep in your pack until needed. You WILL find yourself cold and wet out there and will need to get into the dry set. I would recommend at least 3 of each; shirts, pants/shorts, socks. Unless you are used to hiking in cold, wet cloths, you will need the second set to hike into the rain the day after you get your first set soaked. NEVER, NEVER, have all 3 sets wet at the same time. Also remember that nothing is truly waterproof, merely varying levels of water restistancy. You will see enough rain in GA/NC/TN to soak you all the way through on more than one occassion.

One of the early signs to indicate how far you will make it on the trail is your willingness to put on yesterday's cold, wet clothes and hike into the rain. The tendency is to reach into your pack and get the dry clothes. Unless you are hiking into town that day, this might not be a good idea.

Have a great hike. Stay safe, dry, and warm. :)

[garlic08]

general rule of thumb.... ALWAYS have one set of dry clothes. Some hikers suggest putting these in a gallon zip lock bag and keep in your pack until needed. You WILL find yourself cold and wet out there and will need to get into the dry set. I would recommend at least 3 of each; shirts, pants/shorts, socks.

Three pairs of pants and three shirts? Never done that. (I don't even own that many pairs of pants at home!) I disagree based on my experience. It's absolutely critical to keep your insulation dry, but the thin nylon shirt and pants, it doesn't matter except for comfort. If you get soaked, take off the wet clothes, get in the bag, put the wet clothes on the next day and start hiking. Yes, it's a measure of resolve, but that's what a thru hike is all about.

[Ox97GaMe]

It COULD be done with just a single set of clothes, if you wanted to do it that way. It depends on whether you want to do a minimalist type hike, or have some luxuries on your hike. You are most likely going to want to change into dry clothes when you get to a shelter so you can socialize with the other hikers, cook your dinner, etc. You arent likely to sit naked in your sleeping bag, trying to get warm while the rest of the thru hikers are enjoying their evening. If you are carrying your tent, and want to stay in the tent the whole evening to avoid being around the other hikers at a shelter, that is an option as well.

Some hikers have a set of town clothes. They put these on while they are washing their dirty hiking clothes. Others just wear their rain shells while doing laundry.

You just need to determine what kind of hike you want to to, and then plan accordingly.

[BR360]

Having been hypothermic before from having hiked in cold rain all day, I now carry a set of dry clothes to wear in camp. I only wear them when I can keep them dry (in camp, at night, maybe just in my tent, tarp, hammock).

Here's what I carry for my dry clothes: silk pullover, a cashmere vest (thrift shop), a pair of silk long underwear, a pair of nylon soccer shorts (modesty), a lightweight wool beanie, and a pair of lightweight merino wool socks. These are in a gallon plastic bag. They weigh exactly 16 ozs. They serve the dual purpose of camp clothes and take my bag 5 dF lower.

On a hot summer night, I might sleep on top of my bag in just these clothes.

For hiking clothes, I go with layers, year-round. I REALLY prefer wool and silk over petro-clothes, as they don't stink after even a week or so.

Hiking clothes: Smartwool Tee, Smartwool Zip-T-neck, merino wool sweater, windshirt, poncho; Another pair of soccer shorts, and a pair of Patagonia long pants (nylon, bought because they fit great). I can use these singly in multple combinations depending on conditions. I wear one pair of socks.

When expecting winter conditions, I also carry my Mtn Hardwear Compressor jacket (14 ozs.; Primaloft), another wool cap, ankle gaiters, and Windstopper fleece gloves.

[kayak karl]

Three pairs of pants and three shirts? Never done that. (I don't even own that many pairs of pants at home!) I disagree based on my experience. It's absolutely critical to keep your insulation dry, but the thin nylon shirt and pants, it doesn't matter except for comfort. If you get soaked, take off the wet clothes, get in the bag, put the wet clothes on the next day and start hiking. Yes, it's a measure of resolve, but that's what a thru hike is all about.
i agree. this worked for me. i kept a pair of mid-weight under layer (bottom and top) extra socks, and underwear in a plastic bag. only used for camp (if needed). always put the wet clothes on in morn. if you are layered right they will dry. even on the coldest days a silk underbase, micro fleece and epic MH wind/rain jacket and convertable pants.