First Time SOBO Gear List (work in progress) - Please help!

[Moosky]

Hello there! Moosky here. I have put together a preliminary list of gears. I am planning for SOBO next year, starting in early or mid July. You'll notice that I haven't included the pack yet because that will be the last thing on my list, after I finalize all the other gears. Some of the weight info are just guesstimates. Let me know if they are inaccurate.

Any comments on how to reduce weight is welcomed! Total base weight stands at about 14.7lb right now. It would be great if I can get it down to 12lb. But of course, please point out if I have left out any critical gear. Thanks in advance!

I have added hyper links to some of the gears to help other thru hikers who are planning. Also I recommend a great site to keep track of your gear list: http://www.geargrams.com/

Item Name	Category	qty	weight
Running Shorts	clothing	1	3.0
Long John	clothing	1	11.0
Midweight Long-Sleeve Shirt	clothing	1	7.0
Wool Socks	clothing	3	3.0
Bug Net	clothing	1	1.0
Fleece Hat	clothing	1	3.0
Rain Pants	clothing	1	13.3
Down Jacket	clothing	1	15.0
Marmot Mica - Rain Jacket	clothing	1	7.0
Short Sleeve T-Shirt	clothing	2	4.0
Croc - Pair	clothing	1	8.0
Pot Stand	cooking	1	1.0
Titanium Spork	cooking	1	0.6
Snowpeak Trek 700 Titanium	cooking	1	4.8
8 Oz Fuel Bottle	cooking	1	3.0
Trangia Spirit Alcohol Stove	cooking	1	4.0
Cozy	cooking	1	1.2
Kindle Paper White	electronic	1	7.5
Phone and Batteries	electronic	1	10.0
Lightheart Solo Tyvek Footprint	shelter	1	0.5
Titanium Stakes - 6 pack	shelter	1	1.7
LightHeart Solo - Cuben Fiber	shelter	1	22.0
35F Summer Sleeping Bag	sleeping	1	16.0
NeoAir All Season Sleeping Pad - R	sleeping	1	19.0
Tooth Brush, Tooth Paste, Soap, Ear Plugs	toiletries	1	5.0
Paracord - 50 ft	tools	1	4.0
Emergency Whistle with Compass	tools	1	0.5
Ka-Bar BK13 w/ Wrapped Handle	tools	1	2.0
Swiss Army Knife	tools	1	1.3
Leki Cork Lite with speed lock	tools	1	17.0
First Aid Kit	tools	1	6.0
AT Thru-Hike Guide	tools	1	7.0
Head Lamp	tools	1	5.3
Nalgene or Gatorade Bottle	water	1	4.0
Aquamira Tablets	water	1	2.0
Sawyer Squeeze Filter	water	1	4.0

[swjohnsey]

Running Shorts	clothing	1	3.0
	clothing	1
	clothing	1	7.0
Wool Socks	clothing	3	3.0
Bug Net	clothing	1	1.0
	clothing	1	3.0
Rain Pants	clothing	1	13.3
	clothing	1	15.0
Marmot Mica - Rain Jacket	clothing	1	7.0
Short Sleeve T-Shirt	clothing	2	4.0
	clothing	1	8.0
Pot Stand	cooking	1	1.0
Titanium Spork	cooking	1	0.6
Snowpeak Trek 700 Titanium	cooking	1	4.8
8 Oz Fuel Bottle	cooking	1	3.0
Trangia Spirit Alcohol Stove	cooking	1	4.0
Cozy	cooking	1	1.2
Kindle Paper White	electronic	1	7.5
Phone and Batteries	electronic	1	10.0
Lightheart Solo Tyvek Footprint	shelter	1	0.5
Titanium Stakes - 6 pack	shelter	1	1.7
LightHeart Solo - Cuben Fiber	shelter	1	22.0
35F Summer Sleeping Bag	sleeping	1	16.0
NeoAir All Season Sleeping Pad - R	sleeping	1	19.0
Tooth Brush, Tooth Paste, Soap, Ear Plugs	toiletries	1	5.0
Paracord - 50 ft	tools	1	4.0
	tools	1	0.5
	tools	1	2.0
Swiss Army Knife	tools	1	1.3
Leki Cork Lite with speed lock	tools	1	17.0
First Aid Kit	tools	1	6.0
AT Thru-Hike Guide	tools	1	7.0
Head Lamp	tools	1	5.3
Nalgene or Gatorade Bottle	water	1	4.0
Aquamira Tablets	water	1	2.0

[Moosky]

Thanks Johnsey! Appreciate it. I noticed that you have deleted most of the winter clothing. As I go south, when do you think I should swap out the summer stuff and swap in winter clothing/sleeping bag?

Do you think croc as camp shoes are not needed?

Last question on water treatment. I heard aquamira tablets take ~40 minutes to completely take effect. Does that ever pose a problem?

[Moosky]

Also I've heard the weather can change very quickly in the Whites and on Katahdin. Is it a better idea to bring winter clothing with me when I start in ME?

[swjohnsey]

You won't need winter cothing at the start. Probably won't need to pick it up 'til October-November depending on where you are. I don't carry any camp shoes, others do, it is your back. Aqua Mira is completely adequate, I only use household bleach to treat water and seldom do that. Most of the water you will be drinking needs to treatment.

The weather can be tricky on Katahdin and in the Whites but nothing that a good wind/rain shell top and bottom and a sleeping bag can't handle. In the Whites you will likely be sleeping in huts.

[Moosky]

Thanks again!

- Do you think a 35F bag is sufficient until October?
- Do you have any recommendation for wind/rain shell top and bottom?

Really appreciate it!

[swjohnsey]

A 35 degree bag is more than enough. You might be able to use it all the way, depending on your tolerance for a cold night or two and how fast you are traveling.

The rain/wind shell thang if very contentious. I used a Marmot Essence top and Precip 1/4 zip pants. Driducks work but are very durable. I used a Precip top and bottom once, pretty cheap, a little heavy, very effective.

[Moosky]

Thanks! This is tremendously helpful! What would you recommend to add to the summer gears above when the weather gets cold?

[swjohnsey]

Balacava, mittens, 100 wt fleece tops and bottoms. You can also sleep in this to lower the temp rating of you bag.

[Moosky]

What do you think of the Marmot Essence Jacket? I saw negative reviews because it has no pit vents.

Also, what do you think of the Marmot Essence Rain Pants?

Thanks!

[swjohnsey]

I don't have Essence pants. The Essence top has pit vents but not zips.

[Tuxedo]

Moosky you have a great start here and to shave a few I suggest these small steps
The only item I want to tell you not to carry is the Aquamira Tablets but this is in tons of threads on WB and comes down to choice. personally NY/NJ would be the only place I'd carry it for.

Kindle Paper White electronic 1 7.5
AT Thru-Hike Guide tools 1 7.0

See if you cant combine the 2 or find a AT guide in file form

Ka-Bar BK13 w/ Wrapped Handle tools 1 2.0
Swiss Army Knife tools 1 1.3

carry one or the other but not both

Paracord - 50 ft tools 1 4.0

I don't know the norm for AT is 20' is all I used and might not have needed that long

Leki Cork Lite with speed lock tools 1 17.0
Nalgene or Gatorade Bottle water 1 4.0

I don't see duck tape just wrap 5' around either item and re-weight

[Moosky]

I don't have Essence pants. The Essence top has pit vents but not zips.

Thanks Johnsey. Do you mean the jacket has pit vents but the vents can't be closed? The marmot website needs to add more details... unless I'm missing it.

[Moosky]

Moosky you have a great start here and to shave a few I suggest these small steps
The only item I want to tell you not to carry is the Aquamira Tablets but this is in tons of threads on WB and comes down to choice. personally NY/NJ would be the only place I'd carry it for.


See if you cant combine the 2 or find a AT guide in file form


carry one or the other but not both


I don't know the norm for AT is 20' is all I used and might not have needed that long


I don't see duck tape just wrap 5' around either item and re-weight

Thanks for the notes Tuxedo! A couple add-on questions:

1. I agree 50 ft of paracord is overkill. Have you ever hanged your food on a tree? Or do you just hang your food in the shelter?
2. What water treatment do you use (if any)?
3. Do I need mid-weight long-sleeve shirt and long john when I start in ME?
4. Do I need a down jacket? (I tend to think yes)

[Tuxedo]

Thanks for the notes Tuxedo! A couple add-on questions:

1. I agree 50 ft of paracord is overkill. Have you ever hanged your food on a tree? Or do you just hang your food in the shelter?
Yes mostly hang in shelter. rope hang find a stick and tie one end and loft it over a branch 10' or more up. tree hang leaves you vulnerable to raccoons btw shelter hang has mice issues

2. What water treatment do you use (if any)?
I did use a filter for many water sources but in ME to CT the springs and brooks I didn't use anything most times NY/NJ the trail angels helped with water thank goodness. if plenty of rains fall'n in then PA thru GA is great water but if low rain then filter and treatment is needed

3. Do I need mid-weight long-sleeve shirt and long john when I start in ME?
I used a poly/fleece like shirt in cold weather early/late and wore long sleeves 75% even in the hot summer. I know its weird but I sweat more with short sleeves

4. Do I need a down jacket? (I tend to think yes)
No I would stick with poly/nylon cause it's rain and drippy to often for down ext gear

Above all Hike your own Hike

[fredmugs]

The year I did the Whites it was 30 and snowing on Mt Washington on July 1st and 67 degrees with no wind when I summitted on July 6th. I report - you decide.

Also I've heard the weather can change very quickly in the Whites and on Katahdin. Is it a better idea to bring winter clothing with me when I start in ME?

[Moosky]

The year I did the Whites it was 30 and snowing on Mt Washington on July 1st and 67 degrees with no wind when I summitted on July 6th. I report - you decide.

Also I've heard the weather can change very quickly in the Whites and on Katahdin. Is it a better idea to bring winter clothing with me when I start in ME?

Thanks for the info. That's what I heard. The weather can change very quickly. Did you bring any winter clothes?

[fireneck]

I would take Sawyer squeeze filter or Aqua Mira, not both. My first 1,500 miles I used Aqua Mira but got so sick of the taste that I had to switch. I went with the Sawyer filter, great choice if you go with a filter.

Have you considered going NoBo instead? Who wants to start with dessert first (Maine/New Hampshire)?

Sorry, couldn't help but give a little ribbing to future SoBo. Seems like you have a pretty good list.

[Moosky]

I would take Sawyer squeeze filter or Aqua Mira, not both. My first 1,500 miles I used Aqua Mira but got so sick of the taste that I had to switch. I went with the Sawyer filter, great choice if you go with a filter.

Have you considered going NoBo instead? Who wants to start with dessert first (Maine/New Hampshire)?

Sorry, couldn't help but give a little ribbing to future SoBo. Seems like you have a pretty good list.

Haha thanks for the tips on water treatment. I was planning to be NOBO until I found out that my visa expires in Feb 2014. And since my job won't release me until July 2013, I figured my best option is to start in July 2013. I think a lot of people have similar issues, especially students who graduate in May/June.