Ideal Thru-hiker Pack

[Razor]

Also let me caution you about carrying 10 days of food. There are so many resupply points along the trail that 3-4 days is all you need to carry and many sections 2-3 is real easy.That amounts to 14+ lbs It may not seem much on the computer screen but on a six month journey droping an average of 10 lbs a day will increase your miles and make the journey more pleasent. ( and I will not discuss the compounding effect of decreasing weight, lower pack weight= lower ttl weight)

[Maddog]

ula catalyst

[skinewmexico]

ULA Circuit. My Catalyst is so big I rarely use it.

[10-K]

ULA Circuit. My Catalyst is so big I rarely use it.

I'm about ready for a smaller pack too but back in the day I could barely get everything I thought I had to have in my Catalyst.

IMO, the Catalyst makes a perfect first pack.

[bigcranky]

ULA Circuit. My Catalyst is so big I rarely use it.

I just got a ULA Ohm because my Starlite was so big I couldn't use it in the summer. (I'm keeping it for winter trips.) The specs on the Ohm look small, but it's got exactly the capacity I need for 3-season hiking.

[play_outside]

Also let me caution you about carrying 10 days of food. There are so many resupply points along the trail that 3-4 days is all you need to carry and many sections 2-3 is real easy.That amounts to 14+ lbs It may not seem much on the computer screen but on a six month journey droping an average of 10 lbs a day will increase your miles and make the journey more pleasent. ( and I will not discuss the compounding effect of decreasing weight, lower pack weight= lower ttl weight)

Are you saying there will be access to grocery stores every 3-4 days? I also would prefer to stay relatively close to the trail. I don't want to have to hike too far off the trail to find a grocery store.

[Dogwood]

I second much of what Razor stated, Play Outside. Most of the time on the AT you will be able to resupply every 3-5 days. However, that does not mean there is a Supermarket at every road crossing every 3-5 days either. What most thru-hikers do, as I'm sure you are likely to do, is stick your thumb out! OR, carry 10 days worth of your own food and dog food. Better yet, get a dog pack and let the dog haul some of it's own food!

[Turtle Feet]

Are you saying there will be access to grocery stores every 3-4 days? I also would prefer to stay relatively close to the trail. I don't want to have to hike too far off the trail to find a grocery store.

Try to pick up a copy of the 2011 Northbound A.T. Guide (the green cover). I know you said you're leaving next week, see if David (the author) could expedite you one, or try an overnight from amazon (well worth the investment). TheATGuide.com

All your mileage as far as food, resupply, lodging, road crossing, water sources, tent sites, shelters, elevations, it's all in there - right on the page you need it to be on (no hunting and pecking thru an index).

If you can't get on before you leave - you're first resupply stop will be Neels Gap, about 30 miles in, so depending on if you're doing the approach trail or not, it's about a 4 day hike. I'm not sure, but they may have copies of the guide there. Honestly, it will be the best $20 you will spend on this trip! It will save you way more than that in overpaying for lodging, or heading off in the wrong directions for a resupply. Just get it.

Oh, and btw, you can order them "unbound" as well. That's what I've done and that way I'm not carrying 2000 miles worth of guide all at once.

BTW - where in WI are you from???

tf

[CrumbSnatcher]

EXTERNAL

[Bags4266]

Old thread I hope he figured it out in 6 months

[CrumbSnatcher]

he's planning a 2011 thruhike
whats it going to be
myself i don't really have a preference between internals
and externals

[George]

The ideal pack for a hiker would contain every whim item that could be desired and ride on another's back within easy reach, now the pack to carry would be much different

[takethisbread]

There is no perfect pack for all people, but by far the most popular pack for thru hikers is ULA. I use it, I would never use another. Their are super light and hold what you need, and have the best customer service in the business and do lots of custom mods for u.

If u are thinking of thru hiking, it's sounds as if you aren't all that experienced, u might want to go on a shakedown hike with some folks here, where the mileage is reasonably long (50 miles?) and you can test your gear over several days and work out the kinks.

Neels Gap is a two day hike from Springer either way and you can resupply and make gear/bag adjustments there.

[leaftye]

Another pt that I've pondered with a WP pack is that I like to carry non-WP items like maps, clothing, sunglasses, bug dope, sunscreen, daily snacks, camera, MP3 player, etc in outside pockets of a WP pack. Often, with WP packs it's usually the main compartment and back pocket which are WP not side or hip belt pockets which means any items in those non-WP pockets will be exposed to wetness or have to be removed from those non-WP pockets when it rains heavily.

I agree. I've tried applying DWR treatment to my external mesh pockets to no avail.

Seriously though, if my main compartment is not big enough to protect all my gear, then the pack is not big enough. I view the external pockets merely as a way to move things outside of the main compartment for convenience while hiking.

[maybe clem]

Golite Gust. Shame they don't make it anymore.

[flemdawg1]

There is no perfect pack for all people, but by far the most popular pack for thru hikers is ULA. I use it, I would never use another. Their are super light and hold what you need, and have the best customer service in the business and do lots of custom mods for u.

If u are thinking of thru hiking, it's sounds as if you aren't all that experienced, u might want to go on a shakedown hike with some folks here, where the mileage is reasonably long (50 miles?) and you can test your gear over several days and work out the kinks.

Neels Gap is a two day hike from Springer either way and you can resupply and make gear/bag adjustments there.

I saw 100s of thruhikers on the AT last year, very few had ULAs. Most had Gregorys and Ospreys. ULA is a good pack though.

[soulslosher]

Honestly, you can look at the pack choices until you're blue in the face.. Just do some research on what features you might like on your pack. Things like the number of pouches, how much padding (Gregory is awesome for their padding), gather all of your gear first!! You might find that when you're seriously shopping for a pack that if it lacks just one thing that you require, it's a deal breaker.. regardless of what everyone else is saying about it..

FWIW.. I have a Gregory Z55