Looking for a shakedown!

[garebear22]

https://lighterpack.com/r/5z0qt3

Doing a thru-hike of the AT about a year from now. I have my gear planned out so I can acquire the pieces over the next year.

Are there any ways I can cut weight? I think everything I have here is pretty essential, but I am by no means an expert.

Thanks,
Garrett

[4eyedbuzzard]

Noticed that you posted this in several different forums, but I'll comment here. IMO, you've got a reasonably light setup. You don't have a lot of room to save much more weight given the major gear choices (pack, sleep system, etc). But one could go nuts choosing the absolute lightest piece of equipment in every function/category, and wind up with a somewhat lighter set up (maybe a pound or two) - but one that they didn't really like.

I noticed hammock, underquilt, and neo-air pad. You could save here by not taking the neo-air, and committing to sleeping in the hammock every night, but if you do choose to sleep in shelters sometimes or "go to ground" with the tarp, you will regret not having a pad. It's a 1 lb "this gives me flexibility" choice IMO. I think you might want a pair of long trousers and more insulation/clothing layers especially in the beginning of the hike. Maybe a light long sleeve as well (helps with bugs too). A lot of this is dependent upon exactly when you start, and what you like though. I'd lose the light my fire starter and replace with a bic lighter. I prefer canister stoves over alcohol - some people don't, but I don't think there's a lot to save here either, but you'll likely get a lot of comments on alcohol vs gas. I'm not a big fan of water bladders, preferring gatorade type bottles, but this is a choice you can easily change out once on the trail. The Ursack is overkill for the AT, a good size stuff sack is sufficient. You're under 20 lbs w/o food and water. You'll likely add some other things like maps/guide, spoon, sunscreen, bug juice/DEET, TP, hat, etc. that you haven't listed. I wouldn't go crazy over your pack weight though given where you're at already. Take what you need to enjoy the hike.

[Traveler]

Could be the OP is looking for a real shakedown, which would look like:

"Hey, if youse don't wants to have youse dog come up missing, give dis guy <pointing at Vin Nee da Chin> $50.00 a week"

[GreenBlaze]

Everybody has different needs in their kit. I know I do, but watching this guy's video really opened my eyes to how light one can go if they want to. He uses a hammock system as well, so I thought you might glean some knowledge from it. I even saw some weight he could cut from his current kit which is 15lbs with food (not water).

Happy Trails!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nVoX6mlmdI

[Longboysfan]

https://lighterpack.com/r/5z0qt3

Doing a thru-hike of the AT about a year from now. I have my gear planned out so I can acquire the pieces over the next year.

Are there any ways I can cut weight? I think everything I have here is pretty essential, but I am by no means an expert.

Thanks,
Garrett

You can get to the place you start and heve someone at the Hostel look your gear over and adjust.
I stayed at Hiker Hostel in Georgia recently, great place, and they are thru hikers running the place.
They will shake your pack down and do recommends.
Plus great rate to stay.
Breakfast in the AM and shuttle to the trail.

[Flash52]

I would do the best you can but just plan on getting started and then thinning things down a bit more once you've been hiking for at least a few weeks. You'll have a better idea of what you can get by without by that time.

Good luck!

[twistwrist]

Check out these videos of some pack shakedowns. Clarity offers free backpack shakedowns if you start your hike at Amicalola Falls State park!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoru-f4EJ9s (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uoru-f4EJ9s)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-_g664L5xg (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-_g664L5xg)

[gbolt]

One thing I noticed was that you have a ZPacks Medium CF Sack for Clothes, a compression bag for quilts, and a Trash compactor bag as a pack liner. I would get rid of the Compression bag. I throw the quilts in the bottom of the trash compactor bag and then put the Clothes Sac on top to compress the quilts. The CF Sack is really not needed; however, I just purchased the Large one because it makes organization and grabbing items out so much easier. Some would say to get rid of it as well; but like many items... It comes down to personal choice. I also would not choose to carry a chair, at least on a thru hike. That is taking away one of the great things about a hammock. I use it as a chair in camp. I tend to stand around a fire (if one is available) and use a "Sit Pad" when on a log or ground. The sit pad doubles for insulation in a foot box. Otherwise, my hammock is my "Home". Your list looks great for a start. I have many of the same items such as the S2S XCup and Aeros Pillow. One suggestion for the pillow is to rig it to your Hammock Ridge Line and leave it in the hammock when packing it away. Saves time and saves the need for the little sac it comes in. I used the sac for a pack cover until I purchased a couple of the smallest Z Pack "Wallet Bags" for the Pack Cover and also a headnet. Enjoy the process as you try different combinations until the day you start the Thru.

[Platypus2016]

The list looks really good to me (and pretty pricey), the only things I would think about dropping is the multi tool (a small knife is still considered a luxury item to most, I didn't carry anything except a razor blade, and only used it cutting up cheese..), and the emergency bivy, think about thinning your clothes out. But the most important thing is to make sure that you have what YOU need, I saw people complete their hikes with 50lb bags, and with 15lb bags.

I didn't see a chair on you gear list, but I saw someone comment on it, I am waiting on my helonox chair one I ordered, the thing I missed the most last year on my hike was a way to comfortably sit down.. And sometimes you don't have even a log to sit on. It weighs almost 2 pounds.. But to me I think it is worth it.

My general philosophy is to go as light as you can with gear, so that you have room to take some comfort items. You can always bounce them ahead or something and send them home of you aren't using them..
Just some food for thought
Alex "Platypus"

[cmoulder]

to the OP, if you're not using a really good scale to actually weigh things, it is worth the minimal expense.

For example, Jetboil fuel = 4oz?

Actually, a 4oz (net fuel weight) canister weighs closer to 8 oz. If you wanna be a gram weenie you gotta be able to measure the actual grams (http://www.amazon.com/Dwp-1001-Digiweigh-1000x0-1g-Silverplate-Handpainted/dp/B00D27PKFI). :)

Don't need a bowl, eat out of the pot. Or, if you're using the minimo, JB has a bowl on the bottom (The one that covers the flux ring.)

I would overhaul the whole weighing protocol with a good scale. You can't simply go by "published" weights.