View Full Version : Your top 3 must haves in your pack?
lifeisalwaysgood
07-13-2019, 23:29
Curious to know from several of you, what are your top 3 items you MUST have in your pack if you are hiking the Appalachian trail?
3 stuff sacks to hold the 30 things I bring on every trip.
My tent, my sleeping bag, my pack. I'd add a fourth, my food. And a fifth, my air mattress. Everything else is unnecessary waste.
Tipi Walter
07-14-2019, 10:59
My tent, my sleeping bag, my pack. I'd add a fourth, my food. And a fifth, my air mattress. Everything else is unnecessary waste.
Years ago I came up with The Seven Holy Nylons---crap every backpacker carries.
** SHELTER of some kind---tarp/tent/hammock with tarp/bivy sac etc.
** PACK of some kind to carry all our crap. Could be a daypack, a butt pack, a hobo pack on a bindle stick etc etc.
** SLEEPING BAG for . . . uh . . . sleeping. Could be a quilt or a blanket or whatever.
** SLEEPING PAD for comfort and warmth against the ground. Very few backpackers use nothing---and some idiots still cut fire tree bough beds.
** FOOD of course. You can't do long backpacking trips without food.
** WATER CONTAINER. Gotta have something to hold water.
** CLOTHING because how many backpackers pull all their trips totally nude??
These are mandatory. All the rest is not---like boots or books or stoves or hiking poles or first aid kits or knives or hatchets or Bic lighters or whatever else.
Feral Bill
07-14-2019, 12:03
Hammock, sleeping bag, and tarp. I like my snoozing.
Traveler
07-14-2019, 12:29
My tent, my sleeping bag, my pack. I'd add a fourth, my food. And a fifth, my air mattress. Everything else is unnecessary waste.
I wouldn't say a stove and cook pot are a waste, but it wouldn't not be the first I have seen people without that essential gear. A list of three things to have, to me won't provide much useful information as it's a contextual question. Much depends on the time of year, duration of trek, ability of the respondent, and a raft of other things. Perhaps the question is better stated by categorizing the top three things?
What top 3-things for shelter/camp
What top 3-things for food prep
What top 3-things for food staples
What top 3-things for hydration
What top 3-things for warmth/weather (hypothermia prevention)
There would be a lot of good information in those responses I think as opposed to a "what three things would you take" and nothing else brings me to quote Steve Martin in my favorite top things list delivery, "All I need is this chair, a lamp, and my paddleball thing" - The Jerk.
colorado_rob
07-14-2019, 12:33
Call me silly, but I would have thought the OP meant what are the 3 most important items BESIDES the obvious givens, like shelter and a sleep system.
Traveler
07-14-2019, 12:42
Call me silly, but I would have thought the OP meant what are the 3 most important items BESIDES the obvious givens, like shelter and a sleep system.
Even interpreting the question that way brings me to the same intersection. I can more easily name the top three things I bring with regard to various elements of backpacking than I can just top three things overall, much changes with the seasons.
lifeisalwaysgood
07-14-2019, 13:43
I wouldn't say a stove and cook pot are a waste, but it wouldn't not be the first I have seen people without that essential gear. A list of three things to have, to me won't provide much useful information as it's a contextual question. Much depends on the time of year, duration of trek, ability of the respondent, and a raft of other things. Perhaps the question is better stated by categorizing the top three things?
What top 3-things for shelter/camp
What top 3-things for food prep
What top 3-things for food staples
What top 3-things for hydration
What top 3-things for warmth/weather (hypothermia prevention)
There would be a lot of good information in those responses I think as opposed to a "what three things would you take" and nothing else brings me to quote Steve Martin in my favorite top things list delivery, "All I need is this chair, a lamp, and my paddleball thing" - The Jerk.
Those would be great to know in each category. Excellent idea. But that would make one long post ;)
One thing you mentioned im curious about. If you don't bring a stove and cook pot. How would you cook anything?
KnightErrant
07-14-2019, 14:24
I would say everything in your pack should be a must-have for you. If it isn't, don't bring it. I mean, I know plenty of people don't use poles or a water filter or whatever item, and I use those things. So technically it's not a must-have for everyone, but it's something I consider a necessity. And besides my "safety blanket" of first aid kit, extra socks, and extra headlamp batteries, and my "luxury item" of my external phone battery, I use every item in my pack every day. If you're not using it every day, why are you carrying it?
My first couple backpacking trips I added stuff to my pack, thinking, "I might need this." My pack got a lot lighter when instead, I only added it to my pack if I could say "I will definitely need and use this." As I said, the only exception to that is my bare-bones first aid/repair kit (smaller than a deck of cards) and my backup batteries and socks.
One thing you mentioned im curious about. If you don't bring a stove and cook pot. How would you cook anything?
You don't! You either eat things that are ready to eat, or cold soak.
Food, clothing, and shelter.
bigcranky
07-14-2019, 14:54
I mean, I'm assuming we have all the camping and hiking gear, right? That's way more than three things. So here's my list:
Good food. Some Scotch. A camera.
Car keys so I'm sure I'm not locked out when I get back to the trailhead. I never use them hiking, but it would ruin a trip if I lost them.
Just trail runners on my feet on Hike Naked Day.
I would say everything in your pack should be a must-have for you. If it isn't, don't bring it.
Me in a nutshell. I may bring extras, like camp shoes/sandals, even a folding saw and fixed blade knife, on 1-3 night trips in winter, but on a "real" backpacking trip where I'm knocking out miles and thousands of feet in elevation gain per day, nothing. The only mandatory carry item that doesn't get used(hopefully...usually) then is my first aid stuff, and any food I may have left over.
The food remains an issue for me. It's hard to cut back when you're technically carrying too little to begin with, but when I'm out for 7 days, and know my appetite usually doesn't kick in 'til day 4...but what if doesn't work out that way this time?
It's crappy cutting out every ounce you can, then coming home with 3.5lbs of "unnecessary" food you've toted around for a week, though.
Traveler
07-15-2019, 07:09
Those would be great to know in each category. Excellent idea. But that would make one long post ;)
One thing you mentioned im curious about. If you don't bring a stove and cook pot. How would you cook anything?
Specific questions get you closer to usable answers.
It's rare to see someone not pack a stove and fuel, but it's done. There are some who believe it saves them weight (presumably they figure it's the key to Katahdin when walking up Springer), some people are cheap, others irresponsible. So they eat in town a lot, cold camp, or mostly beg others to use their equipment to cook meals, which in my view is irresponsible given the opportunity to obtain this equipment and be self sufficient.
colorado_rob
07-15-2019, 09:49
Stoveless hikers on our popular long trails are becoming more and more popular. I would say on the PCT last year it might be close to 40%. Same on the CO trail. Seems like perhaps stoveless hikers are fewer in number on the AT, but growing. Not for me, I have to enjoy 2-3 cups of hot coffee every morning. I could easily do w/o hot food, but not hot coffee.
nsherry61
07-15-2019, 12:11
Curious to know from several of you, what are your top 3 items you MUST have in your pack if you are hiking the Appalachian trail?
Assuming you mean the whole trail, not just a short day or section hike . . .
I'm sorry. This is a really stupid question that doesn't really inform anyone of anything useful. This is more of a survival fantasy question which can probably be addressed better by watching the TV series "Naked and Afraid".
fastfoxengineering
07-17-2019, 13:14
All of my stuff has become just stuff.
Three things I really like to use though...
Photon Freedom Micro around the neck
Handmade Grid Fleece Beanie
Wide Mouth water bottle
Sent from my SM-J737V using Tapatalk
Hikingjim
07-18-2019, 10:02
Since everyone has already said shelter etc 10 times.... I'll go with 3 items that I bring that aren't needed.
- Adequate power bank. Kindle app, audio book if I want, etc
- Sea to Summit Aeros pillow.... I just sleep better
- A small sit pad (~1 oz) that I got from China for $2. Multiple uses. Dry seat in the rain or on rough terrain, somewhere to rest my elbow lying on rocks, I put it under my sleeping mat to elevate my head
... This is a really stupid question that doesn't really inform anyone of anything useful.
If you really think it's a stupid question, I wouldn't bother commenting.
It's rare to see someone not pack a stove and fuel, but it's done. There are some who believe it saves them weight (presumably they figure it's the key to Katahdin when walking up Springer), some people are cheap, others irresponsible. So they eat in town a lot, cold camp, or mostly beg others to use their equipment to cook meals, which in my view is irresponsible given the opportunity to obtain this equipment and be self sufficient.
I see plenty of folks cold-soaking and eating food that doesn't need cooking... without begging others for hot water. 80% of my meals don't need a stove, and plenty of my summer trips are made without one. I don't need to "believe" it saves weight, I can prove it.
Traveler
07-19-2019, 07:19
I see plenty of folks cold-soaking and eating food that doesn't need cooking... without begging others for hot water. 80% of my meals don't need a stove, and plenty of my summer trips are made without one. I don't need to "believe" it saves weight, I can prove it.
Probably more common not to need a stove in treks of a few days duration as opposed to the thru hiking context this was geared to, but experiences differ around the US and over the years. Yes it saves weight from micro grams to ounces, however it would be hard to prove that small weight savings will make the difference to reach Katahdin from Springer, which was the intent of the comment. Suffice to day, I don't consider a stove (regardless of type) as a non-essential luxury on a long distance hike, which is how interpreted the question.
KnightErrant
07-19-2019, 07:36
I went stoveless from Damascus to Katahdin because I found that warm food was only important to me when the weather was cold. Otherwise, it just felt like extra weight and more significantly, extra time and effort in the evening. Cold soaking was lighter and more efficient.
I'm actually more likely to bring a stove on a quick overnight where the extra weight doesn't matter as much and I have more time at camp in the evening because I don't have the trail legs to hike such long hours. I'd estimate at least a quarter of thru-hikers on the AT last year were stoveless, and I personally never witnessed any begging to borrow a stove and fuel. Do agree it made me appreciate my town meals every 4-5 days though!
The Weasel
07-19-2019, 11:17
Leaving aside the obvious (yeah, tent....duh!), here are the big three in terms of winning the weight vs utility challenge:
(1) Miniature multifunction knife with pliers. Pull splinters, cut shavings, screwdrivers for repairs, pliers for splinters/ticks, repairs, etc.
(2) 10' of RED duct tape (wrapped on water bottle or similar). Repairs tents, poles, shoes, butterfly bandages and ankle wraps, blisters, makes signs, etc
(3) Nylon water carrying bag. Carries 1 gal+ from springs to tent/shelter, slowly leaks (lister-bag style) to cool the water, usable as extra carry bag, wash basin, emergency rain hat, more.
The Weasel
LazyLightning
07-19-2019, 20:55
safety supplies (safety first!)
camera (not phone camera)
trekking poles
The Weasel
07-19-2019, 22:09
Excellent; I'll drop the water bag, and replace it with the poles. Camera and safety supplies are lower on the list. Thanks!
TW
The Old Chief
07-20-2019, 08:57
Call me silly, but I would have thought the OP meant what are the 3 most important items BESIDES the obvious givens, like shelter and a sleep system.
Not exactly obvious to everyone.
According to CNN you don't need to bring a shelter on an AT hike: https://www.cnn.com/travel/article/travel-12-things-appalachian-trail/index.html