View Full Version : gear list
nightshaded
02-12-2008, 14:49
i've been lurking for months now, but with less than 50 days to go 'till i hit springer, i figured i should start posting more...so here goes:
leaving springer with a 8# food bag.
two 1 liter water bottles, each weighing 1# 4 oz when full. one is on a carbiner and has duct tape wrapped around it. this adds another 2 oz. to the weight (may end up carrying more water).
BIG FOUR:
pack: old gregory pack, circa 1970's. removed head pouch and side packs. trimmed down some of the unnecessary hardware. weight: 4# 7 oz. (yeah...it's a behemoth...but it's functional.)
pad: closed cell foam. 1# 3 oz.
sleeping bag: 20 degree quest synthetic fill. with the home-made bivy, i've used this bag in single digit temps, so i should be comfortable. weight (with bivy): 4# 5 oz.
tarp: self-made. weighs 1# 5 oz with the stakes.
-------------
total: 22# 10 oz. incl. food and water
MISC:
rope: 4 oz.
headlamp: 3.7 oz.
pot/spoon: 4.5 oz.
stove: 2 oz.
fuel: 10 oz.
knife/lighter/chapsick on 'biner: 2.7 oz.
purell: 3.6 oz.
soap: 3 oz.
bag with: tp, paper, pencil, guidebook pages/map: 1.5 oz.
FIRST AID:
1 set of extra headlamp batteries
2 saftey pins
needle/floss
baking soda (for tooth brushing and foot powder)
child's toothbrush, cut off
earplugs
water purifying tablets
ibuprofin
benadryl
epi pen
calcium enhanced vitamin supplements
weight: 9 oz
____________
total: 2# 7 oz.
CLOTHING:
bandana: 1.5 oz.
hat/scarf: 3.85 oz.
gloves: 1.2 oz.
2 pr. wigwam merino wool socks: 6.4 oz
silk skirt: 4 oz.
thermal shirt: 6.1 oz.
under armor long sleeve tee: 6.1 oz.
long johns: 5.4 oz. or fleece pants 7.5 oz. (may bring both so i have something dry and clean-ish in which to sleep)
jacket: 11.6 oz.
fleece vest: 10.1 oz.
rain jacket/pants: 10 oz.
-----------------
total: 4# 10 oz.
TOTAL: 29# 11 oz.
this gives me some leeway as to how much water and food i can actually carry, which is my main concern, obviously.
any feedback's much appreciated.
hopefulhiker
02-12-2008, 14:57
Unless you are really attached to it you might go with a lighter cheap used pack... Also I would carry an extra platypus or water bottle or something.. There has been a drought and you might want the ability to carry extra water...
Blissful
02-12-2008, 15:24
Your sleep system is pretty heavy. Not sure why you need both a bivy and a tarp shelter. But if it works for you and you want to carry it, go for it.
I take it you are allergic to bee stings? (we also carried an epi pen because my son was)
Are you going commando? Saw no undies. Camp shoes? What are you hiking in? I never heard of a silk skirt (?) You will need shorts (unless you meant a silk skirt?) and one t-shirt. We hit 70s in March. You never know.
I would skip the headlamp batteries. Plenty of time and towns along the way you can get them and headlamps last a long time.
Also - Pack cover, garbage bag liner (?) - not sure how waterproof a pack like that is, sunscreen
29 lbs. is fine if that includes food and water. Not UL or SUL, but well within reason.
As to specifics -- I've never carried "jackets" of any type on the trail. I have carried thin outer shells, and this last go-round I carried a Frogg Toggs rain suit.
Needless to say, your pack and sleeping bag are on the heavy side. But you already knew that.
nightshaded
02-12-2008, 15:46
Needless to say, your pack and sleeping bag are on the heavy side. But you already knew that.
i make no claims to being ul...and i've taken all sorts of grief about the pack/bag weight...but it works for me, so i'm not too worried about it.
i do have a rainsuit...so i may scrap the jacket....i've been doing so much camping lately in the freezing cold that i've almost forgotten what it's like to be warm!
taildragger
02-12-2008, 15:48
i make no claims to being ul...and i've taken all sorts of grief about the pack/bag weight...but it works for me, so i'm not too worried about it.
i do have a rainsuit...so i may scrap the jacket....i've been doing so much camping lately in the freezing cold that i've almost forgotten what it's like to be warm!
If the system works for you, stick with it.
nightshaded
02-12-2008, 16:03
blissful--
i'm still up in the air about the logistics of the sleep system...there's going to be a bit of trial and error, but i'm willing to be flexible. the tarp can be used as a pack cover, and the bivy's just a glorified contractor's garbage bag, so i'm covered (literally:) )
the garbage bag's in my food bag, and is included in that weight.
i am allergic only to yellow jackets, but i am VERY allergic to them, so that's the justification for that.
i thought i included my tee shirt: it's silk, weighs 3 oz. i can't imagine it being warm right now: we've had a foot of snow so far this afternoon and it's still coming down. i'm looking forward to hiking in more moderate temperatures so very much!
that was, indeed, a SKIRT made from silk, it's very light, but warm, and more comfy than shorts (no chafing).
i don't hike with underwear. as to camp shoes, when it's warm outside, i rarely wear shoes anyhow, so i intend on going barefoot when it's warm enough. just can't justify carrying another pair of shoes. my boots are men's columbia tigertooths...weigh just under a pound, the most comfortable shoes i've ever owned.
hm...i think that's everything...i'm going to get rid of the batteries now. thanks for the input!
bone lady
nightshaded
02-12-2008, 16:04
If the system works for you, stick with it.
i intend on doing so...i'm rather a stubborn little cuss ;)
Appalachian Tater
02-12-2008, 16:14
Take a real adult-sized toothbrush. You're going to be on the trail for months. Good oral hygiene is important, especially since you'll be snacking all day long. The weight is negligible. You can offset that by not taking the extra batteries, unless you're planning on night hiking a lot.
You have an odd combination of really light stuff along with a clunker of a backpack and sleeping bag. if you can afford to replace them with something lighter, do. I suspect you will figure out a way to replace your backpack once you start hiking regardless.
You might want to look for a Platypus or other collapsible lightweight container for carrying more water, or a 2 liter soda bottle, if the water situation is bad like it was in 2007. It's shaping up that way.
troglobil
02-12-2008, 16:33
two 1 liter water bottles, each weighing 1# 4 oz when full.
Where did you find this light weight water? Mine weighs 2 lbs/ liter.:-?
nightshaded
02-12-2008, 16:34
i should think i'll replace my toothbrush at least once, too! ;)
You have an odd combination of really light stuff along with a clunker of a backpack and sleeping bag. if you can afford to replace them with something lighter, do. I suspect you will figure out a way to replace your backpack once you start hiking regardless.
when it comes down to it, i'm a ridiculously frugal person...if i can avoid spending money, i will...even if it leaves me with outdated gear. i have had someone offer to loan me a newer gregory, so i'm going to play around with it a bit this month and see if it suits me.
nightshaded
02-12-2008, 16:35
Where did you find this light weight water? Mine weighs 2 lbs/ liter.:-?
the bottles might not hold a full liter...i'll let you know if i do stumble across any UL water, though.
Kerosene
02-12-2008, 16:48
You should be fine on the AT with 2 liters of carrying capacity unless it's the height of a drought. Many hikers only carry a liter at a time, but after running out once and having to walk for 4 miles on a humid day, I tend to carry more than I'm likely to need (2 to 2.5 liters).
Hard to believe that you're going to need 8 pounds of food to get you from Springer to Neels Gap. The appetites of most hikers starting out tends to be depressed for the first 7-10 days of intense exercise. Think about carrying 1.5 pounds per day initially to get you to Neels Gap for re-supply (if you stay at the Blood Mountain Cabins then you can have them hold a box for you). If that amount of food turns out to be insufficient for you needs, then you can always head down into Suches from Woody Gap.
Where did you find this light weight water? Mine weighs 2 lbs/ liter.:-?
2.2lbs without the bottle, but who's checking :D
nightshaded
02-12-2008, 17:06
the food bag actually weighs 6# at the moment....i've done some tweaking. i'd rather have a little left over than not enough, and i don't think that's prohibitively heavy. i'm guessing mountain crossings' food isn't all that cheap, so it's also more cost-effective to have an extra day's food upon arriving at neels gap.
i hear blueberry patch hostel's closed...is this the case? and, if so, what's the best alternative for a maildrop location in hiawasee? PO?
Hard to believe that you're going to need 8 pounds of food to get you from Springer to Neels Gap. [/quote]
troglobil
02-12-2008, 17:45
2.2lbs without the bottle, but who's checking :D
I tried weighing mine without the bottle. Just poured it out onto the scale, turns out it didn't weigh anything at all.
I tried weighing mine without the bottle. Just poured it out onto the scale, turns out it didn't weigh anything at all.
LOLOL that's funny......
mountain squid
02-12-2008, 20:20
Some observations:
1.5 oz for tp, paper, pencil, guidebook pages/map:confused:
whistle
radio/mp3 player
sunscreen (no leaves on the trees)
consider switching water tablets for Aquamira (http://www.aquamira.com/consumer/aquamira-water-treatment-drops/) (aquamira is good for 30 gl and is readily avail on the AT)
And, of course, don't forget ID/atm/credit cards and if no cell phone, phone card and important phone #s.
If the Blueberry Patch is closed, check out Cloud9 (http://www.upperhightowertrout.com/hikers.html).
See you on the trail,
mt squid
I tried weighing mine without the bottle. Just poured it out onto the scale, turns out it didn't weigh anything at all.
Should try that trick with a baby scale.:D Or one of those old hardware scales they used for weighing nails.
A couple thoughts'...
A) A couple garbage bags to keep your stuff dry and/or your wet tarp in.
B) An extra pair of socks to keep in reserve for when your feet really need some lovin'.
C) Moleskin (unless you are the duct tape type)
I noticed you're wearing a skirt & no underwear, what will happen if somebody is walking behind you while you're going uphill? :-? :eek:
Rockhound
02-13-2008, 01:44
Where did you find this light weight water? Mine weighs 2 lbs/ liter.:-?
they've just come out with this great new product. instant H2O. just add water:banana
Rockhound
02-13-2008, 01:53
you may want to treat your water or use a filter although last year i hiked 2/3 of the trail without treating/filtering & i was fine. glad not to have the extra weight. others swear by it & thought i was crazy, hiked a couple hundred miles this year with a filter & I've decided to ship it back home. i think it'll take a good case of giardia before i change my mind. and yes i know i cant spell giardia
the bottles might not hold a full liter...i'll let you know if i do stumble across any UL water, though.
If your bottles are US measure, they probably don't hold a liter. Which is nothing to worry about unless you were calculating on having two liters instead of one qt., or something like that. I really don't know what you will require, but I usually have at least 2 l capacity, and sometimes more (eg., on a hot and heavy summer day).
I realized my post might've sounded rude, if so I apologize! Whenever I wear a skit I'm very paranoid about people seeing up it so it was the first thing I thought of!!! If I'm wearing a skirt I never take the stairs! :eek:
redredrose
02-14-2008, 13:50
WOW!!! Better you than me. I'm a 58 year old 145 pound female. My pack and basic gear weight in at just under 12 pounds. I bet you're one of those really strong hunks of a good looking guy, huh?
nightshaded
02-14-2008, 18:32
you may want to treat your water or use a filter although last year i hiked 2/3 of the trail without treating/filtering & i was fine. glad not to have the extra weight. others swear by it & thought i was crazy, hiked a couple hundred miles this year with a filter & I've decided to ship it back home. i think it'll take a good case of giardia before i change my mind. and yes i know i cant spell giardia
that's included in my first aid kit, purifier tabs
nightshaded
02-14-2008, 18:33
WOW!!! Better you than me. I'm a 58 year old 145 pound female. My pack and basic gear weight in at just under 12 pounds. I bet you're one of those really strong hunks of a good looking guy, huh?
well, aside from the guy part:rolleyes:
nightshaded
02-14-2008, 18:34
I realized my post might've sounded rude, if so I apologize! Whenever I wear a skit I'm very paranoid about people seeing up it so it was the first thing I thought of!!! If I'm wearing a skirt I never take the stairs! :eek:
you know, it's never been a problem...and i climb trees in skirts all time....it's just a matter of technique.
nightshaded
02-14-2008, 18:37
A couple thoughts'...
A) A couple garbage bags to keep your stuff dry and/or your wet tarp in.
B) An extra pair of socks to keep in reserve for when your feet really need some lovin'.
C) Moleskin (unless you are the duct tape type)
all of it's covered...and, yes, i'm one of those duct tape types :p
Blissful
02-14-2008, 18:45
Have a GREAT hike!! Take is easy the first few weeks you are out until you acclimate to it all. Takes time for your joints, etc to adjust to the new demands of day in day out hiking. And the outfitter at Neels can help with whatever adjustments you need gear-wise.
nightshaded
02-15-2008, 17:02
Have a GREAT hike!! Take is easy the first few weeks you are out until you acclimate to it all. Takes time for your joints, etc to adjust to the new demands of day in day out hiking. And the outfitter at Neels can help with whatever adjustments you need gear-wise.
thank you so much...i believe we will!
it's hard to believe that it's nearly april.