Gear list critique needed

[TheEndRB]

Hey whats up everyone. I'm planning a thru-hike of the AT this March and am looking for any and all advice from experienced hikers. I have some experience backpacking but, all weekend trips. Well, heres the gear list thus far (it's not complete as I still need a few items such as a tarp). Be gentle!!!

Pack:
Gregory z55
gargage bag liner
Pack cover
Peak UL Trekking poles
Sleep:
ENO double hammock (need new straps options?)
Need tarp (what size/brand/stakes?)
Rei Mojave sleeping bag
Blue foam pad
May make an underquilt from an old sleeping bag
Cooking:
Will be making an alchy stove (penny)
1.5L pot
Lexican (I think) spoon
Matches
3L platypus
Some sort of drops (aquamire?)
Clothing:
Trail runners (yet to be purchased)
Long underwear
Poly pants convertable to shorts
Smartwool socks (Two pair one for sleep)
Poly short sleeve shirt
Columbia Wp jacket with removable fleece inner
WP nylon pants
Misc:
Princeton tec Headlamp
50' rope
Fleece Balaclava
Journal/pen
Emergency blanket
First aid kit
Stormproof matches
Knife
Contac drops/extra contacs
Hand sanitizer
Nail clippers
Book
I still need to purchase maps, gonna buy them used cause I can't afford new ones, and a guide of some sort. Thru-hikers companion probably but, who knows. Oh yea, and a compass.

So... what do you think? Well, I'm off to a short backpacking trip in good ol' WV.

[mountain squid]

Some observations:

be absolutely certain you can take the cold in a hammock
gloves
bandana/buff
hat
camp footwear
ensure your extra pr socks is ALWAYS dry
something extra to haul/hold water
aquamira
lighter instead of regular matches
tp and other toiletries
needle for draining blisters
duct tape
ear plugs
sun screen (no leaves on the trees)
whistle
camera
if no cell phone, phone card with important phone #s
is that a small knife? only need one big enough to spread pnut butter and slice bagels

And, of course, don't forget ID/atm/credit cards.

See you on the trail,
mt squid

[4eyedbuzzard]

3 pair of socks, not 2(1 dry, 1 drying, 1 on your feet)
extra batteries for anything that requires them
camp footwear isn't necessary IMO, but optional
gatorade bottles in addition to bladder
and ditto on most everything else squid said

[SGT Rock]

Hey whats up everyone. I'm planning a thru-hike of the AT this March and am looking for any and all advice from experienced hikers. I have some experience backpacking but, all weekend trips. Well, heres the gear list thus far (it's not complete as I still need a few items such as a tarp). Be gentle!!!

Pack:
Gregory z55
gargage bag liner
Pack cover
Peak UL Trekking poles
Sleep:
ENO double hammock (need new straps options?)
I prefer straps myself

Need tarp (what size/brand/stakes?)
I reccomend the Etowah Outfitter sil-nylon 8x10


Rei Mojave sleeping bag
Blue foam pad
May make an underquilt from an old sleeping bag
Cooking:
Will be making an alchy stove (penny)
1.5L pot
Lexican (I think) spoon
Matches
3L platypus
Some sort of drops (aquamire?)
Polar Pure. One bottle will last your whole hike.


Clothing:
Trail runners (yet to be purchased)
Long underwear
Poly pants convertable to shorts
Smartwool socks (Two pair one for sleep)
Poly short sleeve shirt
Columbia Wp jacket with removable fleece inner
WP nylon pants
Gloves?

Misc:
Princeton tec Headlamp
50' rope
Fleece Balaclava
Journal/pen
Emergency blanket
Probably not needed

First aid kit
Stormproof matches
Knife
Contac drops/extra contacs
Hand sanitizer
Nail clippers
Book
I still need to purchase maps, gonna buy them used cause I can't afford new ones, and a guide of some sort. Thru-hikers companion probably but, who knows. Oh yea, and a compass.

So... what do you think? Well, I'm off to a short backpacking trip in good ol' WV.
Toilet paper
Pack Towel
Tooth brush and paste
Stakes
Camera
Duct Tape
Watch
Bandanna

[hopefulhiker]

I would take an extra smaller platy for extra water and backup. Also I would take a lighter as well as matches.

[Lone Wolf]

i've read the 4 other posts. all different. all advice fits their needs. take what you got and see what works and what don''t. have fun

[SGT Rock]

I agree with Wolf on this too. But I would still take TP no matter what ;)

[rockdawg69]

You probably will want to put your current list in the Z55 with at least 3 days food supply and see if it fits and how much weight you have to carry. Underquilt will add extra bulk. Adjust acordingly with suggestions above.

Take stakes for the tarp.

What do you use for a ground cloth under the hammock? I have a small piece of Tyvek (6'x8',washed) to put my feet and boots on when getting in and out.

I have the Etowah Outfitters 8'x10' sil-nylon tarp mentioned by Sgt Rock. You can always use your poles with the tarp to make a tarp-tent if hammock is not working in the cold (I use the tyvek for a ground cloth). I'm moving to a 10'x11' tarp to get more coverage for the hammock, especially for winter weather. I plan to use either a Speer winter tarp or an Outdoors Equipment Supplier (OES) cat-cut for my VA Section starting late Mar this year; switching to the smaller EO tarp once weather warms up.

Have you looked at HammockForums.com for hammock info?

[Beano]

drop the rain clothing and buy a good poncho from an army surplus store. I'm taking 2 1-liter camelbak bottles instead of my bladder. I've had problems with mold before, and i don't want to deal with that(probably just me being lazy and negligent). Mountain squid made a good point about handling the cold in a hammock.
All previous suggestions were good too. All depends on your preferences and what you can handle.

[Panzer1]

i've read the 4 other posts. all different. all advice fits their needs. take what you got and see what works and what don''t. have fun

Hikers post their gear list here because they would like to know what other hikers think.

Panzer