BrianLe
09-24-2009, 14:32
My current gearlist for an Appalachian Trail NOBO thru-hike is at
http://tinyurl.com/mjurzb (http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/forums/gear_lists/67fe0ded6ca475f01b01ecc540a5d632.pdf)
(pdf file)
Thanks in advance for any sort of feedback on this; I have some decent backpacking experience, but virtually none in the Eastern U.S.
I plan to start on the trail in late Feb, and thus have nearly 2 pounds (30.3 oz) of additional clothing that I'll start with and mail home from Pearisburg (NOBO 625 or so, after Mt. Rogers etc). It's possible that I'll mail some of these things home sooner, and I'll get at least some of them back just before entering the Whites in New Hampshire. In addition to clothing I'll swap sleeping bags at Pearisburg, saving a bit over 10 oz there. FWIW, I plan on five resupply boxes (Fontana Dam NC, Pearisbug VA, Harpers Ferry WV, Kent CT, and Glencliff NH).
My focus with this gear list isn't just about weight, but on getting the right balance between weight and safety/comfort/happiness that feels best to me personally. This seems to currently fall out at a 16.3 pound base weight to start, dropping to about 13.5 pounds for the middle 1000+ miles or so. Ideas to bring this down will be gratefully received (whether implemented or not ...).
I've tried to be very complete with this list; toilet paper isn't listed (a consumeable), though I will carry it, something on the order perhaps of 1 - 2 oz (lots of pit toilets along the AT). Rather than "glacier glasses", I might just carry cheap drugstore sunglasses for the AT. But apart from the occasional minor tweak like that, it should really cover everything.
The "Electronics" category is somewhat high for me; I reckon my personal luxuries are that category, plus perhaps comfortable padding at night (sparkling new 72" long Neo-Air ... cushy ...). The smartphone represents no "necessary" functionality, but a host of "nice to have" stuff --- to include on this trail the only maps that I'll carry --- and the bluetooth keyboard makes it easy to type up a daily journal entry.
I'm mixed about the Ursack; not that many bears, but lots of rodents as I understand it, and the Ursack (which I already own) is about the same weight as an Outsak (which I don't). One less thing to worry about or fiddle with at the end of the day. I've walked into town hungry with a thru-hikers hunger, and it's not pleasant.
A couple of items are tough to categorize: the GG "Nightlight" no-longer-torso-length pad (I carry 2/3 of one) is both thermal & abrasion/puncture protection under part of my Neo-Air at night, as well as back padding for my pack during the day (a 1/8" thinlight goes under the rest of the Neo-Air). The Gatewood Cape is both floorless tent and raingear. I've listed both of these in the "sleeping" category.
I'm not sure if I'll keep the gravity filter or not; it's a tough trade-off. I was originally thinking of the filter because of anticipated cold temperatures (chlorine dioxide takes longer in the cold). But in fact, even in warm weather the water I treat is typically pretty darned cold anyway, and you have to worry that water that remains in the filter element will freeze.
The filter has other advantages, however: I might carry one less platypus if I didn't have to deal with a treatment time lag. In general it can be nice --- and perhaps mean less water needs to be carried --- if I can start drinking almost immediately upon reaching a water source, but a 15 - 30 minute treat time isn't that long, so ...
I might end up ditching the filter early on and going with just A.M. throughout. For most of my backpacking in the past I've been happy with A.M.
Anyway, thanks in advance for any feedback on this, and particular thanks for specifics (URLs or unambiguous searchable text for gear suggestions, etc).
http://tinyurl.com/mjurzb (http://www.backpackinglight.com/backpackinglight/forums/gear_lists/67fe0ded6ca475f01b01ecc540a5d632.pdf)
(pdf file)
Thanks in advance for any sort of feedback on this; I have some decent backpacking experience, but virtually none in the Eastern U.S.
I plan to start on the trail in late Feb, and thus have nearly 2 pounds (30.3 oz) of additional clothing that I'll start with and mail home from Pearisburg (NOBO 625 or so, after Mt. Rogers etc). It's possible that I'll mail some of these things home sooner, and I'll get at least some of them back just before entering the Whites in New Hampshire. In addition to clothing I'll swap sleeping bags at Pearisburg, saving a bit over 10 oz there. FWIW, I plan on five resupply boxes (Fontana Dam NC, Pearisbug VA, Harpers Ferry WV, Kent CT, and Glencliff NH).
My focus with this gear list isn't just about weight, but on getting the right balance between weight and safety/comfort/happiness that feels best to me personally. This seems to currently fall out at a 16.3 pound base weight to start, dropping to about 13.5 pounds for the middle 1000+ miles or so. Ideas to bring this down will be gratefully received (whether implemented or not ...).
I've tried to be very complete with this list; toilet paper isn't listed (a consumeable), though I will carry it, something on the order perhaps of 1 - 2 oz (lots of pit toilets along the AT). Rather than "glacier glasses", I might just carry cheap drugstore sunglasses for the AT. But apart from the occasional minor tweak like that, it should really cover everything.
The "Electronics" category is somewhat high for me; I reckon my personal luxuries are that category, plus perhaps comfortable padding at night (sparkling new 72" long Neo-Air ... cushy ...). The smartphone represents no "necessary" functionality, but a host of "nice to have" stuff --- to include on this trail the only maps that I'll carry --- and the bluetooth keyboard makes it easy to type up a daily journal entry.
I'm mixed about the Ursack; not that many bears, but lots of rodents as I understand it, and the Ursack (which I already own) is about the same weight as an Outsak (which I don't). One less thing to worry about or fiddle with at the end of the day. I've walked into town hungry with a thru-hikers hunger, and it's not pleasant.
A couple of items are tough to categorize: the GG "Nightlight" no-longer-torso-length pad (I carry 2/3 of one) is both thermal & abrasion/puncture protection under part of my Neo-Air at night, as well as back padding for my pack during the day (a 1/8" thinlight goes under the rest of the Neo-Air). The Gatewood Cape is both floorless tent and raingear. I've listed both of these in the "sleeping" category.
I'm not sure if I'll keep the gravity filter or not; it's a tough trade-off. I was originally thinking of the filter because of anticipated cold temperatures (chlorine dioxide takes longer in the cold). But in fact, even in warm weather the water I treat is typically pretty darned cold anyway, and you have to worry that water that remains in the filter element will freeze.
The filter has other advantages, however: I might carry one less platypus if I didn't have to deal with a treatment time lag. In general it can be nice --- and perhaps mean less water needs to be carried --- if I can start drinking almost immediately upon reaching a water source, but a 15 - 30 minute treat time isn't that long, so ...
I might end up ditching the filter early on and going with just A.M. throughout. For most of my backpacking in the past I've been happy with A.M.
Anyway, thanks in advance for any feedback on this, and particular thanks for specifics (URLs or unambiguous searchable text for gear suggestions, etc).