Gear and Loathing...Gear List Open to Criticism

[Crunchygroovesbra]

I have just made all my final purchases, I will be starting the the 15th of April. Any suggestions, critiques are welcomed and highly appreciated. Also, I don't have the weights for some of it, if anyone has them please post...my scale is broken at the moment...

Clothing
REI Midweight MTS Bottoms - Men's

REI Lightweight MTS Bottoms -
Men'sMountain Hardwear Power Stretch Lightweight Crew -
Men'sREI Midweight MTS Long-Sleeve Zip T-Neck -
Men's Under Armour UA Metal™ Loose II Crew
Under Armour Men's LX Series 6" Boxerjock®
Under Armour Men's LX Series Boxer Short
Montbell Thermawrap Jacket 8.8 oz
Jeep Drivers Cap Army issued
Balaclava
Fleece Gloves
North Face Venture Parka 16oz
ULA rain wrap 2.4oz

Water System

(http://www.rei.com/features/zoom.html?img440=/media/kk/8fb64fd4-88ad-424c-a0d2-1235cc356ad8%26style=767105%26sku=7671050016&imageServiceHost=http://www.rei.com/&productInfoServiceHost=http://www.rei.com/&TB_iframe=true&height=513&width=700)
Platypus Big Zip SL 2.0L Reservoir - 70 fl. oz.
AquaMira tabs
Sea to Summit Kitchen Sink 4.4oz
1 liter Nalgene 3.5oz

Cooking System
Snow Peak Giga Power Stove with Piezo 3.75ozSnow Peak Titanium Mini Solo Cookset 5.5oz
Light My Fire Spork .3oz
Swiss Army Signature Lite Knife 1.3oz

Footwear
Salomon XT Wings 14oz
Superfeet Green Insoles
Hi-Tec V-Lite Sirocco Sandals 20oz

Sleep System
Montbell UL SS Down Hugger Bag #1 2lb4oz
Thermarest z-lite 14oz
Hennessey Hammock A sym Backpacker 1lb 15oz

First Aid /Hygiene and Personal
The usual stuff all under 1.5lbs
dental care items
campsuds
lip balm
iphone w/charger 12oz
Bandana
Repair Kit
Various Medical Stuff
a pair of dice
Pack and Cover
ULA Catalyst
UL Pack Cover

I think thats everything...I'm sure i'm forgetting things. I have had some people tell me im' going to freeze in my hammock the first month, but i plan to try to sleep in a shelter or at least with all my clothes on...

Much thanks to yous...

[Bags4266]

I like the Thermawrap but would probally loose the Parka. I would loose the nagalene and use a gatorade bottle.
Are you using the bag as a top quilt, or did you practice the worm, lol

[skinny minnie]

no balaclava, just a warm lightweight wool hat instead.

no parka.

no cursing me when you're cold :)

you could add a down vest to your clothes if you are concerned about cold.

are you missing your pair of shorts for hiking in? looks like you have 2 pairs of tights... and I don't see socks but I'm sure you have them!

I would go with either a more pared down sandal, or one that actually protects your toes. But that's a personal preference..

Lose the nalgene, use a plastic snapple or gatorade bottle.

firestarter?

guidebook or data book/maps?

pack towel... or are you just using the bandanna?

have fun! I may see you out there! I'll be starting a few days later.

[Crunchygroovesbra]

I can see it now....me freezing to death with my last thoughts being "Why did I trust someone on the internet!"hahaha

Socks...right....2 pair of darn tough socks...1 pair of liner....1 camp sock

firestarter..liter matches maybe even a firesteel....

books/maps: The At guide loose leaf and AT Data copied and broken up into sections
pack towel...i'm thinking of cutting up a shamwow...

i'm leaving from western mass too! As of the past 2 months I have been an amherst resident....flying out of jfk though gotta keep it nyc....hahaha

[Crunchygroovesbra]

oh and the north face venture parka is rain jacket....

[Wags]

keep the nalgene. a hot water bottle in the bottom of your bag does a great job keeping your feet warm in a hammock

good list. go slowly the 1st 2 weeks

[Praha4]

just personal preference, but I would use the Aquamira drops instead of tabs, I think it's cheaper on a long hike, you could keep a small pack of the tabs as a backup

[mykl]

just personal preference, but I would use the Aquamira drops instead of tabs, I think it's cheaper on a long hike, you could keep a small pack of the tabs as a backup
The Aquamira drops have the water ready quicker/easier than the tabs as well. And I believe you'll get more out of the drops than the tabs.

[mountain squid]

Some observations:

don't count on having shelter space when you need/want it - ensure that you will be warm in hammock while hammocking
leave kitchen sink thing at home
lighter
50' of cord
Campsuds are very sudsy - don't need much
hand sanitizer
tp (of course)
needle for draining blisters
headlamp/light source
whistle
pencil & notebook/journal
sunscreen (no leaves)
ear plugs
duct tape

Concur:
need maps and Companion/Handbook

Good Luck and Have Fun!

See you on the trail,
mt squid

[Walkie Talkie]

If you are going with the pad, I would look into an SPE. You won't freeze in your hamock with that setup. You may get a cold shoulder though.

[J5man]

Cool title to thread, wonder how many people got it?!

[mykl]

Cool title to thread, wonder how many people got it?!
In LV? Well at least thats where my mind is :rolleyes:

[Crunchygroovesbra]

okok I know nobody else loves acronyms more than the Armed Services and Whiteblaze...but this one eludes me, what exactly is an SPE?

as for every single other thing in my pack:
ok I plan to bring everything Mt. Squid listed in his well crafted post thank u squid
Specifically:
Black Diamond Headlamp
AtGuide looseleaf edition, and a combo of AT data book and thru hiker companion
no journal as of yet, might do one on my phone
maybe a compass just for fun
oh and i'm bringing 3 dice not a pair...i'm sure someone has the avg. weight for dice here...
no hand sanitizer
bringing wet wipes
I think that could be it....prob not...

[Elder]

trekking poles.

[Bags4266]

http://www.speerhammocks.com/Products/SPE.htm

SPE, look here

[Father Dragon]

Cool title to thread, wonder how many people got it?!
yet no fly swatter for the bats :-?

[skinny minnie]

i'm leaving from western mass too! As of the past 2 months I have been an amherst resident....flying out of jfk though gotta keep it nyc....hahaha


Awesome! Why haven't I seen you at EMS?! (I work there. Only rarely though.)

Also, apologies because I did a horrible job when I added my two cents. Blame it on my less than 4 hours sleep at the time. Totally do drops not tabs. And lose the sink! And yeah... what MT Squid said.

SPE ='s segmented pad extender if that hasn't been answered yet. Speers has one, if you google it. Think the hammock forum has a few who DIY.

And a SHAMWOW! Did you get it at the Big E? (Are you enough of a Western MA local to have frequented the Big E?)

[goedde2]

You might want to re-think the platypus reservoir. Lots of water available, and this gets a bit funky if it isn't kept clean. Just my opinion, but it could mean a little less weight.

[RGB]

trekking poles.

Break off two sticks of desirable size. Wrap on medical tape for grips.

Presto!

You can even make up a fictional brand name to write on the side with a sharpie like "Liki" or "Leky." I use "Sticki's" most of the time.

I would suggest the Super Cat but you've already bought a stove..