Gear Review March 30th NOBO

[JHG008]

I am thru hiking the AT March 30, 2013. I would really appreciate any and all advice on my gear list, feel free to rip it. A few notes about my list: I havent made up my mind on footwear yet, im still trying on shoes. The Spot has to come...I am carrying it for my family and also for them to be able to keep up with me, im not a fan of having the spot but i love my family sooo. Oh and I dont have a ground sheet henry shires swears that he insert is tough enough. Anyways thank you for your help and getting me one step closer to the trail!

Thanks,

Josh

http://www.geargrams.com/list?id=10969

[Drybones]

I am thru hiking the AT March 30, 2013. I would really appreciate any and all advice on my gear list, feel free to rip it. A few notes about my list: I havent made up my mind on footwear yet, im still trying on shoes. The Spot has to come...I am carrying it for my family and also for them to be able to keep up with me, im not a fan of having the spot but i love my family sooo. Oh and I dont have a ground sheet henry shires swears that he insert is tough enough. Anyways thank you for your help and getting me one step closer to the trail!

Thanks,

Josh

http://www.geargrams.com/list?id=10969

IMO, you may not need the ground clothe but for a few ounces it's worth taking. I use it to sit on when the ground is wet. I'm prone to losing stuff in leaves when I break so I always put everything on the white ground clothe so it doesn't get lost. When packing up each morning I put everything on the GC to keep gear clean. It helps keep mud and dirt off your tent, the GC is much easier to clean, just shake it off. You may want to take a small 1/2 ounce or so container of bleach as back up for when the Sawyer goes out, bleach is all I use...you'll get a lot of differing oppinions on water treatment...it's all IMO.

[mountain squid]

Some observations:

t-shirt
gloves
camp footwear
3 jackets? - will you ever wear all at the same time, if not, probably too many
gloves
bandanas
35f sleeping bag may not be warm enough - you will have colder nights than 35f
fuel bottle
eating utensil
consider a hydration system for drinking on the go
needle for draining blisters
sunscreen
hand sanitizer
tp (of course)
small bic lighters are a pain in the ...
ear plugs
duct tape
stuff sacks

Good Luck and Have Fun!

See you on the trail,
mt squid

some observations (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?14493-observations-from-fs42-(advice-for-first-week-on-trail)&highlight=)

maintenance videos (http://www.youtube.com/user/mountainsquid04/videos)
how to hike (http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/showthread.php?73587-how-to-hike)

[q-tip]

Gossamer Gear has a Polycro groundsheet that is 1.7 oz. and will keep the mud off the bottom of your tent--it is a pain to get that stuff off.
Ditto on the sleeping bag--35d might not be warm enough uldess you sleep very warm.
Mountain Squids list should fill you out.....