Feedback Wanted: Thru-Hike NOBO Gear List!

[2000miler]

Hey all - Hoping you can lend your experienced eyes on my gear list for my 2016 NOBO Thru!

I'll be starting first week of April. I plan on doing shakedown hikes throughout this year to get the gear broken in, but can you help me identify where I have too much / too little gear?

Total Cold Weather Base Weight: 17.9lbs
Total Cold Weather Pack Weight (with Consumables): 27.1lbs
Total Cold Weather Weight Carried and Worn: 32.0lbs

Total Warm Weather Base Weight: 15.9lbs
Total Warm Weather Pack Weight (with Consumables): 25.1lbs
Total Warm Weather Weight Carried and Worn: 29.0lbs

			Weight each (oz)	Quantity	Total Weight (oz)	Total Weight (lbs)
1. Pack Group
	Backpack	ULA Circuit	41	1	41.0	2.6
	Backpack Liner	Big black contractor bag	2	1	2.0	0.1
	Subtotal: Pack Group				43.0	2.7
2. Shelter Group
	Tent	Zpacks Solplex with 8 titanium stakes	16.2	1	16.2	1.0
	Groundcloth	Gossamer Gear Groundcloth	1.6	1	1.6	0.1
	Tent Stuff Sack	Zpacks Stuff Sack	0.3	1	0.3	0.0
	Subtotal: Shelter Group				18.1	1.1
3. Sleeping Group
	Sleeping Bag	Zpacks 30 degree bag	15.1	1	15.1	0.9
	Sleeping Pad	Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite Sleeping Pad	12	1	12.0	0.8
	Sleeping Bag Liner	Cocoon Silk MummyLiner	4.7	1	4.7	0.3
	Dry Bag / Pillow	Zpacks Dry Bag / Pillow	1.65	1	1.7	0.1
	Earplugs	Pair of earplugs	0.05	10	0.5	0.0
	Subtotal: Sleeping Group				34.0	2.1
4. Kitchen Group
	Stove	MSR Whisperlite	10.9	1	10.9	0.7
	Cooking Pot	TOAKS Titanium 900ml Pot	3.6	1	3.6	0.2
	Cozy	AntiGravityGear Pot Cozy	2.5	1	2.5	0.2
	Mug	TOAKS Titanium 450ml Mug	2.6	1	2.6	0.2
	Utensils	TOAKS Titanium Spork	0.6	1	0.6	0.0
	Lighter	Standard Bic Lighter	0.25	2	0.5	0.0
	Backup Matches	1 pack matches	0.25	1	0.3	0.0
	Water Bottle	1 Liter Smartwater Bottle	1.25	1	1.3	0.1
	Water Bladder	2L Platypus Bladder	1.2	1	1.2	0.1
	Water Purification	Sawyer Squeeze Mini w/ Backflow Cleaning Syringe	3	1	3.0	0.2
	Bear Bagging Kit	Zpacks Roll Top Food Bag, 50-ft z-line slick cord, rock sack, carabiner	3	1	3.0	0.2
	Subtotal: Kitchen Group				29.4	1.8
5. Hygiene Group
	Hand sanitizer	Small Purell	1	1	1.0	0.1
	Toilet paper	Folded in Ziploc	0.5	1	0.5	0.0
	Trowel	REI Snow Stake	1	1	1.0	0.1
	Bandana	Bandana	1	1	1.0	0.1
	Nail Clippers	Nail Clippers	0.25	1	0.3	0.0
	Soap	Bronners Soap (1 bar)	5	1	5.0	0.3
	Toothbrush	Travel toothbrush	1.6	1	1.6	0.1
	Toothpaste	Travel toothpaste	0.85	1	0.9	0.1
	Subtotal: Hygiene Group				11.2	0.7
7. First Aid / Repair / Navigation Group
	Multitool	Leatherman Squirt PS4	2.1	1	2.1	0.1
	Headlamp	Black Diamond Spot (w/ batteries)	3.2	1	3.2	0.2
	Roll of Duct Tape	Duct Tape 50-inch Rolls by Adventure Medical Kits	1.6	1	1.6	0.1
	First Aid kit (with prescriptions + Epipen)		10	1	10.0	0.6
	Subtotal: First Aid Group				16.9	1.1
8. Luxury Items
	iPhone		4.6	1	4.6	0.3
	iPhone Outlet plug		2	1	2.0	0.1
	iPhone lightning cable		1	1	1.0	0.1
	Kindle		7.3	1	7.3	0.5
	Kindle charging cable		1	1	1.0	0.1
	Bluetooth Keyboard	For journaling on phone at EOD	7.4	1	7.4	0.5
	Keyboard Batteries		4	1	4.0	0.3
	External battery charger		6	1	6.0	0.4
	Safety Whistle		0.8	1	0.8	0.1
	AT Guide	AWOL Guide - Loose Leaf (Partial)	3	1	3.0	0.2
	Headphones	Sennheiser Headphones	0.6	1	0.6	0.0
	Sunscreen	Sunscreen	6	1	6.0	0.4
	Chapstick	Blistex	0.15	1	0.2	0.0
	Closed-cell foam sit pad	Therm-a-Rest Z-Seat Pad	2	1	2.0	0.1
	Cheap Sunglasses		2	1	2.0	0.1
	Camp Shoes	Crocs	11	1	11.0	0.7
	Subtotal: Luxury Group				58.9	3.7
9. Rain Gear
	Rain jacket / Pack cover	Packa	9.5	1	9.5	0.6
	Rain pants	Frogg Toggs Pro Action Rain Pants	8.0	1	8.0	0.5
	Rain mitts	eVENT Rain Mitts	1.2	1	1.2	0.1
	Ziploc Freezer Bags	Ziploc	0.1	12	1.2	0.1
	Subtotal: Rain Gear Group				19.9	1.2
10. Clothing in Pack - Cold weather
	2nd layer - Windshirt	Marmot DriClime Windshirt	8.8	1	8.8	0.6
	3rd layer - Jacket	Patagonia Down Sweater Jacket	13.1	1	13.1	0.8
	Spare Base Layer	REI Lightweight Power Dry Shirt	9	1	9.0	0.6
	Spare socks	Darn Tough Hiking Socks	4	2	8.0	0.5
	Spare Underwear	Adidas Sport Underwear	2.8	1	2.8	0.2
	Long Johns	Icebreaker Long Underwear	4	1	4.0	0.3
	Fleece hat	North Face windstopper hat	3	1	3.0	0.2
	Glove Liners	Ibex Unisex Glove Liner	1.3	1	1.3	0.1
	Hood for sleeping	Zpacks Goose Hood	1.3	1	1.3	0.1
	Spare sock liners	injinji Trail Midweight Mini-Crew Xtralife Socks	1.6	2	3.2	0.2
	Subtotal: Cold weather clothing				54.5	3.4
11. Clothing in Pack - Warm weather
	Spare socks	Darn Tough Hiking Socks	4	2	8.0	0.5
	Spare sock liners	Injinji	1.6	2	3.2	0.2
	Long sleeve shirt	Smartwool Lightweight Long Sleeve Crew	8.46	1	8.5	0.5
	Spare underwear	Adidas Sport Underwear	2.8	1	2.8	0.2
	Subtotal: Warm weather clothing				22.5	1.4
12. Consumables
	Fuel	White Gas / Coleman / MSR SuperFuel	15	1	15.0	0.9
	20oz Fuel Canister	MSR Fuel Canister	4.8	1	4.8	0.3
	Water	1 Liter	33.8	2	67.6	4.2
	Food (per day)		20	3	60.0	3.8
	Subtotal: Consumables				147.4	9.2
13. Clothing Worn / Items Carried - Cold weather
	Base Layer Shirt	Smartwool Lightweight Long Sleeve Crew	8.46	1	8.5	0.5
	Long Pants	NORTH FACE M's Paramount Peak II Convertible Pants	13.76	1	13.8	0.9
	Trail runners	Brooks Cascadia	12	1	12.0	0.8
	Insoles	Super Feet	5.8	1	5.8	0.4
	Socks	Darn Tough Hiking Socks	4	1	4.0	0.3
	Sock Liners	injinji Trail Midweight Mini-Crew Xtralife Socks	1.6	1	1.6	0.1
	Underwear	Adidas Sport Underwear	2.8	1	2.8	0.2
	Hat	Boston Red Sox Hat	8	1	8.0	0.5
	Backpacker wallet		0.5	1	0.5	0.0
	Watch		2	1	2.0	0.1
	Glasses		2	1	2.0	0.1
	Trekking poles	Black Diamond Ergo Cork	18	1	18	1.1
	Subtotal: Clothing worn / items carred (Cold)				78.9	4.9
14. Clothing Worn / Items Carried - Warm weather
	Base Layer Shirt	Icebreaker merino wool t shirt	6.4	1	6.4	0.4
	Trail runners	Brooks Cascadia	12	1	12.0	0.8
	Insoles	Super Feet	5.8	1	5.8	0.4
	Socks	Darn Tough Hiking Socks	4	1	4.0	0.3
	Sock Liners	injinji Trail Midweight Mini-Crew Xtralife Socks	1.6	1	1.6	0.1
	Underwear	Adidas Sport Underwear	2.8	1	2.8	0.2
	Hat		8	1	8.0	0.5
	Backpacker wallet		0.5	1	0.5	0.0
	Watch		2	1	2.0	0.1
	Glasses		2	1	2.0	0.1
	Trekking poles	Black Diamond Ergo Cork	18	1	18	1.1
	Subtotal: Clothing worn / items carred (Cold)				63.1	3.9

[Malto]

I would can the Kindle and keyboard and the rest of extra electronic stuff beyond iPhone. (I did a full journal on an iPhone.) get a small alcohol stove, and ditch the camp shoes, rain pant for warm weather, sleeping bag liner, seat pad, sunscreen. I would also pare your first aid kit by at least 2/3rds. Then when that was done I would get a 1 lb or less pack. Bet you would be down to about 10 lbs with no real loss of comfort.

[Rocket Jones]

I would carry a second lighter instead of matches, and only carry 3 pair of socks - two for hiking and one for sleeping. Do you really need 12 ziplocks? Also, if you use a white trash compactor bag instead of the black for your pack liner, it's easier to find things inside. To seal the liner, use a girl's ponytail holder, they're much stronger and last longer than rubber bands.

[Praha4]

there's lighter windshirts than that 8.8 oz. Marmot DriClime windshirt.... the Montbell Tachyon anorak is very nice, weighs 2 oz., and selling for $75 at Montbell website.

warm weather hiking you might still need something warmer in camp than the Smartwool Lightweight L/S crewshirt.... I only saw an Icebreaker Tech Tee shirt you were using for hiking in warm weather.... you could ditch that heavy Driclime windshirt and get a lighter Montbell U/L Down or Montbell U/L Thermawrap jacket and be set for the entire hike

good list, have fun on the hike

[mtntopper]

I would change out the stove to a lighter one. Ditch the kindle for the beginning of the hike and maybe pick it up later after you have done some miles. A pack cover would be nice. A wet pack weighs much more than a dry one. I like my camp crocs to wear around. It is nice to get my feet out of the boots. Good luck and have fun.

[CarlZ993]

I may be repeating some of the other posts.

- Lighter stove (alcohol or canister; your call)
- White trash compactor bag (easier to see your stuff)
- Kindle? Your choice. While I was hiking, I was glad I didn't have any extra gear; @ camp, I wish I had something to read.

Regardless, enjoy your hike. Hope all goes well for you.

Zman

[Frye]

I don't know your purposes for bringing the silk liner so my comment may not matter but I've noticed when playing around with the same one that it provided no worthwhile increase in warmth. I use a quilt rated at 30 also (Enigma Elite) and will happily take it down into the teens by wearing my insulation layers. Now if your purpose is to keep the quilt spic and span than disregard my input.

Oh and I also had a problem with it getting tangled up. It was just more trouble than it was worth imo.

[2000miler]

Thanks for the replies, everyone!

I would can the Kindle and keyboard and the rest of extra electronic stuff beyond iPhone. (I did a full journal on an iPhone.) get a small alcohol stove, and ditch the camp shoes, rain pant for warm weather, sleeping bag liner, seat pad, sunscreen. I would also pare your first aid kit by at least 2/3rds. Then when that was done I would get a 1 lb or less pack. Bet you would be down to about 10 lbs with no real loss of comfort.

I’ve been batting around the idea of keeping the light Bluetooth keyboard / phone and using that to journal every day, vs the traditional notebook. Anyone gone this route before? Full journal on an iPhone tapping away at a touchscreen sounds awful.

As for the kindle… I love to read, I burn through at least a few books a month now with a full-time job. For the convenience of having a ton of books at my disposal after a long day hiking, I’ll carry the extra weight of a kindle in a freezer bag for protection.

For rain pant, do you recommend keeping for cold start / end, but sending back for warm weather? I was on the fence for the longest time of whether to even take rain pants.

I would carry a second lighter instead of matches, and only carry 3 pair of socks - two for hiking and one for sleeping. Do you really need 12 ziplocks? Also, if you use a white trash compactor bag instead of the black for your pack liner, it's easier to find things inside. To seal the liner, use a girl's ponytail holder, they're much stronger and last longer than rubber bands.

Great idea for the backup lighter, noted! Same with the white compactor bag.

For socks, I have 3 pairs of Darn Tough and 3 pairs of liners, I like to wear the Injinji under the Darn Toughs. 2 pairs to cycle while hiking each day, and one pair for camp / night.

For ziplocks, I have no idea, I just wanted to account for having some freezer bags to carry stuff in and protect from rain.

there's lighter windshirts than that 8.8 oz. Marmot DriClime windshirt.... the Montbell Tachyon anorak is very nice, weighs 2 oz., and selling for $75 at Montbell website.

warm weather hiking you might still need something warmer in camp than the Smartwool Lightweight L/S crewshirt.... I only saw an Icebreaker Tech Tee shirt you were using for hiking in warm weather.... you could ditch that heavy Driclime windshirt and get a lighter Montbell U/L Down or Montbell U/L Thermawrap jacket and be set for the entire hike

good list, have fun on the hike

Thanks for the note on clothing, that’s a system I’m still trying to get locked in. I’ll probably send home my Patagonia Down Sweater and keep the Rain Jacket, which provides some good cover for camp. Do you think the long sleeve shirt + the Marmot light jacket is enough for the warmer months? I’ll probably hike in the short sleeve Icebreaker and hang out in camp / sleep in the long sleeve shirt (or shirtless?)

I would change out the stove to a lighter one. Ditch the kindle for the beginning of the hike and maybe pick it up later after you have done some miles. A pack cover would be nice. A wet pack weighs much more than a dry one. I like my camp crocs to wear around. It is nice to get my feet out of the boots. Good luck and have fun.

Camp cooking isn’t my strong suit, that’s why I’ve defaulted to the Whisperlite to get grounded. I’m definitely open to figuring out my stove game closer to the hike, but I wanted some experience on something like the Whisperlite.

I have the Packa as a rain jacket / pack cover combo for when it rains! Love the concept. Haven’t tested in the field yet, though.

I’ll see if the Crocs are worth it in camp during my shakedown hikes, I’m planning 5 nights in the Cascades in northern WA as well as several smaller trips around Chicago area.

I don't know your purposes for bringing the silk liner so my comment may not matter but I've noticed when playing around with the same one that it provided no worthwhile increase in warmth. I use a quilt rated at 30 also (Enigma Elite) and will happily take it down into the teens by wearing my insulation layers. Now if your purpose is to keep the quilt spic and span than disregard my input.

Oh and I also had a problem with it getting tangled up. It was just more trouble than it was worth imo.

My purposes for the silk liner were both that you mentioned (increase in warmth + cleaner down bag). That’s disappointing you didn’t get the warmth adder that others have reported. I haven’t tested out in the field. Hoping it keeps my bag clean at the very least, I understand that thru-hikers have historically been a bit dirty at times.

[Hoofit]

Thanks for the replies, everyone!



I’ve been batting around the idea of keeping the light Bluetooth keyboard / phone and using that to journal every day, vs the traditional notebook. Anyone gone this route before? Full journal on an iPhone tapping away at a touchscreen sounds awful.

As for the kindle… I love to read, I burn through at least a few books a month now with a full-time job. For the convenience of having a ton of books at my disposal after a long day hiking, I’ll carry the extra weight of a kindle in a freezer bag for protection.

For rain pant, do you recommend keeping for cold start / end, but sending back for warm weather? I was on the fence for the longest time of whether to even take rain pants.



Great idea for the backup lighter, noted! Same with the white compactor bag.

For socks, I have 3 pairs of Darn Tough and 3 pairs of liners, I like to wear the Injinji under the Darn Toughs. 2 pairs to cycle while hiking each day, and one pair for camp / night.

For ziplocks, I have no idea, I just wanted to account for having some freezer bags to carry stuff in and protect from rain.



Thanks for the note on clothing, that’s a system I’m still trying to get locked in. I’ll probably send home my Patagonia Down Sweater and keep the Rain Jacket, which provides some good cover for camp. Do you think the long sleeve shirt + the Marmot light jacket is enough for the warmer months? I’ll probably hike in the short sleeve Icebreaker and hang out in camp / sleep in the long sleeve shirt (or shirtless?)




Camp cooking isn’t my strong suit, that’s why I’ve defaulted to the Whisperlite to get grounded. I’m definitely open to figuring out my stove game closer to the hike, but I wanted some experience on something like the Whisperlite.

I have the Packa as a rain jacket / pack cover combo for when it rains! Love the concept. Haven’t tested in the field yet, though.

I’ll see if the Crocs are worth it in camp during my shakedown hikes, I’m planning 5 nights in the Cascades in northern WA as well as several smaller trips around Chicago area.



My purposes for the silk liner were both that you mentioned (increase in warmth + cleaner down bag). That’s disappointing you didn’t get the warmth adder that others have reported. I haven’t tested out in the field. Hoping it keeps my bag clean at the very least, I understand that thru-hikers have historically been a bit dirty at times.

"Thru hikers have historically been a bit dirty at times" Ha! Now that can be an understatement !
But living in the woods can turn you into a carefree vagabond and that's part of the pleasure of the whole hike. To be free of the usual expectations of you. And it isn't so bad to smell a little either!
it's kind of like garlic...if everyone is eating it, no one notices the odor.

[Hoofit]

Good list by the way!
i'd take a second bandana,bic lighter and headlamp. The pocket rocket stove worked well for me..
good luck! I may run into you up north as I finish up a thru hike I started in 2010, July to September 2016.

[2000miler]

Good list by the way!
i'd take a second bandana,bic lighter and headlamp. The pocket rocket stove worked well for me..
good luck! I may run into you up north as I finish up a thru hike I started in 2010, July to September 2016.

I'm so looking forward to the "dirty" part of my hike (everything after day 1) - Hoping to run into you! Best of luck finishing up your hike in 2016!

[Hoofit]

Greenwod lake,new york state in mid July.....plwenty of time to reach Katahdin before mid October.....thinking about it every day!

[Hoofit]

Just one more thong, carry some Deet ....Lyme Disease took me out in 2010,don't let that happen to you
especially up north!

[2000miler]

Just one more thong, carry some Deet ....Lyme Disease took me out in 2010,don't let that happen to you
especially up north!

Ah, good call. Probably not necessary to have deet in the beginning, right? I was planning on waiting until warmer weather. Anyone know what state / month the bugs start to get bad?

[norts]

I used a silk liner all the way, it kept my s/bag clean. Also was able to just sleep in that on the warm nights. Head torch - I started with a spot , sent it home and carried a Petzel elite alot lighter and was fine for around camp. Spare batteries are alot lighter too. If you are planning on night hiking disregard the previous.
Stove is way too heavy and a real overkill, canister or alcohol are much simpler and fuel is nearly always available.
Camp shoes I would keep, handy to give your feet a rest and to let them air, to wear around town, to wear around hostels( to the shower etc). A shake down hike wont show you how handy a pair of camp shoes are, its not the camp so much as in the towns.

Taz
Why cant you use your iphone as your kindle? I read all the game of thrones series on my cheap nokia on my thru hike.

[2000miler]

I used a silk liner all the way, it kept my s/bag clean. Also was able to just sleep in that on the warm nights. Head torch - I started with a spot , sent it home and carried a Petzel elite alot lighter and was fine for around camp. Spare batteries are alot lighter too. If you are planning on night hiking disregard the previous.
Stove is way too heavy and a real overkill, canister or alcohol are much simpler and fuel is nearly always available.
Camp shoes I would keep, handy to give your feet a rest and to let them air, to wear around town, to wear around hostels( to the shower etc). A shake down hike wont show you how handy a pair of camp shoes are, its not the camp so much as in the towns.

Taz
Why cant you use your iphone as your kindle? I read all the game of thrones series on my cheap nokia on my thru hike.

Hey Taz, thanks for the reply.

Why did you ditch your Black Diamond Spot? Any reason in particular?

I see now the folly of my ways... The stove is too heavy! I had fun almost burning my apartment down learning to use the Whisperlite, now I'm looking forward to actually burning it down learning to use a canister / alcohol stove.

Nice point about using the camp shoes as shower shoes.

The LCD screen of an iPhone is MUCH different than a kindle, which is softer and legit looks like ink on paper. I stare at an LCD screen all day at work now and I'm very much looking forward to escaping staring at computer screens for extended periods of time.

[Gersh]

I carried a whisperlite stove the whole way.. I have had it since '95 and I am comfortable with it and I find it great in cold weather/wind. Alcohol is lighter for sure but the whisperlite is still a great stove. However, I would not carry the 20oz cannister. I had the 11oz fuel bottle and it was plenty. When full, using it once a day to boil water would last me 2 weeks. You can find the fuel anywhere so carrying 20 oz is overkill.

I find bladders are a pain.. especially when needing to unpack to refill on the trail.. I started with one and quickly ditched it. Course having it explode in my pack could have had something to do with that decision.

[2000miler]

I carried a whisperlite stove the whole way.. I have had it since '95 and I am comfortable with it and I find it great in cold weather/wind. Alcohol is lighter for sure but the whisperlite is still a great stove. However, I would not carry the 20oz cannister. I had the 11oz fuel bottle and it was plenty. When full, using it once a day to boil water would last me 2 weeks. You can find the fuel anywhere so carrying 20 oz is overkill.

I find bladders are a pain.. especially when needing to unpack to refill on the trail.. I started with one and quickly ditched it. Course having it explode in my pack could have had something to do with that decision.

Thanks for the suggestion on the fuel. I'll try out the smaller cannister if I end up taking the Whisperlite. It all depends on the shakedown hikes over the next 6 months.

I am planning on either taking 2 Smartwater bottles + the bladder, or 3 Smartwater bottles. The bladder is pretty much weightless empty, and depending on conditions, I may want more than 2 liters of water. Plus it'll be good for camp at end of day, especially if the water source is farther away.

[Gersh]

I am planning on either taking 2 Smartwater bottles + the bladder, or 3 Smartwater bottles. The bladder is pretty much weightless empty, and depending on conditions, I may want more than 2 liters of water. Plus it'll be good for camp at end of day, especially if the water source is farther away.[/QUOTE]

I only carried 1 liter most of the time and stopped to refill. Water is everywhere. There are only a few sections where you will need to carry more, but I never carried more than 2 liters

[2000miler]

I only carried 1 liter most of the time and stopped to refill. Water is everywhere. There are only a few sections where you will need to carry more, but I never carried more than 2 liters

Nice, thanks for the data point. I'll have to think it through a bit more.