My packing list...suggestions???

[walkinfool]

Here's my list so far for my 2008 thru. Any suggestions/feedback you guys could give me would be great. Thanks!
--------------------------------------
Cooking
-Jetboil stove
-Jetboil fuel (buy in GA)
-Freezer bags for cooking in, eating out of, storing maps, etc.
-Long spork
-Water bag (1.5 gal?)

Equipment
-Tent & rain fly (Seedhouse SL1)
-Tyvek Ground cover
-Tent stakes
-Sleeping bag (REI +15)
-Fleece sleeping bag liner (send home in warm weather)
-Sleeping pad (Therm-a-Rest ProLite 3)
-Straps for keeping sleeping bag on pad
-Something to use as a pillow
-Headlamp (Petzl Tikka Plus)
-Backpack (Osprey Crescent 85)
-Packa (backpack cover & rain jacket in one)
-Trekking poles
-Pack towel for drying tent, etc.
-Small knife with can opener, scissors, blade, tweezers, toothpick
-40-50 ft. 3/16" parachute cord for bearbag
-Waterproof bearbag and small carabiner for hanging with PCT method
-Water purifier (probably First Need)
-Water bladder (3 liter Platypus - won't keep full)
-Yak trax for early in season
-Compass

Clothing
-Short sleeve hiking shirts (1 for cold weather, 2 for warm?)
-Long sleeve hiking shirt (send home in warm weather)
-Hiking pants w/zip-off legs
-Wool mountaineering socks (2 pair)
-Sock liners (2 pair)
-Hiking boots (Montrail Torre GTX Classic)
-Light sandals for river crossings and camp
-Comfortable shirt (long or short sleeve?) for camp/town
-Comfortable shorts (or pants?) for camp/town
-Socks for in camp (1 pair)
-Fleece
-Waterproof jacket (packa)
-Lightweight fleece hat (send home in warm weather)
-Fleece or other thin gloves (send home in warm weather)
-Waterproof shells for gloves (send home in warm weather)

Miscellaneous
-ATC Trail maps
-Wingfoot's guidebook
-Calling card
-Earplugs
-Glasses & case
-Hand sanitizer
-Addresses
-Bandanas (1 for head, 1 for clean(ish) rag, 1 for misc.?)
-Bodyglide
-Needle & heavy duty thread for repairs
-Dental floss (also good for sewing)
-Camera
-Small notepad for journal
-Pencil
-Bug dope (not until later)
-Duct tape (small roll)
-Toilet paper in ziploc
-Clothes pins (2)
-Plastic shovel

Grooming/first aid/emergency kit
-Ibuprofen
-Antibiotic ointment
-Powder (for feet and chafing)
-Antacid tablets
-Lip balm w/spf
-A few Band-aids
-Small roll of 1-inch-wide gauze
-Medical tape for blisters & covering band-aids
-Rubbing alcohol for sore muscles, cleaning cuts, bites, etc.
-Weatherproof matches
-Toothbrush
-Baking soda for brushing teeth
-Sunscreen (small amount)
-Shampoo? (small amount)
-Moleskin?
-Diarrhea medicine?

Not sure yet
-Something to bang stakes in with?
-Short gaiters to keep debris/rain out of boots?
-Mosquito hat? (sent to me in summer…maybe end of June?)
-Watch?
-Emergency reflective blanket?
-Waterproof pants (should I send these home in warm weather?)
-Sunglasses?
-Thermometer?
-Camera batteries & charger (really light, but maybe just buy replacements as needed?)

[hopefulhiker]

Have you weighed all this stuff?

[SGT Rock]

Here's my list so far for my 2008 thru. Any suggestions/feedback you guys could give me would be great. Thanks!
--------------------------------------

Before I get to commenting - it looks like a good kit. Very thorough

Cooking
-Jetboil stove
-Jetboil fuel (buy in GA)
-Freezer bags for cooking in, eating out of, storing maps, etc.
-Long spork
-Water bag (1.5 gal?)

Just a couple of comments - the waterbag is something you probably won't need. You have a bladder below. In my experience I can do a dry campsite on 4 liters of water.

The other one is if you are just making hot water for boil in bag cooking you may want to change your stove. Ignore that if you want to.

Equipment
-Tent & rain fly (Seedhouse SL1)
-Tyvek Ground cover
-Tent stakes
-Sleeping bag (REI +15)
-Fleece sleeping bag liner (send home in warm weather)
-Sleeping pad (Therm-a-Rest ProLite 3)
-Straps for keeping sleeping bag on pad
-Something to use as a pillow
-Headlamp (Petzl Tikka Plus)
-Backpack (Osprey Crescent 85)
-Packa (backpack cover & rain jacket in one)
-Trekking poles
-Pack towel for drying tent, etc.
-Small knife with can opener, scissors, blade, tweezers, toothpick
-40-50 ft. 3/16" parachute cord for bearbag
-Waterproof bearbag and small carabiner for hanging with PCT method
-Water purifier (probably First Need)
-Water bladder (3 liter Platypus - won't keep full)
-Yak trax for early in season
-Compass

Use your clothing bag as a pillow.

Clothing
-Short sleeve hiking shirts (1 for cold weather, 2 for warm?)
-Long sleeve hiking shirt (send home in warm weather)
-Hiking pants w/zip-off legs
-Wool mountaineering socks (2 pair)
-Sock liners (2 pair)
-Hiking boots (Montrail Torre GTX Classic)
-Light sandals for river crossings and camp
-Comfortable shirt (long or short sleeve?) for camp/town
-Comfortable shorts (or pants?) for camp/town
-Socks for in camp (1 pair)
-Fleece
-Waterproof jacket (packa)
-Lightweight fleece hat (send home in warm weather)
-Fleece or other thin gloves (send home in warm weather)
-Waterproof shells for gloves (send home in warm weather)

Just another opinion, but forget taking clothing just for camp and town. At the end of the day you can just wear the stuff you were hiking in and add a layer over it.

Miscellaneous
-ATC Trail maps
-Wingfoot's guidebook
-Calling card
-Earplugs
-Glasses & case
-Hand sanitizer
-Addresses
-Bandanas (1 for head, 1 for clean(ish) rag, 1 for misc.?)
-Bodyglide
-Needle & heavy duty thread for repairs
-Dental floss (also good for sewing)
-Camera
-Small notepad for journal
-Pencil
-Bug dope (not until later)
-Duct tape (small roll)
-Toilet paper in ziploc
-Clothes pins (2)
-Plastic shovel

Again, just opinions. 1 bandanna is enough. Needle is good, but just carry the floss and no extra thread. You really don't need clothes pins. You can dig a hole with a stick, tent stake, or hiking pole tip.

Grooming/first aid/emergency kit
-Ibuprofen
-Antibiotic ointment
-Powder (for feet and chafing)
-Antacid tablets
-Lip balm w/spf
-A few Band-aids
-Small roll of 1-inch-wide gauze
-Medical tape for blisters & covering band-aids
-Rubbing alcohol for sore muscles, cleaning cuts, bites, etc.
-Weatherproof matches
-Toothbrush
-Baking soda for brushing teeth
-Sunscreen (small amount)
-Shampoo? (small amount)
-Moleskin?
-Diarrhea medicine?

Not sure yet
-Something to bang stakes in with?
-Short gaiters to keep debris/rain out of boots?
-Mosquito hat? (sent to me in summer…maybe end of June?)
-Watch?
-Emergency reflective blanket?
-Waterproof pants (should I send these home in warm weather?)
-Sunglasses?
-Thermometer?
-Camera batteries & charger (really light, but maybe just buy replacements as needed?)

You don't need to bang in stakes most of the time, and when you do you can find a rock. I'd carry a watch, but that is me. If you are starting in cold weather you may want those rain pants, you don't need the reflective blanket, thermometers are optional.

[Survivor Dave]

Walkinfool,

I was going through your extensive list of gear. What I have learned over the past couple of years is that less is more. I to had many things on the list that have been deleted. It took me a few long shake-down hikes to find out.

So, whatever works for you is best. If I didn't use items on your list pretty much on a daily basis, I left them out.

Have you packed up and weighed your pack yet?

After seeing a good bit of packs that other hikers have, it averages around 30 lbs. with water and 4 days of food--TOTAL.

If your interested, check out my Trail Journal at www.trailjournals.com/SurvivorDave. Go to gear and see what I use as an example. Hope it helps. There are also pics in the photo area of most of the gear laid out.

Best of luck on your Thru and maybe see you on the Trail next year!

SD

[Appalachian Tater]

That's a pretty good list. You could certainly start out with exactly that and have no problems and just fine-tune a little as many do.

Consider keeping a wool or fleece hat throughout your hike. It can get chilly at times even during the summer. It is an easy and effective way of regulating body temp.

Consider a lexan spoon instead of a spork, especially since you are planning on freezer bag cooking. They are also cheaper and probably lighter.

You don't need a stake hammering anything and probably never will want one; you need something to dig catholes but you can use your shoe or a stick or a stake.

The waterproof pants may be unneccesary.

A watch is really handy, you may find yourself using time to estimate distance. You also may need to know the time in town. You don't need anything fancy, just the time, but the date would be handy, too, it's hard to keep track of the date and days of the week.

You can use Dr. Bronners as an all-purpose soap for your body, cooking equt and clothing and it works as shampoo. At least 80% of the time when there is a shower there is soap and shampoo. Probably 90% of the time. I also never had trouble refilling my soap from hiker boxes. Also found razors, chapstick, etc. You need some way to cut your nails.

I don't know how heavy your battery charger is, or how long your batteries last, but you may consider carrying replacements instead. It would be easy to forget in a hotel or hostel. Are you using button batteries?

Thermometer: do you really want to know in degrees how cold or hot it is? You'll be "one" with the weather, you won't have to check the temp to know what to put on when you wake up.

A mosquito hat might come in handy because those deer flies are something else and they eat DEET.

Instead of alcohol, consider taking baby butt wipes and adding alcohol to them. Much handier.

You may not need medical tape, duct tape works better. I used duct tape and toilet paper for "bandaids".

A one or two ounce bottle of hand sanitizer that you can refill fits right in your toilet paper bag.

If you sweat a lot, a cellulose sponge may be handier than a bandana.

Don't carry your calling card. You just need the number, the PIN, and the customer service number. Write these with your addresses and phone numbers on a piece of Tyvek with a Sharpie and it wil be waterproof. An old Priority Mail envelope will work. Or put them in a "Rite in the Rain" notebook if you're going to carry a notebook.

I would never carry more than two short shirts and long underwear and I would consider keeping the long underwear throughout. If you start early you may not need a short-sleeve shirt at first.

Oh, you also need one of those mini Bic lighters. And apparently some waterproof matches are useless, get the right kind. It's more of an emergency thing, probably you'll have plenty of other people with lighters around if yours dies.

[Flush2wice]

Let's make some rules about posting gear lists-
-weights should be listed if at all possible.
-projected starting date and direction. One guy had a down parka and pants listed and it wasn't until 10 posts later did he reveal that he was leaving Springer at the end of June. Departure date can change a lot of gear.

I'm assuming you are NOBO leaving in mid March to mid April. The previous comments are all good. Some of that stuff will likely be mailed home. You'll have it figured out after 3 or 4 days.
What I'd add:
Long johns- convertable pants are all you have for the bottom half or by fleece mean full set top and bottom?
Personally I'd leave the poles at home. Just one more thing to carry.
Have fun!

[walkinfool]

Let's make some rules about posting gear lists-
-weights should be listed if at all possible.
-projected starting date and direction. One guy had a down parka and pants listed and it wasn't until 10 posts later did he reveal that he was leaving Springer at the end of June. Departure date can change a lot of gear.

I'm assuming you are NOBO leaving in mid March to mid April. The previous comments are all good. Some of that stuff will likely be mailed home. You'll have it figured out after 3 or 4 days.
What I'd add:
Long johns- convertable pants are all you have for the bottom half or by fleece mean full set top and bottom?
Personally I'd leave the poles at home. Just one more thing to carry.
Have fun!

Good point!...NOBO, leaving March 15. I haven't weighed all the gear yet...a lot of it is still at the store.

[SGT Rock]

Good point!...NOBO, leaving March 15. I haven't weighed all the gear yet...a lot of it is still at the store.

Some sites on the internet have good weights. Campmor was great for this, I don't know if they still are.

[Flush2wice]

I haven't weighed all the gear yet...a lot of it is still at the store.

Good! For the best advice, list what you have and then list what you plan to take but haven't bought yet. Maybe color code it. That way people can argue over stoves or whatever.

[warraghiyagey]

Some sites on the internet have good weights. Campmor was great for this, I don't know if they still are.

Or you could just weigh on your home scales with and without your pack.

[SGT Rock]

He said he hasn't got all this stuff yet.

[warraghiyagey]

He said he hasn't got all this stuff yet.

Yeah, I was already duely chagrined as I hit submit and notice that. Ooops.

[Flush2wice]

Individual weights help if someone already owns it. If they don't own it, they should look it up. Then put the total weight at the end of the list.
His REI bag could be 2 lbs or it could be 4 lbs. Hard to offer suggestions without all this info.

[walkinfool]

I'll gather some weight info and repost.

[soulrebel]

Too much, Too heavy, and too expensive. Hope that helps. j/k

Btw, you guys asking for weights on all this stuff. Clearly, you aren't gearheads. When I built my kit in 2005 (all new-hadn't bought gear since 1983), I learned the average weights of general market items and eventually weighed each item in my pack weighs to the 0.0 ozs. Did plenty of cross-comparisons on weights with legitimate weights and sizes at sites like www.prolitegear.com and backpackinglight.com.

K.I.S.S. principle

Thinking-tarp, blue pad/ridgerest, 20/30d bag or quilt (if inclined), emergency blanket, garbage bag

aluminum pot, long-spoon, pop can stove, couple gatorade bottles,
1/3rd of the clothes, umbreller/jacket-booniehat,

superglue, mapdanna, small swiss army, couple lighters. Shoved in a one hole backpack.

The rest is food/whiskey/tobaccey/and lotsa walking. party on

[Appalachian Tater]

I'll gather some weight info and repost.

You can't believe manufacturer-stated weights anyway.

[SGT Rock]

Btw, you guys asking for weights on all this stuff. Clearly, you aren't gearheads.

You nailed it. Despite getting labeled as one regularly, I'm really not - I just know a lot about what I use.

K.I.S.S. principle

Thinking-tarp, blue pad/ridgerest, 20/30d bag or quilt (if inclined), emergency blanket, garbage bag, aluminum pot, long-spoon, pop can stove, couple gatorade bottles, 1/3rd of the clothes, umbreller/jacket-booniehat, superglue, mapdanna, small swiss army, couple lighters. Shoved in a one hole backpack.

The rest is food/whiskey/tobaccey/and lotsa walking. party on

That sounds more like my style gear

You can't believe manufacturer-stated weights anyway.

True. As I said, Campmor use to be very good at having their own weights listed on almost every item in their catalog.

[Blissful]

I probably wouldn't bother with the waterproof shells for gloves, but that's me. I found maybe 2 times I might have needed them. Not worth the weight, IMO.

I sent my gaiters home. I think they attribute to blisters, IMO. Long convertible pants cover your boot tops.

Maybe Crocs instead of sandals, at least in the beginning. You can get cheap knock offs. And they will keep your feet warmer with a pair of socks.

Bring a BIC lighter (get a good one too, not a cheapie one) instead of waterproof matches. They just don't work well.

You'll need a Credit card, Debit card and your license. Be sure you have someone who can replace them on the home front (we had to replace our debit card)

I thought I would need my Yak Trax, but I learned to walk in snow without them. They are a pain to take off and take on and mess with your gait which can mess up your feet and knees. Never used them and sent them home. Cuts out a lot of weight.

Skip the shampoo. You can find it everywhere in town, hostels, etc. I didn't bring sunglasses, but I did have a Marmot precip baseball cap that I loved (got it at Campmor). Watch, yes. Emergency blanket no. use a rock for stakes.

Clothes look good. I like dry, warm clothes to change into in camp, esp in the beginning of the hike. Wearing sweaty clothes from hiking in camp is uncomfortable, esp when the sun goes down and the wind picks up. I might take one extra pair of socks to make three pairs. You'll need to rotate socks in places like the Smokies, unless you plan to do laundry at Gatlinburg. And cleaner socks means less blister problems. I might consider trail runners (they really are great, trust me. I used to be a boot lover and I was sold!). Then you don't need liners and can go with lighter weight socks.

[mountain squid]

Very good, very thorough list. Some thoughts:

agree with SGT Rock - if you are going to do freezer bag cooking, consider an alcohol stove and smaller pot than the JetBoil (fuel is easier to obtain and it is lighter)
consider a silk sleeping liner instead of a fleece one (http://www.jagbags.co.nz/)
you might bounce your camera batteries and charger
radio/mp3 player
for camp socks consider those ankle high ones
agree with SGT Rock - no need for comfy town specific clothes
wrap duct tape around hiking poles
agree with Appalachian Tater - Dr B's goes a long way

And, of course, dont forget ID/atm/credit cards.

See you on the trail,
mt squid
and now advice is given on how to post a gear list

[Appalachian Tater]

wrap duct tape around hiking poles

I strongly disagree with this. It makes your poles heavier and the tape gets really grungy and hard to peel apart. You can buy little backpacking rolls or flat packs or just take it of a big roll and make a flat pack by folding and wrapping. Why in the world would you want it on your poles or on your water bottle?