Is my total pack weight too much?

[s.ivanoff]

I am planning to thru-hike the AT and I wanted to know if my total weight is too much.

Total weight: 40lbs (this includes everything packed, food, water, clothing & shoes worn and trekking poles carried). Pack weight is around 37lbs not including my clothing&shoes worn and my trekking poles

Food: 14lbs (7days, 2lbs/day) This is the max amount of food I will be carrying so it will vary depending on how often I stop so it may go to 10lbs for 5 days

Water: 2 liters (4lbs) at a time (refill mid day)

I think once I get going I will realize that I don't need some things so I will send them home or throw out so I know it will lighten as I go but I want peoples opinions on whether or not this is manageable. I am young, I don't have any preexisting aches or issues, and I am in pretty good shape. But I do plan to do the hike pretty quickly (4 months max due to time restraints) and this will be my first backpacking trip longer than a few days aka I'm a rookie.

Any advice is much appreciated!

[MuddyWaters]

Its dang heavy by my standards, but probably about average for most, and better than a lot.

If you are going to get rid of thing, go ahead and get rid of them before you start (duh!)

[hikerboy57]

def on the heavy side, but you probably already know that.start thinking about things you can live without for a week at a time, and find items thatl do double duty. if you want to post your list, im sure you'll get plenty of solicited and unsolicited advice.

[Sherpa Master]

Overall it's not too bad. I wonder a little about your food at 2 lbs per day. Typical is around a pond and a half. Pending your reapply spacing hopefully you won't have to carry that many days. Check everything and see if you have any duplication. The lighter the better. Even though your young the ups and downs will take their toll on long mileage days. Good luck and enjoy the adventure.

[s.ivanoff]

Overall it's not too bad. I wonder a little about your food at 2 lbs per day. Typical is around a pond and a half. Pending your reapply spacing hopefully you won't have to carry that many days. Check everything and see if you have any duplication. The lighter the better. Even though your young the ups and downs will take their toll on long mileage days. Good luck and enjoy the adventure.

Yeah the research I have done says 1.5-2lbs per day so I am just estimating on the high side. So maybe I should go for 1.5lbs/day with 5 day of food? This would cut off 7 ish pounds

[oldbear]

Kind of depends how big you are
If you're a little person it is and if you're a big person it's not

[s.ivanoff]

Kind of depends how big you are
If you're a little person it is and if you're a big person it's not

I am 5'9" 150 pound female, so I am sort of big

[oldbear]

I am 5'9" 150 pound female, so I am sort of big

At your size that 40 lbs is 26.6% of your bodyweight
I'm a 6'2" 250 lb male and at my size that 40 lbs is 16% of my bodyweight

[Bati]

You won't need to carry 7 days of food, except in a few spots. I did for SMNP and the 100 mile wilderness, but today there are easier resupply points for these.
Plan on only carrying 5 days of food at a time, and you drop 4 pounds. A 35 pound pack will be very manageable; that 5 pounds will make a difference!

[Wise Old Owl]

Overall it's not too bad. I wonder a little about your food at 2 lbs per day. Typical is around a pond and a half. Pending your reapply spacing hopefully you won't have to carry that many days. Check everything and see if you have any duplication. The lighter the better. Even though your young the ups and downs will take their toll on long mileage days. Good luck and enjoy the adventure.

You won't need to carry 7 days of food, except in a few spots. I did for SMNP and the 100 mile wilderness, but today there are easier resupply points for these.
Plan on only carrying 5 days of food at a time, and you drop 4 pounds. A 35 pound pack will be very manageable; that 5 pounds will make a difference!

What they said ... grab the list and include the food and post your backpack let's figure out what you really don't need.... everyone here at WB has good insight.

[Spokes]

Agree with the too much food comments. 3-4 days food between re-supply on the AT is normal. By the time you hit the 100 mile wilderness you'll have your legs so no worries there.

Wonder how much other "small stuff" you're carrying that's eating up the pack weight?

[kevperro]

Yea... do yourself a favor and post that list. It is MUCH better to start off with a reasonable weight. The first couple weeks are when you are most likely to injure yourself and starting off with a 40lb. pack is unwise.

If I were doing the AT again I'd start off the trip with a 10lb base weight. Even over the 100 mile section in Maine I would never carry >25lbs. Trim some weight and you will greatly increase your comfort and drastically reduce your chance of injury.

[bigcranky]

37 pounds is heavy to me, but probably lighter than most starting thru-hikers. I've seen a lot of BIG packs in Georgia in the last few years. The first three or four days on the trail will give you a crash course in exactly what you need, and what you can send home. If you make it the 30 miles to Neels Gap, the outfitter store will be happy to send home your excess weight, and/or sell you lighter gear.

When are you starting? What exactly are you carrying?

[Old Boots]

My suggestion is to stop by Mountain Crossing on your way to Springer if you can and let them review with you what you are taking before you head out.

[hikerboy57]

My suggestion is to stop by Mountain Crossing on your way to Springer if you can and let them review with you what you are taking before you head out.

those guys are great, but you'll get plenty of advice right here once you post your list, which will save you $$$$. mountain crossings is a business, and youll be hostage to the gear they have available at their prices. you'll have more flexibility shopping if you need to replace any major items.just get your list posted so we can help.

[bigcranky]

mountain crossings is a business, and youll be hostage to the gear they have available at their prices.

Hostage? Really? Sure, Mountain Crossings is a business, but the gear they have is specific to long distance hiking, and the prices are the same as anywhere else you can buy that gear in person in a shop. That is, regular retail price. They aren't gouging anyone. No one takes any hostages. They'll go through your pack, and provide free advice based on their long experience. You don't have to buy anything.

Ivanoff, sorry about the thread drift. Ignore us. Go start hiking and you'll have a blast. You'll figure out the gear on the way, like everybody else. Have fun.

[Wise Old Owl]

My suggestion is to stop by Mountain Crossing on your way to Springer if you can and let them review with you what you are taking before you head out.

OB lets do it here before he get's to Springer.... “We can rebuild him. We have the technology. We can make him better than he was. Better...stronger...faster.”
for folk that don't get the reference. laugh your hiking socks off..

[shelb]

OB lets do it here before he get's to Springer.... “We can rebuild him. We have the technology. We can make him better than he was. Better...stronger...faster.”
for folk that don't get the reference. laugh your hiking socks off..

Imagine him hiking!

[sterling98]

If my math is right that's a 19 lb in pack base weight... That's not too bad. What's your big four weight? You probably either have a chunky old big 4 item that you could replace, or too many little unnecessary cluttering items.

[s.ivanoff]

Thank you for all of the suggestions guys

My big 4 are actually pretty decent I think? I do think it is all the little things that I need to cut down on but I will let you guys be the judge of that. I am also having trouble deciding on the clothing I will need. I am actually not doing the hike until next summer May 1-August (unsure on the specific date for now) so I have plenty of time to figure this stuff out, I just want to be as prepared as I can be.

Some of my big items are(I havent bought any of these yet, just the ones I have found that seemed like a good choice)..
GoLite Jam pack: 1lb 15oz
Lightheart solo tent: 27oz
Mountain Hardwear Phantom 45 sleeping bag: 17oz
Thermarest Neoair xlite sleeping pad: 12oz


I will post the rest of the items once I get them typed up