Hello all! I plan on starting my NoBo hike this spring with a buddy around the first week of May as soon as school ends and having to end during mid August. I have slowly (and painfully) been adding gear to my pack. I currently have an osprey Talon pack 22Lt that I use on day hikes (will more than likely have to get another) and using a eno hammock setup. I had planned on using a sleeping back and a simple foam mat to sleep in the hammock to keep the under draft. The quilts are far out of my price range for now. I have an optimus cooking set and some dry/stuff sacks to keep essentials. My main problem is me thinking that there is always some things I am missing. I have shoes, socks, rain pants/jacket, (considering buying atom LT jacket) and shirt but can't decide on pants material/zip off or just normal running shorts. I'm the kind of person who researches an item to death before buying and gets the best of best at
reasonable price range.
Some people that worked at rock/creek said to come by after I get all my gear and they could help set me up with the correct back pack however I believe they would sell it to me even though my small one might just work. I was mainly worried about food packing into it.
I would like some input on how far do you think me and my buddy will manage to get? Will this "Repel Mosquito stop" with key ingredient Permethrin work the whole time with one spray on cloths/tents or do I need to invest in a ENO guardian bug net? What types of water treatment methods would you guys use? (I was considering a gravity filter) Will my simple hammock work for my time on the AT considering that I (hopefully) shouldn't run into any winter weather or should I invest in some type of winter setup? ... and of course any other essential items that i might need.