Gear
The Backpacker’s Guide to Bear Bagging
What is the deal with bear bags? Which type should I use, or should I use a canister? Once I have one, what do I do with it?
My Half Ounce Windscreen
AT Cook Set I start my AT thru-hike attempt in about three weeks and am mostly ready. This means, though, I have 21 days to obsess and tweak. My latest...
Lessons Learned: Going into my 2nd Thru-Hike
New Year, New Trail After a year away from thru-hiking, it's time to get back onto the trail. Since immersing myself in thru-hiking culture in 2017, it's been a significant...
Top Stoves, Filters, Rain Gear, and More on the Appalachian Trail: 2023 Thru-Hiker Survey
Each year here at The Trek, we ask long-distance hikers on the Appalachian Trail (AT) about the stoves and water filters they used on their 2023 thru-hike. This year we...
Rockin’ in the Bedrocks: Long Distance Hiking in Sandals
Importance of Footwear Selecting the right footwear for the trail is undoubtedly one of the most crucial decisions a hiker can make. The wrong shoes can significantly hinder your hike,...
The Top Sleeping Bags, Quilts, and Pads on the Appalachian Trail: 2023 Thru-Hiker Survey
Each year here at the Trek, we ask hikers on the Appalachian Trail all about what sleeping systems they used on their hike. In this installment, we'll cover the type...
Essential Gear for a 4,400-Mile Thru-Hike
Embarking on a thru-hike is no small feat. While the Appalachian Trail and Pacific Crest Trail have secured their place as two of the most popular long-distance trails in the...
Top Tents and Shelters on the Appalachian Trail: 2023 Thru-Hiker Survey
This installment of the 2023 Appalachian Trail survey covers shelters of all kinds. We'll discuss the types of shelters used, the type and size chosen based on hiking companions, and...
11 AT and PCT Thru-Hikers Share Their Favorite Gear
As the 2023 thru-hiking season draws to a close, we’ve asked our Appalachian Trail and Pacific Crest Trail finishers to share which gear items became their favorites during their journeys....
Broken on the AT: Gear That Breaks At 2,000 Miles (And The Gear That Doesn’t)
The Appalachian Trail is a rugged trail and is hard on gear. Here are the things that you might expect to get broken on the AT.