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Gear I’m Taking on the Appalachian Trail in 2024
Here it is. The long anticipated gear list for my thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2024.
The gear I plan on using was for the most part collected over the last 5 or 6 years, in anticipation of a thru-hike. I tried to hit that sweet spot between weight and durability, which is hard without spending a little bit of cash. It’s a reminder that thru-hiking is a luxury, that requires resources, and room for careful planning over a long period of time. Note this list is 99% complete, I haven’t provided specifics for my first aid kit, and some other miscellaneous items, but I’ll be throwing them on here soon enough.
This list will grow, shrink, and change in coming months as I trim, tweak, and rethink my trail systems. For example, I may choose to go with a bear canister over a bear bag, considering they’re required on several sections of the AT, and it removes some of the chore of needing to find and execute solid bear hangs. Details on that to come.
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Comments 15
You should pick up some gloves and a beanie, especially if you are starting early. It can be mighty cold in the mornings and evenings.
Ah yes! Thanks for the reminder, I had those packed they just didn’t make it on the list. I’m sure there are a few other things that I forgot to add that I’ll be sure to throw on there.
1 thanks for sharing, merry Xmas
2 That’s a curiously low weight with a 3 lb backpack and a decent amount of clothes. Looks like you’re excluding all “worn” even though you can’t wear it all at once? Or maybe you can.
2B no phone?
3 I’ve never seen anyone on the trail actually stick with the sawyer mini. (They end up with regular sawyer squeeze fwiw)
I’m starting in mid February, maybe I’ll see you out there.
Sawyer mini sucks, will make you mad, just get normal size.
I love prana Zion stretch, my favorites.
You should just buy a bear canister now, so you won’t worry about it. It’s a heavy necessity.
That’s great advice on the bear canister. Any brand recommendations? And thanks for the note on the mini, I think it got autofilled by the Trek’s gear list tool, I will be using the regular size. I’ll fix it
Depending on your start date I would be concerned with the 20 deg bag. I have started north from Springer several times around March 15. I was very happy to have a ) rated bag which I carried as far as Pearisburg VA. Some recommend winter gear as far as Damascus and then swap but there is some high elevation trail north of there even in May at about the time of trail days.
Maybe consider a sleeping bag liner if you’re leaving before March.
You missed a towel, if you’re bringing one, water bottles, toilet paper, toiletries, etc. This is why your weight is so low.
Great list. I did my AT thru hike this year and pretty much started with similar items. My start date was 16 Feb and I finished 18 July. My comments are from my own experience. I started with the Sawyer Mini but switched to the BeeFree Water filter bottle. I also carried a Smart Water Bottle on a chest strap. I didn’t start with this next item but after seeing a fellow hiker with one in the Smokies, I got one from Amazon. It’s the FlexTailGear mini air pump. Trust me, at the end of the day using this to inflate your air mattress is heaven. Don’t go heavy on the first aid. Remember, you are only one or two days from a town. I carried some Luekotape, a few pain relievers, two bandaids and a small disinfect spray. All fit into a tiny ziplock. I had a Victorinox Nail Clip 580, 8 Function Swiss Made Multi-Tool with Nail File, Nail Cleaner and Small Blade – Red that had everything I needed and it was tiny. I carried an Anker Power Bank as well but if you want to charge it quickly, get the Anker Wall plug as well. A normal wall plug will charge the Anker but it takes longer. The Anker can get you a quick charge during this quick town stops for resupplies. Add a ball cap – great as a sun shade plus it keeps the rain jacket hood out of your face. For your tent, if you have the brand’s ground cloth I would suggest ditching it and getting you a piece of Tyvek. Throw it in the washer a few times then dry on air only. I would also get a small pad (I cut a section from a sleeping mat I found in a hiker box) to sit on. I saw quite a number of hikers wearing the Frogg Togg gear. None of it lasted. It’s cheap and light weight but not really suited for wearing under a pack that you’re taking on and off frequently. The hikers I saw said the rain jackets ripped at the shoulders from the wear from the shoulder straps. I would suggest rain pants – they are a good wind block as well. Get a large contractor bag for your bag liner. I went with a sleeping quilt rather than a bag and loved it. You don’t mention having a food bag or bear canister. I used a food bag and had no issues. For your head lamp, don’t need anything large or fancy and if you can get a small one that’s rechargeable, you’ll be better off. Lastly, consider a resupply box for every 4-500 miles to get new shoes. I wore HOKA SpeedGoat 5 and was concerned with finding them on the trail, so I got a box between 4-500 miles with a new pair. At the 1000 mark I got new socks (I wore Darn Tough Socks and there are a few outfitters on the trail who will honor the life time warranty on them). Add some Dirty Girl Gators (didn’t think I needed them but got them as a XMAS present and SO glad I did and wore them). A few tricks – add a small strip of reflective tape to your tent stakes, trekking poles, and then some to your tent in a specific pattern. Walking back from the brivy late at night with a bunch of tents in the area that look the same can be interesting if you pick the wrong tent. Last two items – I wore a fanny pack where I kept my phone. I wish I had carried it in a shoulder pouch. Almost all the hikers I saw carried their Garmin or whatever on their pack. Consider whenever you do a stream crossing to move it to your fanny pack or attach it to your body. If you get swept off your feet and have to ditch your pack, you’ll want that emergency item with you.
Good luck and what John said should be considered.
I think that you have a good start on your list. The comments here will really provide value and help in your decision process. I would use one of the on-line systems like Lighter Pack, Weigh My Gear, Far Out Thru Hiking 101, etc. to par down your list but not skip things that will hurt your hike. I’m heading out on the AT on a FF starting in mid to late April. See ya on the trail.
I didn’t see what kind of shoes you’re wearing. Did I miss that? Clothes, dirty or clean, in a stuff sack makes a fine pillow. Yes, a sit-upon is a good idea. A square of Tyvek works to keep dampness off your butt, but a chunk of foam is more comfortable. And yes to the Tyvek ground cloth. I used it under my sleeping bag in shelters, too. Not only does it keep your sleeping bag cleaner, but it marks off your space. You can put little things on it along beside your bag, too.
3.6 oz. Crocs? 13.6 if you’re lucky.
You shouldnt lie
Dang you’re right, 13.6 on the nose. Must’ve been a typo, thanks for the heads up. There’s a product autofill feature on the tool used to compile these lists on the Trek, and I noticed a few other deets I need to clean up.
I am not a hiker….just a walker and ambler.
Just a tiny reality check ….in Winter of 2022, on Christmas Eve/Day, our temperatures in Rabun County, GA dipped into the single digits….not normal, but it happened. We lost trees and bushes that we had for years to the cold.
Please please please have a plan B, plan C and plan D……and don’t ever hesitate to take yourself out of dangerous weather.
Last night we had 4+ inches of rain, super high winds and lightning. That doesn’t happen often, either. But it does
Stay safe.