The Gear List
Curious what a thru hiker needs to survive for 6 months in the wilderness?
I have been asked a lot of questions pertaining to gear lately, and decided it would be best to share my gear list with you all. Below is a complete list of everything I will be bringing with me on this trek, which I leave for exactly 30 days from today! I used many resources in order to figure out what I would need to live outside for half a year. Websites, books, trailblogs, REI's entire staff (it seemed like), other outfitters, and friends who have completed the AT, all contributed to the building of this catalog. With all of these items, plus a 10 lb. weight (accounting for food) my pack weights approximately 32lb. Researching and collecting gear was such a fun project over the past year. I learned so many new tidbits and little secrets to surviving outside along the way. I was also constantly astonished at the ultra-lite technology most gear utilizes these days. It was sometimes bizarre how light things like a sleeping bag or a tent could be made.
I tried to be as detailed as possible, hoping one day this list may help other potential thru hikers figure out what they might need. If anyone has any questions, feel free to email me. Resources I used to compile my list are also listed at the very bottom of the page.
AT GEAR LIST
Pack : Osprey Exos 58 Ultralight
Sleeping Bag: REI Magma 17 Long
Sleeping bag Liner: Cocoon 100% Silk Mummy liner
Sleeping Pad: Thermarest Military PRO3 inflatable
Tent: Big Agnes UL2 Fly Creek
Tent Footprint: using a plastic shower curtain (making my own)
GPS tracker: Gen Spot 3
Trekking Poles: Black Diamond Distance LFZ
Hiking Shoes: Oboz Women’s Luna Low
Camping Shoes: Crocks
Insoles: Super feet Green
Stove: MSR Pocket rocket & fuel tank
Pot: Esbit titanium 750 ml
Spork: Snow peak titanium
Coffee Cup: Sea to summit titanium
Rope: 25ft
Tyvek 2m (2.2 yards)
Head Lamp: Black Diamond- Revolt
Water Filter: Sawyer (regular sized; not the mini)
Water treatment: Aquamira drops
GPS tracker: Gen Spot 3
Stuff Sacks:
REI 3-pack ditty sacks (2L, 3L, 7L)
Dry sack 10L (for food)
REI 11L compression light weight (for sleep gear)
REI 12L Flash pillow stuff sack (for clothes)
Swiss Army Knife
Gloves: Gordini
Duct tape: 10-15ft
Batteries: AAA lithium (4)
Toilet Paper: 2 rolls
Diva Cup
Pee Funnel
Ear Plugs
Band-Aids
1 large Black trash bag (used as pack liner)
2 grocery bags
Blister tape
Neosporin
Bug spray: Deet & Repel (eucalyptus & lemon)
Chap stick
Sunscreen
Tooth brush (portable)
Tooth paste (regular sized)
Hand sanitizer
Q-tips
Tweezers
Soap: Dr. Broners
Razor (judge away! Fluffy pits aren’t my style)
Pen
Notebook (pocket-sized)
Hooks (5 plastic shower curtain hooks; super lightweight & cheap)
Carabiner: 1 large, 1 Small
Poison Ivy Medication
IB Profin
Aspirin
Water: 1 3L CamelBak, 2 Gatorade bottles, 1 32oz Nalgene
Buff: UV high protection
Bandana
Bug net: face & neck protector
Hat: 1 Baseball cap/ 1 beanie
Towel: REI ultra-light micro fiber
Underwear: Exofficio (2 Pair)
Bra: Exofficio
Shirts: 2 non-cotton (I went Nike with most of my clothing)
Tank: 2 non-cotton
Midlayer: 1 non-cotton
Compression shorts: 1-non-cotton
Pants: 1 cargo, 1 yoga, both non-cotton
Thermal pants: Ice Breakers, 100% Merino/Wool
Puffy: A.N.A packable premium down
Socks: 2 Smart wool, 1 darn tuff (3 pairs total)
Ear Buds
AGPtEK U3 8GB MP3 Player AAA battery operated & holds 2,000 songs
Sun glasses
Phone/ Charger
DL/CC/$$
AWOL Nobo guidebook- David Miller
Resources I used to compile this list:
REI – They are the best! Join the Co-op
My Friend Kimber Maxwell's Blog: https://kimbersappalachianadventures.wordpress.com
Mountain Crossing- Outfitter at Blood Mountain, Awesome staff.
Amazon- super detailed about the descriptions of gear (i.e. weight, dimensions, reviews) + great prices.
Trailjournals.com- full of hundreds of blogs from thru-hikers, I read a ton of these.
YouTube- Want to know how to pack your pack? Use a water filter? Gear reviews? This is your place.
https://thetrek.co/thru-hiker-resources/appalachian-trail-thru-hiker-gear-list/ -a super awesome comprehensive gear list; with links to outfitters websites
AWOL on the Appalachian Trail: David Miller- awesome book full of all kinds of tidbits
Appalachian Trials: A Psychological and Emotional Guide to Successfully Thru-Hiking The AT by Zach Davis- some do’s and don’ts about gear in this book as well.
I am getting super excited the closer we get to lift off! The days are flying by it seems like. Check back soon for updates, and don't forget to stop by my gofundme page soon!