Pros: The only pack I've ever had that didn't give me pain when it was fully loaded and there were times I didn't even feel like I was wearing a pack! I like the variety in pockets and pouches of different sizes. There were multiple ways I could organize my gear/food/water as my weight and quantities changed over a leg. An added bonus is that the back pad can easily be removed and used as a sit pad or extension to my sleeping pad. Cons: Somehow the way I wore the pack, the side hip belt pockets got rubbed by the bottom of the shoulder strap. This is not a common occurrence for most other hikers. Over time and with the extreme use of a thru hiker, the strap wore through the bottom of the shoulder straps near my hips and I used duct tape to prevent it from rubbing through. I also feel like the pack looks big for me (I'm pretty small), and that I could downsize to the Gossamer Gear Gorilla, but I love the option of all that storage when needed.
Bottom Line: If you have the $$ and want to save weight, this is the tent to get. A very close second is the Tarptent Contrail, which I LOVE.
Pros:Oh man, I didn't think it could get any better than my Marmot Helium bag and then I found this baby! It is sooo warm and puffy. Very light and small. It doesn't have a hood, but I was fine without it using my beanie or down hoodie. It is very warm and I often would just use it as a blanket and lie directly on my sleeping pad. It was nice as a claustrophobic person to feel less restricted and still be warm. Just heavenly!Cons: Expensive...but worth it! The zipper does not extend all the way to the foot to save weight, but I like to stick my feet out the bottom as I sleep, so that was an adjustment. I would just pull my feet out and use it as a blanket sometimes. Overkill on the AT and used as a blanket almost all trail.
Pros: Quite possibly my favorite piece of gear! Allowed me sink into the comfort of a bed every night. Light and compact. I upgraded to the XLite Women's because it is lighter, shorter, and tapered so I had more room in my tent. Also, there is a reflective layer withing the pad that reflects body warmth back to the person laying on it. Really amazingly warm!Cons: Also expensive, but totally worth it! People say they don't like the crinkle of it at times, but I don't move much and it doesn't bother me. I know it could get a hole in it easier than other sleep pads, but it's now made it through two thru hikes I didn't have a problem all trail.
Pros: Oh man, I can't believe it took me this long to get an umbrella! My favorite new piece of gear for sure and I don't know that I'll ever hike a long trail again without it. It especially enhanced the enjoyment on the AT as it poured many times while the top of me stayed dry and I didn't have to put away my electronics and could take pictures as I pleased. I found a way to strap it to pack so it can be used hands free and loved it! Many ask how it worked in the brush and I found it to not be a problem as I am shorter, but I've also known taller hikers who also did just fine. Even if it was 3wks between rains, it was worth carrying for what it did for my moral in a day of rain. A couple bonus uses are for protection from strong sun, added protection in my tent vestibule, somewhere to throw ditty bags when packing up on a wet ground morning, and a nice hitching sign when written on with permanent marker, ha! It was not used in place of rain gear and I also used a light rain jacket when in cold rain. Cons: On a more exposed trail I could see it being less effective in a gusting wind, but for someone like me that gets cold easily when wet, it's better than no umbrella at all. It is technically a luxury item, but well worth it. They sell out often so if you want one, you should get on the GoLite site and reserve one for when they do restock.
Pros: Light, efficient, simple, and sturdy. I'm a big fan of this setup and also used it on the PCT & CDT. I no longer use a cozy that I ordered separately that is pictured. No need.Cons: Took some practice to use properly. It doesn’t have a simmer setting, so care is needed for doing more than boiling water. Hard plastic container can take up space, but I used the top as a cup. The base of the container gets way too dirty/sooty to use as a bowl as advertised. I bought a larger bottle to hold fuel for longer legs, but it still fits in the container. Sometimes the fuel would leak a bit through the threads of the tiny bottle, but it just evaporates when I open it.
Evernew Titanium Pot (.9L)Pros: Wonderful! Small, light, gets the job done.Cons: Careful not to burn things to the thin bottom.
Pros: Light and collapsible.Cons: On the AT, there are few big water carries, so I carried a 1L bag as a dirty bag for squeezing and a 2.5L bag to carry extra water. All bags used for squeezing eventually break at the seal where the bag connects to the mouth. The Platypus ones were almost perfect. Strong and good size, but over a month or two used with the Sawyer, the threads stripped and leaked slightly when I'd try to squeeze through the filter. I knew ahead of time this wear and tear would happen, so I had new ones in my bounce every two months.
Bottom Line: Nothing will last a whole hike, but they are the best options and Platypus bags are my preferred bag.
Pros: LOVE this camera! A great wide angle that captured more than any other camera I've ever had. Great quality video. Sturdy shutter over the lens that is less likely to get dented or stuck opening/shutting with the bumps of a thru hike. I loved the powerful zoom that also worked in video mode. Also, loved the ease with which I could take panoramic shots! I was frequently asked what camera I used by blog followers as the quality of the photos are excellent. Cons: Just be careful of the wide lens as I have a habit of accidentally touching it and getting smudges or sunscreen grease on it. One of my favorite features is the panoramic, but if the sun is shining at you, it can cause lighting issues and horizontal light strips on panoramas and that was annoying.
Pros: Nifty little SD card that gives me the ability to transfer my pictures from my camera to my iPhone for blogging or sending out pictures.
Cons: This particular card would load ALL my pictures from the day, but I found out that you can set it to load individual photos, but it's time consuming and not worth the pain. I heard other SD cards (EZ Share) let you choose individual photos and some cameras now have this function built into it. I've been fine with this and have just stuck with it for now. Just great that my camera quality photos can jump to my phone so easily!
Pros: One of my favorite pieces of gear! It would greatly impact my hike if I didn't have this little guy. Held all my songs and audiobooks easily. Also, small and clips to clothes or pack for easy use. Plus, it plays and records radio! Even takes mini sd cards so people were able to send me more songs and audiobooks.
Cons: Doesn't hold as many songs as more expensive players unless you buy a mini sd to put in it.
I had a lot of people ask how I shot my selfies and videos while I was walking. I used the awesome StickPic. It allows you to attach your camera to the end of your hiking pole for both pictures and video. Love it! You can order it online. Careful, they are easy to lose, so I recommend putting it on a carabeener. Also, if you lose the nut that tightens it to your camera, you can use medical tape on the screw and it tightens just fine.
Pros: My sacks have lasted me four years and three complete thru hikes. They come in various sizes and colors for organizing small things. Light, resilient, and water resistant. Those who used Cuban fiber sacks had difficulty with them shredding apart.Cons: Not waterproof…even if they say they are. The black one I had drove me nuts at night and in the early morning because I always had trouble finding it in my tent or pack.
Pros: Amazing! Service is best with Verizon. It was my own personal computer, phone, camera, alarm clock, and GPS all in one. Quick and easy panoramic shots and I really liked how vivid some of the scenic pictures were too. Good video when my real camera wasn't working. I loved being able to Skype or FaceTime family or friends. Of course watching TV in my tent is a great plus! Just amazing, love it!Cons: It can drain quickly using the GPS or having it on LTE (if you have Verizon). Just keep it in airplane mode whenever possible. I wouldn't use it as my primary camera or video recorder, but it works great if you are looking for an all-in-one option.
LifeProof Phone CaseAwesome! Kept my iPhone protected from dirt, water(but not fully waterproof), and many scratches. I dropped my phone many times and it was always protected. Totally worth carrying!
My headlamp and pocketknife are different than what's pictured here.
Petzel Tikka Plus 2 Headlamp Did great! Honestly, I rarely used it and only changed the batteries once all trip. This was a new headlamp as I needed one with a red light at night so I wouldn't disturb others around me with a bright light while I was in my tent at night. They don't seem to make this version anymore so here's what seems most compatible...MSR Packtowel NanoNice to have for washing off in streams. Dried very quickly. It is a bit of a luxury item as my bandana often did the trick just fine.
SPOT-Personal Locator Device
Pros: Reassure your family that you are okay on a regular basis. I know of hikers who had to use theirs to get emergency help from Search and Rescue, and it works. The customer service is very attentive and helpful.Cons: Make sure you let it flash for a long time (possibly 15mins) to make sure it sends. It will go from flashing two lights to just one if it works. It worked every night on my trip, but would take longer under trees. There is no way to check for sure that it sends, but that's how all PLBs work. They are intended for use when there is no other way of contacting help. I trust it and think it's completely worth carrying.
Sea to Summit Insect Shield Head Net
Pros: It saves you from bugs!Cons: Don’t accidentally rub your eyes with the head net…trust me! Using a fully brimmed hat is the most effective. My neck and ears get bit unless I use my buff to cover them. I hardly used it the whole AT, but was very happy to carry it the whole way just in case!
Pros: Allowed me to charge four different things at the same time from one outlet.
Cons: Added weight and took up space in my pack. Didn't charge as fast as directly plugging one USB into a socket because it splits the charge.
Bottom Line: It's a luxury item, but one I use frequently!
Pros: Small, light, has multiple tools (including scissors!), and has a carabeener to clip it to my bag for easy access. Cons: Could be considered by some to be a luxury item that just adds extra weight...but those were the same hikers who borrowed mine many times!
Pros: VERY light and compact.Cons: If you sweat a lot, it may not be the jacket for you because it has no vents. Also, to save weight, there are no side pockets. I used it many mornings as a quick warm up layer and it's definitely my stinkiest piece of gear, ha! It is as good as any other rain jacket and I've used a version of it on each of my thru hikes. I combined it with an umbrella on the AT and it was perfect! Not sure I'd have it as my only rain protection without an umbrella on the AT though. It's a bit thinner and less insulated than other heavier jackets.Bottom Line: Great jacket! It is not meant for cold heavy rain. If you use it the whole trip and find yourself finishing closer to October, I recommend sending yourself a warmer jacket up north or waterproof it again before you hit the northern rain.
Pros: Small, light, compact, warm, resilient, awesome! I think it is still the lightest down jacket on the market. Made for a great pillow at night too! I think I used it maybe 1/4 or so of the days I was on the AT, so it was mainly a pillow, but I get cold easily and it was really worth carrying.Cons: Expensive.Bottom Line: Loved it! I used the one with the hood because I get cold easily, but many hikers saved the weight without the hood.
I loved these socks. They are just basic running socks. My feet had bad reactions to wool and these were great. They would generally last four legs or more depending on the terrain/distance.
ExOfficio UnderwearLoved em! I only needed two pairs that I rotated on the trip and I had a third for sleeping.
Diva Cup-Feminine Hygiene
Okay ladies, just like you, I worried about how I’d handle my monthly period on the trail. If you have to deal with it, then I suggest the Diva Cup. Look it up. I would definitely practice using it before going on the trail if you’ve never used it before. I like it because it’s minimal, I don’t have to worry about accumulating trash, and depending on the day, I could go the whole day without having to worry about it. I love that it is environmentally better AND saves me money. I have converted to using it in everyday life and I really recommend it.
Pros: Some consider camp shoes a luxury. I can’t imagine enjoying backpacking if I didn’t have dry clean sandals to put on at the end of the day and middle of the night for bathroom runs. I saved a lot of weight switching to these from Crocs and they were super comfy!
Cons: Wearing them with socks is a pain. I usually just slipped all my toes to the side of the thong when I needed to walk at camp.
I knew I'd need some type of added support to hike the trail and another hiker told me about the Lynco Insoles. I am a neutral walker and tend to need something for the ball of my foot. These are very unique and I recommend using them for a good month before the trail if your feet are new to them. They have a lump under the upper part of the arch of your foot. There are other styles for different needs. The unique form takes some getting used to, but I found them to feel great and also relieve a lot of the pressure on the ball of my foot. Totally worth the price for me. I bought a new pair with each pair of shoes. Many people bought insoles more/less often than that though. It's a matter of personal preference.
It took me forever to buy these pricey pajamas, but they were perfect and saved me many ounces off what I was using before. The pants are slightly sheer and I'd only wear them in my tent. Both could be used in emergency for extra warmth. For half of the hike, they were overkill and not necessary, but I get cold easily and was happy to have them.
It seems that 90% of hikers on the AT use the AT Guide and solely that (without maps) to hike the trail. I know it's shocking that people don't carry maps, but the trail is so well marked that it isn't needed and if you go off, the blazes are a different color and you quickly realize it and turn around.I am in no way telling you to enter the woods without maps, but I am telling you that's what most hikers do. I would never go without some kind of map and I used an app which I'll recommend below for GPS backup. Some like the pocket profiles for an overview, but they are in no way needed to hike and the detailed elevation charts are on each page. It's a great guide and also includes all the town info you would need. It can be purchased Nobo or Sobo and with the option of having it bound as a book or loose leaf if you plan to ship the pages in sections. Only $15 and a steal for all that it gives you! I scanned it and had it on my phone as a backup and ended up using the scanned version instead and had the paper ones as backup. There is even an option to buy a pdf version that I heard has links that go directly to the website or phone number when you touch it. A portion of the purchase does go to the ATC. There are data books and companion guides created and sold by volunteers of the ATC, but I rarely saw one in use and only heard about how they were not as helpful as the AT Guide. It is unfortunate as I know many would like for 100% of the funds to go back to the ATC, so there is that option if you are one of those people.
Um...Guthook's AT Hiker App is AWESOME!!! It isn't necessary to have this app to successfully hike the trail, but it certainly makes it a lot more enjoyable. I used this app just as much, if not more than the AT Guide. The two of them combined give you all the info you could possibly want. At the touch of a button, you can see your location on a topo map or elevation chart. There is a plethora of information as he has marked shelters, unofficial campsites, towns, water sources, viewpoints, road crossings, photos, and pretty much anything you can think of. This would not be in place of maps or a guide as it doesn't have all the same sites and sources in the guide, but it is a great supplement and sometimes has more info not listed in the guide. I know it seems pricey, but just buy one section and you'll be hooked! I loved seeing exactly where I was on a climb and the locations of the unofficial campsites which aren't mentioned anywhere else. No service is required as it works off your phone's GPS. He also has the app available for many other trails including the PCT and CDT. If you still aren't sure, here is the link to video demos of the app in action.