What gear will I need to through hike the AT?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Joe B
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Joe B

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please list the brands i need to buy and a list of what i need. thanks
what is the best hiking boot or shoe? what is the best backpack, sleeping bag, etc.
 
The best site I can think of for you to become part of is White Blaze .net
http://www.whiteblaze.net/index.php?page=shelters
By all means join the Appalachian Trail Conservancy
http://www.appalachiantrail.org/site/c.mqLTIYOwGlF/b.4805859/k.BFA3/Home.htm
not only will you be supporting your own cause but one of the advantages of membership is that you will get discounts on needed ATC maps & publications like this one :
Appalachian Trail- Thur Hikers' Companion 2008
By The Appalachian Trail Long Distance Hikers Association >ALDHA
During the next year or so that it will take you to plan this >although people have done it in considerably less time > you will be inundated and often overwhelmed with information on every relevant and barely relevant subject imaginable
To keep yourself grounded keep these 4 letters in mind
HYOH >Hike Your Own Hike >
On whiteblaze and other places where hikers gather and chat you will hear it often used.
What it means is that you pick your gear and your method based upon what's best for you as a person and you as a hiker.
Granted there are many items and ways of doing things that have proven themselves over time and miles But your ultimate choices out of that vast array come down to you and what your experience tells you will work best for you.
If you're a complete newbie to all of this and of course you don't know what works best for you then spend some time on trail and figure it out
Borrow or rent before you buy .
As I write this I'm trying like all H to get this 55 year old body of mine in shape for my 2009 Southbound >SOBO > Thru hike starting hopefully June 1 on top of Katahdin >A mountain that I've hiked every trail on except for the AT
Hopefully my hike will allow me to get home for Thanksgiving.
Since I am experienced hiker that did his first Presidential Traverse in the summer of '74 and has his size 14's bootprints all over New England I do know what I'm getting myself into and my method and gear will reflect that
Since I'm getting to be an old guy I know that my miles per day are going to less than the were in my Sherpa wannabe youth so I'm going try to keep my zero days to a minimum by carrying a heavier pack and resupplying once a week or so
HYOH
Since I'm a big person[ 6'2" ] I can get away with that method
Again HYOH
Enjoy your walk
 
Both GLC and Will D have great answers. I would look into a book by Ray Jardine, he`s pretty much the father of Ultra Light long distance backpacking. His website is excellent, it has great experiences, tips, and produts on it I`d also recommend picking up his book on Long Distance Hiking. I also recommend reading the article on his website about the Cannonballs. RayJardine.com

I`d also recommend getting in touch with someone from the ATC. I believe it is them that sells an AT planning kit. It comes with all the maps you need plus the guide books for different portions of the trail. The books provide info on the post office addresses along the trail as well as places in town just off the trail that will help you stock up. I know of some people who had mailed all the food and gear they would need ahead to the postoffice and if they didnt need it the post office would fwd it to the next postoffice free of charge, as long as you didnt open the package. But I`ve had other friends who got sick of having the meals they mailed to themselves and started stocking provisions from town, this way they got what they wanted and craved instead of being fed whatever you packed a couple weeks if not months ago.

Also, get to a reputable outdoor retail store and ask a million questions and try everything on. Thats what the employees are there for. I`d do some research before you go this way you at least know the terms and the gear you`ll need.
 
Most Thru-hikers go with a lightweight trail shoe or trail runners. Vasque, Salomon, and Merrell seem to be some of the more popular brands. Actual styles vary by personal choice.

The true ultra-lightweight hikers are using GoLite packs and the Gregory Z pack is also still popular. The Atmos type packs from Osprey are also popular as are some of the bigger capacity Gregory packs preferred by those who are not as ultralight.

Western Mountaineering makes a few bags that are light and small. The Velocity 30 from EMS is also a good ultralight sleeping bag. TNF's Orion is also a decent lightweight bag. There's a bunch more out there. Start by going to a specialty backpacking store for more info on the sleeping bags and the packs. Any decent gear store will have some really good ultralight and traditional gear for you to look at and try out.

Contact the ATC for more info on prepping for a thru-hike and you can always read the dozens of blogs and websites created by thru-hikers.
 
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