Gear List

April 23rd, 2009

Getting back on the trail this Summer 2011 to hike from WV to NY and I’ve only changed my gear a little bit.  New gear is in italics, where as gear from the GA to WV section that has been replaced or left behind is struck-through:

Pack

  • REI Quick UL 45 Pack
  • REI Duck Bag Cover
  • 2L Platypus water bladder
  • 1L Platypus water bladder

Sleeping

  • Sublite Sil Tarptent
  • Heavy Duty Gargage Bag (Split open for use as ground cloth)
  • REI Self Inflating Pad, Short Big Agnes ClearView Air Matress
  • LaFuma Extreme 800 Lady Unlimit (Synthetic)
  • Sea to Summit Thermolite Reactor Bag Line
  • Hiker to Trail / Town Bandanna (sewn as a pillow case, stuffed with clothes)

Kitchen

Clothes

  • 1 Pair Montrail Torre Boots
  • Superfeet Dr. Scholl’s Sport Insoles
  • 3 Pair Hiking Socks (Smart Wool, though I hear Darn Tough is better)
  • 3 Pair Liner Socks
  • 1 Bandanna
  • 2 Pair EMS Convertible Pants
  • 2 3 Pairs Boxers
  • 1 C9 Long Sleeve Running Shirt
  • 2 EMS Running T-Shirt
  • 1 Set EMS Midweight Techwick Long Underwear (for sleeping mostly)
  • 1 Montbell Down Inner Jacket
  • 1 Marmot Mica Rain Jacket / Poncho after the Mica failed Marmot Gortex Rain Jacket
  • 1 Pair Weather Company Rain Pants
  • 1 Pair Etowah Gear Mitten Rain Shells
  • 1 Pair Convertible Wool Fingerless Gloves / Mittens
  • 1 Wrist Band
  • 1 OCC Ski Cap
  • 1 Baseball Hat
  • 1 Pair Glasses with Case
  • 1 Pair Flip Flops
  • 2 ProTec Knee Straps
  • 1 Ankle Brace

Accessories

  • EMS Trekking Poles
  • Victorinox Manager
  • Headlamp
  • Sewing Needle
  • Whistle
  • 50′ Rope
  • 10′ Duct Tape
  • Thru Hikers Handbook 2008 AT Companion 2011
  • Rites in the Rain Journal
  • 2009 Daily Moleskine Rites in the Rain Sketchbook
  • Sharpie
  • iPhone 4 with OtterBox Case and Cables
  • Solio Solar Charger and Cables iCel 5200mah USB Battery

First Aid

  • 2 4″ Gauze Pads
  • 8 Band Aids
  • 6 Blister Treatments
  • 2 Butterfly Bandages
  • Neosporin
  • Ibuprofen
  • Hydrocortizone
  • Benadryl
  • Multi Vitamins Electrolite / Vitamin Powder

Hygiene

  • Sunscreen
  • Bug Spray
  • Mini Toothbrush
  • Mini Tooth Paste
  • Purell
  • Ear Plugs
  • 10′ Floss
  • Gold Bond Powder
  • Toilet Paper
  • Dr. Brohner’s Soap

Having hiked half of it, I would switch these things for the next half:

  • After I got to Front Royal, Marmot had finally sent my replacement jacket.  To Boston.  Not Helpful.  But at least when I start hiking again I’ll have a Gore-Tex Marmot Minimalist jacket.  Weighs almost twice as much as the Mica, but should be a lot more durable.
  • Buying a summer sleeping bag made a huge impact on my ability to hike further, faster, and stay in better spirits.  I saved nearly two pounds in the switch, and my back could definitely feel it.  So a new winter bag is in order, hopefully one of the Western Mountaineering UL 20 degree down bags, they weigh about the same as the summer LaFuma.
  • In my last week of hiking my REI short sleeping pad sprung a slow leak.  I’m sure I can fix it, but once these things start going it’s all downhill.  One thing I didn’t like about the short sleeping pad was that it was heavy, and if you lay on your back your heels really dig into the floor, and after hiking all day that really hurts.  So I’m considering a Thermarest Z-Lite.  The other thing about the Z-Lite is that you can use it as a seat and get one of those fancy Gossamer Gear packs that use it as the internal framing, which would save at least another pound of weight.
  • Dr. Scholl’s Athletic insoles.  I had these briefly when I had the Comps, but forgot to take them out when I sent the shoes back to warranty.  Some people really like Superfeet, but they really hurt the balls of my feet.  The Dr. Scholl’s will wear out a lot faster than the Superfeet, but you can get two pairs of Dr. Schools for less than one pair of Superfeet…
  • Mini Playing Cards!
  • A 3L Platypus hydration system.  Two liters is usually enough, but I’d carry an extra liter now and then in my Klean Kanteen.  Thing is, the Klean Kanteen is heavy, and since I got the Sea to Summit Expanding Mug, the Kanteen is unnecessary.
  • Portable Speakers!  Worth the weight.
  • A food dehydrator.  Not really something you take with you, but the only vegetarians I met on the trail who were able to stay vegetarians were the ones who had food dehydrators and cooked all their food before they hiked and had it mail dropped to them.