Joe's Appalachian Trail Gear List
This is my gear list for backpacking in the South East Appalachian Mountains during the hot months of May into September. The weather is hot and humid with rain a frequent all day occurrence. This makes staying dry a real challenge. Temperatures can vary with highs over 100 and lows at night into the upper 40's. The terrain is varied over mostly maintained trails like the Appalachian Trail.
| Category | Gear Selection | Weight (oz) | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Packing | Gossamer Gear Gorilla Ultralight Backpack | 20.4 | Used for trips up to 7 days in length. Aluminum stays and extrat straps removed. Use a Gossamer Gear Nightlight Sleep Pad for support (weight listed below). |
| Gossamer Gear Pack Liner | 1.2 | Waterproof Liner | |
| Sea to Summit XL Stuff Sack | 1.1 | Use as a food bag | |
| OPSak (large) | 1.5 | Smellproof liner for food bag | |
| Sleeping | Homemade Quilt | 17.5 | Insulated with 2.5 oz. Climashield Apex inside a Pertex Quantum and M45 Liner material. Rating is about 50 degrees. |
| Gossamer Gear Nightlight Sleeping Pad | 4.7 | Also doubles for pack structure | |
| Shelter | Solo Tarp | 9.1 | No idea who made this I bought it used several years ago. |
| MLD Serinity Shelter | 9.3 | Bug netting and ground cloth in one. | |
| Stakes | 3.1 | A combination of 4 titanium hook stakes and a couple MSR Ground Hog Stakes | |
| Packed Clothing | Frogg Toggs Rain Gear | 10.3 | This is a M/L size which is what I usually wear in other clothing. Way big so the next set will be a size smaller. More comfortable in humid conditions than traditional rain gear. Pants are also used over hiking shorts on cool evenings. |
| WrightSocks | 1.4 | Ankle high socks with a built-in liner. | |
| Columbia Omni-Dry Shirt | 5.8 | Large. Primarily used for sleeping. Hate being wet at night. | |
| Go-Lite Shorts | 4.8 | Mediums. Used for a dry night's sleep. | |
| Gossamer Gear Beanie | 1.4 | Keeps my balding head warm at night. | |
| Hydration | EVO Bottle | 1.1 | 1 Liter Water Bottle |
| Platypus 1 Liter Bottle | 0.8 | Collaspible Bottle for long dry stretches. | |
| 3- mini bottles for Aquamira Water Treatment | 0.6 | Two bottles to hold parts A and B. The third bottle is for premixing the two solutions a day at a time. | |
| Cooking | MSR Titian Kettle | 4.5 | .9 liter pot for cooking |
| Homemade Esbit Stove/Pot Stand | 1.6 | Stove is designed to simmer with Esbit fuel. | |
| Foil Wind Screen | 0.2 | Cut from a disposable pan | |
| Bic Lighter | 0.3 | Mini | |
| 2-Mini Caribieners | 0.2 | For hanging food bag | |
| Stuff Sack w/ 50' Aborist Cord | 0.9 | Storage for Cooking Gear as well as a throw sack. | |
| Spoon | 0.3 | Titanium | |
| Small Essentials | Repair Kit | 1.3 | Small knife, tape, needle and thread |
| First Aid Kit | 2.7 | Bandaids, Gloves, Ointments, Medications | |
| Blister Kit | 1.5 | Betadine Pads, Mole Skin, Leukotape, Body Glide Cream | |
| Hygiene Kit | 2.1 | Toothbrush, Toothpaste, Floss, Chap Stick | |
| Petzl E-Light | 0.7 | ||
| Compass | 1.4 | ||
| TP Bag | 1 | TP plus baggie to pack out used paper | |
| Bandanna | 1.7 | Used for various task | |
| iPhone | 4.9 | Used for pictures and blogging from the trail | |
| SPOT Locator | 4.10 | ||
| Mophie Charging Block | 5.1 | Backup battery and cable for phon. Provides 2+ full charges. | |
| Total Base Weight | 8.04 |
Article by Joe Jacarusos