Appalachian Trail (AT) Gear List
We hiked the Appalachian Trail as a flip flop thru-hike from June, 18 2022 to November 10, 2022. After many months of testing and refining, we made final decisions about what to take and had our gear pretty dialed in to start our thru. We consider ourselves generally lightweight backpackers who are willing to bring comfort items that will make our experience more enjoyable.
One benefit of being a thru-hiking couple is that we get to share carrying essential items like tents and stoves. Some people like to carry all of their own gear, but we’ve developed as backpackers together and prefer to share. Everyone is different, hike your own hike!
Kevin (Stretch) is a 6’2, 165lb male. His items and base weight (not including food, fuel, or water): 14.5lbs
Kathy (Lotus) is a 5’1 and 117lb female. Her items and base weight (not including food, fuel, or water): 11.8lbs.
Below is the gear we started with heading north to Katahdin from New York in June. We separated our gear list by category and by person. We both added or swapped out some gear when it got colder as we hiked into the fall to reach Springer Mountain, Georgia. Those items are noted in the last category – Cold Weather Additions.
Much of our gear worked and held up exactly as expected, but we did need to change out or upgrade some items. So we’ve also included some post trail reflections for each gear category. Check there for our recommendations and tips for your own consideration.
Backpacks
Kevin
Item | Wt. (oz) |
|---|---|
Gossamer Gear Silverback, 55L (Discontinued) | 41.6 |
Total Weight | 41.6 |
Kathy
Item | Wt. (oz) | |
|---|---|---|
Hyperlite Mountain Gear, The Junction 2400, 40L (REI | Backcountry) | 30.1 | |
Total Weight | 30.1 |
Post Trail Reflections:
- We love our packs and they both held up very well. They’re still good to go for the next adventure too! But we did learn a couple things:
- Hyperlite Mountain Gear packs are not fully waterproof! To be fair, they make that very clear on their website, but we obviously did not read carefully enough. They suggest using their stuff sacks for an additional layer of water protection, which is something that Lotus will probably do in the future. Until then, Lotus added a compactor bag as a pack liner and that problem was easily solved.
- The Gossamer Gear pack fabric stayed wet much longer so Stretch switched from a pack liner to a pack cover by the end of the trail. Both worked fine, it’s just a matter of personal preference whether you’re ok with a wet pack exterior or not.
Shelter and Sleep System
Kevin
Item | Wt. (oz) |
|---|---|
Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 (REI | Backcountry) | 49.2 |
Polycro Ground Sheet | 1.4 |
Enlightened Equipment Revelation Quilt, 20 Degrees, Long/Wide | 26.2 |
Thermarest NeoAir Xlite, Reg (REI | Backcountry) | 12.2 |
Sea to Summit Aeros Premium Pillow, Reg. (REI | Backcountry) | 2.6 |
NeoAir Repair Kit | 0.2 |
Total Weight | 91.8 |
Kathy
Item | Wt. (oz) |
|---|---|
Enlightened Equipment Revelation Quilt, 20 Degrees, Short/Regular | 21 |
Thermarest NeoAir Xlite, Small (REI | Backcountry) |
8 |
1.7 | |
Total Weight | 32.7 |
Post Trail Reflections:
- Our Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 lasted the entire trail and provided very livable interior space. As a double wall free standing tent, it’s much heavier than ultralight options, but we appreciated its ease of setup and better moisture management. One tent door zipper did break a few weeks before the end, but we made do with safety pins. And after finishing, Big Agnes fixed it for a very reasonable cost.
- Our Enlightened Equipment Revelation Quilts were ideal! We both used 20 degree quilts the entire trail, which we feel is a good sweet spot for insulation if you’re looking for a one and done option. It got a little warm in hot weather (but with a quilt you can stick out a leg or fling it off when needed) so other hikers might choose to use a summer weight bag for part of the trail. On the colder end, 20 degrees was plenty adequate. We both wore extra layers on the coldest nights and Lotus eventually added a sleeping bag liner – always a great option to add a few degrees of warmth.
- Stretch basically wouldn’t sleep without his Sea to Summit Aeros Premium Pillow. It was well worth the few ounces for good sleep.
- Thermarest NeoAir XLites are the best all around sleeping pad. They are pretty reliable, very comfortable, and super warm. Lotus started the trail with a Thermarest Z-lite SOL, but the foam pad just didn’t provide enough comfort for a good night’s rest. So she upgraded to a NeoAir XLite and we cut the Z-lite up into sit pads. But, XLites were too warm for the summer, radiating our body heat back at us which led to some sweaty nights. We wish we had used a less insulated pad, maybe the Thermarest NeoAir Uberlite, for the warm months on trail.
Food, Water, Cooking System
Kevin
Item | Wt. (oz) |
|---|---|
3.2 | |
0.5 | |
3 | |
1.2 | |
Ursack Major XL Bear Sack (REI | Backcountry) | 8.2 |
1.5 | |
Smart Water Bottle | 1.3 |
Total Weight | 18 |
Kathy
Item | Wt. (oz) |
|---|---|
3.6 | |
0.5 | |
2.1 | |
1 | |
Smart Water Bottle | 1,3 |
MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe (REI | Backcountry) |
2.9 |
Bic Mini Lighter | 0.4 |
Dish Cloth | 0.6 |
Total Weight | 14 |
Post Trail Reflections:
- 700-750ml titanium mugs are the ideal size for 1 person. We were able to cook everything we wanted and almost never felt limited by these cooking vessels.
- Both of our Humangear GoBites Uno Sporks lasted the entire trail! That was actually remarkable as we are used to plastic sporks like the Light My Fire breaking pretty frequently. And neither of us can stand the scraping sounds of titanium sporks, so those were never an option.
- Stretch upgraded to the full size Sawyer Squeeze for the faster flow rate. The Micro Squeeze is plenty fine for a few days to a week on trail, but beyond that its slower flow started to feel limiting. So we’d recommend the larger filter for thru-hikers. It’s less than an ounce heavier and totally worth it.
- Our trusty old Pocket Rocket stove broke on us. The threads were stripped after so many years of service. But we love the model so much that we replaced it with the upgraded MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe!
- We prefer Ursacks to a traditional bear hang any day! In fact, we added a second bag for Lotus to carry when our hiker hunger kicked in. Simply tying our bear resistant food bags to a tree without having to find a perfect branch or throw long ropes made every night easier. Sure, they are a little heavier than regular food bags, but they’re lighter than bear canisters. So for places that don’t require canisters, we find an Ursack to be the best food storage option.
Electronics, Accessories, Toiletries, and Extras
Kevin
Item | Wt. (oz) |
|---|---|
Black Diamond Spot 350 Headlamp with batteries (REI | Backcountry) | 2.9 |
Apple Earpods | 0.5 |
Jackery Bolt 6000mAh Power Bank | 5.7 |
1.2 | |
Lightning Cable | 0.6 |
Micro USB Cable | 0.4 |
Cribbage Board with Cards | 3 |
1.1 | |
0.2 | |
First Aid | 1.2 |
2 | |
Bandanas (2) | 0.8 |
Towel | 1.4 |
Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, earplugs, sunscreen, floss, gold bond) | 6.7 |
Total Weight | 27.7 |
Kathy
Item | Wt. (oz) |
|---|---|
Black Diamond Spot 350 Headlamp with batteries (REI | Backcountry) | 2.9 |
Apple Earpods with Dongle Converter | 1 |
2.2 | |
0.3 | |
9.2 | |
Moleskin Sketchbook and 2 Pens | 2 |
0.2 | |
First Aid Kit | 3 |
Hair Brush | 2.5 |
Massage Ball | 1 |
Toiletries (contact lenses - 1 month, nightguard, pill box, glasses, lotion, toothbrush) | 11.5 |
Biodegradable soup | 2.4 |
Bug spray | 3 |
Bandanas (2) | 1 |
Towel | 3.8 |
Trowel kit | 3.8 |
1.7 | |
Total Weight | 54 |
Post Trail Reflections:
- Knockaround sunglasses proved to be much more durable than Goodrs. Lotus went through a few pairs of Goodrs and the lenses kept getting scratched, even in the storage bag. Knockarounds did not have that problem at all.
- Power banks were essential for us to keep devices charged for navigation and documentation. The Nitecore NB10000 proved to be durable and reliable and is what we recommend for all backpackers.
- We liked having some biodegradable soap for trail laundry or outdoor showers, but we didn’t need so much. We’ll likely carry an even smaller bottle on future trips.
Carried Clothing and Sleepwear
Kevin
Item | Wt. (oz) |
|---|---|
11.9 | |
Patagonia Joggers (REI | Backcountry) | 5.9 |
Patagonia Capilene Cool Lightweight Shirt (REI | Backcountry) | 2.8 |
Patagonia Sun Hoody | 8 |
Exofficio Give n Go Boxer Briefs (REI | Backcountry) | 2.9 |
Darn Tough Hiker MIcro Crew Cushion Socks (REI | Backcountry) | 2.4 |
Darn Tough Hiker Quarter Cushion Socks (REI | Backcountry) | 2.1 |
1 | |
5.9 | |
9.2 | |
Total Weight | 52.1 |
Kathy
Item | Wt. (oz) |
|---|---|
8.4 | |
Prana Joggers | 7.7 |
1.7 | |
REI Co-op Merino 185 Long-Sleeve Base Layer Top | 5.6 |
1.2 | |
4.3 | |
Patagonia Barely Bra (REI | Backcountry) | 1.2 |
Patagonia Capilene Cool Trail Shirt (REI | Backcountry) | 3.8 |
Patagonia Barely Bikini Underwear (REI | Backcountry) | 1 |
REI Revelcloud II Jacket, Women’s | 12.7 |
2.6 | |
8.3 | |
Buff | 1.6 |
Total Weight | 59.9 |
Post Trail Reflections:
- Xero Z-Trail sandals were the best camp footwear for us and we highly recommend them. They are super light, very packable, comfortable around camp and town, and serve as great shower shoes.
- Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew socks are the best, provided you don’t need toe socks for blister prevention like Lotus. Stretch wore 2 pairs that both lasted the entire trail. And they are backed up by Darn Tough’s lifetime warranty so if they ever get holes, you can get a free replacement pair!
- Lotus decided to send home her CEP compression sleeves because she already wore Injinji compression toe socks all day while hiking.
- Lotus hardly wore her Patagonia Capilene Cool Trail short-sleeved shirt. Anytime she would have worn a short-sleeve shirt, she opted to wear her crop. This is definitely a personal decision and she kept carrying the Capilene just in case.
- Stretch loved his Enlightened Equipment Torrid Jacket. It looks like you’re wearing a trash bag, but that is actually part of the hiker trash draw. This jacket is very warm and durable – perfect for a thru-hike!
- The pogies did not work out so well. Stretch switched to REI Rain Mitts which worked much better to keep his hands dry and warm on rainy days.
- Lotus was not willing to purchase rain mitts or rain pants. Instead, she opted to make a lightweight rain skirt out of a heavy duty compactor trash bag. She also put gallon size Ziploc bags over her gloves while hiking to keep her hands warm. Worked like a charm.
Worn Items and Clothes
Kevin
Item |
|---|
Hat |
Patagonia Nine Trails Shorts (REI | Backcountry) |
Darn Tough Hiker MIcro Crew Cushion Socks (REI | Backcountry) |
Saucony Peregrine Trail Running Shoes (REI | Backcountry) |
Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork Trekking Poles |
Outdoor Research Thru Gaiters (discontinued) |
Kathy
Item |
|---|
Buff (REI | Backcountry) |
Altra Lone Peak Trail Runners (REI | Backcountry) |
Goodr sunglasses (REI | Backcountry) |
Post Trail Reflections:
- Our clothes held up better than we expected. We’re actually still wearing our shorts even after finishing.
- Stretch’s Saucony Peregrines lasted over 1,000 mi per pair, so they were clearly very durable. Altra Lone Peaks lasted up to 500 mi per pair for Lotus, which is about what we’ve heard to expect from other hikers.
- Again, Knockaround sunglasses proved to be much more durable than Goodrs. Lotus went through a few pairs of Goodrs and the lenses kept getting scratched, even in the storage bag. Knockarounds did not have that problem at all.
Cold Weather Additions
Kevin
Item |
|---|
Black Diamond Midweight Screentap Fleece Gloves (REI | Backcountry) |
Beanie |
Kathy
Item |
|---|
Smartwool Thermal Bottoms (REI | Backcountry) |
Smartwool Thermal Quarter Zip Top (REI | Backcountry) |
Black Diamond Midweight Screentap Fleece Gloves (REI | Backcountry) |
Beanie |
Alpaca Sleeping Bag Liner |
Post Trail Reflections:
- From about mid-September through mid-November we ran into some pretty cold days and evenings in Virginia, North Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia.
- Stretch replaced his Patagonia Sun Hoody with an REI Merino Wool Long Sleeve for more warmth and minimal weight difference.
- Lotus simply added clothes. At this point, she felt strong and had her trail legs and knew she could handle carrying more weight for increased warmth and comfort. She even picked up an impromptu sleeping bag liner at Uncle Johnny’s in Tennessee after multiple nights of 20-30 degree weather. Honestly, the alpaca sleeping bag liner is very comfortable, but heavy and bulky. We would suggest sending yourself a lighter and smaller sleeping bag liner for when it gets cold.
We’re planning on starting a flip-flop in June 2023 starting in Harper’s Ferry. Thanks for posting your journey. We have some of the same gear as you. Did you have any gear that was your favorite or that didn’t work well? We have the same tent – did it work out for both of you to sleep in it?
Hi Owl and Togo! We are so excited for you to start your flip-flop from HF. We actually just updated this blog post to include reflections about our gear and a new section of what cold weather gear we added in mid-September. So, refresh the page and take a look at that. It will probably be the most helpful. 1. Yes, we loved our Big Agnes and it worked great for both of us for the entire trail. 2. The biggest reflections around other gear were around sleeping equipment. We just did not have the ability to have multiple types of sleep setups for different seasons, but if we did, we would have had different pads for warmer and colder months. Lotus ended up getting a blow up sleeping pad pretty quickly for a better night’s sleep. That said, we wish we had less insulated pads for hot nights. For example, we would have gotten the Thermarest NeoAir Uberlite for the summer months and traded them out for our higher R-value Thermarest NeoAir X-Lite for the cooler months, especially since we had Englightened Equipment 20-degree sleeping quilts (which we loved), but were quite warm. As a tip: we decided to cut up the Z-lite Sol to make sit pads for each of us, which we loved having. We could lounge anywhere and sit on something quasi-warm/dry when it rained, which felt game changing. 3. Other than that, we both loved our packs (Gossamer Gear and Hyperlite). Our bags lasted the whole way and we plan to bring them on the next long-distance hike. Feel free to ask any other questions as you are planning!
This is really helpful! Thanks for responding. Right now, we’re debating on what to take and our pack weights are really heavy. Splitting a tent might be a good way to save a few pounds. Also, we developed a training schedule that is loosely based on yours, so thanks for posting that too.
We may reach out as we get closer if we have any other questions.