If I Hiked The Appalachian Trail Again

It’s hard to believe that it’s been 19 years since I thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail (AT). In those 19 years I have hiked the Triple Crown, done thousands of other miles (and biked) and more importantly, learned a ton. The AT was my first long thru-hike, so as you can imagine I was a novice hiker at best.

Realizing it’s been so long and both my approach to hiking, my skill level, confidence, and the gear available have changed greatly, I wanted to write this post to show what I would do if I went back and thru-hiked the AT.

If I hiked the Appalachian Trail again I would start later so I didn’t have to carry as much cold weather gear, which would also mean using a much smaller pack. My approach would definitely be fast and light, with limited time spent in town. With the vast number of resupply stops one doesn’t need to have a big pack.

It’s my hope this comparison will help others in selecting their own gear and possibly help speed up the learning curve.

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PACK & SHELTER

Item

Brand

Reason

What I Used Last Time

Pack

Pa’lante Packs V2 or Gossamer Gear Kumo 36

With towns and water sources being so close together one doesn’t need a large pack. Both packs are versatile, with optional hip belts and their simplicity make them winners.

Arcteryx Bora 75, 6+ pounds

Shelter

Big Agnes Scout 2 Carbon

Weight, size, easy of set up.

Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight

(Yes, that was its name)

My first go on the Appalachian Trail was my first big hike. The result was I bought a big pack and I filled it. I learned the hard way that no matter what size pack you buy you’ll fill it. The simplest way to limit how much your base weight is to buy a small pack.

The AT has plenty of resupply stops. There’s one about every 3.5 days. A a result one doesn’t need a huge pack.

Since the AT has over 200 shelters I didn’t use my tent much. I also became what I call a “Shelter Rat”. I based my daily mileage solely on where the shelters were, which was very limiting. If I went back the AT I would avoid sleeping in shelters and use my tent more. With the high numbers on the trail these days and the flexibility tenting offers, it’s a win win in my book.

SLEEP SYSTEM

Item

Brand

Reason

What I Used Last Time

Sleeping Bag

Big Agnes Flume 30

With a later start a slight warmer bag would do, and it would save weight and room in my pack.

Feathered Friends Raven 10 degree / Marmot Arroyo 30 degree

Sleeping Pad

Thermarest Z-Lite / BA Foam

Since I wouldn’t be using shelters with their hard decks, a foam pad would be plenty.

Thermarest Guide Lite

Pillow

Big Agnes AXL Air Pillow

With less clothes it’s hard to fill a stuff sack to make a makeshift pillow.

Used clothes in stuff sack.

Since I started the AT on Feb. 28th I needed a warm sleeping bag. Next time I would start later in the year, April or even early May. With this in mind I would just start with a 30 degree bag.

As I mentioned in the section above I wouldn’t sleep in shelters so I would be avoiding the hard shelter decks. I love the ease of use and simplicity of foam pads.

Clothing Worn

Item

Brand

Reason

What I Used Last Time

Hat

Trucker Hat or visor

Simple and it’s just a hat.

Visor

Sunglasses

Julbo Renegade

The photochromic lenses would be perfect for the variable lighting conditions on the AT.

Don’t recall the brand/model

Hiking Top

Short Sleeve T or a Button Down Long Sleeve

Depends on my mood at the time. The long sleeve is more versatile and usually my go to these days.

Mountain Hardwear Synthetic S/S

Shorts/Pants

Montbell Canyon Shorts

You sweat a lot on the AT, so you need shorts that will dry overnight.

Mountain Hardwear Pack Shorts

Socks

FITS Medium Hiker

They fit great and last.

Smart Wool Med. Hiker Crew (5pr)

Gaiters

SimBLISSity LevaGaiter

Simple, they work, and last a long time.

Outdoor Research Rocky Mtn. Low

Shoes

La Sportiva Ultra Raptors

Best grip there is, and most importantly, they’re the perfect fit for my feet.

Merrell Full Leather & Garmot Orteo low hikers & Lowa low hikers

Insoles

SuperFeet Green

20 years of using them. They’re the best and offer the best support.

SuperFeet Green

Transition Pieces

Item

Brand

Reason

What I Used Last Time

Rain Jacket

Montbell Versalite

It’s the lightest and most versatile rain jacket there is.

Marmot Precip

Rain Pants

Montbell Versalite or DIY Rain skirt

The pants are crazy light. The rain skirt would breath better and is even lighter.

Mountain Hardwear Full Zip

Gloves

Polypro Glove liners

Simple and light, plus the late start would mean warmer temperatures.

TNF Fleece

Polypro Liners

Top

None

Unneeded extra weight.

TNF 100 wt. Fleece Pullover

Bottoms

None

Unneeded extra weight.

Mountain Hardwear Pack Pant

Buff

Probably whatever I had at the time.

Super useful item to keep warm with, protection from sun or bugs, or washing.

N/A

Camp Clothes

Item

Brand

Reason

What I Used Last Time

Jacket

Mirco Puffy

Packs smaller, is warmer, and is lighter than fleece.

TNF Denali

Hat

Outdoor Research Beanie

It’s warm and fits well.

Turtle Fur Fleece

Socks

None

N/A

Smart Wool Med. Hiker Crew (1 pr)

Camp Shoes

None

Unneeded extra weight.

Adidas Sandels

Sleep Top

Ibex Woolie L/S or Ibex Indy Hoodie

Wool, less odor

Patagonia Capilene L/S

Sleep Bottoms

Ibex Boxers

Wool, less odor.

Patagonia Silk Boxers & Capilene Long Johns

Most of the clothing changes are a result of years of experience and learning what works, what doesn’t, and more importantly what I can and can’t deal with while on trail.

The items I carry now are more versatile, lighter, less bulky, and some serve more than one purpose. This equals doing more with less, while still being able to enjoy my hike in comfort.

Hydration

Item

Brand

Reason

What I Used Last Time

Water Bladder

Platypus Platy Bottles

Light, simple, more versatile and pack smaller.

MSR Dromedary 4 Liter

Water Bottles

(2) Smart Water bottles

Lighter, more versatile, and readily available.

Nalgenes (2)

Filter / Drops

Sawyer Micro

Simple to use and clean, and small and compact.

Katadyn Hiker

The biggest changes in my hydration system is lighter bottles and having less capacity. Because I have gained what I like to call Trail Confidence, I know how much water my body needs and only carry what I need. With that said, my water capacity differs from trail to trail. The AT also has very few spots where one needs to carry large amounts of water.

Cooking

Item

Brand

Reason

What I Used Last Time

Stove

ISO stove

No change.

MSR SuperFly

Cooking Pot

Small Ti mug

With bag cooking I wouldn’t need a large pot.

Evernew 1.3 Liter Ti

Utensil

Snow Peak Titanium Spork

Plastic can break and does.

No change.

Lighter

Bic Mini

Smaller and lighter.

Regular size Bic

Cleaning

Bandana

No need for other stuff. Clean pot when in town.

Bandana

Sponge

Soap

Like most hikers who started hiking around the time I did my first stove was a MSR Whisperlite International. For the AT I upgraded to a MSR Superfly ISO butane stove. I liked the simplicity but during the hike I did try an alcohol stove. The result wasn’t great so I stuck to my Superfly.

By the time I hit the Long Trail I had full adopted alcohol stoves and I have used the same stove since then. I have also cooked my food in my pot since day one. I liked how easy my alcohol stove was and the lack of moving parts. It was also compact and light.

During my John Muir Trail thru-hike in 2019 I made the decision to move back to an ISO Butane stove. They have gotten lighter and smaller over the years. Going forward I will also be using a smaller ti mug and cooking my meals in bags, thus minimizing my pot size and no more cleaning my pot every night.

Health/First Aid

Item

Brand

Reason

What I Used Last Time

First Aid

Custom First Aid Kit

Over the counter kits had items I don’t need, better to carry items I do.

Adventure Medical . 3 kit

Pain Relief

Advil

No change.

Advil

Medicine

Imodium AD

No change.

Imodium AD

Blister Care

Duct Tape or K-tape

I rarely get blister so if I didn’t I would compromise with these.

Mole Skin

Bug Protection

Head net and wear long sleeves

I would simply cover up over using Deet.

Deet

Sun Screen

Neutrogena Ultra Sheer

Better for your skin and doesn’t sting my eyes if I sweat.

Coppertone Sport

Oral Care

Tooth brush, flosser & paste

No change but adding a flosser.

Tooth brush & paste

Toiletries

Dude Wipes

Less bulky, more versatile, and better at cleaning up.

Toilet paper & hand sanitizer

Vision

Disposable Contacts or get Lasik

Lasik would be the best option, but the daily wears are much better for my eyes than wearing normal contacts for days on end like I did the first time.

Glasses & contacts & case / contact fluid

My health/first aid wasn’t that big to begin with, but it has changed some over the years. I ditched my glasses and just carry extra contacts. I don’t use toilet paper anymore but wipes instead. No bug spray. My current First aid kit is smaller and simpler.

I’ve added duct tape and K-tape to my kit and that’s about it.

Odds/Ends

Item

Brand

Reason

What I Used Last Time

Hiking Poles

Gossamer Gear LT5 Three Section Hiking Poles

Much lighter and more compact.

Hiking Poles – Leki Ultra Makalus

Maps

Use iPhone with Guthook App

One item to do multiple things. Plus the trail is very easy to follow IMO.

ATC Maps

Bandana

generic

One item to do multiple things. Not both bandana and PackTowel.

Bandana

Towel

N/A

Use bandana.

MSR Pack Towel

Journal

Use iPhone

One item to do multiple things.

Pen and Notebook

As you can see a lot of the things in this section have been combined into my phone or I no longer bring with me. Over the years and throughout all the miles I’ve learned to do more with less and that some things I just don’t feel I need to be comfortable.

Electronics

Brand

Reason

Item

What I Used Last Time

Headlamp

Latest Petzl

They make the best lights and their rechargeable.

Petzl Tikka

Batteries

Ravpower battery

Has quick charge and quick output.

Batteries – AA &AAA

Phone/Camera/Navigation/Journal

Latest iPhone

One item to do multiple things. Great camera and battery, runs apps and easy to journal with.

N/A

Camera

Use Phone

One item to do multiple things.

Cannon Point & Shoot with roll film

Phone Case

A Lifeproof or similar waterproof case.

Phone safety is a top priority with the weather on the AT.

N/A

USB Block

Qualcomm QC 3.0 Wall Charger

Has multiple ports and allow for quick charging.

N/A

Cords

One to fit both Ravpower and Petzl

iPhone charging cord

One item to do multiple things.

N/A

When it comes to electronics less is more for me these days. Using my phone as a camera, journal, navigation, and a phone I combine four items into one. Not only does this save weight and room in my pack it means less cords and power needed.

Solar panels don’t work on the AT due to the vast amount of trees (Green Tunnel) so an external battery is IMO the only way to go. Estimate and test your power usage and get the correct size battery. A battery that has quick charge feature will help limit town time.

Along with using an external battery I try to use only items that can be recharged, my headlamp included.

Conclusion

As mentioned in the beginning of the article, returning to the AT would be a completely different experience for me. I would hit the first blaze with tons of experience and trail confidence under my belt.

During my first AT thru-hike I made most of the newbie mistakes. But I also enjoyed the social aspect of the trail very much and it was a great way to enter and learn the thru-hiking world, with others like myself.

As my hiking style has changed I enjoy more solitude and that is the reason for my new style. I also like to do bigger miles and my gear and other decisions reflect this. If I Hiked The Appalachian Trail Again, it would be much more personal endeavor.

My hope is this post will show others thinking about doing the trail for the first time what a veteran hiker would bring when it comes to gear and assist them in learning some of the things I had to learn on the trail itself.

Lastly, your gear list should reflect your needs and style. Do your research, do shakedown hikes, and build your trail confidence before hitting the trail.