Regardless of whether you like hanging in trees or staying on the ground, a good AT shelter is lightweight, durable, easy-to-set up, keeps out bugs, and holds up to storms. That’s one reason why I prefer a hammock shelter on the AT-good setup spots for them abound. Beyond that, however, the rocky, rooty, rugged terrain on the AT makes it hard to find a good tent spot. The AT is famous for its wooden three-sided shelters, which are generally spread out around every 10 miles. Waterproof your bag with a pack liner like a trash compactor bag. I like the Gossamer Gear Gorilla or its bigger cousin, the Mariposa, which are only two pounds but, with abrasion-resistant 70-denier ripstop or 100-denier Robic, reinforced with 100- or 200-denier high-strength nylon, are burly enough to manage the food carry across Maine’s 100 Mile Wilderness. You’re looking for a model that fits you well and doesn’t rub, which can leave nasty abrasions, blisters, and even scars. Backpack CourtesyĪs for any long trip, your pack should be the final thing you buy: Get your other gear first, and test it out together. Try to keep these major items below 2 pounds each. These time-tested picks are a great place to start. Before starting your thru, test all your new gear to see how it works, both on its own and as part of your system. No need to have heavier gear to make it even harder.Ī word of warning: lightweight gear only works if you know how to use it. On both my thru-hikes of the AT, I chose to use lightweight and even ultralight gear, which reduced the pain and exhaustion of climbing steep, rocky, rooty terrain. But on the AT, there are some experiences everyone will have: you’re going to get wet, live with bugs, and you’ll almost certainly have to slog through some hot, humid climbs up mountains. Small and light is the ticket here: Thru-hikers spend less time in camp than the typical backpacker, so they gravitate towards gear that keeps them happy on their feet.Įveryone’s different, and the best gear is the gear that works with your skills, experience, age, fitness levels, and health conditions. The too-short strap or the unstable pot stand can turn from annoying to injury-causing (I have the scars from my backpack to prove it). On a thru-hike across fourteen states, even the smallest flaw becomes amplified. The rocky, rugged path has more elevation gain than any of the other long trails, and thru hikers’ gear needs to be light enough to carry, but versatile and tough enough for the four- to six-month journey. Snowstorms, weeks of rain, humid mid-Atlantic summers: Your gear goes through a lot on a thru-hike of the 2,190-mile Appalachian Trail. ![]() ![]() Start it instantly, complete it at your own pace, access it forever. Stop just dreaming about a thru-hike make it real! Our online Thru-Hiking 101 class covers everything you need to plan and finish the long-distance hike of your dreams. Appalachian Trail Apparel and Accessories. ![]() Heading out the door? Read this article on the new Outside+ app available now on iOS devices for members!
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