Appalachian Trail Packing Suggestions

As some of you know, I thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail back in 2012. It was an incredible experience and something I will always treasure. For those who potentially want to thru-hike one day, or perhaps section or even day hike, this post will hopefully help you prepare. 

First, lets talk footwear. There are two main thought processes here: a hiking boot or shoe that provides great ankle support; or a running style shoe that provides greater flexibility and nimbleness. The choice is yours but I went with running shoes or low healed Merrell shoes (https://www.merrell.com). The entire thru-hike is approximately 2184 miles (it changes by a few miles every year depending on rerouting), and I averaged a new pair of shoes about every 750 miles. When my old shoes were finished I'd simply walk into town, buy a new pair, and continue on.

Second, sleep system. Thru-hikers can carry a variety of sleep systems depending on sleeping preferences, weight, etc. I chose a tent hammock because it was lightweight and afforded me flexibility in where I could sleep--I simply needed two trees to hang it from. Most people choose a lightweight tent and/or even just a tarp for the extreme lightweight people. With advances in comfortable, lightweight pads and air inflatable pads, it's hard to say what I would choose today. The advantage of the hammock is that you are off the ground and do not need level ground beneath you to be comfortable. The disadvantage is you either have to learn to sleep with your legs extended above your body or rolled into a tight ball on your side. https://hennessyhammock.com/

Third, meal preparation. In order to have hot meals when I wanted, I carried a Jetboil stove. A Jetboil stove is a compact stove that uses small gas canisters. The stove can boil water within a minute or two (https://www.jetboil.com/). I would then add the boiled water to Mountain House Meals, Ramen Noodles, etc. REI has a great selection of these types of meals. (https://www.rei.com/b/mountain-house/) The rest of my food did not need any heating--nuts, dried fruit, bagels, jerky, pepperoni, etc.

Fourth, mail drop or no mail drop. Some people prearrange food and supply drops to local post offices in towns along the trail. This takes a lot of logistical foresight. A drawback is perhaps the food you mailed yourself a month ago is no longer the food you desire when it arrives. I did not do mail drops because I did not have the time to wait in town in case my package did not arrive. I was on a strict schedule and had no problems walking or hitchhiking into town to resupply every four days or so. To allow yourself the most flexibility, I would recommend not doing a mail drop.

Fifth, water filter. I used a Katadyn Hiker Pro water filter and it was excellent (https://www.rei.com/product/116363/katadyn-hiker-pro-clear-microfilter). I carried one spare microfilter with me to change out when the filter got too dirty (this was extra weight though and I probably could have easily bought one along the way when I needed it). The Hiker Pro filtered everything and if there was running or even in the extreme worst cases stagnant water (not recommend but was necessary once), the Hiker Pro filtered it to look and taste like bottled water.

Sixth, hiking poles. I used Leki poles (https://www.leki.com/us/) and they withstood the wear and tear of all 2184 miles. Poles are important to help maintain balance, especially when hiking through the rain and mud and they also help prevent rolling an ankle. As a thru-hiker, I was most concerned about an injury that might end my trek of a lifetime.  

Seventh, backpack. Chose a medium-sized lightweight pack that can fit all of your equipment. On the trail, your pack is all you have. It is a very liberating feeling. I picked out a pack from REI and bought a rain cover (essential). I had no issues with my pack and the more compartments and openings it has the more accessible and easier it will be to access what you need when you need it.

Eighth, clothes. I recommend bringing two or three synthetic type short sleeved shirts and one long sleeved synthetic shirt (https://www.underarmour.com/). For pants I had two pairs of lightweight pants that could convert to shorts. I also had one rain jacket (that I very rarely ever wore in the rain and mostly wore at night to keep warm). For socks I had three pairs of SmartWool socks (https://www.smartwool.com/). For underwear I had three pair of Under Armour lightweight underwear. I had one winter style wool hat and a baseball cap. I also carried synthetic long underwear. I'm probably leaving a couple things off but what you pack will depend on what month you start the trail and there are plenty of towns along the way to adjust as needed. If you start in a colder month and need a fleece, gloves, etc, you can always mail them home along the way when they are no longer needed.

Ninth, other items. Other essential items are a headlamp, toilet paper, hand sanitizer, cellphone, bear bag, rope, knife, matches or lighter, Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers Companion (https://www.amazon.com/Appalachian-Thru-Hikers-Companion-Distance-Association/dp/194495807X), sunscreen, small first aid kit, prescription medication, phone charger, and I'm probably forgetting a few items so please comment with anything I haven't mentioned yet. 

I could say a lot more but will stop here. If you have any questions please ask. If you want to see a day by day account of my journey, please visit my Appalachian Trail blog at: http://koozietrailadventures.blogspot.com/