Packing for the Appalachian Trail
pack
- Osprey Aura AG 65L
- Tip: learn how to pack and adjust your backpack before you head out! A well-packed and correctly adjusted will make your pack feel 10+ pounds lighter.
- Eastern Mountain Sports pack cover
- Leki Cressida trekking poles
sleep system
- Tent: Big Agnes Copper Spur UL3
- Sleeping pad: Thermarest Neoair Xlite
- Sleeping bag: Thermarest Mira HD Three Season Down Bag
cooking
- Stove: MSR pocket rocket
- Pot: Titanium Pot
- Spork
- Titanium Vargo mug
- Waterproof Sea to Summit food bag
- Lightweight MSR rope
water
- 3L Platypus Big Zip
- Water sterilization: Steripen
clothes
Hiking clothes
- Nike sports bra
- Under Armor heatgear long sleeve shirt
- Switched for Under Armor tank with mesh back after 1 month
- Athleta Excursion leggings
- Switched for Nike dri-fit shorts afrter 1 month
- Switched for Patagonia trekking skirt after 2 months
- 3 pairs Injinji toe socks
- Had to buy 4 more pairs as they got holes
- 1 pair Smartwool socks to layer
Sleep clothes
- Old Navy polyester 3/4 sleeve shirt
- Smartwool Merino leggings
- Switched for Nike shorts after 1 month
- Mid-weight Merino socks
Layers
- Frogg Toggs rain jacket
- Tip: The North Face rain jackets are water resistant. Mine was useless on the AT. There is no such thing as a waterproof AND breathable jacket. I opted for waterproof over breathable and only wear my rain jacket after hiking, once I change into dry clothes and want to remain dry.
- Columbia rain pants
- Sent home after 1 month- these were not necessary to have, but helped to insolate when I was cold at camp at night and in the mornings.
- Mid layer: Patagonia R1 fleece
- Down layer: L.L. Bean Ultralight 850 hooded jacket
accessories
- L.L. Bean Katahdin hat
- Sent home after 2 months
- North Face gloves
- Sent home after 2 months
- Buff headband
- Head lamp: Prezl Tikka XP
shoes
- Altra Lone Peak 2.5 trail runners
- Tip: Absolutely loved these shoes but they were terrible in the rain and mud. I switched to Solomons after quickly demolishing 3 pairs in 2 months
- SOLE inserts
- Tip: SOLES worked much better than Super feet, which gave my feet bad blisters. They also have a 99 day return policy regardless of the sole condition.
- Crocs
electronics
- Medium Sea to Summit stuff sack
- Apple headphones
- iPhone5s with Lifeproof waterproof case and charger
- iPad mini with Lifeproof Case and charger
- Ankor 20,000ma external battery
- GoPro Hero4 Silver edition
- 3 GoPro Batteries
- GoPro wall charger
- SD card converter
- Amazing for quickly transferring photos to iPad or iPhone
- 2 64GB microSD memory cards
hygiene
- Toilet paper
- Hand sanitizer
- Diva cup
- Nail clippers
- Tweezers
- Needle with small small amount of thread
- Dr. Bonner's soap
- Travel size brush
- Toothbrush
- Travel size toothpaste
- Contacts (dailies to prevent eye infections)
- Egyptian Magic
- Used for literally everything (moisturizer, conditioner, on blisters, on bugbites, to lubricate my feet and prevent blisters, to prevent chafe)
drugs
- Small waterproof Sea to Summit stuff sack
- Advil
- Zyrtec
- Tip: I don't usually get allergies, but I experienced extreme allergies (eyes swollen/crusted shut most mornings) on the trail through June
- Prescript Assist probiotics
- Tip: I don't know if taking probiotics made a difference, but it made me feel better about the lack of nutrients in my diet. This brand is the only FDA approved probiotics that are scientifically proven to be effective.