[at-l] Re: What do I do first? : Gear

[icw39@ncfreedom.net (Clark Wright)]

Good basics list!  I'd add to it the following:

Pack - newer materials allow you to get the same comfort for a pound or
two less today; also can remove the top and mail it home later in the
summer when you need less space and weight; can use trash bags as a real
lightweight pack cover - used right, they are MORE waterproof than ANY
coated nylon (heavier) pack cover, but are less durable.  Dana Designs,
Mountainsmith, and Gregory make darn good packs . . . among others . . .

Bag:  plan on changing out to something much lighter in summer months;
can do just fine with a Walmart fleece liner in summer; even in colder
weather, I like applying the same layering principle used for your own
clothing - get a lighterweight bag and couple it with the $60.00
Mountain Hardware bivy sack, which has coated nylon on the bottom and
breathable nylon on the bottom 2/3rds, with netting on the top 1/3rd.

Filter - PUR Hiker is still good, MSR and sweetwater, among others, also
have similar filters; other options are Polarpure iodine tabs, bleach
(no way I'd use that personally), and - my growing favorite - smaller
inline filters that can be coupled with a hydration water bag/tube
setup, or with squeeze 1 quart water bottles . . .

H2O bottles - Gatorade bottles are best - can go with wide-mouth
regular, or the open/close valve tops - and they are all free!  I think
taking a platypus like hydration water bag with in-line filter is a real
plus, though, along with one wide-mouth Gatorade plastic water bottle .
. .

Tent - the Clip flashlight is still really good; the MSR (formerly
Walrus Zoids) are another good, reasonably priced option - and they come
in three sizes - 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 . . . I think the silnylon revolution
is just starting, though - there are a growing number of silnylon tent
structures worth considering, and the silnylon tarps are a great choice
if they fit your "trail lifestyle."  Again, I started with a tent, and
graduated to a silnylon tarp as the weather got warmer - and, in
hindsight, I would say there was a total of about 8 nights I really
needed ANYTHING - the rest of the time I slept under the stars if the
weather seemed ok, even when at a shelter.

Stove - I'm still with the Whisperlight; however, I'm shopping for one
of the ultralight gas canister deals; still not ready for alcohol or
zip, but might well try either of those for the warmer months - heck,
when it got really hot, I did not even WANT to cook ANY meals, even at
supper . . . given that, the alcohol stove sure makes sense for the
summer months.

Pot - I like spending a few bucks for the MSR blacklight series, but
there is no screaming need to . . . my big additional idea is to spring
for the 79 cent mini tupperware bowl to nest with your pot - gives you
another eating vessel for soups, oatmeal, side dishes, etc.  Lexan cup
was my "cup" choice, but you don't even have to have a cup once it warms
up - but I had to have a cup for the cold weeks for my hot chocolate and
hot tea (I'm not a coffee drinker)

Rain Gear - I agree Gortex is heavier than you need, but there are some
lightweight, single layer breathables that would be ok; pit zips are
nice, but I'd still go with the $30 buck Sierra Designs or Red Ledge
specials; Red Ledge makes great stuff for the money - great rain pants,
too - which I think are a great layering item for winter, early spring
months . . . I used a baseball cap for my head - front cap brim keeps
rain out . . .

Boots/Shoes:  You probably will wear more than one type - I like
"regular" hiking boots for winter/early spring; after that, go as light
as your feet will allow - even some of the newer sandal models can work
in summer if you have good ankles - but, this is the item to go with
what works for YOU regardless of what the crowd says/does!

Socks:  Bridgedales are the best, IMHO, but ThorLos and Smartwools are
great, too.

Matches:  I say yes - a small quantity in waterproof container as a
back-up to your bic lighter, which can fail on you or get totally wet
and the flint not work

Rope:  none needed; about 40 ft of lightweight spectra cord (costs a
bit) or cheap nylon; both work fine . . .

Clothes: agreed, most people end up "needing" less than they think - no
cotton in general is a good rule, but cotton can be nice in hotter
months; key is choose underwear that works for you - most agree no
cotton there!  I liked the close-fitting boxer style REI undies (2 pr),
with 1 cheap polypro T-shirt and one thin long-undie style shirt top, I
added in a thin fleece jacket, nylon shell, rain pants, and i pr thin
long undies, and I was essentially done.  I carried a thin, lightweight
down vest (fleece is fine, too) for the first 4 weeks, then mailed that
home, then a couple of weeks later, mailed home the long undies and the
long sleeve top, and added a second polypro T-shirt top . . . took one
pr. hiking shorts (no cotton) and one pr walmart nylon swim shorts . . .
did not ever have all of the above at once in the pack . . .

Food:  Go with stuff that will keep you going! A bunch of freezedried
stuff won't give you enough calories; your tastes will change; thus I
recommend not planning your food out to the nth degree with dozens of
drops, just do outline of drops and have someone back home you can make
adjustments with . . .

Lighting:  you don't need much - Tikki headlamp is great; some just take
the itty bitty keychain light and do fine . . .

Compass:  Still should take a real light one, but I guarantee you won't
NEED to use it more than 1-2 times . . . some LIKE to use it every day,
but there is really no NEED except as an emergency kit item

HATS:  skip the fancy ones - just something you are comfortable, keeping
in mind two basic rules:  In the winter, if your feet are cold, put a
warm hat on (your head is the body's best radiator!); in the summer, you
want white or light, and you want it to be something you can dip in a
stream and put back on your head and go "aahhhh!" :)

Packtowel:  worth weight in gold - lightweight, great for cleaning
dishes, great for washing youself down with; great for a cold refreshing
splash on your face in hot months, weighs nothing - dries fast; can
serve in a pinch as a towel in a hostel shower, etc.

Journal/Camera:  Essential items to me - optional to others . . .

Hike on and have fun!

theu-thinker


rick boudrie wrote:
> 
> As should be apparent from what you have heard from this list, there is a
> lot of diversity with regard to what people take on thru-hike.  It really
> cool to hear all the good choices people are making.
> 
> While I could be off base, I think there used to be greater concensus on
> what constituted the "right" stuff to take.  From there, it was a matter of
> fine tuning.  While I wouldn't neccesarily recomend the list of basics
> listed below, I think they might serve as a decent baseline from which you
> can measure your own substitutions.  I toss it out as a starting point of
> what might be considered "typical".
> 
> Pack:        A name-brand internal frame pack weighing 5 or 6 pounds or so
> with a nicely padded hip belt and comfortable fit.  Or external like a
> Camptrails if you want to go retro.
> 
> Bag:         Down Bag weighing 3 pounds or so rated to 20 degrees
> 
> Filter:      Pur Hiker Filter
> 
> H20 Bottles:     Coke
> 
> Tent:        Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight, 2 Man (but really for one)
> 
> Stove:       Wisperlight, WHite Gas
> 
> Pot:         Walmart Greese Pot with lid (or Evolution Pot at REI if you
> want to spend money)
> 
> Rain Gear:   Frog Toggs or Similar rainsuit. Gortex not needed and probably
> too heavy
> 
> Boots:       Leather or Fabric and leather ankle height boot purchased at a
> hiking store that are among those that weigh less than the rest on the wall.
> Fit.
> 
> Socks:      Thorlow
> 
> Matches:     No, Bic Lighter
> 
> Rope:        No, 50 feet of Cord from EMS or Harware storen to hang food
> 
> Bandanas:    Get some with flair.  You have time to look
> 
> Clothes:     Much less than you think you need.  Shorts and a poly top  or
> two. Something to keep warm in camp.  Early start requires more, like hat,
> gloves, long undies.  Just think no cotton.
> 
> Camp Shoes:  Teva Knock-offs.  Think light weight and Walmart
> 
> Food:        5 Days or so at 2 Lbs per day.
> 
> Light/knife: Light weight versions
> 
> Of course, for everything listed there can be discussion.  If you are one of
> the ever-trendy super light weight hikers, it is more important to think of
> everthing together as a system.  Those people have taught us all an awfull
> lot, but still don't represent the conventional wisdom of thru-hiking
> though.  But for any individual item, they can be brilliant, IMO.  Even for
> a couple items they can be rather smart ;-).
> 
> For most people, you could take this list, and swap things in and out based
> on your own preferences.  I wouldn't take everything on this list, and
> wouln't recommend that anyone else do either.  What I would do is suggest
> that a brand new hiker consider whats on this list as something of a
> baseline when looking at thier range of options.  If you want, reject it
> all, but know why you are doing so.   Even a little hiking experience can
> help one figure out how to select things.  If you can avoid spending big
> bucks for the perfect this or that before buying the "right" gear, I would.
> With a little creativity you could get into the woods for weekends spending
> very little, then decide what you really want over a course of months.
> Remember that even for the non ultra-light hiker, weight is always an issue.
>    Again, the above list is not ment to be a suggestion of what you should
> buy at all, just a base line to which you might copare your own choices.
> 
> Rick B
> 
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