Gear

I have included the gear list for my latest adventure but it hasn’t changed much the last few years. I carried a bit more on the AT due to inclement weather but didn’t have to carry much water. So weight wise not a big difference.

The last change to my “Big 3” was swapping out my sleeping bag for a quilt a few years ago. I’ve been really happy with that change. A more recent addition while hiking the AT, minor, but so appreciated is a 1.2 oz Flextail Zero pump. Not having to blow up my air mattress at the end of the day is wonderful!

I haven’t been able to pull the trigger on going ultra-light, whatever that is these days. I do enjoy a warm meal at the end of the day and a cup of hot coffee in the morning. So no cold soaking for me!

Not included in the pack weight or base weight are the clothes worn and gear carried on the body. This also hasn’t changed much although some seasonal variances. I did use the Gossamer Gear LT5 3-Piece Trekking Poles for most of the AT in 2023/2024. They were a bit pricey but collapsed down to 23.5″ and weighed just 4.9 oz per pole, oh, so light! In fact, my first pair was so light they blew out the back end of a pickup near Fort Royal, Virginia. Maybe a “user problem” but I also snapped the end pieces of a few poles on some of the infamous rocky sections. The durability issue could probably be overcome but I’m clearly not careful enough.