Appalachian Trail (AT) Ultralight Gear List [2024]

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This is a whole Appalachian Trail Gear List for thru-hiking in 2024.

Below is an inventory of the perfect to take when thru-hiking or part mountaineering the Appalachian Trail. A Lightweight or Ultralight Appalachian Trail packing listing will maintain your base weight round 15lb or much less.

This Appalachian Trail thru-hike gear listing is my advice on what gear to take thru-hiking the AT. The largest monetary funding shall be within the large 4. The Backpack, Tent, Sleeping Bag, and Sleeping Mat.

A clever selection of this stuff will guarantee an ultra-lightweight Appalachian Trail Packing List. These necessary issues will result in a cushty evening’s sleep and fewer stress on the physique. The Appalachian Trail is already a really robust hike, make it somewhat simpler with good gear choice. What to pack on the Appalachian Trail is a crucial factor to take a position each money and time.

I’m at the moment updating my very worn-out gear – Check out My Ultralight thru-hiking Gear listing which has a base weight of lower than 11lb (5kg).

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Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike Gear List 2024

The Appalachian Trail is harder than many different thru-hiking trails in some ways. Early and late-season snow and excessive chilly are in full distinction to the acute warmth and suffocating humidity in July for a lot of sections of the AT.

Add to that the fixed rain and the potential of a former hurricane shifting over the path to drop biblical ranges of rain inflicting localized flooding.

Yes, the Appalachian Trail is hard on gear. This Appalachian Trail packing listing ought to give the thru-hiker and part hiker the possibility to take a number of the finest ultralight gear for the Appalachian Trail.

Then there are the lengthy rocky sections of path, overgrown sharp thickets, and uncovered ridges which make for diverse terrain that’s robust on gear. Below are my choices of what to pack for the Appalachian Trail.

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Best Tent for the Appalachian Trail

The Appalachian Trail shall be moist and for the early starters and late finishers, it is going to be chilly. There shall be just a few instances when thru-hikers shall be tenting above the treeline so a full-on mountain tent just isn’t needed. The finest tent for the Appalachian Trail shall be light-weight, waterproof, and large enough.

Best 1P Tent for the Appalachian Trail

Best 2P Tent for the Appalachian Trail

Best 3P Tent for the Appalachian Trail

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Best Backpack for the Appalachian Trail

The finest backpack for the Appalachian Trail is ultra-lightweight, snug, and sturdy sufficient to face up to months of abuse. There shall be a lot of rain on the AT so make sure that all the things is packed inside some form of waterproof bag. I like to make use of a big compactor trash bag.

What dimension Backpack for the Appalachian Trail

The finest dimension backpack for the Appalachian Trail is round 50 liters. Some individuals assume it’s a nice thought to take a 70 liter rucksack however there are ample locations to resupply with meals and water on the path and a big backpack will encourage through hikers to take an excessive amount of gear. A 50-liter backpack for the Appalachian Trail is the perfect.

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Best Sleeping Bag for the Appalachian Trail

The finest sleeping bag for mountaineering the Appalachian Trail is a degree-rated sleeping bag round 20F. For these beginning earlier or ending later, you can get a sleeping bag rated to 10F. For part mountaineering in June or July, a bag rated to 30F or 40F could be OK.

The months of June and July are sizzling and humid. It could be nice to have 2 sleeping baggage. Take one for the colder months on the path after which ship it residence for June and July and exchange it with an ultralight summer season sleeping bag. As this isn’t sensible for many thru-hikers, a 20F bag is finest.

Here is an inventory of very extremely really useful ultralight Sleeping Bags for the Appalachian Trail.

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Best Ultralight Backpacking Quilts for the Appalachian Trail

Ultralight Sleeping Quilts are well-liked and a greater light-weight different to a heavier sleeping bag. But they’ve limitations in actually chilly climate. I might solely advocate an ultralight quilt in temperatures above 30F. Anything under that temperature and a sleeping bag is extra environment friendly at maintaining you heat.

Here is an inventory of very extremely really useful ultralight quilts for the Appalachian Trail.

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Best Sleeping Pad for the Appalachian Trail

Being snug at evening results in a great evening’s sleep. Nothing contributes extra to a great evening’s sleep than a cushty sleeping pad. It is preferable to make use of an ultralight air mattress however light-weight foam makes an incredible possibility for the budget-conscious sleeper who largely sleeps on their again.

Here is an inventory of all the perfect ultralight Sleeping mats for the Appalachian Trail.

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Footwear is a private selection and what works completely for one particular person is not going to work with one other. Be cautious of any mountaineering footwear gear evaluate that means this present or that shoe is finest. Everyone’s toes are totally different.

Several issues are sure about footwear for mountaineering the Appalachian Trail. They needs to be light-weight, match correctly, and never trigger blisters or hotspots.

For slim toes, the higher choices are Saloman and Brooks. For wider toes, Altra and Merrell are finest.

Here are my 3 suggestions for the perfect footwear and boots for the Appalachian Trail.

Here are my 3 suggestions for the perfect path trainers for the Appalachian Trail.

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Socks for the Appalachian Trail

This is a no brainer. Darn Tough Socks are the preferred for good motive. Sure you can attempt one other model and elegance however there’s each probability that you’ll simply return to Darn Tough. If you’re beginning very early within the season you might want a pair of Hiking Gaiters for cover from the chilly and snow.

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Best Clothing for the Appalachian Trail

The finest clothes for thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail is one thing that includes layers. There shall be excessive warmth and humidity in mid-summer and excessive chilly and early or late-season snow. Layers embrace a great rain jacket, puffy down jacket, mid-layer, and baselayer.

Appalachian Trail hikers are particularly liable to reeking of very dangerous physique odor. This will be decreased by utilizing Merino Wool Baselayer however they aren’t really useful for areas with excessive humidity. All layers together with down jackets ought to have a point of climate safety for the sure rain that shall be encountered.

Layers that it’s best to take embrace a puffy down jacket, mid-layer, baselayer, mountaineering shirts, mountaineering shorts, and rain gear.

Down Jacket

Fleece Mid Layer

Baselayers

Hiking Shirts

Hiking Pants

Hiking Shorts

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Best Rain Gear for the Appalachian Trail

The Appalachian Trail will see a number of rain so be ready with high quality rain gear. When it does rain you will have a high-quality ultralight rain jacket. Not solely will it shield you from the rain, however they make an incredible windbreaker on these cool days and you might end up carrying it extra typically than you would possibly assume.

Here is an inventory of all the perfect rain jackets for the Appalachian Trail.

Don’t neglect Rain Pants such because the Outdoor Research Helium Pants or the ultralight Zpacks Vertice Rain Pants.

I’ve used the Six Moon Designs Silver Shadow Carbon on the Appalachian Trail and I adore it. At solely 8 ounces it’s nicely definitely worth the added weight, particularly within the hotter sections of the path when it’s too sizzling and humid for rain gear.

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Cookware – Stoves & Pots for Appalachian Trail

You will recognize a heat meal at evening and possibly a sizzling espresso or tea within the morning. Here are some cookware units, stoves, pots, and different gear you will have for the path.

You will recognize a heat meal at evening and possibly a sizzling espresso or tea within the morning. Here are a number of the finest cookware units, stoves, pots, and different gear you will have for the path.

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Water on the Appalachian Trail

Overall the water high quality on the AT is affordable and there will not be many dry sections requiring a heavy water carry. As with virtually each backcountry journey, it’s best to deal with the water and carry sufficient on your wants. While on the Appalachian Trail, I bought sick a few instances from not filtering water. Here are some really useful water remedy units, water storage bottles, and bladders.

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Trekking Poles for the Appalachian Trail

To cut back put on in your physique a great high quality set of trekking poles needs to be used. Here are the perfect choices for the AT:

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Snow Gear and Bear Canisters for the AT

If you’re beginning very early or ending very late you might need to think about some specialist snow gear to make the journey a bit extra snug. This gear will be despatched residence when the climate warms up. And think about a bear bag to forestall bears or rodents from consuming your meals on the path.

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Cameras and Electronics

With so many electronics that we tackle the path lately, it may be laborious to resolve what to take and what to go away behind. Take a take a look at a number of the gadgets you might want and comply with the hyperlinks to my detailed guides about which of them are the perfect.

• Best Cameras for Hiking – For the photographers. Most individuals shall be completely satisfied sufficient with the standard of their smartphone.
• Best HikingBattery Bank – Very necessary to have a high-quality battery to recharge all of your electronics.
• Best GPS for Hiking – Not wanted for the path as most individuals can navigate OK with a smartphone App.
• Best GPS Watch for Hiking – More and extra individuals are mountaineering with a GPS watch. They are nice however will want charging each evening so remember to take a conveyable battery financial institution with you.
• Best PLB and Satellite Messenger – Highly really useful for thru-hiking the AT. Many individuals get into issue on the path and certainly one of these can save your life.
• USB Wall Charger + Cables.

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Other Gear

• Plastic zip lock baggage
• Money / ID / Credit Cards
• Blister pads
• Strapping Tape
• Foot an infection anti-biotic
• Ibuprofen
• Tweezers
• Toothbrush and Toothpaste
• Safety Pin
• Needle
• Deet insect repellent
• Sunscreen
• Lip Balm
• Toilet tissue

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Enjoy the path.

Cheers Shepherd – PCT15, CDT16, AT17, TA18-19, and nonetheless thru-hiking.

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