Pack List


Equipment Inventory With Upgrades Listed
  1. Pack  
    1. Deuter ACT Lite 65+10 Backpack - (3.6 lbs) The pack, besides boots, is the single most important piece of equipment. I shopped at REI, and several other outfitters. This pack is very light, is adjustable for height, has a narrow profile, and is big enough for long trips.  Whatever pack you choose,  be sure to try it out first, and carry it around loaded. Find one that is comfortable, feels right to you. Purchased at REI
      1. REI 80 liter Pack Rain Cover   - You need this to put over the pack when it is raining.
    2. Upgrade Year 6 - Granite Gear Blaze AC 60 (2.14 lbs) I have been wanting to go with a ultra-light pack, and this one has gotten awards for lightness, comfort, and durability.
      1. REI 60 Liter Ultra Light Rain Cover
  2. Trekking Poles (2)- These are VERY important. IMO - the kinds with the flip locks are the best, as they can be tightened with a screwdriver. In my experience, the twist types can slip and break. I started out with Aluminum poles, and upgraded to lightweight carbon for year four.
    1. Year 9 upgrade - well, I actually went a little heavier to alluminum Black Diamond Trail Back poles.  
  3. Hydration
    1. Hydration Reservoir for inside the pack, (4.l6 lbs full) (extra bite valves). Most long distance packs are equipped to contain a hydration reservoir, which makes access to hydration quick and easy. This is most beneficial in hot weather, and you don't need to stop.  You can get these most places with sporting goods.
      1. Two liter Outdoor Research hydration reservoir, 
      2. Upgrade year 5 -  Platypus Big Zip Hydration Reservoir  -Narrower, lighter, and better attachment to the inside of the pack
        1. A Camelbak Hydrolink Adapter and Big Bite Valve which allowed me to pump water directly into the reservoir w/out removing it from the pack - a real convenience on the trail! 
      3. Year 8 - Got rid of the Hydration reservoir to save weight and create pack space, and carried a bottle holster on my pace, and 2 Smart Water bottles in the side pouches.   
    2. Two 1 Liter/Quart Nalgene Bottles (5 lbs full) with wide mouths. These are stored in side pockets on my pack - Purchased at Dick's Sporting Goods. These are my primary 'go to' water carriers.
      1. Year 9 - Ditched the Nalgenes and went with 2 cheap and lighter weight Smart Water bottles. 
    3. Filtration/Purification Systems - There are many systems to choose from, but ALL water should be treated
      1. Katadyn Hiker Water Filter - (.95 lbs) This uses micro-filter cartridges that must be replaced, but mine lasted three seasons. It pumps very quickly and easily when clean -a little less expensive than ceramic cartridges. It also comes with an adapter to fit the wide mouth Nalgene bottles. 
      2. Upgrade Year 8 - Sawyer Mini Squeeze Water Filter System (7.7 oz)- I like my Katadyn pump, but I am trying to go lighter and smaller. Also, the replacement cartridges for the Katadyn cost almost as much as the pump itself.  
  4. Tent
    1. Alps Mountaineering Zephyr 2 Tent - A great tent! I wanted one that was light weight (about 4 lbs), not too expensive. I shopped mainly online, but also at REI and other outfitters. I read many reviews, before selecting. I opted for a 2 person tent for the extra room. This tent is freestanding, has an optional rainfly, and very easy to set up and clean. The only drawback is the size when it is packed. It takes up a little too much  room IMO. Purchased online.
      1. Footprint purchased at REI - not exactly the same tent, but same size. Another cheaper alternative is to use a sheet of Tyvek cut to size.
    2. Upgrade year 3 - I purchased a Nemo Meta 1p Tent (2.42 lbs)- very small pack size, lightweight, and uses a trekking pole for support.  Bought it at a great price at an outfitters in Appleton, Wisconsin. I think it is no longer made, but you may find a used one online. I purchased the footprint online
    3. Upgrade or Parallel Purchase Year 11 - Big Agnes Copper Spur UL1 Tent - Since I will be hiking in the more rocky terrain the White Mountains,  I felt I needed to have a freestanding tent. This also makes it possible to pitch on tent platforms.  This is a great, very lightweight, freestanding tent. I put the soft parts of in a compression sack to save space, and the poles separately.
      1. Copper Spur UL1 Footprint - purchased separately
  5. Sleep Systems
    1. Bags
      1. Everest Stuff Sleeping Bag - Not a bad sleeping bag, but just a little too big, too heavy, and too warm for the time of year (July) I was planning to hike. I upgraded after year one
      2. Upgrade year 2 -  Thermarest 'sleep system including Mattress Cover and Tech Blanket - (2.60 lbs.) I also purchased a stuff sack, and it compresses to a very small size.
      3. Upgrade year 5 -  Marmot Always Summer Sleeping Bag- with with water resistant 'power down fill' - Regular length 40 degree. purchased at REI   (1 lb. 13 oz)
    2. Pads 
      1. Therm-a-rest Prolite self-inflating sleeping pad- (1 lb) I bought this at the Outfitters at Neels Gap. A great investment, and made sleeping much more comfortable. Packs small and light weight. Comes in women's and men's sizes.
      2. Upgrade year 8 - Nemo Tensor 2OR sleeping pad(13.5 oz)- This pad is lighter and packs smaller than the Therm-a-rest. It also has three inches of loft, which should make for more comfortable sleep and better insulation. 
  6. Cooking
    1. Stoves
      1. MSR Pocket Rocket Canister Stove -Great stove - lightweight, small, very quick and efficient - boils water very quickly. Uses Iso-pro canister fuel. Purchased at REI
        1. Two Jet Boil Iso-Butane Propane Canisters - Purchased at REI
      2. Upgrade year 3 - In a continuous effort to get lighter  Solo Stove - a stove that burns twigs and wood, and two  Alchohol Stoves from Anti-Gravity Gear which has lots of light hiking equipment - These stoves can also be made at home, but I don't feel that handy. The alcohol stoves can burn either denatured alcohol or Heet. Heet seems to burn a little better, and you can get it at any auto supply store.  
      3. Upgrade year 5 - Solo Stove Alcohol Burner as a companion to the solo stove, and a folding windscreen.Please note: DO NOT use a windscreen with a canister stove like the Pocket Rocket. They are not needed, and it could cause an explosion.
      4. Upgrade year 7 - Evernew titanium ultralight alcohol burner and titanium stand that can also double as a multi-fuel burner with fuel tabs and/or leaves/twigs.
        1. This whole thing packs and nests inside my cookset
    2. Cooksets and utensils
      1. Anodized Aluminum Cookset - Good and functional cookset - maybe just a little heavy. Purchased at Walmart - 
      2. Upgrade year 3 - Ultralight Titanium Pot and Frying Pan - purchased at   Backcountry .com
      3. Upgrade year 4 - lighter Snow Peak Three piece Titanium Cookset   (.47 lbs)
      4. 2 Plastic sporks purchased at Dick's
        1. Upgrade year 4 - a single titanium spork
    3. Waterproof Matches or lighter
    4. Denatured Alcohol/Fuel Container - If you are using an alcohol stove
  7. Bags and Storage
    1. Colored Dry Sacs Assorted Sizes - I used these colored bags to sort out areas of need - the blue one was for lunch items, orange for hygenic items, green for clothes.
    2. Five liter Dry Sack for food items.
    3. Stuff Sacs - one big one and two small - Used for items that did not necessarily need to be protected from moisture - The big stuff sack became my bear bag each evening. 
    4. Compression sacs - these are good to have for sleeping bags and tents - They can be strapped down to make things very small to take up less room in the pack. Small and
    5. Large and small zip lock freezer bags. The small ones are good to store items. I used the larger ones to divide my Freeze Dried trail meals for another day, and for trash. 
  8. Personal Items/First Aid
    1. Traveling Toothbrush/Paste
    2. Multi-purpose Camp soap
    3. Multi-purpose light weight camp towel
    4. Moist Antibacterial Towelettes (I used these to wipe myself down at the end of the day)
    5. Small Roll(s) of TP - You can get these at outfitters or sporting goods, or bring your own.
    6. Rubbing Alcohol (I cleaned my feet each evening and then put on foot powder)
    7. Analgesic Creme
    8. Foot Powder
    9. Mole Skin - VERY USEFUL to put on 'hot spots' on your feet when needed. 
    10. Neosporin (Antiseptic Creme)
    11. Small Bandaids
    12. Ibuprofen
    13. Multi-vitamin 
    14. Insect Repellent, sunscreen. I found a combination insect repellent/sunscreen online.
  9. Tools/Other: 
    1. Trail Guide - There are many to choose from, but I like The A.T. Guide, by David "Awol" Miller, which is published annually, and contains just about everything.
      1. Note: One of the reasons I hike long distance is to be 'unplugged'. I'm not a complete luddite, but I don't even own or even want a 'smart phone'. For those who do need or want to stay plugged in, there are trail apps like Guthook - More and more people are using these. To my mind it takes much of the wonder, excitement, and even the skill needed in the preparation and journey.  You can probably just get a trail app for your treadmill, and save a lot of money. 
    2. Small multi tool
    3. Whistle/compass. (attached to the front of my pack or easy access)
    4. Small plastic containers for pills and/or liquids
    5. Head Lamp 3 way -  purchased at Walmart - I used it as a reading lamp
    6. Spool of nylon rope (For bear bags, and/or to hang things up to dry)
    7. Tent seam repair kit 
    8. Small roll(s) of duct tape (This can come in VERY handy)
    9. Camera, Cell Phone (charger for when you stop at a hostel), 
    10. Extra Batteries (Get the same kind if possible for head lamp, camera, etc.)
    11. Small Journal notebook and pen
    12. Reading Material - I have been reading the collected works of Bill Bryson, which always keeps me smiling and happy.
      1. Year 1- Notes From A Small Island - His travels by foot around the UK
      2. Year 2- I'm a Stranger Here Myself - Articles on America for a British Paper
      3. Year 3- In a Sunburned Country - Travels around Australia
      4. Year 4- The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid - His Iowa autobiography
      5. Year 5- The Lost Continent: Travels in Small Town America - Travels in the U.S 
      6. Year 6- One Summer- America 1927 - Chronology on a VERY eventful summer
      7. Year 7-  Neither Here Nor There - Travels in Europe
      8. Year 8- The Road to Little Dribbling: Adventures of an American in Britain‎
      9. Year 9- At Home a Short History of Private Life - a history of how people live
      10. Year 10 - Shakespeare - The World as Stage
  10. Clothes: This will differ from person to person, but I don't mind getting a little nasty since I am by myself - plus I really want to stay light.  Make sure EVERYTHING is synthetic dry fit material.  
    1. One pair of shorts (Upgrading this year to combo pant/shorts that comes with a belt)
    2. Four dry fit shirts (tech running shirts are great). I layer two at a time as it seems to help prevent chafing
      1. In year 6 I went with only two shirts, and a single layer - NO issues with chafing! 
      2. Year 8 - 2 Merino Wool shirts - lightweight, no smell!
    3. Two pair of underwear (I know it sounds nasty)
    4. Floppy hat - It keeps the bugs away too.  
    5. Two pair or smart wool hiking socks, AND two silk liners. The liners really help keep the feet from blistering.
      1. Year 6 - went with just two pair extra thin 'Darn Tough' smart wool socks and no liners - NO problems with feet!!
    6. Some kind of camp/sleep pants to wear around camp
    7. Rain gear - light weight poncho/jacket -pants optional. 
  11. Footwear - 
    1. Hiking Boots - Very personal decision, and most important piece of equipment. They need to be heavy, because of the pack and the terrain, but too heavy will slow you down. I got a pair of Keene boots medium high. 
      1. Upgrade year 5 After four years and six hundred some odd miles, I am thankfully retiring my Keenes, which were never kind to my feet, and have purchased a pair of Salomons . I am not sure of the model, but they are very light weight and medium high. If there is one piece of advice I give to everyone. DON'T SKIMP ON BOOTS. Everyone is different, so take your time, and get a pair that works. 
      2. Upgrade year 8 - Lighter Salomons with more room in the toe box. I have lost toenails on my big toes the past two years, so bought a new pair at an outfitters in Lexington, VA - Sales person was VERY knowledgeable. 
    2. Gaiters: I upgraded with gaiters in year 3. I highly recommend the gaiters. They help keep the water, debris, and bugs off the legs and out of the boots.
      1. Note: I haven't been using the gaiters as much in recent years, so not sure of the necessity.  
    3. Lightweight camp shoes - almost everyone carries a pair of Crocs hung from the pack. They are very light weight and comfortable. Even though they may be considered ugly by some, who cares about style out in the woods!? Actually, I am open to suggestions, but I like the strap in back, and I really don't want flip flop/thong type sandals. 
  12. Food
    1. All I wanted to do on the trail, cooking wise, was to boil water, so for evening meals in camp I carried Freeze Dried Foods. Each meal is generally made for two. A GREAT way to save pack space and organize your meals is to pre-divide everything ahead of time, using a vacuum sealer with bags that can accept boiling water.  
      1. Other less expensive options I have used are black beans and rice for a complete protein, and/or instant mashed potatoes or rice mixed with packaged meats.  
    2. For Breakfast, I initially had instant oatmeal exclusively, and carried dried blueberries, cherries, and walnuts to mix in, and for Lunch, I wanted quick and easy - just pro-bars and cold foods. I decided after year 5, I needed more calories and variety, and started taking Freeze Dried or other foods for breakfast, also taking time to stop and cook lunch occasionally - Ramen noodles are great, Lipton Chicken noodle soup - tuna/chicken salad on flatbread - plus these have more sodium, which the body easily loses hiking.
    3. Drinks - I really love coffee, and I have carried a supply of instant coffee, such as Starbucks Via Italian Roast. I also enjoy the Swiss Miss Dark Chocolate Sensations drink mix with my evening meal, and sometimes in the morning mixed with coffee - yum! Powdered drink mixes are great. I also have gather sassafras roots on the trail to make tea.

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