Anyone ever tru-hiked the Appalachian Trail?

[busdriver]

The z rest is dirt cheap and light weight. It's not as cushy as one of the inflatable ones, but it won't "pop" either. The key thing is insulating you from the ground since your weight will crush the sleeping bag insulation under your body. That said, a thicker self inflating version might be better if you don't sleep well without some padding. Like x SF med said it's your choice but make sure you have something for insulation.

Also, looking at your list, why bother with boxers? Long underwear would be more important in my mind. Also, for your sock plan, my thought would be to reserve the third set as a pure spare and switch between #1&2 day to day, wear for a day then rinse and clip to outside of pack to dry the next day, etc. As to clothing, I'd rather have a light weight gortex outer layer than a poncho. It would change your clothing plan a bit, but I'd rather be dry at the end of the day than the mix of condensation dampness that a poncho has always brought me.

In any event, I'd build your plan then do a couple of long weekend hikes using your exact plan to see how it feels; with a constant eye towards what can I cut out and make this rig lighter?

Have I mentioned that I'm really jealous that you're in a place to actually do this?

 

[Yellow Bastard]

The z rest is dirt cheap and light weight. It's not as cushy as one of the inflatable ones, but it won't "pop" either. The key thing is insulating you from the ground since your weight will crush the sleeping bag insulation under your body. That said, a thicker self inflating version might be better if you don't sleep well without some padding. Like x SF med said it's your choice but make sure you have something for insulation.

Also, looking at your list, why bother with boxers? Long underwear would be more important in my mind. Also, for your sock plan, my thought would be to reserve the third set as a pure spare and switch between #1&2 day to day, wear for a day then rinse and clip to outside of pack to dry the next day, etc. As to clothing, I'd rather have a light weight gortex outer layer than a poncho. It would change your clothing plan a bit, but I'd rather be dry at the end of the day than the mix of condensation dampness that a poncho has always brought me.

In any event, I'd build your plan then do a couple of long weekend hikes using your exact plan to see how it feels; with a constant eye towards what can I cut out and make this rig lighter?

Have I mentioned that I'm really jealous that you're in a place to actually do this?

Thanks for the reply

I was looking at the z rest at REI the other day. They started issuing it to us before I EAS'd, I heard it was good and it sure beats rolling up a pad. I never cared for a thick sleeping pad, sometimes on field ops I would just sleep on the concrete and be fine. But I guess that's why my back hurts now.

What kind of long underwear are you talking about? I'm not wearing regular loose boxers, they're athletic boxer briefs. I wore them on patrols, gym time and running. So should be fine on hikes. And I had the same plan in place for the socks.

Gonna do a couple hikes early next year so that will serve as a good test run.

 

[busdriver]

What I mean wrt to boxers is why bother at all? You're going to stink, all your clothes are going to stink. What do boxers add? It's another layer that your body heat can't dry. If you get wet, the more layers you're wearing the longer it'll take to dry off. Simple, right? so if a layer isn't contributing to you being warmer and more comfortable, get rid of it.

If anything, I'd drag along a single pair of shorts for the summer, so if I ran into a lake I could go swimming without drenching my trekking clothes. I just don't know what you gain by bringing traditional "underwear."

 

[Yellow Bastard]

What I mean wrt to boxers is why bother at all? You're going to stink, all your clothes are going to stink. What do boxers add? It's another layer that your body heat can't dry. If you get wet, the more layers you're wearing the longer it'll take to dry off. Simple, right? so if a layer isn't contributing to you being warmer and more comfortable, get rid of it.

If anything, I'd drag along a single pair of shorts for the summer, so if I ran into a lake I could go swimming without drenching my trekking clothes. I just don't know what you gain by bringing traditional "underwear."

So you want me to free ball it? Not sure if I'd be comfortable doing that. The Exofficio briefs I plan of using are fast drying.

May have misinterpreted your post. Watching my Eagles play.

 

[Ooh-Rah]

@grunt531 , go light, but no free-balling it. Chafing is not your friend, most of these non-Marines don't understand what it means to have something large enough to protect under there!

 

[Ranger Psych]

As Pardus has said in the past, We don't let unbased commentary fly on this site as a general rule.

As such, I bring forward 8 character witnesses as to how my junk is larger than yours, as well as how freeballing is superior to wearing any sort of gatherer/covering in a limited hygene scenario.

4 of which are female relations of yours.

 

[x SF med]

...
What kind of long underwear are you talking about?...

silk is probably the best insulation for weight, and it stays warm when wet/soiled... expensive but worth it
layer - silk, cotton/wicking, wool/fleece, wind proofing with the availability of venting at each layer.

Go with a charged cotton for that layer, again expensive, but worth it.

 

[pardus]

I'm at a loss for words...

 

[8654Maine]

Jeezus.

You're a god damn 0311. INFANTRY. GRUNT. You should be a master at rucking.

Use your judgement and experience. Don't overthink think it.

You've got a whole winter to practice and figure out what YOU want.

Stop acting like a 17 y.o. newbie.

 

[x SF med]

@grunt531 Chafing is not your friend, ...

thus, this magic powder was created....

Yes, it works, freeballing or not.

 

[0699]

To the OP: Don't get caught thinking the Marine way is the only way.

Some sort of carefully packed IFAK would be on my list.

There are some very serious small kits out there. Not much bigger than a hand, and loaded with much more than just a few band-aids.

Poncho liner, well why not just get a decent/warmer sleeping bag? You wont need it once you start walking. Up to you though.

The only advantages I can see to having a sleeping bag AND a poncho liner is that it 1) allows him to trap air between two layers and 2) it allows him to cover a greater range of temperatures. He'll need to be prepared for below freezing in Maine and the northern Appalachins and 90s and humid in northern Georgia.

I'd recommend taking a lighter (Bic etc...) water proof matches and something like a firesteel/magnesium block, as well as tinder (clothes dryer lint etc...).

Multiple sources of fire is best.

 

[Etype]

These guys didn't have anything fancy- you'll be fine.

 

[Etype]

The z rest is dirt cheap and light weight.

I was looking at the z rest at REI the other day.

There's no shortage of pine needles or evergreen boughs anywhere on the AT, that's one less thing to carry.

...as well as how freeballing is superior to wearing any sort of gatherer/covering in a limited hygene scenario...

Couldn't agree more. The only thing I wear underwear with is dress clothes, it's been brought to my attention that it may be "unprofessional" to have my man meat printing on the front of some lightweight slacks- the guy didn't bother to ask any women for their opinion, but I figured-better safe than offend anymore DOS types.

 

[Yellow Bastard]

Jeezus.

You're a god damn 0311. INFANTRY. GRUNT. You should be a master at rucking.

Use your judgement and experience. Don't overthink think it.

You've got a whole winter to practice and figure out what YOU want.

Stop acting like a 17 y.o. newbie.

Don't see how I'm acting like a newbie by asking for input from other military members. 2200 miles on the AT is a little different than infantry rucking.

 

[x SF med]

Don't see how I'm acting like a newbie by asking for input from other military members. 2200 miles on the AT is a little different than infantry rucking.

Not really... just a little longer, that's all. You have to plan resupplies, RONs, off time, actions on contact and distance to Objective.... using terrain association, movement by foot and land navigation by map/compass/GPS.... the big difference is the larger selection of gear and not getting shot at.

 

[Ranger Psych]

Not really.

You're carrying everything you need to survive between point A and B, on a relatively clear cut route that you almost don't need a map to even follow since most places have markings in both directions in sight of each other so you know where the "trail" is. Some places are more maintained than others, but you really won't be busting brush. +1 Civ Hike Easier

The AT may be 2200 miles, but you're doing it X miles at a time between "CACHES" aka cities that you resupply either by mailing to local pickup, or just purchasing more stuff on the local market... so you have an ADVANTAGE there rather than busting out another box of MRE's that some helo pilot punted out, hoping they didn't shotgun all over the terrain. +2 Civ Hike Easier

You get to pick your gear, so it'll be lighter and possibly more resilient and comfortable than military issue. +3 Civ Hike Easier

it's walking while carrying a pack for a set distance instead of 3 more clicks +4 Civ Hike Easier

Necessity of react to contact/squad attack/react to ambush battle drills significantly reduced +5 civ hike easier


For comparison, Shadowspear's done some serious hikes like trying to summit Kilimanjaro or some shit, among other places. 2 guys on here recently hiked/hitchhiked/etc their way across the continental US with just what they could carry and actually made it totally oconus over an ocean if I recall correctly. It's not that there's a lack of knowledge base here within the community, but you might be approaching it wrong with regards to under thinking some parts and over thinking others.


As for snivel, I'd say that a layer 1/2 polartec silk and medium weight top/bottoms would suffice for both wicking and keeping you warm when you need it. Don't forget the usual mantra of "Bit chilly for step-off equals no heat cat on the move". Having a set of camp clothes that are light, yet warm, that you can strip into is a glorious thing. A goretex top/bottom will help for having to move in inclement weather, but at the same time... if it's pissing like a race horse there's no real reason to actually step off anyway as a civilian hiking with no time-frame to get anywhere (+6 Civ hike Easier). Make sure you actually look where you're setting camp, either at one of the shantyshacks or whatever since they as mentioned, always have rodent problems since so many people stay there and don't keep them clean (plus rodents love shelter, its comfy for us, it's comfy for them)

An acquaintance of mine did a week long jaunt on one part, however he's got physical issues so he was going full lightweight minimalist and fully caching everything and/or staying at churches and the like (Some churches in towns on the AT will let you RON there provided you don't look like, nor start while there, trouble IE doing stuff that goes against church mentality). He was walking with 20-30 lbs of gear, counting water. I would personally be walking with more, since I prefer to also carry a bit extra of supplies in terms of sustenance/hydration... lets you hit a town when they're closed and be able to camp just outside for the night if they're your cache site or whatnot.

Thinking it through is one thing, over-thinking is another.

 

[JBS]

Necessity of react to contact/squad attack/react to ambush battle drills significantly reduced +5 civ hike easier

And this, my brethren (and sisteren) is just one of the many reasons why I will always be an active member at SS.

Where else can you find a conversation like this?

 

[Yellow Bastard]

Just want to let you guys know I finished my thru hike of the AT a week ago. And I did bring a gun.

 

[pardus]

Just want to let you guys know I finished my thru hike of the AT a week ago. And I did bring a gun.

Good for you. What did you bring in terms of the gear everyone was talking about in this thread?

 

[8654Maine]

That is awesome.

Tell us about your journey and discovery.

Gear and planning ideas will be helpful as well.