Anyone ever tru-hiked the Appalachian Trail?

[Red-Dot]

Congrats...post up some of your experiences.

 

[Yellow Bastard]

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

Here's the list of the top of my head, all big ticket items. I did however start and end with almost an entirely different set of gear. I bought and sent home a lot of stuff along the way.

Osprey Atmos AG 65L pack
Z-Packs 20F sleeping bag
MSR Hubba NX (1 man tent)
Salomon Quest II 4D GTX
Thermarest NeoAir XLite
Jetboil SOL

Nike shorts
MontBell Alpine Light Down Parka
Patagonia Cap 1 long sleeve / Kuhl wool long sleeve
Black Diamond Trail Ergo Cork hiking poles
Exofficio Give-N-Go boxer brief x2
Darn Tough full cushion boot socks x3
Z-Packs cuban fiber stuff sack (for clothes)
Z-Packs bear bag
Arc’teryx rain pants
Marmot PreCip rain jacket
Prana Stretch Zion pants
Beanie
Buff neck gaiter
Icebreaker 200g leggings
Icebreaker 150g T-Shirt x2
Petzl Headlamp
Sawyer Mini water filter
32oz Powerade bottle x2

That's pretty much all the main gear I used. My pack fully loaded was about 45lbs.

 

[pardus]

Here's the list of the top of my head, all big ticket items. I did however start and end with almost an entirely different set of gear. I bought and sent home a lot of stuff along the way.

That's pretty much all the main gear I used. My pack fully loaded was about 45lbs.

What gear were you buying and what gear were you sending home?

 

[Yellow Bastard]

I was the 4th thru hiker to finish. Took 129 days which includes 14 zero days. For a while I was on pace for a sub 4 month but shin splints and trench foot slowed me down once I reached PA. Then I got real lazy in New England, took a lot of big nero days. Then of course the White Mountains slowed me down along with southern Maine.

Currently in a job hunt, that was half the reason for the trip and still havent figured it out.

 

[Yellow Bastard]

That is awesome.

Tell us about your journey and discovery.

Gear and planning ideas will be helpful as well.

Gear list is above. Defiantly dont go cheap on gear. I bought a cheap 230 dollar "zero degree bag" and needless to say that shit was not a real zero degree bag. It was also over 4lbs. It was real cold because I started early Feb. The trail is honestly not as hard as everyone makes it out to be. Anyone here could do it, especially if you were a grunt or SOF. The AT would be a joke.

Congrats...post up some of your experiences.

Didn't have any crazy experiences. My favorite part was the White Mountains, amazing views. Worst state was Maine, all the bugs, rain, muddy trail, river fordings and steep ups and downs. PA was pretty rocky like everyone says but only the northern half of it. Met a lot of cool people and hiked with a few almost the entire way so I was never really alone. It was defiantly worth it to start early, had most the trail to myself. I think the main crowd of thru hikers are around PA/NY right now. I heard stories about shelters having 30-50 people and lines for the privy. Can't imagine that.

What gear were you buying and what gear were you sending home?

Started with a Gregory pack but it tore on me so I bought the Osprey in NC. Changed sleeping bags to save weight. Started with iodine pills but switched to the Sawyer filter. I started with one trekking pole but switched to two. Bought new pants because one tore and shrunk out of another (lost over 30lbs). Started with a bivy bag but only did two nights in it before switching to a tent. Bought a down jacket.

 

[Red-Dot]

I've got an Osprey. Great pack and very well thought out design. Saw you used Darn Tough socks. We were issued those and they are the only socks I use now. Thanks for the comments.

 

[Yellow Bastard]

I've got an Osprey. Great pack and very well thought out design. Saw you used Darn Tough socks. We were issued those and they are the only socks I use now. Thanks for the comments.

I'm defiantly sticking with Osprey. Just sent the pack in yesterday to get repaired. The pack I used was only 260 bucks which is an absolute steal for how good it is.

You got issued DT socks? wtf. They are some high quality socks. 90% of the hikers I met had DT socks. I do have one that started to tear on the bottom so I'll defiantly take them up on their lifetime warranty.

 

[Red-Dot]

I'm defiantly sticking with Osprey. Just sent the pack in yesterday to get repaired. The pack I used was only 260 bucks which is an absolute steal for how good it is.

You got issued DT socks? wtf. They are some high quality socks. 90% of the hikers I met had DT socks. I do have one that started to tear on the bottom so I'll defiantly take them up on their lifetime warranty.

Hey the Big Blue treats their dudes right!