Gear Choices – aka Analysis Paralysis

Undertaking a 2,200-mile trek on foot necessarily involves a lot of gear. With that, come a lot of gear choices. How does a self-identified gear junkie wade through the myriad choices and decide on what to take?

Analysis paralysis is real. There are tons of websites and blogs dedicated to describing the “best” gear all broken down to the smallest detail. The sheer number of youtube videos talking about gear is mind boggling. The sheer number of youtube videos talking about gear that I watched is mind boggling. 

Every gear item I will take on the AT has been carefully (obsessively) chosen. I have bought, tried and returned many items including more than 10 backpacks to finally decide on the one I am taking. For some, shopping for gear becomes a hobby of its own. I am fortunate enough to not be overly constrained by cost in making my decisions. Because of that, I am free to pick what I think will work best. That being said, I will bring very few things simply because I want to (often referred to as luxury items) and will carry only what I need.

I am not going to get into the specific items I am taking. If you are interested, here is my lighterpack link: https://lighterpack.com/r/xtkoon

How Much Does It Weigh?

This is the simple question that drives all long-distance hikers to madness. All gear choices start with the question of how much the item weighs and is there a comparable item that weighs less or can you do without completely. Many (most?) long distance hikers obsess over base weight which is everything you will carry minus food and water. Less weight on your back means less strain on your body. Lighter is better. What is considered “light” though for some is heavy for others. Lightweight is generally under 20 pounds of base weight. Ultralight base weight is under 10 pounds, but for me involves far too many sacrifices in comfort. I am striving to be lightweight, and my base will be around 17 pounds. 

Lightweight gear can be very expensive. The lighter the item, the more likely to be more expensive. For example, the price of super lightweight dyneema fabric tents is astronomically high, exceeding $ 7-800 for some while comparable but much heavier tents can be had for less than $ 300. I have purchased the lightest gear in many categories which has allowed me to make some “heavier” choices in others for my comfort. A few examples of this are my dyneema tent (marketed as a 2-person tent) at 19.4 ounces (yes, we count ounce fractions), Instead of using conventional poles for support, it uses the trekking poles I will be carrying anyway. Comparable “heavier” backpacking tents will exceed 3 pounds. My fully framed backpack weighs 33.8 ounces while comparable packs with more “features” can get up to 6 pounds and more just for the pack. 

All of my “heavier” choices are comfort selections. I have chosen to carry a “heavier” inflatable sleeping pad weighing in at 29 ounces where the lightweight ones can be down to 14 ounces or so. I want the heavier pad because it is wider, thicker and more comfortable to me then the lighter ones. I am bringing an inflatable pillow that weigh 6 ounces. While seemingly light, others opt for no pillow or stuffing their spare clothes in a bag. There are plenty of inflatables pillows in the 3-ounce range, but they aren’t as comfortable to me. I will also carry a folding camp chair (luxury item). Oddly enough, such chairs are controversial in the backpacking world. Some (like me) believe in the comfort of being able to sit on breaks and in camp, while others eschew the additional weight. Amazingly enough such chairs weigh as little as one pound, but for many that’s one pound too much. 

What Gear Will I take?

My full “kit” will consist of everything I will need to survive outdoors in all the conditions I am expecting to face. Starting in March in the mountains of Northern Georgia and passing into the Great Smoky Mountains, snow and single digit temperatures are likely. As I move farther north and into late spring and summer, many of the cold weather items (heavier) will be replaced by lighter items. Here is what I will be taking:

The Big Three

In the backpacking world, the big three are the backpack, tent and sleep system (sleeping bag or quilt, sleeping pad, pillow).

Cook system

This will consist of a small stove fueled by a disposable cannister, a lighter, a long-handled spoon and a collapsible cup. That’s it. 

Water System

All water on the AT should be filtered. I will be carrying a Sawyer Squeeze water filter along with a collapsible 2 liter water bladder and two 1 liter Smartwater bottles to drink from. I will also carry a small quantity of purification tablets as an emergency backup, but the Sawyer should be adequate to the task without them.

Electronics

I will have my phone which will be used for the obvious purposes, but more importantly as the primary navigation device. The “Far Out” app is the most commonly used app on the AT. This app provides very detailed mapping information (available offline) as well as social comments so that people can make real time observations on things such as whether water is still flowing at a water source marked in the app. I will have a dedicated Garmin GPS device for emergency communication.   Some other items will include a headlamp and a tiny pump to inflate the sleeping pad. To keep things charged, I am bringing a small battery pack and the various cables needed as well as a small charging brick to use when power is available. 

First Aid, Toiletries and Misc

Most of this will be the obvious stuff, but pared down to the minimum. Not a lot of toiletries come on the trail with the basics of hygiene covered with soap and a toothbrush and toothpaste. First aid is minimal and only to deal with minor aches, pains, cuts and blisters. I will have a tiny Swiss army knife. No I will not have a gun. There will be a few other small odds and ends. 

Clothing 

Clothing is also kept to the absolute minimum. To my wife’s disgust, this means you literally wear the same clothes day in and day out and try to wash them when you get into towns, hotels or hostels. The only duplicates I will bring will be a spare pair of underwear and socks. Everything else has to serve a single purpose. One pair of shoes, pants, shorts, t-shirt, base layers, mid layer and hat. One super light puffy jacket. One super light raincoat. A long sleeve shirt to sleep in. That’s it.

Didn’t I say this was an adventure? I guess I forgot to mention it will also be a smelly adventure. Deodorant is useless. Hikers learn to live with the funk they exude like Pigpen’s cloud of dust in the Peanuts cartoon. 

Ready To Go

I have purchased all the gear I will need aside from a few small minor items. I could leave tomorrow if it was time, and March will come around soon enough. Gear is very personal, and my selections are made to try to provide me the most amount of (relative) comfort with the least amount of weight. Many will disagree with my choices, but I am the only one that will have to live with them. If I am wrong, I will adapt and adjust on the trail. If I make any major gear changes, I will write about them