Packing for an Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike

How to Choose Sleeping Bags, Shelter, Stoves, Backpacks, and Boots

© Karen Berger

Feb 27, 2009

There is no single right decision regarding which hiking equipment to choose for an Appalachian Trail thru-hike. Each hiker has a different hiking style. However, four considerations are important, and need to be weighed against each other:

• Overall pack weight: The lighter the pack, the happier the hiker.
• Safety: Don't leave behind important safety items such as rain gear or a first aid kit.
• Comfort: Don't go overboard with stripping down a pack: Most hikers can't take being uncomfortable for 5 1/2 months.
• Flexibility: Equipment requirements change as trails conditions and seasons change, and as hikers gain experience. Most hikers end up changing clothes, sleeping bags, and footwear during the hike.

Camping Gear for an Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike

• Shelter: The Appalachian Trail has a system of lean-tos spaced at most a day's walk apart (and sometimes only a few miles apart). Shelter policy is first-come first-served; thru-hikers do not have priority. Hikers planning to sleep in shelters should carry a lightweight tarp and groundcloth in case shelters are full on a rainy night.
• Sleeping Bags: If starting around April first in the south, a 30-degree bag should be adequate; Hikers earlier in the season (or colder sleepers) might need 20-degree bags. In summer in the Mid-Atlantic states, a 40-degree bag is lighter and more comfortable.
• Stoves: Alcohol stoves are popular among long distance hikers; they can be purchased (Brasslite makes a popular model) or made at home. Propane stoves are another lightweight choice, but finding the specific canister can be a problem in small towns. (Note: fuel can be shipped in a resupply box if it is shipped by ground.) It's easier to find fuel for liquid multi-fuel stoves, but they are heavier than the alternatives.
• Accessories: As few as possible, and as light as possible. Example: Bring only one pot. (Titanium is expensive, but ultralight). LED lights weigh a fraction of an ounce and provide enough light for reading. Miniature army knives perform several functions and weigh a fraction of the weight of a standard knife.

Hiking Equipment for an Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike

• Clothing: Use a layering system for flexibility. The start in Georgia is colder than many hikers realize: Bring a wicking underlayer, an insulating jacket, rain pants, a rain jacket, and a hat. Avoid cotton: it soaks up sweat, doesn't insulate, and is heavy when wet. (That goes for socks, too).
• Backpacks: Manufacturers such as GoLite specialize in lightweight gear. If the load is light, the suspension system doesn't have to be as strong. Most long-distance hikers no longer use heavyweight traditional packs, which can weigh 5 or 6 pounds. Make sure the pack has enough cubic inches to fit all the gear,.
• Footwear: The most important consideration is whether shoes or boots fit. Everything else is secondary. Appalachian Trail thru-hikers are split as to whether they prefer trekking shoes, hiking boots, or hybrid mixes. The sharp rocks that litter the trail in parts of the Mid-Atlantic states, and the muddiness of the trail in spring make lightweight hybrid trekking boots a functional choice for many. But some thru-hikers, particularly strong hikers with very light packs, use trekking shoes. Older thru-hikers generally wear boots because they help with balance and ankle stability on difficult rocky sections. Heavy weight leather boots are in the minority.

There is no single right way to pack for an Appalachian Trail Thru-hike. Consider safety, packweight, personal comfort, and personal style to balance the need for equipment that is easy to carry on the trail - and comfortable to use in camp.

More Resources About Hiking the Appalachian Trail

Artcile index on hiking the Appalachian Trail

Appalachian Trail Thru-hiker

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