Base weight: 14.06 pounds (6.38 kg)

Base weight = all carried gear excluding food and water. Worn weight (trekking poles and clothing I’ll be wearing most of the time while hiking) is also excluded. I did, however, include fuel in my base weight since I know what size canister I’ll be carrying.

Pack weight: 24 pounds (10.89 kg) maximum

Pack weight = base weight + food and water after a full resupply. I estimate carrying around ten pounds of food and water between resupplies (typically every three to five days).

Pack: 2 lbs (32 oz.)

Pack: Hyperlite Mountain Gear 3400 Windrider

Shelter: 2.84 lbs (45.5 oz.)

Tent: Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2

Sleep System: 1.99 lbs (31.9 oz.)

Sleeping bag: Feathered Friends Swallow UL 20

Sleeping pad: Therm-a-Rest Neoair Xlite

Compression sack: 14L Sea to Summit eVent Compression Dry Sack

Earplugs: Generic

Kitchen: 2.6 lbs (41.6 oz.)

Stove/pot system: Jetboil MiniMo

Fuel canister: Jetboil Jetpower (100g)

Cup: Sea to Summit X-Cup

Spork: Snow Peak Titanium Spork

Food storage/bear bag: Ursack Major

Rope: PMI Utility Cord (2mm, 40 ft.)

Water Filtration/Reservoir: .21 lbs (3.4 oz.)

Note: Weight represents empty filter/bottle.

Filter: BeFree Katadyn

Water bottle: Smartwater 1L bottle

Headlamp: .19 lbs (3.1 oz.)

Headlamp: Black Diamond Spot

Trekking Poles: .69 lbs (11.1 oz.)

Trekking poles: Gossamer Gear LT5 Three Piece Carbon Trekking Poles

Clothing: 6.52 lbs (104.3 oz.)

Note: Only my camp shoes (10.7 oz) and compression sack (4.5 oz) are included in my base weight (most of my other clothing will be worn while hiking).

Trail runners: Altra Lone Peak 4

Socks: Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew (x2)

Sports bra: Personal preference (I like Lululemon and Athleta)

Base layer top: Smartwool Merino 250 Base Layer Quarter-Zip Top

Base layer bottom: Smartwool Merino 250 Base Layer Bottoms

Hiking shirt: Personal preference (I like Lululemon and Athleta)

Hiking shorts: Boa

Mid layer: Patagonia Women’s R1 Fleece Pullover

Insulation: Arc’teryx Cerium LT Down Hoodie

Rain pants: The North Face Venture 2 Half-Zip Pants

Rain jacket: Outdoor Research Helium II Rain Jacket

Beanie: Personal preference

Gloves: The North Face TKA 100 Microfleece Gloves

Sunglasses: Personal preference

Buff: Original Multifunctional Headwear

Camp shoes: Classic Crocs

Compression sack: 10L Sea to Summit eVent Compression Dry Sack

Toiletries: 1.19 lbs (19 oz.)

Toothbrush/toothpaste: Aurelle TOOB Brush

Brush: Zinnor Portable Mini Folding Hair Brush with Mirror

Hair ties: Generic

Chapstick: Generic

All purpose soap: Dr. Bronner’s Organic Liquid Soap

Body wipes: Sea to Summit Wilderness Wipes

Chafing relief: Aquaphor (in green container)

Sunscreen: Generic

Nail clippers: Generic

Bug spray: Repel Sportsmen Max Formula Pen Pump

Towels: Co-Op Multi Towel Lite (Small and Large)

Trowel: The Deuce 2UL

Toilet paper: Cotton Buds Tissue To Go

Hand sanitizer: Generic

Electronics: 1.46 lbs (23.4 oz.)

Phone: iPhone

Charger: iPad charging block (Two USB ports)

Cables: USB and Micro USB cables

Power bank: Anker PowerCore II 20000

Headphones: Apple earbuds

First Aid/Emergency Supplies: .31 lbs (4.9 oz.)

Note: I consider my GPS device worn weight since I keep it on my person.

Bag: Adventure Medical Kits Ultralight/Watertight .7 Medical Kit

Knife: Swiss Army Classic Knife

Backup headlamp batteries: Generic AAA batteries

Tweezers: Generic

Needle: Generic

Duct tape: Generic

Super Glue: Single Use Crazy Glue

Band-Aids: Generic

Wound closure Band-Aids: Butterfly bandages

Blister relief: Moleskin

Alcohol wipes: Generic

Triple antibiotic cream: Generic

Lighter: Generic

GPS device: Garmin inReach Mini 2-Way Satellite Communicator

Sting relief: After Bite Wipes

Pain relief: Aspirin, acetaminophen, and ibuprofen

Cold medicine: NyQuil and DayQuil

Antidiarrheal: Loperamide (Imodium)

Allergy relief: Zyrtec

Sleep aid: Benadryl

Other: .28 lbs (4.9 oz.)

Journal: Rite in the Rain Outdoor Journal (Large)

Pen: Fisher Space Military Pen

ID: Driver’s license

Money: Credit card

Prescription medications: Self-explanatory

Additional Notes

I recommend treating your gear with Permethrin (a spray that kills ticks and mosquitoes, among other pests). It is odorless and lasts six weeks or six washings.

Female hikers should come up with a plan for period management on the trail. I just skip the sugar pills in my birth control pack. That may not be an option for every female hiker, so I advise coming up with a system before setting off.

Don’t forget your prescription glasses if needed.

While I’m an advocate of commando hiking, many hikers add underwear to their gear list.

Freezing temperatures can destroy battery packs and crack filters. Sleep with both in your sleeping bag on cold nights.

Don’t forget a patch kit for your sleeping pad (typically included).

If your pack isn’t waterproof consider investing in a liner (a trash bag works fine) or a rain fly.

If you carry a GPS device (which I will always recommend out of principle), I suggest keeping it on your person. There will be times you set your pack down and step off the trail (such as going off to pee), so remember: a Garmin in the hand is worth two in the pack.

I highly recommend downloading the Guthook app and buying AWOL’s AT Guide (you can buy a physical copy or PDF).

Also, remember: it’s pronounced Appalachian, not Appalachian.

Happy hiking! 🙂