



This summer I attempted to break Matt Kirk‘s Appalachian Trail unsupported thru-hike record. Unfortunately I was unable to complete the hike due to a torn calf in Connecticut but I am wiser because of the trip and better prepared to attempt it again in the next few years. Below is my ultralight backpacking gear list for the trip, which I don’t think is too absurd to say is the lightest and smallest pack anyone has ever attempted a thru-hike with. At only 3.5 pounds for the base weight, I used a 10 liter running vest pack instead of the traditional massive backpacks most hikers use. And if I were to do it again, I wouldn’t change a thing. Of course I sacrificed some comfort in camp but it enabled me to hike faster and further than I ever could with a heavier pack. I hope you enjoy checking out my gear choices. All weights are altered weight (meaning changes I made to the original gear) measured using a postal scale and are accurate to the 100th of an ounce. If you have any questions about why I chose something or how I liked it, feel free to comment below. And if you like this post and want to keep updated on others like it, please consider subscribing!

Ultralight backpacking gear list:

All units are ounces unless stated otherwise.

There is a more encompassing measurement to determine exactly how much gear a person is carrying called FSO or “from skin out” and includes everything but your person.

FSO gear: