Gear Up: Thru Hiking
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by The best of the basicsLiner socks - check. Headlamp - check. Hydration bladder - check. Stove - check. Sanity? It's easy to lose, trying to keep track of all the gear necessary for a 2100-mile, 6-month hike. With so many products available now, choosing backpacking gear can be quite a headache. My wife, Sara, and I learned this for ourselves as we prepared for our Appalachian Trail thru-hike this March. Find yourself also gearing up for spring? To make things easier for you, we've put together a list of our favorite gear to help you get started. All the products mentioned here are actually what we'll be using on our thru-hike, so you know it's solid beta. Whether your big trip this season is a weekend outing or a thru-hike of your own, we hope to save you from having to ask "I'm not crazy, am I?" at your next shrink session.
The Pack
Let's start with the foundation for all backpacking trips - the pack. Choose a pack big enough to carry all your gear, but not so large that you're tempted to fill all that extra space with gear you don't need. And pack fit is paramount: no matter how cool the pack is, if it's not comfortable, try something else. Sara and I have used the Osprey Aether 75 (men's) and Ariel 75(women's) packs all over the country, and they've worked beautifully every time. They feature an adjustable frame that can be curved to fit your back, a removable top pouch that doubles as a fanny pack, lightweight, durable construction, a firm, hip-hugging hipbelt, and 4500 cubic inches of storage space. Sara is a fan of her pack because it fits her narrow shoulders and waist well; I love mine because I can hike all day and not have a sore back. Ultra-lightweight aficionados may want to check out Granite Gear's Vapor Trail and Nimbus Ozone packs, which weigh a couple of pounds less than the Ospreys due to their stripped-down design.
Sleeping bag
What's next? The sleeping bag of course. If you can't stay warm and comfortable at night, then you're due for a rough trek next morning, so having the right sleeping bag is essential. Since weight is a primary concern for thru-hikers, I chose Marmot's top-of-the-line 1 lb. 5 oz. Hydrogen bag for the summer duration of our hike. It boasts heavenly 900-fill down (the highest loft available anywhere) and an ultra-lightweight and highly water-resistant Pertex Quantum shell. Now the debate rages on: goose down vs. synthetic insulation. One could write a whole article on the subject. There’s pros and cons to both, so do some research and come to your own conclusion. See this Gear Guru question as a starting point. But if I was looking at synthetic insulation, I’d check out a bag with Polargaurd Delta, one of the newest kids on the synthetic block. It’s almost as light and almost as compressible as goose down. Check out The North Face Cat’s Meow or the Big Agnes Encampment.
Tent
On to the tent. For many, a tent serves as a haven in which to rest one's weary muscles after a long day; for others, it is simply extra weight one must carry to provide shelter at night. Since Sara and I hate carrying extra weight (who doesn't) but love to have room to stretch out and relax at night, we needed a tent that could please both crowds. We found it in the MSR Missing Link, a 3 pound, single-wall wonder that provides enough room for two to lay their packs at their feet, lie down, and stretch their arms overhead! The Missing Link also features a large awning over the entrance, a door big enough to allow a panoramic view of the outside, and will set up in a few minutes. The best thing about it? The price, only $229.00. However, the tent uses trekking poles for its setup, so be sure to take that into consideration. If you're worried about condensation, check out the Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight CD. This lightweight double wall is a time tested thru hiker's favorite.
Trekking Poles
Since I've mentioned trekking poles, now is a good time to recommend my favorites: the Leki Makalu Super Cortec PA. These poles are considered the top of the heap, as myriad backpackers depend on them for their ease of use, ergonomic grips, and reliability. Sara uses the Leki Compact PA, for their smaller grip size and shorter length. Like all good trekking poles, the Makalus are excellent at taking the stress of your sensitive joint tissues, helping you power you up hills, and increasing your stability. After all, four legs are better than two. One drawback - these poles come at a pretty steep price. Budget-minded hikers may want to look into the Black Diamond Approach Trekking Poles.
Stoves
It's no secret that backpackers can work up an appetite that could rival a hippo, which is why when it comes to cooking dinner, there's no messing around. What will we be using to provide consistent, high-output heat in a tidy, light package? The MSR Pocket Rocket, of course. At only 3 oz., the Pocket Rocket pushes the limits of lightweight cookery. It simmers better than most other canister stoves, and really packs a punch when it comes time to boil water. It's fairly affordable too. If you're traveling in colder climes, though, look into a liquid fuel stove, instead, such as the MSR SimmerLite Stove. These stoves aren't as sensitive to temperature and altitude, and many can burn several types of fuel, a plus when resupplying in remote areas.
Footwear
Finally, footwear. While a boot one hiker may love might turn out to be another's bane, I'll take time to discuss what we're using and why. While many thru-hikers prefer lightweight, low-cut shoes, Sara and I will be sticking with full-height boots because neither of us have very strong ankles and like a lot of support. The Asolo Stynger's are Sara's choice; I'll be using the Asolo FSN 95 GTX. Both boots are similar (with the Stynger being slightly heavier-duty) and use a combination of suede and fabric, employ a Gore-Tex lining to keep your dogs dry, and provide a good combination of rigidity and nimbleness. They also add some nice touches, like toe rands and eyelets that allow a quick lace-up. As with packs, fit is absolutely the most important characteristic of a boot: don't buy it if it doesn't fit. One thing that all hikers can, and should, make use of is Superfeet insoles. Most insoles provided with boots prove nearly useless; on the other hand, Superfeets help your legs and spine become aligned, remove pressure from sensitive tendons on your foot's underside, and allow your foot to pronate properly. If you don't think that such a small part of the boot can make a huge difference, think again, or just ask anyone else who's used these insoles. They are simply one of the most worthwhile purchases and hiker can make, especially if that hiker wants to be able to trek for years and years.
We hope this gear guide puts you one step closer to beginning your next adventure. Just remember, while you can't go wrong with any of these recommendations, be sure to look at everything available. You might find something that fits your needs even better.
Other essentials
While we don't have time to discuss all the gear we'll be using, we've added a list of most everything that isn't mentioned above, including some good clothing ideas. After all, Hike Naked day on the Appalachian Trail only happens once a year! Here goes:Socks: Dahlgren
Backpacking - soft merino wool makes these your foot's best
friend
Sock liners: Bridgedale Coolmax - no blisters, ahhhh
Underwear, top and bottom baselayers: Patagonia Capilene - the best, hands down, and it's indestructible
Midweight top: Marmot PowerStretch Top (John), Patagonia R.5 Zip-Top (Sara)
Fleece top: Lowe Alpine Thermal Pro Fleece (John), Arc'teryx Delta LT (Sara)
Fleece bottom: Arc'teryx Hardface pant (John), Patagonia R1 pant (Sara)
Wind Shell: Patagonia Dragonfly Pullover - protection you can carry in your pocket (John), Mountain Hardwear Transition Zip - versatile, durable garment (Sara)
Rain Shell: Marmot Oracle - Marmot is great if you have ape arms like me (John), Mountain Hardwear Epic (Sara)
Rain Pant:: Mountain Hardwear Epic - great fit with stretch panels
Pants: Royal Robbins - it's always good to wear pants (John), Mountain Hardwear Trekking Pant (Sara)
Gloves: Black Diamond PowerStretch (summer), Mountain Hardwear Tempest SL (winter)
Hat: Mountain Hardwear Micro Dome
Gaiters: Outdoor Research Flex-Tek
Headlamp: Petzl Tikka Plus - has three brightness levels plus a strobe, so you can have your own rave at the trail shelter
Cookware: MSR Blacklite
Cutlery: Snow Peak Titanium Spork - the best spork in the world
Water Filter: Katahdyn Hiker
Water Bladder: Nalgene CXC
Storage Bags: Outdoor Research Hydrolite
Pack Cover: Granite Gear Cloud Cover - only a couple oz. and trippy translucent white
Sleeping pad: Cascade Designs Ridge Rest - cheap , light, soft, mmmmm
Sleeping bag liner: Sea-to-Summit Thermolite - prevents the bag from getting dirty and adds some extra warmth
Mosquito net: Outdoor Research Spring Ring Headnet - so you can keep the bugs away and look like dork
Waterproof valuables bag: Insul-Mat WXtex drybag
Food: 4000 Snicker bars - do you think that will be enough, or should I carry more?
