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Gear in My Backpack for Thru-Hiking

I always see hikers list their gear online but I felt it would be far more fun to show my backpack and overall gear progression over time and this would show how a typical backpack builds over time and is frequently not a single big purchase.

I have continued to buy, test, and pass or fail my gear each year while trying to optimize for comfort but also weight and cost. As a father and husband, I can’t just decide to bust the bank-wide open on a whim and have to be able to justify the purchase before I make it.

This makes me need to research a lot more than many others may, this leads me to skip some purchases and also to note expected upgrades I plan to make once I can free up the funds, with my upgrade focus on the big three for the most weight benefit.

Planned Upgrades

Sleeping Quilt – UGQ Bandit or maybe Katabatic Alsek – This is a purchase to align more with a trip on a Georgia AT section I planned for this upcoming March 2022 where the temperatures are cold and having a 950 down quilt with a 0-degree rating can make a huge difference in comfort.

Tent – Dan Durston X-Mid DCF (Ordered and Delivery Expected June 2022)

Rain Gear – Vertice Rain Jacket – Need to move forward from the super cheap but very fallible Frogg Toggs.

Current Gear

Pack

  • Zpacks NERO (10.9 oz, 308g) – Love the MILE and I needed to find something that would work in between the MILE and bigger packs.
  • Waymark THRU (31.35 oz, 889g) – Found a deal from someone that couldn’t be passed up getting this for nearly 1/2 the new cost and it pairs amazingly with my existing MILE.
  • Dan Durston DD40 (32.6 oz, 925 g) – Has uses and fits exceedingly comfortably but still adjusting to the no-mesh outer pocket which means re-organizing my gear into stuff sacks or re-organizing what I like to keep outside.
  • Daypack Trips

Shelters

Tents

  • Dan Durston X-Mid 1P features amazing interior space with gigantic vestibules on both sides to make it feel like a 2P.

Hammock Setup (1.92 lbs, 30.69oz, 870g)

Hammock Underquilt (1.35 lbs, 21.59oz, 612g)

Sleeping

Hydration

I carry either a Sawyer Squeeze system with a CNOC 2L dirty water bag Smartwater bottles, or I use my Katadyn BeFree system with a 2L Hydrapak bag for dirty water with 2 Smartwater bottles for long carries.

Cookware

I cold soak nearly all the time, so I bring a CNOC cold soak bag and a titanium spork. The bag is simple to clean with a little additional water and a shake.

Zpacks Bear Bagging Kit – Super strong, simple, and effective.

First Aid – Leukotape (perfect for so many odds and ends); ibuprofen; Gold Bond Powder (chafing is real); Pepto Bismol Tablets; Carmex; chewable melatonin.

Hygiene – Dr. Bronners, Picaridin, toothbrush, toothpaste, man wipes, toilet paper, and a Deuce of Spades trowel

Clothing/Storage

I always bring a minimum of 2 pairs of darn tough socks and 2 pairs of Injinji liner socks which allow me to adjust to blisters easily dual layering as needed to cut chafing-based blisters and hot spot build-up.

Appalachian Gear Company Hoodie

Tern Hoodie from Outdoor Vitals (5.4 oz)

Satu Adventure Shorts, Dragonwool Hoodie, Ventus Active Hoodie, Loftek Adventure Jacket, Altra Shoes, buff.

Rain Gear – Six Moon Designs Umbrella, Frogg Toggs. 

Tech – iPhone 12 Max in a boring plastic shockproof case, Anker Nano, and cord for charging in town. I also carry a 10,000mAh Anker battery on the trail for recharging.

Previous Gear

2021

Pack – Outdoor Vitals ShadowLight 60L – Still own and love but need fewer external pockets and hence the move to a 40L pack and streamlining of gear to drop weight and space needs. Have a continual issue with the frame dropping out from the end cups that are supposed to hold it.

2020

Pack – 3F UL Gear 60L Backpack

2P Tent – Meir (Lanshan 2P) Trekking Pole Tent

Sleeping Quilt – OneTigris Featherlite Synthetic Quilt

Sleeping Pad – Paria Recharge XL

2019