This is a complete Appalachian Trail Gear List. Below is a list of the best to take when hiking the Appalachian Trail. The list will keep your base weight around 6kg/13lb. The Appalachian Trail gear list is my personal recommendations on what gear to take hiking the Appalachian Trail.
I am currently updating my very worn out gear – Check out My Lightweight hiking Gear list which has a base weight is around 6kg (13lb).
Click here to read about all my hikes
Appalachian Trail Gear List
Shelter + Pack + Sleep System
Nemo Hornet 1 Person Tent
Osprey Packs Exos 48– 900 grams (minus the brain lid).
Western Mountaineering Ultralite 20F / -7C – 29oz / 820g
Nemo Tensor Insulated – 14oz/410g
Nemo Elite Pillow– 78 Grams
Pack Liner/Garbage bag – 60 Grams.
All the best Ultra Lightweight Gear Guides:
Best Lightweight Backpacks
Best Lightweight Tents
Best Lightweight Sleeping Bags and Quilts
Best Lightweight Sleeping Mats
My Current Lightweight Hiking Gear List
Footwear
Footwear is a personal choice and what works perfectly for one person will not work with another. I’ve been a long time fan of both Vasque and Merrel shoes as they fit my foot perfectly. I also use Altra Trail running shoes as my lightweight shoe option. Below are my 3 recommendations for the best shoes for the Appalachian Trail.
When it comes to socks, Darn Toughs are my current favourites.
Vasque Breeze LT GTX Shoe
Merrel Moab GTX Shoes
Altra Lone Peak
Darn Tough Merino Wool Socks
Clothing
Outdoor Research Filament Hooded Jacket – 281 grams.
PrAna Stretch Zion Convertible Pants – 430 grams.
Smartwool Base Layer Pants – 150 grams
Smartwool LS Shirt– 255 grams.
Patagonia Strider Shorts – 119grams
Fleece Gloves – 65 grams
PCT Sunhat 55 grams – A great lightweight sunhat
Sunglasses – 50 grams
Rain Gear
Outdoor Research Helium Pants 153 Grams
Six Moon Designs Silver Shadow 8 oz. Ultralight Hiking Umbrella
Trekking Poles and Snow Gear
Kitchen
Evernew Ti DX Stove Titanium 86 Grams.
Snow Peak Trek 900 Titanium Cookset with homemade aluminum foil lid 114 Grams.
Sea To Summit X-Mug – 78 grams
Titanium Spoon
Gerber STL 2.0 Knife 28 Grams
Katadyn Micropur Water Purifier Tabs
Bic Lighter – 20 Grams – A necessary item, obviously.
600ml Coke Bottle to store alcohol for stove – 27 grams
During the hot sections of the Appalachian Trail I will go ‘Stoveless’, using a small plastic peanut butter jar to rehydrate food, this should save about 200 grams of weight and a lot of extra weight in fuel that I will not need to carry.
Electronics and Camera
Sony RX100 + spare battery + case + spare memory card
Anker 10000mAh Battery Bank plus wall charger- 155 grams (5.47 oz)
Other Gear
Plastic zip lock bags
Money / ID / Credit Cards
Blister pads
Strapping Tape
Giardia anti-biotic
Foot infection anti-biotic
Ibuprofen
tweezers
Toothbrush and Toothpaste
Safety Pin
Needle
Deet insect repellent
Sunscreen
Lip Balm
Toilet tissue
How heavy is your baseweight? What gear would you like to change?
Let me know in the comments section below.
You might like to read:
Appalachian Trail Gear Review
My current Lightweight Hiking Gear List
The Complete Appalachian Trail Blog
My Appalachian Trail Gear List weighs about 6kg (13lb).
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Could you tell us the source of the music used in the documentary?
It music score was really good.
Thanks!
I used a website called Epidemicsound to source all the music. Great music choice
Sorry to bother you while you are on a hike, but just wanted to ask about your water purification as I am preparing for my first multi day hike in a long time! I see you have a sawyer and a steripen. I thought you only needed one and not he other? On the cape to cape they have water tanks, so they should be ok, but I’m not sure if i should invest in a filter or just do tablets for the 7 days on trail. Any tips appreciated, but no rush as i know you are in trail. X
I only use the steripen in hotels while cycle touring nowadays. The Sawyer is great but make sure it is inside your sleeping bag, of it freezes it will break and you won’t know till you get sick. Another option is bleach, just a couple of drops per litre (it’s the cheapest option) and tablets.
I use the Sawyer and carry some tablets as an emergency backup, it works well for me. If you plan on more hikes in the future then Sawyer is great, stay away from Steripen, it’s over rated in my opinion.
Thanks for the reply Brad. There is so much advice and reviews out there, it’s easier just to ask someone who is living it and using the products at this very moment, cheers.
Travel well!
Cheers
Cool…. let´s go for it !!!!Buen camino !!!!!!!
Thanks Paulo
Looks like you are a very light weight minimalist for sure and always finding ways to eliminate weight. Does your personal body weight change much from start to finish of an adventure?
My body weight will drop. On other trails I’ve lost as much as 15kg (35lb). I’m not too heavy fir the start of this hike so I’ll probably lose 10kg (22lb).
Exciting, have fun !
No need for bear spray here I guess (Deer spray ?)
There is a GoPro on the picture. Are you carrying it plus the camera ?
No bear spray but repellent fir the ticks. Yes, I’m carrying two cameras
looks good! best of luck and look fwd to your feeds from the trail!
Thanks Andy