purchasing my 1st hiking gear(opinions wanted)

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garnto

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Sep 5, 2010
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alright, well a few of my friends and I have decided to hike part of the Appalachian trail march 24 25 26. I'm checking to make sure that the stuff I have chosen so far will suit my needs

I have looked around and the golite quest pack seems to be the best quality/to money ratio. it also seems that it has plenty of storage for a multi day trip, or to compress it for a day adventure. I found it for 105 free shipping


the bag I have been looking at is the ALPS Mountaineering clear water 20 degree.

I think I am going to pick up a pair of sahara convertible pants for the trip too.


one of my friends(who has done the hike a few times) said that he has done just fine doing the hike in normal tennis shoes, so I am curious how yall feel about that.


please recommend any other doo dads that yall find help out on hikes
 
Personally, I'd be on the backpacking forums for a question like this. But since you asked...

As far as shoes are concerned, from what I've hear the AT is a pretty tame trail and a lot of people hike it in tennis shoes, just make sure they fit good and still have tread.

Your backpack should be the last thing you buy, and you should wear it with weight in it before you purchase! I can't stress this point enough.

Get together, every single little item that will go into your backpack (including water and food!), then weigh it all. Test run some packs with that amount of weight in them, to see which are the most comfortable for YOU. A pack that fits me great, may be extremely uncomfortable for you. Believe me I know.

I know nothing of the bag you mentioned, but from I googled, doesn't look too bad for $65.

Other than that, I would recomend water bladder of bottles, and an empty 1liter pepsi bottle for filtering water, depending on what system you will use.

You should post your complete gear list, and some of us may be able to tell you what you don't need, or what you can use instead to save some weight. I would also cross post your gear list to a backpacking forum, as they will be a lot more critical than most of the people here.

Lastly, if you are going to get into backpacking as a serious hobby, be prepared to make a lot of gear changes over the next year or so, as you find out what works and doesn't work for you, what you find you don't use and what you wish you had.
 
I have that bag, nice for the money( sierra trading post). Not a twenty degree bag though. Use a good sleeping pad( not pricey just good quality). Small fleece blanket will also help stay warm( fold over inside bag). It was 25 degrees when i slept in mine, I was cold but not frozen.

Hiking boots give your feet the support they need. With a load you could bruise your feet up pretty good. Asolo boots at Sierra Trading Post has them for a good price.
 
www.whiteblaze.net is an excellent forum for AT enthusiasts. Lots of good ideas for good, bad, new, homemade, inexpensive gear.

I also heard that people hike in tennis shoes. I personally didn't skimp on the footwear, and it was the only item that I bought new when I started hiking again. Bad feet = bad hike in my opinion.

The gear you've suggested will be fine. As a guideline, for 5 days of hiking the trail, I usually start with 20-21lbs total weight, including food, not including water. Didn't buy food in towns. Slept under tarp or in the open. Mid May was the earliest I've gone.
 
You don't mention which part of the AT you're going to be hiking on. If it is on the GA, TN, NC sections, I assure you that the AT is far from tame. The elevation changes are brutal.

As far as footwear, if you have a light enough load and strong enough ankles, you should be fine in trail runners or cross trainers. I've broken my left ankle twice and I can twist it walking on carpet, so I wear boots with plenty of ankle support, although I would love to wear some lighter footwear as they say for every pound on your feet is equal to 8 pounds on your back.

From my experience with sleeping bags, the temp rating that they use is extreme, meaning it will keep you from freezing to death but you won't be comfortable. I always carry a silk sleeping bag liner with me. It fits in your front pocket, adds 10* of comfort to your bag, and keeps your bag cleaner.

Whatever gear you choose, it will probably take you a few trips to decide what you what you need and what you don't.

Good luck and have fun.
 
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I have a GoLite pack that has held up well but, as Stingray mentioned, fit is the key. Furthermore, you may not be happy with an ultralight pack if you aren't committed to lightweight gear. A friend of mine bought the same GoLite I use and it has not been terribly successful for him because he has 1980s weight gear and has made little effort to cut his load. He does a lot better when I loan him a massive Gregory pack I own.

DancesWithKnives
 
Good call on the sahara pants. Not sure of the weight of the Alps bag, but it is a good choice for a first trip. If you like backpacking, you'll upgrade your sleeping bag soon enough.

Tennis shoes should be fine. Anything with an aggressive tread should be ok.

I'm not familiar with that model of backpack, but GoLite makes good gear.

Think long and hard about the items you bring, and whether you will actually use them.
 
I've also had good experience with Golite pack. Comfortable, light, and packs a lot.

Some of the PA and NJ sections are quite rocky, so decent boots are recommended.

Some re-supply spots in the central/northern PA include Port Clinton (about 2 miles from Cabela's in Hamburg) and Delaware Water Gap before you enter Jersey.

have fun
 
You need to post a full list to really get some feedback! You should also post the weight of each item and you food list. All of that info will be a real eye opener. I've slowly whittled my gear down over time and I'm very comfortable with the gear I take but it took 10 years to do it.

A couple of points/question:
Golite pack - I second what was posted - if the rest of your gear doesn't match the golite style that pack isn't going to work well.

Tennis shoes - I wouldn't use tennis shoes but a decent trainer type sneaker will get you by assuming it’s not very rocky. If you are hiking in PA I would recommend a purpose made hiking shoe.

Where are you going?

What are the average temps?

What's the water availability like on the trail? You need a way to treat it.

Oh and one more thought. On my first backpacking trip my friend said to me "just take what you need" - seriously think about need vs. want.
 
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I would also ask which part of the AT trail you're hiking. It'll be a lot warmer in Georgia end of March than it will in Maine. A 20 degree bag is good at about 35 degrees from my experience, any colder than 35 and you better pack some thermal underwear.

Make sure you have a sleeping pad, you can find one cheap for $10 just to keep you off the ground. Are you sleeping in a tent? If not, maybe bring a light tarp for shelter in case it rains.

Tennis shoes should be fine. Here's a story about a 67 year old woman who hiked over 2K miles of the trail in old keds tennis shoes. She took along an old army wool blanket, raincoat, and shower curtain that she used as a bag over her shoulder.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grandma_Gatewood

If you're going to be scrambling over rocky or mountain terrain a nice pair of hiking shoes or boots would serve you well, but you can get by with tennis shoes.

Bring something to start a fire (matches, lighter, etc) and I would pack some drier lint in a zip lock bag for kindling. Works great and won't weigh you down.

I would want a good quality LED flashlight with an extra set of batteries as well so you can see what's going bump in the night or signal for help if needed. You can find something good and inexpensive at Target or just go with one of the Maglite 2 AA LED lights.

Pack a fleece in case it gets chilly. That time of year temps will drop at night. Depending on where you are on the AT it can be chilly during the day as well.

Multi-tool with a saw is worth it's weight in gold.
 
I'm gonna be in the georgia part of the AT btw guys

alright guys I have revised the list a little bit

as many of you pointed out golite gear is good, but not if you aren't concerned with actually going lite.

new pack is gonna be a kelty red cloud 5600

I am gonna go with the kelty mistral 20 bag. $13 cheaper and seems to be a higher quality bag(based on reviews I've read)

and the rest of the stuff

msr pocket rocket

camel back 100oz reservoir

ALPS Mountaineering Foam Sleeping Mat - 72 x 20 x 0.6 in

Snow Peak Titanium Trek 700 Mug

rei long handle ti spoon

gonna take a bic lighter and a firesteel+cotton balls dipped in petroleum for my fire needs

I'll take my trusty esse rc3+ either a dc4 or some sort of card sharpener(haven't decided which to get yet)

merino wool socks

fenix pd30 r4 light+an extra set of batteries

food is going to be prob 2 or 3 freeze dried bags per day+cliff bars to eat as snacks(if you guys have any recommendations on nifty food items, or better tasting ones speak up)

my friends dad has a water purifier, and at this time I'm not really lookin to pony up anymore money. friends dad also supposedly has tents to use


what other little things will I need for the trip? I think I've got all the major things covered, but I'm sure I missed plenty of the smaller essentials
 
Sounds pretty good actually, for ur first trip. Of course if you really get into it you'll find ways to lighten things up even more, bit for your first trip you're on the right track.

A couple of suggestions though:
-Put fresh batteries in ur flashlight and leave the spares at home. You'll find you won't ever need much more than the lowest setting.
-sharpen ur knife before you leave and leave the sharpener at home
-to mix things up a little, bring some instant oatmeal packs for breakfast. It's lite, and you just add watter. Freeze dried eggs get old real quick for me...
-you might also want to add a small first aid kit (some double antibiotic, bandanas, some gauze, and mole skin is a MUST)
-what's your tent situation?
- I'm not sure what kind of shape your in, but even for a fit person, hiking sticks really make a difference. If you don't want to spend to much, you can pick up a pair at walmart cheap.
-lastly, be carefull you don't over do it with the clothes either, but don't under do it...
 
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Pretty reasonable gear list. I would add that at least one person should be carrying a decent first aid kit.

Kelty packs are a pretty good deal if you're not going ultralight. Mine is coming up on 6 years of service and it's just getting started.

Although I do tend to carry a sharpener (DC4 nowdays) while backpacking I rarely use it. If you're counting ounces best to leave it.

Another poster mentioned hiking sticks, I don't backpack without some sort of one. Finally ponied up for a pair of trekking poles last year and love them. Before that we always just found a suitable stick within the first couple miles of the hike and used that.

Throw in some Tang or Gatorade powder to make up something tasty to drink at camp in the evenings.

Oh yeah and throw in a spare pair of underwear. You'd be surprised how much that will improve your day on the trail!
 
you mentioned some wool socks and i had a quick question. do you wear just wool or do you wear a liner type sock under? it could be a good idea to make sure that you have a synthetic type liner sock, or i use wool dress socks. putting cotton under your heavier wool socks will hold all the moisture on your feet. and you don't want feet problems on a hike.
having had a long and limping walk off a trial myself, i don't mind hiking shoes for day hikes, anything longer and my hiking boots come out. if you get new boots, make sure they are well broken in too.
lastly, make sure your tp container, bag, whatever, is truly waterproof.
 
mk77 said:
you mentioned some wool socks and i had a quick question. do you wear just wool or do you wear a liner type sock under?
Click to expand...

I hope he's wearing just the wool. Some silk linerns if he needs them, but I personally have found no advantage to liners. If you wear cotton underneath, yor in for a world of hurt.
 
I always carry a small umbrella. Got the idea from Ray Jardine.
It's come in handy many times, especially during firestarting.
Thrift store for a couple dollars.
 
I would strongly recommend your wearing boots not sneakers.
Sneaker have no ankle support
For a three day hike, wear any pair of broken in boots, work boots are good as long as they fit you and are comfortable.
Carry moleskin or surgical tape and gauze to treat any small blister as soon as it starts
 
Wrap about 6 feet of good duck tape around a Nalgene bottle. The minute you start feeling a hot spot on your heel, use it. It will stay in place much better than moleskin or surgical tape. Make up a repait kit of odds & ends to repair your pack, stove, tent... etc.
DO NOT wear sneakers. Wear boots and keep them tied tight. Wear light weight liners and light to mid weight NON-COTTON socks.
 
For the shoes, all the research I've read has said that high-top shoes/boots don't do anything to prevent ankle injuries. In fact, they may increase the chance of knee injuries.

That being said, the most important thing is to make sure you have the correct arch support in the shoes. That, more than anything, will prevent ankle and knee injuries. It also makes a huge difference in foot pain.

After tearing ligaments in both of my knees I ended up at a podiatrist that let me know my feet are flat as a pancake. Without arch supports I was messing myself up.

Later in life, I neglected to put arch supports in my hiking shoes and suffered major foot pain on a 14 mile hike. Once I got the supports in, my feet no longer bothered me on hikes.

Aside from going to a podiatrist, the Dr. Scholls foot mapping machine may be a good alternative. Not sure how accurate it is though: http://www.footmapping.com/footmapping/locator/index.jspa
 
I think that training by regularly walking/hiking on somewhat uneven surfaces is one way to build up your ankles. Whenever possible, I try to do that rather than walking on a flat, paved road.

I have several sets of high boots either for warmth during the Montana/NV hunting seasons or for summer snake protection. The lighter snake boots provide little if any ankle protection despite their 17 in. height because the material around the ankles is too flexible. Same goes for a couple pair of uninsulated or lightly insulated 10-12 inch hunting boots.

The only boots I have that provide really serious ankle support are some Meindl Winter 800 hunting boots from Cabela's. The ankles are stiff enough that you can be walking across steep sidehill, relax the muscles that hold your ankles steady, and your ankles won't roll far enough to cause you any discomfort. None of my other boots will do that.

I imagine those plastic exterior technical ice climbing/mountaineering boots might do the same thing but I don't need them $400+ badly.

DancesWithKnives
 
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