Post Appalachian Trail Gear List
Treats' Appalachian Trail Gear that made it all the way to Katahdin!
The gear that you take on a backpacking trip can make or break your experience. The gear you take on a 4-6+ month backpacking trip can make or break your experience and go hand in hand on your likelihood to succeed in completing a thru-hike. But whether you’re a weekend warrior or you’re planning your own adventure down a long trail, my breakdown of gear that made it 2,200+ miles with me down the Appalachian Trail is guaranteed to give you some insight.
Friends, buckle up for this one, it’s a long post… but it does have lots of valuable gear insights.
For those who aren’t familiar with my background, in March of 2023 I set out on the Approach Trail at Amicalola Falls State Park in Georgia. The next day I would tap the plaque on Springer Mountain and begin my Northbound thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. For 6+ months I walked down the Appalachian Trail, following white blazes, until September 21st when I climbed Mount Katahdin in Maine and completed my thru-hike.
This breakdown lists everything that made it to Mount Katahdin with me. I share a little bit about each piece and why I liked it or held onto it. I didn’t love everything that made it with me, but I’ll do in-depth posts later on my favorite pieces of gear and least favorite pieces that went down the trail.
If you would rather watch this than read it, you can watch my end of trail overview on Youtube here.
For gram weenies who just want to see the weight, visit my Lighterpack here. [Note that this is my final gear list, if you want to see what I started with, go here.]
Now let’s get to the reason you’re really here, the gear:
*some of these links are affiliate links which helps fund my next adventure, at no extra cost to you
Big Three
Backpack: Osprey Eja 58
Before the Appalachian Trail was even in my mind as a goal, I have loved Osprey packs. My trusty daypack that ventured out with me on countless day hikes, mountain biking trails, ski mountains, and more has always been one of my all time favorite pieces of gear. It was basically a no-brainer for me to take an Osprey on my thru-hike.
I know there are lighter options out there. But with the AT being my first thru hike, I knew I wanted a frame and a sturdy pack that I knew would stand the test of the trail. My Eja (named Scale) did just that for me and I would 100% take this pack with me again. For a framed pack, this is the best.
Osprey also has fantastic customer service. I had an issue with my previous Eja right before I left for trail. It was squeaking horribly every time I shifted while hiking. I contacted Osprey and they were unable to fix it and sent me a new pack. Highly recommend it.
Tent: Big Agnes Fly Creek HV UL 2 Solution-Dyed Tent
This is not the tent I started the trail with. I started the AT with my REI Co-op Quarter Dome 1. At the time I loved this tent, but by the time I started the AT, I was mainly using this one because I didn’t want to shell out $400 for a brand new tent. Before leaving for trail I had to re-waterproof and seam seal it…. when I got to the trail it still leaked. And because of a manufacturing issue when the tent originally came out I had to re-cord all of my tent poles. I never recommend doing that yourself - it’s a challenge. This was a great beginner tent to get me started on my backpacking adventures and if it was newer and some of the known issues were fixed, I might take it again.
I probably would have carried my disintegrating tent as far as I could, but I met someone on the trail and in Pennsylvania, finally sent my Quarter Dome home. We started out in his Six Moons Lunar Solo (yes, two people in a one-person tent. It was bigger than mine.) but in Connecticut the zipper broke on that one in the height of mosquitos. We quickly ordered a Big Agnes and used it for the rest of the trail.
The Big Agnes wasn’t perfect, but it got the job done. I can’t say I’d take it again either though. I remember one night it rained really hard and the puddle around the bottom was so deep that the raindrops would splash water into our tent. We also were concerned that the puddle would reach the mesh and start to seep through, fortunately that didn’t happen.
I slept in 3 different tents on the trail and can’t say I LOVED any of them, but they all got me to the finish and down the trail.
Sleeping Bag: EE Enigma Sleeping Quilt
I loved my Enlightened Equipment Quilt. It was one of my favorite pieces of gear and I carried it the entire trail. I had a 10* Enigma Quilt which means it had a sewn in toe box (like a sleeping bag) and the rest of it was like a normal quilt. I had heard a lot about quilts before I made the decision to hike the AT and with the weight savings and warmth they provided, I made the switch for the trail - I am so glad I did.
I sleep cold so the 10* quilt was perfect for me in the beginning and towards the end of the trail. In the summer, I either just used my liner (until I sent it home) or my partner and I shared his higher temperature bag and used it like a blanket. I chose the Enigma because my feet get especially cold at night and the closed toe box ensured that my tootsies were always warm (which in turn helped keep the rest of me warm).
Big Three Extras
My Trash Compactor Bag might be the most underrated but also one of my most important pieces of gear. No piece of gear is completely waterproof (if someone tells you that, have them prove it). Everything I owned, my rain jacket, my rain cover, my rain pants, my tent… it all wetted out eventually and it all got soaked. BUT my saving grace for the things inside my pack was my trash compactor bag. Everything that I NEEDED to stay dry went in this bag and then even if it rained for days on end, the stuff in that bag, even when everything else was soaked, stayed dry. I will never go backpacking without one of these lining my pack ever again.
P.S. just get a trash compactor bag, those ones that the gear websites try to sell you… lame.
My advice to future thru-hikers or backpackers in general - get Tyvek from a friend in construction or buy the footprint that actually goes with your tent.
When I bought my Quarter Dome, I didn’t know anything about backpacking so I didn’t buy the footprint. When I was starting the AT, knowing I’d be camping in rain, I wished I had bought one that actually fit my tent. Since they no longer made my footprint, I settled with tyvek from Six Moons… it didn’t fit perfectly and it kinda worked. I think it’s important to have something but unless you have a Six Moons tent, I don’t think this is your best option.
Justin's UL Smartwater Water Bottle Holder
This piece of gear was another game changer for me. I have tiny little dinosaur arms so with the way packs are designed, I would have had trouble reaching for my water bottle every time I was thirsty. This ultralight water bottle holder (found on Etsy) was my solution. It loops into the front of your pack and made it so easy for me to drink water all day on trail. I had many jealous trail friends.
Do your future self a favor and grab one of these for your next backpacking trip. Stay hydrated friends.
Joy Walker Waterproof Backpack Rain Cover
I bought this rain cover and then sent it back (having not used it) and got a rain poncho instead. I quickly discovered in the Smokies that the poncho was not going to work for me on this hike. I quickly re-ordered this rain cover.
I did not want to pay for a $40 Osprey rain cover and this one that I found on Amazon (I know, but sometimes it’s what you gotta do) was pretty dang amazing. It is not the lightest rain cover but it did keep my things relatively dry and held up well until I butt scooted too much in the White Mountains. Compared to trail friends $40-$75 rain covers, at $13 this one was a steal and I will be replacing my torn one.
Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Compression Dry Sack
I don’t have too much to say about this product except that it worked like it was supposed to and because of that I think it’s great. I used this dry sack for my down quilt. This in combination with my trash compactor bag kept my quilt completely dry when it was in my pack and I never had to start out the night with a wet quilt.
Sleep System
Exped Ultra 3R Duo Sleeping Pad
My Exped Sleeping Pad was also a piece of gear that I did not start with but ended with. I actually really loved my original sleeping pad. It was comfy, it wasn’t noisy and it was relatively lightweight. But alas, it got a slow leak in Harpers Ferry and although my mending methods worked for a while, both my partner and I had holes in our pads and we bought a double pad.
The Exped Duo was pretty great… for the most part. It was big, it was comfy for both my partner and I to sleep on, it fit in the tent, and it was pretty lightweight for a two person pad. BUT, that doesn’t mean it didn’t have its problems. After PA, it rained horribly from then on and for that reason combined with sweaty hikers this pad smelled in no time. It would temporarily smell better when we let it bake in the sun, but I honestly just don’t think it will ever smell normal again. Besides the pad taking on the scent of two sweaty thru-hikers, my partner's side of the pad started to leak after using it for 800 miles. That’s quite a bit of usage, but I always love to see gear make it for the long haul. Because this is one of the only lightweight double pads out there, I’d probably get this again.
Elan Quest Stuffable Camping Pillow/Stuff Sack
Another awesome Amazon find. I hate inflatable pillows for backpacking. They are uncomfortable, they’re noisy, and they pop. This pillow that looked like an actual pillow but doubled as a stuff sack was a winner for me. It was reversible so you could have the slick-ish water resistant outside or you could turn it inside out for soft pillow coziness. I slept so cozy with this.
Worn Clothing
I had this watch before the trail to train for running, triathlons, etc. I knew it would be helpful to know the time, time of sunset and sunrise, and I loved the idea of knowing how many steps I took each day.
You definitely don’t need a fancy watch like this for trail, but I do think it’s super helpful to have some kind of watch.
HOKA ONE ONE Speedgoat Mid 2 GTX Hiking Boots - Women's
I swear by my Hoka’s. They were one of my favorite pieces of gear on trail and I will continue to wear them off trail. I’ve ran in Hoka’s for years so when I heard they were coming out with a hiking boot I knew I had to try it.
I am a clutz so I knew the mid-tops would be the way to go for me. For some reason it seemed that the mid-top version of these shoes lasted longer than other people who just had the Speedgoat Trail Runners. My first pair lasted me 540ish miles (I had used them prior to the AT). My second pair I wore for over 900 miles - I do not recommend putting quite this much mileage on your shoes. And my last pair I wore for about 700 miles. Hoka’s were the best, at least for me and I’ll continue to rock them down every trail I can.
Another item I had pre-trail, I purchased my Road ID after I started running triathlons in college. I was running and sometimes biking alone and struggled with the biking portion a lot. For my own (and my mothers) piece of mind I got a Road ID.
A Road ID is similar to a medical bracelet. It has my name, emergency contacts, any medication allergies, etc. listed on it. It’s a simple thing that I knew if I fell or got injured and couldn’t give my emergency contact info, it would be easily accessible on my wrist.
Injinji Women's Ultra Run Mini-Crew
Before leaving for the AT, I trained for and ran my first marathon. When I was marathon training I got horrible blisters, like blisters on every single one of my toes. I was so worried about what I would do on trail - I tried everything and nothing would work for the toe blisters. Then before I hopped on trail, I heard about Injinji being the cure for blisters and bought a pair. They were my feets savior.
I still got a few blisters here and there in the beginning but between these toe socks and my Leukotape, my feet were so much better off than they would have been.
IMPORTANT: I tried two different styles of Injinji, I found that ONLY the Ultra-Run one's work for me. The normal trail running ones or running ones are thin, wear down really fast and I don’t like the feel as much. The Ultra-Run Injinji’s are thicker, laster longer, and to me offered a little more support.
Jolly Gear Triple Crown Button Down Sun Hoodie
I LOVE this shirt. Anyone who knows me in real life or met me on trail knows I was obsessed with this shirt. As someone who is pale, sweats a lot, and loves fun colors, this shirt and the JollyGear brand is perfection for me.
Before I found out about JollyGear at Trail Days in 2022, I was going to hit the trail in a Columbia shirt. I still love my lightweight Columbia shirts, but with a hood, thumbholes, a ponytail hole, and fun patterns, the sun shirts from JollyGear are just superior to me. I’ll never go back to a single colored shirt again. And the best part about these shirts, is that they were designed and are sold by Jolly, a thru hiker.
After a few shakedowns and cold-weather backpacking trips before the start of my thru-hike, I learned my go-to Nike sport bras would not be the best choice for me in the long term.
As stated previously, I sweat a lot. My Nike sports bras didn’t dry like I wanted them too. If I didn’t change clothes, I would stay cold. This led me to Branwyn’s Merino Wool Bras. I love mine - it started out a little scratchy but with a few wears it was cozy, it stayed relatively warm, and it was the least smelly item of my clothes by the end. I will say that once it got wet, it took forever to dry, but if I kept it relatively dry it was warmer than other sports bras I have. I’ve continued to wear this post-trail and I love it.
Patagonia Women's Barely Baggies™ Shorts - 2½"
These shorts would have made it all the way thru in one piece if it weren’t for the White Mountains of NH. All jokes aside, I loved these shorts. They dried quickly, they were comfortable, they withstood almost all the elements and I would 100% get another pair for my next hike.
My only caveat is that if you tend to buttscoot, these shorts will eventually wear down and they will rip, straight up the butt. I can’t really blame the shorts but just so you know. I was able to sew them back up (a few times) and they did climb Katahdin with me.
ExOfficio Women's Give-N-Go® 2.0 Bikini
I had a pair of these before I left for trail because I had heard great things about them. These were honestly just okay.
My first pair that I bought in 2018 held up better than the pair I bought right before trail. And the new pair got so dirty looking (gross) really fast. These made it, they worked, but I’ll probably look for some other options for the next trail.
If you’re a hiker, runner, or just a person who loves fun patterned lightweight hats, look no further than GetSprints. I hate boring gear. I love wild patterns and fun colors. When I found my adorable Flying Pigs Hat for running, I knew it would also be the perfect thru-hiking companion. I wore this hat almost everyday on trail, it looks almost brand new after 2000+ miles, and I will totally get more hats from them.
My one caveat is that I might not have enjoyed this hat as much if my mom hadn’t gotten crafty and made me a high-ponytail hole so that I could keep my hair and my braid off my neck. Game changer.
I was influenced by TikTok to purchase these. But I will say, I do love them. If you haven’t seen the TikTok videos these are basically glasses that have small magnets so that you can change the design or easily magnet on sunglass covers. I really didn’t want to bring an extra pair of glasses on the trail so I loved that these would reduce weight and also they’re super cute.
Patagonia Ultralight Black Hole Mini Hip Pack
The hip belts on my pack were great but they just didn’t hold everything I wanted easy access to. My fanny pack was one of my favorite trail companions - it held all my immediate access items like my phone, headphones, sunscreen, headlamp, pepper spray, and sometimes snacks (though I usually loaded my hip belts with those). I loved the colors and the size of this fanny pack. It was so useful to have it on trail and then to hold my things in town. I’ve even been using it off trail and don’t see myself ever not being a fanny pack person now.
Packed Clothing
Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Jacket - Women's
I liked this rain jacket a lot. It wasn’t the lightest, but it also wasn’t the most expensive, and I knew if I didn’t let it get beat up too bad, I could use it after the trail. Like every other piece of rain gear I tried while on trail it would wet out eventually and I would get wet (some days even soaked). If I had more to spend I might try something else, but I’m not sure there’s any rain gear out there that doesn’t eventually wet out (if you know of something let me know). This jacket got the job done.
If you catch me in a beanie that’s not a Carhartt Beanie somethings wrong. I love my Carhartt Beanies - they’re thick, comfy, affordable, and come in every color you can imagine. I grabbed a blaze orange one so I could easily be seen. I figured I could use it to flag someone down or if I fell at least someone would hopefully be able to find me. They’re not the lightest out there but they keep my head toasty, they’re durable, washable, and the bit of extra weight was worth it to me.
Melanzana Micro Grid Hoodie V2
Another favorite of mine, though a Melly is hard to come by, I’d say it’s 100% worth it. This fleece microgrid hoodie not only kept me warm in all scenarios but also was like a comfort blanket for me. I love that I could pull the hood around my face and cinch it tight, the colors, the kangaroo pocket - I love it. I carried this the entire way because I couldn’t bear to send it home.
P.S. While I do think the official Melanzana Hoodie is the best, there are many brands making similar ones that also look pretty nice like Mountain Hardwear, Senchi Designs, LightHeart Gear, Superior Fleece, Youer, or FayetteChill (I have not tried any of these alternatives).
Women's Ghost Whisperer/2™ Hoody
I have a Mountain Hardwear Fleece that I have had since 2012 that although worn, I still wear to this day. So when it came to choosing a puffy and seeing great reviews for the Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer, it was an easy choice. This puffy is super duper light, comes in a ton of fun colors, and most importantly is incredibly warm. I didn’t have to use it much past the Smokies but because it was so light, I carried it my entire trip and would do so again.
I can’t stand my feet to be cold, especially when I’m sleeping. I brought and carried a pair of thick sleep socks the entire way (and wore them almost every night except in the summer). I had these before trail and love how thick and cozy they are. They were perfect for the trail.
ExOfficio Women's Give-N-Go® 2.0 Bikini
I had a second pair of ExOfficio’s - I don’t have anything different to say so just scroll up a bit if you want to read about these.
LT5 Three Piece Carbon Trekking Poles (Pair)
I’m not going to go into too much detail about these because I want to write a post specifically about the gear I liked least. These were the lightest poles I saw on trail, but for the issues I had with them and the extra money I spent replacing pieces, they weren’t worth the initial $$. But they are super ultralight.
Outdoor Research Flurry Sensor Gloves - Women's
I don’t have too much to say about these. They weren’t super warm but they did the trick. I didn’t wear them past the Smokies but they did ride along in the bottom of my bag until Katahdin (I forgot they were there and also hate having cold hands).
Injinji Women's Ultra Run Mini-Crew
I also wrote about these up above under my worn clothing - this was my extra pair. Scroll back up to read all about them.
I almost left for my hike in tiny thin, no support sandals but during a quick trip to REI my mom convinced me that the Hoka Recovery Slides would be a better option. As usual, she was right. These recovery slides are just about as heavy as crocs but so much more comfortable and better for the recovery of your feet (they have actual arch support). This is a lesson friends, your mom might not be a thru hiker but she might just be older, wiser, and know a few things about feet. (plus I’ve learned moms are usually right).
Note: When doing river crossings, the Crocs people had an advantage because these do not have a back strap to hold them onto your foot.
They say they are waterproof… they are not. They usually wet out within a few minutes of decent rain but they did help keep my legs warmer in colder rain and they were great as a pair of windbreaker pants.
Kitchen/Water
Vecto 2L Water Container by Cnoc Outdoors
I went through 2 of these - my first one popped (I have no idea how). I love my Sawyer Filter but I hate the water collection bags. I very quickly picked up one of these 2L bladders and it made my life, my hike, and water collection a lot less tedious and painful. The Cnoc screws right onto your Sawyer.
Long spoons are superior. You don’t get food on your hands when you’re hungrily digging deep down into your meal. I like the spoon because the spork would’ve probably poked holes in my bags. It was lightweight, easy to clean, and again I did not get potatoes on my hands.
I sent the rest of my cooking stuff home about halfway through the trail but kept my lighter incase I or anyone else needed it. I am not good with lighters or fire so I opted for the Bic lighters that have the extension on them. It worked great and kept me further away from flames.
Your water filter is an essential item that you have to be able to rely on and I can say that I was 100% confident in my filter. I loved my Sawyer Squeeze (hate the water collection bags though). I had a few trail friends who got water borne illnesses… they had different filters - I’m not saying that’s why, but I loved my Sawyer.
Sawyer WaterBottle Coupling Tool
A hack I learned from friends smarter than me - get a coupling tool with your Sawyer then hang your Cnoc, attach your Sawyer, your coupling tool, and then your water bottle and you have hands free water filtration. This tool is $3 and is so worth it. Before it, I was filtering my water by holding the bladder between my thighs.
1L Smart WaterBottles
The lightest, tallest, most convenient option for water bottles on trail. I don’t like the single-use plastic but I did carry the same ones from Springer to Katahdin so I don’t feel too bad about it.
Ursack Major XL Bear Sack - 15 Liters
Right after the Smokies, I switched out my bear canister. I honestly didn’t mind carrying it, I just hated playing Jenga trying to fit all the food I needed in there. I loved my Ursack, it fit so much more food, was easy to hang, and was lighter than my bear canister.
After I sent home my bear canister and got a Ursack, I needed a smell proof bag to go inside. This was the brand everyone recommended to pair with the Ursack. I think it worked - I had almost no animal problems except one little mouse. However, the ziploc part of the bag ripped off on my two different bags and they were always so crinkly.
Luxury Items/Watercolor Stuff
ArtToolKit The Explore Palette w/ paint
One of the best travel watercolor palettes I’ve used. The ArtToolKit Palettes are the perfect size, design, and so sleek for painting on the go. I filled it with paints I picked out especially for the trail and it was the perfect trail palette.
Moleskine Art Watercolor Album, Hard Cover, Pocket (3.5" x 5.5")
It can be difficult to find a small notebook with decent watercolor paper. The Moleskin Watercolor Album is perfect. I found a few other notebooks that were the right size but had something that just didn’t seem great for the trail - like one had perforated pages and I could easily see those coming out with the abuse from the trail. The Moleskin was small enough to be easily portable and I didn’t feel guilty about carrying the whole trail (even though I only painted a few times).
Water Brush / Pencil / Pigma Micron
After lots of trial and error at home, I brought a Tombow Water Brush with me and when I did paint with it, it was great. It didn’t squeeze out water too fast and was easy to refill when I needed to. I brought a standard mechanical pencil to do quick sketches. And because the water brush isn’t ideal for outlining a piece, I brought my 03 Sakura Pigma Micron to do quick details and outlining.
A friend gifted me this before I left for trail. I love collecting stamps as memories and this gift was perfect. It did get rained on at one point :( but someone just said that it added more character to it. I did carry it and collect stamps the entire trail.
After I sent my bear canister back home, I lost my seat. Although I love the dirt, I didn’t want to sit in it all the time and sometimes my bum wanted something cushy. So after I ditched the canister I grabbed a Therm-a-Rest Sit Pad. I loved it - it was super comfy, made it the entire trail (from NC on), and is still in pretty decent shape. I am sure there are cheaper options on the market, but this one was available when I needed to make a switch and it lasted.
Electronics
Petzl Actik Core Headlamp
I received my Petzl Headlamp back in 2017/2018 as a Christmas present when I made it my goal to hike the AT. There might be lighter options on the market now but I knew this one would work, I liked the rechargeable battery, and it was comfortable for me.
I never had to use my inReach for any kind of emergency but I was comforted and grateful to have it in case anything ever did happen. I chose Garmin and the mini because it was lighter, had great reviews, and knew it would give everyone at home a piece of mind.
Although I didn’t use it for emergencies I did use it to send check-in texts when I didn’t have service. I will say, I expected the texting system to work better. The device always had to have a clear view of the sky and sometimes even with that the message would take 20-30 minutes to send. If it took that long in an emergency, it might be too late.
Anker PowerBank + Wall Charger
My power bank was one of the things they told me to send home at Neels Gap (at Neels Gap/Mountain Crossings they do a complimentary gear shakedown - it’s great). I did not send it home. Although my powerbank ended up being about a pound, I was never concerned about any of my essential electronics dying and that piece of mind was worth the weight. Besides the weight, it did take a while for this bank to fully recharge but if I was in town near an outlet or staying the night, I never had any issues.
The wall charger was also an Anker and probably heavier than most people would carry. But for me, I liked the ports it had, it was higher wattage (and would charge faster), and it was smaller than most multi-port wall chargers so I wouldn’t be stealing outlet space from anyone else.
Chords : iPhone/inReach/Watch/Headlamp
All of these came with my gear and I tried to double up chords where I could (use one chord for multiple things) but I ended up taking 4 chords and again the weight was worth it to be able to carry these few electronics I wanted. I did have to get a replacement cord for my watch and headlamp (because I lost them) but I just emailed the companies and they sent me new ones.
Headphones
These weren’t anything fancy - it was the standard headphones that come with your iPhone. Mine died about a week in and then I just bought some at the grocery store that came down the rest of the trail with me.
iPhone 13
I used my phone as my phone and to take all my pictures and videos. The iPhones with all their fancy gear are a bit heavy, but to me, the photos I was able to capture make it worth it. Plus, while I did have friends who did the trail sans phone, for me it was an essential to have.
First Aid | Hygiene
Adhesives : KT Tape / Leukotape
I only had to use KT Tape in two spots on the trail (I feel very fortunate for this). The first time was when I had some brief hip pain that ended up being caused by changing the inserts in my shoes. And the second time was in the White Mountains of NH. The Whites destroyed my knees and the KT helped keep me together. I’ve used this stuff for running half and full marathons and now on the AT and I swear by it.
As stated above in the Injinji section, I had a lot of issues with toe blisters in the beginning. Before trail I had read up on all the blister prevention stuff - the moleskin, blister bandaids, etc. The only thing that worked for me was Leukotape. That stuff was like gold to me. I started out with only strips of it but then had my mom bring me the whole roll. I would slap it on anytime I felt a hot spot coming on. This was the only thing that would stick to my sweaty feet and I was so grateful for it.
From Pennsylvania north I was so grateful to have this. Because of all the rain this year, the bugs and especially the mosquitos were rampant savages - they were relentless. I was going to have my mom send me mine but ended up getting one at trail magic at the perfect time. If I didn’t have this net I would have gone crazy - a bug net (if you’re bug prone like me) is worth its weight in gold. They’re not heavy, not too expensive, just get one - you’ll be glad you did.
Bug Spray
I tried to use natural bug spray for environmental reasons but the mosquitos were so bad that only the spray with Deet in it would work. It wasn’t ideal but it worked. I recommend either Sawyer’s Picardin or Off! Deep Woods Spray.
Also, I didn’t carry this with me, but you should definitely spray your clothes with Permethrin a few times down the trail. If you buy a bottle and share it with friends, it’ll make it more affordable.
CeraVe Mineral Sunscreen Stick
As said up above I am pale so when the green tunnel was not intact and the sun came through the trees or up north on ridgelines, I needed sunscreen. This tiny little sunscreen stick was great for me to put on my face, my neck, and any small exposed areas. I didn’t find that it was too greasy or that it made me break out any extra.
Extras : Mini Sewing Kit / Hair Ties / Nail Clippers / Tick Key / Sawyer O Ring
These were just little extras that helped me along the way. The sewing kit was in case I ripped anything - it did not get used until the Whites when I ripped my shorts but it was very much needed at that point.
The hair ties helped keep my hair back and I had a few extras in case they snapped.
Nail clippers - if you know you know. If your toenails were too long you got an extra special foot pain so these were great to keep that pain down.
The Tick Key was me carrying my fears. I was terrified of contracting lyme so I had a few different tick safety measures packed in my bag.
I did not want a waterborne illness and by keeping an extra O ring for my filter was an easy way to ensure that I did not get sick if I lost my original.
This was mostly just for my own and others' peace of mind. I would love to say I didn’t feel the need to use it, but there were some very rare occasions where I was glad to have it. And on the nights I heard rustling in the woods, it did make me feel better to have it in my hand.
I bought the one that has a handle and is easy to run with. This one is easier to hold, spray, and my preference.
Ear Plugs
I was never an earplugs person before the trail. I didn’t like the way they felt. But now I will swear by them to help me sleep when it’s noisy around me. For the first couple of months on the trail these helped me sleep through all the noises of the trail - animals rustling, horrid snoring, etc. They were just a cheap throwaway pair but they were priceless to me.
Micro Hairbrush
This was just a cheap hairbrush I grabbed from the dollar store. I knew that if I didn’t take it my hair would be tangled like a bird's nest. This was an easy way to keep my hair healthy, untangled, and easy to braid back off my neck. This is an easy and lightweight way to keep yourself somewhat presentable as well.
Toothbrush/Toothpaste
I feel like this is an obvious thing to bring, but I knew some people on trail that wouldn’t brush their teeth except in town. I carried a travel toothpaste and a bamboo toothbrush (super lightweight). I would replenish them every few weeks. Do yourself, your dentist, and your fellow hikers a favor and take a few minutes twice a day to do some teeth care. You never know when you might meet someone you want to get close to.
With all the wind and when the green tunnel was bare, my lip balm was an easy way to keep my lips from burning. I just prefer the way that Sunbum’s lip balm smells.
Pills/Meds/Supplements : Ibprofen/Zyrtec/BC
These are mostly by preference and what I needed. I very rarely took an Ibuprofen or a Zyrtec but I did need them for a few moments on trail. Pack the medication you need and think you need. You don’t want to be caught in a moment where you need it but don’t have it.
Hand Warmers
I mainly used the hand warmers in GA/NC to stick in my sleeping bag on cold nights and they did make a difference. I just used the cheap disposable ones - they were easier to manage on the trail. If I wasn’t going on such a long or varying temperature trip, I would probably invest in some reusable ones.
Extras
I had this wallet before trail and it was relatively lightweight and durable. It worked perfect for the trail and held everything I needed. Plus it was better than a plastic bag for my cards.
Some people might think that these added unneeded weight but I think they helped me keep myself organized. They were paper thin, lightweight, and pretty dang durable. These colorful little ditty bags helped me keep all my water gear, toiletry gear, and first aid stuff all together and know exactly which bag I needed to grab for certain items.
Toilet Kit
TP/Wipes
I’m not going to lie… I carried toilet paper for the first week on trail and then I just carried wipes. Wipes made me feel cleaner after going #2 and I wasn’t worried about them getting soggy or destroyed. To each their own, wipes worked better for me.
My Kula Cloth is another reason why I did not carry any toilet paper. A Kula Cloth Pee Rag is for anyone who squats when they pee. They’re anti-microbial, have awesome designs, and work so well. I would just throw it in with my wash every time I was in town and it was ready to go again.
I will say that after 6+ months in the woods, mine did start to smell a little bit but it did a great service for my time on trail and I will definitely be getting another one.
Hand Sanitizer
I feel that this one is a bit self explanatory but it’s super important to keep your hands clean to keep yourself healthy. I know that hand sanitizer isn’t as good as washing your hands, but when you’re living in the woods, sometimes it's the best you get. I would just grab a travel bottle every few weeks when I was in town.
There comes a point when all of us need to go dig a cathole in the woods and when that time comes you’re going to want a trowel. The Deuce Trowel is super lightweight and does a pretty good job of digging. It wasn’t perfect and it wasn’t as pointy or as serrated as some heavier trowels but it got the job done - I’ll take it on all my future trips.
Saalt Menstrual Cup / Liners
If you’re squeamish about periods, just skip this last one. If you’re someone who’s curious or who has a period, keep reading because this was a very important gear piece for me.
I hate tampons, pads make me feel like I’m wearing a diaper, and I didn’t want to pack any of that out. I’ve tried period underwear and like them but cleaning those out on the trail didn’t seem like a sanitary solution. Enter the menstrual cup.
I had tried a different brand many years before and it hadn’t worked for me. After some in-depth research and learning things that health class failed to teach me, I found a menstrual cup that worked for me. It took a little bit of learning and some moments of frustration but once I got the hang of it, my Saalt cup was so easy and convenient for me to use on trail and I’d recommend it to anyone.
I will say that you have to make sure your hands are clean for insertion and extraction of the cup. This is what works for me. That does not mean it works for everyone. All of our bodies are different but I had a very positive experience on trail with this.
If you’ve made it this far, you’re a champ - almost a thru hiker. This is everything that made it 2,198.4 miles down the Appalachian Trail with me. It was an amazing adventure with some awesome gear that made it possible.
I can’t wait for the next one (and to figure out what fun gear to take on it)!
If you have any questions, comments, or recommendations on gear, feel free to leave a comment or send me a private message on Instagram - I’d be happy to go into more detail about anything above!
Happy Trails!