My AT pack list -- please critique

[furtigan]

I'm starting out ~3/14. This is my spring kit; things will change as the weather warms up. A few of the weights may be a bit off; a couple of things are still coming in the mail or not bought yet. I'm not looking to count grams here, so much as make sure I'm not missing something obvious or taking something that's a waste.


Item Weight (oz)
Shelter & Sleep
Treklite Doublenest 20
JRB NoSniveller incl stuff sack 23
JRB Nest incl stuff sack 21
suspension 2
(ENO bug net added in summer)
CCF sleeping pad, incl wings 20
MacCat deluxe tarp 13
Straps 3
lines 8
stakes 1

Food & water
spork 0.5
Camelbak empty 8
water bottles 2
Jetboil PCS incl fuel 22
Aquamira 2
Bearbag and line 2

Hygeine & Health
Campsuds 2
burt's shampoo bar 2
TP 2
Body glide 4
Bug dope in summer
FA kit 10

poison ivy soap
antibiotic ointment
bandaids
moleskin
razor
iburofin
pepto tabs
claratin
imodium
oxycodone
cough drops
small Ace bandage
safety pins

Misc
Lighter 2
vaselined cotton balls (thanks, cannibal) 2
multitool 2
maps 8
companion/data book 4
Money/credit cards/ID 2
headlamp/batteries 4
camera 5
paperback book 8
notebook & pencils 8
MP3 player 2
Spare batteries 4
Bearbag and line 2
Stuffsacks 1
2 Bandanas 2
JustJeff pack cover 3

Clothes in pack
Stuff sack for clothes 2
spare T shirt 3
2 spare compression shorts 6
spare socks 4
spare sock liners 2
sleeping socks 3
Thermal jammies 12
Balaclava 4
Frogg Toggs (camp clothes over jammies) 16
mesh ballcap (for rain) 3
crocs 6

Gear in Pack weight 281

Pack
Atmos 50 51

Total Base Weight 332

Consumables
Water (2.5 L) 40
Food (32 per day *5 day) 160

Total Pack Weight 532 (33.3 lb)

Worn/carried
Boots 52
Poles 16
Tshirt 6
Insulated top 8
fleece 22
Compression shorts 3
socks 3
sock liners 2
zip-off pants 22
Gloves 2
insulated ear band 2
Sunglasses 2

Skin Out 674 (42 lbs)


A few questions:

-- I haven't bought the Atmos yet -- any thoughts on that vs. a ULA catalyst?

-- I listed wearing an insulated top, a t-shirt, and a fleece -- is that overkill (considering that I could use my PJs & raingear in a real emergency?)

[pure_mahem]

I'd add a small sewing kit and a fold of some duct Tape. That way you can repair stuff if you have a situation. Maybe a toothbrush and some dental floss. You could always use a willow twigh for that I suppose, make sure you can identify it. I'd still bring the dental floss, you could make it part of the sewing kit by using that instead of thread. JMO!

[furtigan]

Ah -- forgot to add, I'll be putting duct tape on my poles, and hopefully getting poles with a built-in compass.

Good suggestion on the dental stuff and the needle.

[Hooch]

Ah -- forgot to add, I'll be putting duct tape on my poles.......

I'd put the duct tape elsewhere, but definitely not on the poles. While it may be convenient, you have to swing the weight of the poles and the duct tape every step you take. Personally, I wrap several feet of the magic stuff around a tongue depressor or bamboo skewer and cut to just longer than the duct tape is wide. Works for me, hopefully for you too.

[Coffee]

I'd put the duct tape elsewhere, but definitely not on the poles. While it may be convenient, you have to swing the weight of the poles and the duct tape every step you take. Personally, I wrap several feet of the magic stuff around a tongue depressor or bamboo skewer and cut to just longer than the duct tape is wide. Works for me, hopefully for you too.

I still have the little bit I started with on my poles. I tried to use it once and it really didn't hold. If I carry it again I will try it on something else not exposed to the weather.

Definitly take the insulation. It doesn't weigh that much. Also don't buy into the super ultra light stuff everyone will be talking about. The right weight is what you can pack comfortably. My base weight was the lightest when I started, and got heavier as I went from there.

Something to think about too is at some hostels there is no mattresses. You will be staying on the floor. A pad is definitly needed on a thru in my opinion. Plus if you roll up on an empty shelter and it is pouring rain it is nice to stay in the dry shelter vs setting up the tarp in the rain.

A thought on your pack is to have plenty of extra room when it is packed. That way when the hunger hits you have the room to carry the extra food. Also if you are cold you can pack out the cheap fleece for a cold snap. I am planning on making a new pack with my old frame. I think the perfect pack for me is 5500 ci, can comfortably carry 50+ lbs, yet only weighs 3.5 lbs. A little on the extreme side for most, but I think it will work under any condition I will be hiking in.

[Nest]

Ok, a few suggestions. Do you plan on having a JRB and a pad underneath you? Insulation is a person to person thing, but that may be more than you need with that start date. Maybe you could switch the pad out with something like a winshield screen, or insulbrite. Just cruious if you have tried out that setup and how low it has gotten you.

Ok, now the small stuff. All just my opinion and suggestions...

Switch camelback with platypus bladder. It's lighter, and common enough on the trail that patches or replacement peieces like a hose or bite valve can be found.

Campsuds and shampoo bar. I doubt you would end up taking showers out there. Everyone stinks, and no one cares. Worst thing that could happen is you are clean, which makes everyone around you smell really bad. If you stink, you don't notice when others do. Hiking is a dirty activity. If you stress being clean too much you will go crazy. Carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer instead. Just clean your hands after using the privy, and before you handle your food. The rest can be cleaned in town in a shower.

Other than that, you in pack looks good. Right around the weight of mine. I figure if you are in the low 30 lb range then you are fine.

When you hike, you will probably be down to the zip off pants and a t-shirt. I keep my rain jacket handy for when I take breaks to act as a wind jacket. When you hike you are burning so much energy that it's hard to get cold. I get cold easily, and actually broke a small sweat hiking in 30* weather earlier this year. All I was wearing was zip off pants and a thin nylon long sleeve shirt. So I hike in a t-shirt year round now.

[Dutch]

I think the list looks good, you listed bear bag and rope twice. Some of the stuff you will probably send home pretty soon. For a sewing kit I took of the strike pad off of rainproof matches and put 2 sizes of needles in it then wrapped some thread around it. I never used the matches but used the needle and thread a couple times. I also like to take super glue, if for nothing else i use it for blisters. I don't use glide anymore I use butt paste. A very small amount will give you so much comfort. Remember gear doesn't take you to Maine, you take the gear to Maine. You will see alot of people regearing a Neels Gap.

[headchange4u]

I sold my Osprey Aether 70 and got the ULA Catalyst. I love the ULA. It very comfortable and it should save you some weight.

[Coffee]

I couple thoughts. Mainly is it is going to get cold out there when you are starting. Nights in the 20's or lower is not uncommon.

Other than that just be prepared to figure it out as you go. If in doubt carry it. If you don't use it and it isn't emergency/first aid, ditch it.

I will say that most people only carry sleep clothes and wear the same thing hiking everyday. With the expection of socks. But I usually seemed to wear the same socks. I would rather wear wet ones than carry them.

I only carried hand sanitizer for cleaning. I still have the same 2oz thing of camp suds I started with. I think I used it 2 or 3 times when it was really bad and I had a place to swim.

I would make sure you have a water bottle you feel comfortable sleeping with. Also Aquia Mira will freeze if it gets cold enough.

[Take-a-knee]

I would carry one of these for sleeping with a quilt:

http://www.bozemanmountainworks.com/...wproduct&id=90

Also, I've had better luck with Underarmor boxer briefs than compression shorts, the legs fit me snug enough to prevent chaffing, they are lighter and dry MUCH faster, YMMV.