Greenhorn Gear: A Newbie’s Thru-Hiking Gear List
I’m new to hiking but I know that you need gear to hike the Appalachian Trail. So I had to figure out what is and isn’t worth the weight for me. It is my hope that sharing this information will be a helpful starting point for other aspiring or committed thru-hikers. I also want to commemorate my first gear list to see how drastically this all changes after ~2,200 miles!
(If you just want the gear list, head to the Gear List tab on my author profile.)
HOW I RESEARCHED GEAR
If you read my first post, you know that my NOBO AT hike in 2023 will be my first real foray into backpacking and camping. Subsequently, my knowledge of gear relies primarily on reviews from The Trek, YouTube videos and shakedown hikes. The Trek’s Best of 2022 article series was the starting point for most of my gear.
Reflecting on my choices, I know that I highly value the opinions of recent thru-hikers when compared to other sources. I cross-referenced the Best of 2022 articles with The Trek’s 2021 Hiker Survey. Seeing the same gear repeatedly across different posts and videos also played a heavy hand in what gear I tested first. (I’m talking about everyone and their extended family seeming to have a Sawyer Squeeze peeking out of their bag.)
David Firari gives a detailed report on his gear list, find it all here.
Del Escuadrón
Conversaciones de campamento con nuestra comunidad, desde los miembros del escuadrón y los embajadores hasta los socios de marca y el equipo de Sawyer.
Menciones en los medios de comunicación
This Sawyer repellent won a SELF Outdoor Award in 2022.
Menciones en los medios de comunicación
The first detections of West Nile virus this year are a reminder to take steps to prevent mosquito bites and possible disease.
Menciones en los medios de comunicación
Both Consumer Reports and the Environmental Working Group (EWG) suggest that oil of lemon eucalyptus and picaridin can each serve as an alternative to DEET.
