Gear for a thru-hike is slightly different than a typical weekend adventure, but my general strategy was to hammock camp and ultralight hike the trail with a base weight under 15 lbs. After nearly 20 years of planning, I felt good about my Day 1 plan … but so much changed on the trail.  Below is a comparison of what I started with and ended with on my thru-hike.

Click each category to expand:

Word on Body

ITEM	DAY 1 – MODEL	OZ.	DAY 150 – MODEL	OZ.
Boots	Salomon X-Mission 3 Trail Runners	22.0	Salomon X-Mission 3 Trail Runners	22.0
Socks	Smartwool PhD Outdoor Light Mini Socks	1.8	Darn Tough Hiker Quarter Cushion – Black	2.0
Gaiters	Dirty Girl Gaitors	1.0	Dirty Girl Gaitors	1.0
Pants	Northface Paramount Trail Convertible Pants	13.8	Nike Dry-fit Running pants	9.0
Sweater	Patagonia R1 Fleece Hoody	12.0	Patagonia R1 Fleece Hoody	12.0
Shirt	Smartwool Merino 150 T-Shirt	4.7	Smartwool Merino 150 T-Shirt	4.7
Underwear	Smartwool Merino 150 Boxer Brief	3.0	Smartwool Merino 150 Boxer Brief	3.0
Bandana	Orange Tough Headband Buff	1.0	Orange Tough Headband Buff	1.0
Watch	Timex Ironman Classic Mid-Size	1.2	n/a	–

“Big 3” Gear

ITEM	DAY 1 – MODEL	OZ.	DAY 150 – MODEL	OZ.
Backpack	Osprey Talon 44	37.0	Zpacks Arc Haul	23.3
Hammock Tent	Dutch Chameleon Hexon 1.6	21.6	Dutch Chameleon Hexon 1.6	21.6
Hammock Accessories	Dutch Tree Straps & Buckles; Whoopie Slings	8.4	Dutch Tree Straps & Buckles; Whoopie Slings	8.4
Hammock Tarp	UGQ Winterdream 15d Membrane 0.93	19.2	UGQ Winterdream 15d Membrane 0.93	19.2
Top Quilt	EE Revelation 20d Top Quilt	18.0	EE Revelation 20d Top Quilt	18.0
Under Quilt	EE Revolt 20d UQ Short	14.5	EE Revolt 20d UQ Short	14.5

Secondary Gear

ITEM	DAY 1 – MODEL	OZ.	DAY 150 – MODEL	OZ.
Backpack Cover	Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Pack Cover	4.0	ZPacks Pack Cover	1.5
Backpack Liner	n/a	–	35L Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Pack Liner	2.3
Water Treatment	Aqua Mira Treatment drops	3.3	Katadhin BeFree Filter	1.3
Water Storage	n/a	–	HydraPak Seeker 2L Collapsible Water Container	2.6
Chapstick	Chapstick Sunblock SPF 15	0.3	Chapstick Sunblock SPF 15	0.3
Knife	Swiss Army Classic SD	0.9	Swiss Army Classic SD	0.9
Headlamp	eGear LED Lightning EQ2	1.2	eGear LED Lightning EQ2	1.2
Ear Plugs	Walgreens Foam Ear Plugs	0.1	Walgreens Foam Ear Plugs	0.1
Phone	Apple iPhone SE w/Otterbox Case	5.3	ifeproof Fre Waterproof Case – iPhone 8	7.3
Phone Wall Plug	Ailkin High Speed Portable 2-Port USB	1.8	Ailkin High Speed Portable 2-Port USB	1.8
Phone charger	Anker Astro E1 10,000 mAh	6.3	Anker Astro E1 10,000 mAh	6.3
Headphones	Apple Earpods	0.4	Apple Earpods	0.4
Mosquito Net	Sea to Summit Mosquito Head Net	1.0	Sea to Summit Mosquito Head Net	1.0
Sunglasses & Case	Maui Jims Sugar Beach; hard case	2.5	Maui Jims Sugar Beach; hard case	2.5
Camp Shoes	Crocs Classic	13.7	Dollar Store Flip Flops	6.0
Hiking Poles	n/a	–	LEKI Cressida Poles	7.8

Extra Clothing

ITEM	DAY 1 – MODEL	OZ.	DAY 150 – MODEL	OZ.
Rain Jacket	Outdoor Research Helium II	6.4	Outdoor Research Helium II	6.4
Rain Skirt	Enlightened Equipment Rain Wrap	1.8	Enlightened Equipment Rain Wrap	1.8
Puff Jacket	Mountain Hardware Ghost Whisperer Hoody	7.7	Mountain Hardware Ghost Whisperer Hoody	7.7
Long Underwear Top	REI Co-op Lightweight Base Layer Half-Zip	6.3	REI Co-op Lightweight Base Layer Half-Zip	6.3
Long Underwar Bottom	REI Co-op Lightweight Base Layer Bottoms	5.0	REI Co-op Lightweight Base Layer Bottoms	5.0
Sleep Socks	Injinji Outdoor Midweight Mini-Crew Wool	2.0	Injinji Outdoor Midweight Mini-Crew Wool	2.0
Shorts	n/a	–	Nike Flex 2-in-1 shorts	2.1
Extra Shirt	Northface Short Sleeve Longline Flashdry Crew	4.5	Smartwool Merino 150 T-Shirt	4.7
Extra Underwear	ExOfficio Sport Mesh Boxer Briefs	2.5	Smartwool Merino 150 Boxer Brief	3.0
Extra Socks	Smartwool PhD Outdoor Light Mini Socks	1.8	Darn Tough Hiker Quarter Cushion – Black	2.0
Extra Bandana	White Paisley Bandana	0.9	n/a	–

Cooking Gear

ITEM	DAY 1 – MODEL	OZ.	DAY 150 – MODEL	OZ.
Cook Pot	Keith Ti3209 900ml Titanium Mug	4.3	Keith Ti3209 900ml Titanium Mug	4.3
Cook Stove	DIY Cat Food Can Alcohol Stove	0.2	BRS 3000T ultra-light titanium stove	1.0
Cooking Fuel	Plastic Bottle and 1 week’s use (8 oz) Denatured Alcohol	8.0	4 oz Gas Canister	8
Cooking Accessories	DIY Windscreen, Pot Cozy, Can Opener, Sponge, Scraper	2.2	DIY Windscreen, Pot Cozy, Can Opener, Sponge, Scraper	2.2
Fire Starter	Bic Mini Lighter	0.4	Bic Mini Lighter	0.4
Utensil	MSR Folding Spork	0.3	MSR Folding Spork	0.3
Water Bottles	Empty 1L Smartwater Bottle (2)	2.8	Empty 1L Smartwater Bottle (2)	2.8
Food Bag	Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Stuff Sack 20L Orange	1.2	Zpacks Bear Bag kit	1.5
Odorloss Food Bag Liner	Lopsak Opsak 12×20	1.6	n/a	–
Bear Hang & Caribiner	50 ft Dynaglide Rope, Mini Titanium Carabiner	2.5	50 ft Dynaglide Rope, Mini Titanium Carabiner	2.5

Other Gear

ITEM	DAY 1 – MODEL	OZ.	DAY 150 – MODEL	OZ.
First Aid Kit	Bandaids, Molesfoam, Alcohol Pads, Antibacterial Ointment, Nail Clipper, Leukotape	1.4	Bandaids, Molesfoam, Alcohol Pads, Antibacterial Ointment, Nail Clipper, Leukotape	1.4
Med Kit	Ibuprofen, Zyrtec, Tylenol PM, Imodium, Antibiotics (Lyme’s), Inhaler	4.1	Ibuprofen, Zyrtec, Tylenol PM, Imodium, Antibiotics (Lyme’s), Inhaler	4.1
Repair Kit	Duct Tape, Needle/Thread, Paperclips, Safety Pins, Clips/Toggles, Velcro, Batteries, Ziplocks, Rubber Bands, Garbage Bag	2.4	Duct Tape, Needle/Thread, Paperclips, Safety Pins, Clips/Toggles, Velcro, Batteries, Ziplocks, Rubber Bands, Garbage Bag	2.4
Bug Spray	Ben’s 100 Max Formula DEET	1.0	Ben’s 100 Max Formula DEET	1.0
Toothbrush	Travel Toothbrush	0.5	Travel Toothbrush	0.5
Toothpaste	Travel Colgate Toothpaste	1.0	Travel Colgate Toothpaste	1.0
Dental Floss	Up & Up Non-waxed Floss	0.5	Up & Up Non-waxed Floss	0.5
Soap/Shampoo	Dr. Bronner’s Unscented Soap	2.0	Dr. Bronner’s Unscented Soap	2.0
Sunscreen	Banana Boat 30 SPF 1oz	1.0	Banana Boat 30 SPF 1oz	1.0
Anti-Chafe Balm	Body Glide Original Anti Chafe Balm	0.8	Body Glide Original Anti Chafe Balm	0.8
Toilet Paper	Tissue To Go Toilet Paper	1.9	Tissue To Go Toilet Paper	1.9
Trowel	The Deuce of Spades	0.6	The Deuce of Spades	0.6
Sit Pad	n/a	–	Halin 4-panel closed cell pad	0.8

Winter / Luxury Gear

ITEM	DAY 1 – MODEL	OZ.	DAY 150 – MODEL	OZ.
Winter Hat	Northface Polartec Beanie	1.2	n/a
Winter Gloves	REI Co-Op Polartec Power Gloves	2.0	n/a
Waterproof Socks	Dexshell Terrain Ankle Socks	3.1	Dexshell Terrain Ankle Socks	3.1
Hat	Outdoor Research Radar Pocket Cap	1.8	Outdoor Research Radar Pocket Cap	1.8
Sleeping Pad	Thermarest Z-Lite Sol Small	10.0	Nemo Tensor Regular	15.6
Pillow	Exped AirPillow UL Medium	1.7	n/a	–
Kindle	Kindle Paperwhite	7.2	n/a	–
Corncob Pipe	Missouri Meerschaum Country Gentleman	1.8	n/a	–
Mini Tripod	JOBY GripTight Micro Stand	1.7	JOBY GripTight Micro Stand	1.7
Foot Massager	Plastic Pickle Ball	1.0	n/a	–
Frisbee	Disccraft Ultra-Star	6.3	n/a	–

Food & Water

ITEM	DAY 1 – MODEL	OZ.	DAY 150 – MODEL	OZ.
5 Days Food	Avg. 5 days @ 2lbs per day	150.0	Avg. 5 days @ 2lbs per day	150.0
2 Liters Water	Avg. 2 Liters carried at a time	70.0	Avg. 2 Liters carried at a time	70.0