The Evolving Gear List : 1997 – 2006

	Vermont's Long Trail 1997	Appalachian Trail 1998	Vermont's Long Trail 1999	Pacific Crest Trail  2002	Colorado Trail 2004	Continental Divide Trail 2006
BACKPACK	EMS 5500 (1996 Model)	EMS 5500 (1996 Model)	Camp Trails Scirroco (3500 CI)	LWGEAR -One Pound Pack (all mesh)	LWGEAR -One Pound Pack (all mesh)	Six Moon Designs Essence (2006 Version)
SHELTER	Walrus Swift	Walrus Swift	Walrus Swift	Campmor 8×10 Silnylon Tarp	Oware 5×7 SilNylon Tarp	Six Moon Designs Gatewood Cape
Sleeping Bag	Feathered Friends Hummingbird	Feathered Friends Hummingbird	Feathered Friends Hummingbird	Feathered Friends Hummingbird	Feathered Friends Hummingbird	Feathered Friends Hummingbird
Sleeping Pad	Z-Rest	Z-Rest	Z-Rest	Z-Rest	Z-Rest (cut down)	Generic "blue foam pad" ( cut down)
Cooking	MSR Alpine Cookset	MSR Alpine Cookset	K-Mart Alum Pot	K-Mart Alum Pot (a little beat up)	K-Mart Alum Pot (really beat up)	K-Mart Alum Pot (d-low says it should be thrown away!)
	MSR Whisperlite	MSR Whisperlite	Alcohol Stove	Alcohol Stove	Alcohol Stove	Alcohol Stove
Hydration	2 Nalgene Bottles	2 Nalgene Bottles	2 Gatorade bottles	2 Gatorade Bottles	2 Gatorade Bottles	2 Gatorade Bottles
	1 Gallon Plastic jug		Nalgene Cantene	Nalgene Cantene	Nalgene Cantene	Nalgene Cantene
	PUR Microfilter	Polar Pure	Polar Pure	Polar Pure	MP-1 Tabs	Iodine Tabs
Jacket	Generic Fleece Pullover	Generic Fleece Pullover	Generic Fleece Pullover	Marmot Driclime Windshirt	Marmot Driclime Windshirt	Montbell Light Shell Jacket
Rainwear	Windpants	Windpants	Windpants	Windpants	Montbell UL Rainpants	Montbell UL Rainpants
	PVC Rainjacket	PVC Rainjacket	Generic Nylon Rainjacket	Generic Nylon Rainjacket	Golite Wisp	Golite Wisp
Footwear	LL Bean Cresta Hikers	LL Bean Cresta Hikers	Asolo 535s	various running/trail shoes	Nike Air Pegasuses	various running/trail shoes
BASE PACK WEIGHT (Estimated)	30 lbs	28 lbs (weighed at Boiling Springs ATC office)	17 lbs	13 lbs	10 lbs (I had a digital scale for this kit)	9lbs (I had a digital scale for this kit)

• I did not include  most of my clothing as that has changed very little from the second LT hike in 1999.  I still hike in shorts, wear generic polypro and wear a synthetic hat. I may wear a long sleeve shirt, wear sunglasses and use a boonie hat for sun protection. I also use running socks with lighter footware.  Other than that, my clothing has changed little
• I used the same sleeping bag since 1997 until 2006. It really is worth paying more money for a good bag. I did put some new down in it after the PCT. After the CDT, it was time for a new bag.
• Also not included are the weights of sundry items that are less because of equipment used. A plastic bottle for fuel vs. a metal bottle for example.
• I have my full gear list posted as well. It reflects my May 2009 gear.

Looking over my list, you can see a big jump from my AT gear to my Long Trail 1999 gear. After humping a 50 lb pack over the mountains for over 2000 miles I vowed to NEVER DO THAT AGAIN!

 

Edit 4/6/2011: I was asked about the big from the AT 1998 to the LT 1999 thru-hike. The short answer is that ounces add up to pounds!

 

The pack alone was neary a 4-5 lbs difference (IIRC, the EMS 5500 was approx 7-8 lbs, the Scirroco was about 3 lbs!)  There is a significat weight difference between the MSR cookset vs the alum pot. and an MSR Whisperlight to a homemade alchy stove. Ditched the steel fuel bottle for a soda bottle for holding fuel when I switched the stoves as well.  

 

Approx twelve oz saved by switching water bottles. Went to a trash bag vs a pack cover. Ditched the minimag light for a Photon light, Etc. Etc.

 

Basically,it is the LITTLE things that added up. Shave 2-3 oz here and there (if not more) and by losing ounces you lose pounds.

 

I also took less clothing too than I did on the AT vs the LT.   Same clothing, just one pair of shorts instead of two for example! Likewise with a hiking shirt.  This is more if a It is more of a general overview list than anything,  After hiking the AT, I seriously started looking at my gear and rethinking of how I pack.

Hope that makes sense.

I do remember hiking the LT and people commenting on how little my pack was! Today, it be considered on the higher side of average for many LD hikers.

 

My shorter hikes (The Long Trail and the Colorado Trail hikes), were used to refine my techniques a bit.

 

I feel that my current gear list is more or less reflective of my 2002 PCT gear list, but with refinements: Frameless pack, down bag, trail shoes instead of boots, alcohol stove and aluminum pot.   I can picture doing all my future long walks with my PCT 2002 gear. I would not want to any of my long walks with my AT 1998 gear!

 

After the Long Trail in 1999, there was a gradual decline in my base pack weight. I am at the point where I can get lower only if I spend more money for shaving ounces rather than pounds. It gets to the point that I have to ask myself how much money is worth spending to lose more weight in my pack? I notice very few thru-hikers dip below 8lbs. The people pushing the weight envelope tend to be out weeks rather than months.  Just an observation that may or may not conform to reality.