Appalachian Trail Gear List

Since my Appalachian Trail thru-hike, I've worked at two gear shops located on two National Scenic Trails. First, at Mountain Crossings on the Appalachian Trail (February 2019) and later at Triple Crown Outfitters (June 2019) in Kennedy Meadows on the Pacific Crest Trail. You could say I have an affinity for gear talk, shakedowns, and everything in between!

With that in mind, I’ve compiled a suggested packing list for aspiring thru-hikers on the Appalachian Trail. In addition, I include a few links for what brands work best. For a longer, more detailed post about what I carried on the Appalachian Trail, check it out here.

Please leave a comment or share with a friend if you found this list helpful!


BASIC Thru-hiker gear list

The Big Four

  • Shelter
  • Sleeping Bag
  • Sleeping Pad
  • Backpack
  • Electronics

    Clothes

    Water & Cook System

    Products/First-aid

    • Hand sanitizer
    • Band-aids, Neosporin
    • Sunscreen
    • Bug repellant
    • Ibuprofen, Benadryl, etc.

    Miscellaneous



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    Things to Consider

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    Sleep shelter

    On the AT, I slept in a hammock. On the CDT, I slept in a tent. Simply, the trail and terrain could influence your choice of sleep shelter. It's easy to find great hammock camping on the AT, but not easy on all of the CDT.

    Cook System or Stoveless

    On the AT, I endeavoured to go stoveless, meaning that I didn't carry a fuel cannister or a stove. Instead, I opted to cold-soak my dinners or rehydrate meals in a Talenti jar. My go-to dinner starts with instant potatoes and then add cheese, crunchy chips, a tuna packet, or Spam. First thing in the morning, I'd make instant oatmeal, cranberries, and a breakfast essential and let that hydrate for an hour or so. Right when I take my first morning break, I'll pull out the oats and eat a hearty breakfast.

    Weather

    When preparing for a thru-hike, whether northbound, southbound, or flip-flop, I find it helpful to gauge your weather timeline and pack accordingly. For example, when I hiked south from Mt Katahdin in June, I carried a synthetic vest rather than a full sleeve puffy jacket. When I was in Virginia in October, I sent myself a hooded down jacket to help with increasing colder temperatures.

    I mention an umbrella in the list above simply because I would never thru-hike without one! I didn't pick one up until Harper's Ferry on the AT. Once I had one, I understood! Keeping your head dry is everything.



    Alexa Tubbs