Over the years my base pack weight has become lighter and lighter. It took many miles and years of tinkering to get to this point, though!

I have been asked if I had gear lists for the different trails I’ve done. Up until now, I did not.

Since I am dealing with multiple trails and equipment from a decade of thru-hiking, I do not recall the exact weights. The BASE PACK WEIGHT is a guess for the earlier days. I also did not list every item, only the “biggies.”, Obviously, some of the items in 2009 are different from their 1996 or so counterparts. The lists should prove to be instructive, though.  I also have my current gear list posted (as of July 2012).

GEAR LIST FOR THRU-HIKES, 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)

NOTES:

• I did not include most of my clothing as that has changed very little from the second LT hike in 1999. 

Continue reading The Evolving Gear List : 1997 – 2006 at PMags.com.