Had a thru-hiker tear into my gear list, totally changed my setup

I posted my pack list on a forum before a 5 day trip on the Appalachian Trail last month. Some guy who finished the whole trail in 2021 basically told me I was carrying 8 pounds too much crap. He pointed out my 3 pound tent, two extra pairs of socks, and a giant first aid kit. I cut my base weight from 22 pounds to 14 by swapping to a trekking pole tent and ditching redundancies. Has anyone else had their ego checked by a veteran hiker and actually listened to the advice?

3 comments

3 Comments

susanm5625d ago

That 3 pound tent is a beast, I carried one for years. My buddy laughed at me for hauling a 4 pound stove setup too. He was right though. I ditched the extra pot and now I just boil water in a cheap cup. Feels good to have a lighter pack.

davis.ruby25d ago

Bet your back thanks you for that lightweight swap.

the_wyatt25d ago

Totally feel you on that. I did the same thing with my cook setup, swapped out a big titanium pot for a tiny aluminum mug and shaved off almost a pound. It's crazy how much lighter your pack feels once you start cutting those little extras.