Bounce boxes - Appalachian Trail

imported
#1

Preparing for a 2008 AT thru hike GA>ME and have most of my stuff ready. What I don’t have is a bounce box and I was wondering what people have had success using for a bounce that was durable, easy to mail, and secure

Boom Boom

boom boom

#2

uh, the cardboard box you get at the post office.

0101

#3

A five gallon plastic painters bucket fits your criteria. It has a twist on lid so you need not mess with tape and it will not break down like cardboard. Recently saw such buckets for sale at home depot for a couple of dollars. They were orange which should help the postal people quickly locate your box in a busy office. Would be a good idea to check with your local post office to be sure it passes regulations. I’m reasonably sure others have used these on trail but, I’d still check with a post office first.

bounce box

#4

how would you ship the bounce box, first class or would you use standard shipping?

luke kaim

#5

If you want to insure that it shows up at the next post office and not a week later, don’t use standard shipping. With Priority packages, if you don’t open the box and don’t need anything out of it, the post office will forward it for free.

Miner

#6

Why do you want a bounce box? Whatever you’re bouncing up the trail, you can find locally. By the time you pay for postage, you’ll pay way more for whatever you’re bouncing up. Plus, it’s just one more thing you have to worry about when you get into town.

Moose

#7

Just a big old cardboard box. Moose is wrong. You can’t find specialty items in all towns so just send “your stuff” ahead in the box. You’ll be happy to resupply from your old box instead of searching towns that don’t have it. Save much time going to the post office than running around in stores. When your off the trail for a day you want food, rest, a hot shower and more food and that cold beer.

NedtheFed

#8

I used bounce box on the AT and PCT. I really like it, espacialy when you’re not sure about the gear you use. I always ship my boxes parcel post and skiping one town to save money. It was good when I wanted to get my gear back or to get rid of something. And I used to keep some good food that was hard to find. But, keep it simple!

Stomp

#9

In previous years it was more of an issue, but when I hiked in '05 I never needed one. You can purchase food and fuel in basically every town along the way now, and wingfoot’s guide is pretty clear about what each town has. I never needed a “specialty item” so badly that I couldn’t wait a couple towns up the way. My .02

Snail