I am hiking the LT in June/July, and this is my first month-long hike. Does anyone have gear suggestions? I have been having trouble finding cheap lightweight gear for a small woman. Any advice on where to look or what to get would be great.
Thanks!
Lyra
I’m not sure of the best source for women’s gear but the June issue of “Backpacker” has a section on gear designed for women. Keeping your pack light will make walking easier and help you enjoy the LT, no doubt about that. Best of Luck.
celt
I think the only gear you’ll need to be fitted for a woman is your pack. Aside from clothes/shoes of course.
Packs are a bit expensive but two I have recommendations come in for less than $200. Check out the Gearskin www.moonbowgear.com and the Mithril at www.kiskiloutdoors.com. Both are custom made (meaning you send them measurements and an outline of your torso and they fir the pack to you. They also fit into the ultralite scheme of things. They require some time to make so order soon if you’re interested.
Don’t skimp on your sleeping bag. Check eBay for good deals.
Cheapest and lightest stove you can bring is the pepsi can stove. I just built one and I am impressed with it’s effectiveness. Get directions at pcthiker.com.
If you’re not carrying that much 30lbs or less. Hike in sneakers. I just bought a pair of Salomon XA PRos on eBay anf they rock. 70 bucks!
Hope this helps
Grimace
My wife and I are walking the LT starting in early June. We might even run into you on the trail! As something for you to compare against, we put our best attempt at a gear list at http://www.trailjournals.com/epril/ (We’re still tinkering with it a bit.) Most of our stuff is reasonably cheap and quite light.
Eric
Thanks for the suggestions! Most of what I need is clothing. I’m trying to develop a lightweight layering system for Vermont in the summer. Oh, and I have that issue of Backpacker and I have to say that I am immensly happy with them. They did a great job with the issue.
Lyra
Responded to your other topic on food budget. Recommend on gear, you as suggested previously seek out good deals (look on ebay). Also this may work for you, rent your gear—some outfitter have some used gear you can rent. Additionally check with the members of hiking and backpacking clubs in your area, you may be able to get the loan of some gear for nothing or for very little cost. Since you are a novice, I suggest you do not put a lot of money into something you know very little about and have very little experience in. I also suggest that before you do this 35 day hike, you do some overnight hikes and get yourself in trail shape and learn a lot of the basics from these overnight hikes. A lot of people spend a lot of money on equipment such as packs, stoves, sleeping bags, etc and discard it along the trail within the first few miles of their hike when they realize how tough hiking is. A lot of good high quality gear is thrown away yearly by would be AT hikers shortly after leaving Springer Mountain, the start of the AT in Georgia. Bottom line, before you try to do it, get in the best trail shape you can. Hope all of this helps.
Maintain
This is my first month long hike, but I have done many overnights and a few weeklong trips. I have a good pack, tent, sleeping bag, stove, etc. It is just the clothing that I am really looking for. I am having trouple finding inexpensive hiking pants and am trying to decide things like shound I carry a pair of pants and shorts or is 1 pair converable pants enough. I tend to overpack, and i do NOT want to do that on this trip.
Lyra
You can buy everything you need at Walmart. You don’t need expensive stuff. I’d take at least one change of clothes in case what you’re wearing gets wet—so you will have something to wear while you hang the others up to dry. Also take rain gear. Take some tight fitting shorts to prevent chaffing, in case it starts to be a problem—pull up other forum topics on hiking clothes and chaffing and look at them for ideas/info.
Maintain
Thanks! That’s a relief, cash-wise. I think between Wal-Mart and Campmor our bank accounts might actually survive the trip!
:girl
lyra
I thought I had finally found the best fitting pack for me last year. It was Low Alpine beartooth 45 liter. I broke myself and the pack last year so I would be preped for my thru hike this year. Well long story short my girlfriend decided she wanted to hike with me,so we had to get her a back. After a few weeks and many stores later she finally found the sweetest pack. It is the Asolo encounter 50 liter.
This pack is so sweet I made the mistake of trying it on myself Well now we both are sporting new packs. Hers is blue mine is green. There is a mans version of this pack but the womans fit more perfectly for me.
My girlfriend has not done much back packing but she loves the way it feels.
We will trail test them both in June. Btw the cost was pretty descent too. We paid $129 Canadian with both taxes that came to 149.52 Can. Bought in Montreal about 2 weeks ago.Hope that helps and good luck
Radwalker