I am gearing up for my through hike and drove to uncle johnnys hostel to price gear and ask lots of questions. I have found that gear is so expensive but then I cam home and went to Amazon and priced everything for $500.00 is this my best option? I feel that I have investigated everything pretty well and the stuff I landed on will suit my needs. Is it true a lot of people abandon their gear on the trail and quit? How do you handle the emotional ups and downs on the trail so this will not be a waste? By the way the staff and guests at the hostel were so accommodating and made me feel so good about this trip I just do not want to quit. I heard the resupply stops are about one every three days apart except the 100 mile wilderness do you find it isn't so lonely because of this cause I am hiking alone? Lots of questions....
_Leo the Lion of Lanister_Gearing up for $500.00 or less
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#1
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#2
The problem with $500 gear from amazon is it is usually, but not always, heavier then more expensive gear and not as well built. There is a chance you will have gear failure on the trail and have to replace the cheaper stuff. That being said I saw lots of people hiking on a shoestring with WalMart gear who seamed to have the same success rate as anyone. If you have done your research you will most likely not be abandoning gear along the way and do not think about quitting before you even start. Push through the emotional ups and downs. Everyone gets them at some point. Hikers live in the moment and when the moment sucks it seems like it has always sucked and will always suck. Most of the time you will walk along feeling fine and occasionally be feeling great. Resupply on the AT are always 3 to 5 days apart depending on how long you are willing to hitch or hike off-trail. Some resupplies are pretty meager pickings but go with the flow and you should be OK. Even in the 100 mile wilderness it is possible to get resupplied if you are willing to pay for it. Relax, don't worry, it will all work out in the long run.
_Big B_
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#3
Leo, Don't worry about being lonely on the AT. It's downright crowded out there. If you enjoy hiking with others you'll very likely meet similar people the first week you're out there. Good luck and good weather!
_bowlegs_
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#4
A $500 gear budget is pretty thin. A good pair of shoes run $100+ and only last 5-600 miles. Most go through 4 pairs.
You can get away with cheap gear for a while, but it will wear out quick and will have to be replaced so in the end it will cost you more.
It also depends on when you start. If you start in the early spring like March or April, you need much better gear then if you start when it’s warmer like in May.
Gear gets abandoned (usually sent home) because lots of people start out with way too much stuff and find a 40 pound pack a bit difficult to lug around.
I would suggest you go over to the whiteblaze.net forum where you can get answers to your questions as the gear and finance questions are popular topics.
_Slo'go-en_
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#5
I would suggest to go ahead and spend the money for NEW gear instaed of used gear that want last 500 miles it would be cheaper in the long run.
the Lonely aspect of a thru-hike, no body is truly alone on any part of the AT their is always some one out their to talk to. you deal with it the best you can, keep your mind occupied.
I normally will get resupplied about every five days, but yes a person can go in to a town 2-3 days if town visits is your thang.
Yes on all three of my AT thru-hikes their have been times i would come across gear laying beside the trail or at a shelter that nobody wants or simply don’t feel like carrying it.
_RED-DOG_