Are the guide books that come along with the trail maps a necessity? or will the data book and companion be enough? I have some experience as a hiker, but nothing as extended as a thru hike.
If they are not needed than I would rather put the money to work somewhere else, thanks.
BS
Big Slick
I know you’ll get different opinions, but I bought the map-guide book set and didn’t look at the guidebooks once. I left them at home, which my parents enjoyed reading to find out what I was going by. I’d get e-mails “Did you see such and such?” and I’d have no clue what they were talking about.
Besides the weight, you’d be too tired at night to read about the upcoming day anyway.
I’d keep the maps, toss the books 
Xena
Xena
I found the guide books to be great reading for my planning and leisure time up to the hike, i sent the first one home at Suches i think along with a bunch of other stuff i didnt need, and now they look really impressive on my bookshelf lined up in a row.
Do you absolutely need them? no
are they interesting? i think so.
i guess if you are tight on money, my answer would be use the money for a good shirt/extra socks/etc
big boy
I just received the ATC maps-only set for the southern part of the Trail. Seems like the maps and Wingfoot provide ample information, so that’s what I’m taking. Guidebooks? We don’t need no stinking guidebooks…:boy
Tyger
are all you need. The map sets and state by state guides aren’t really for thrus. Use the Companion to plan, then stick it in your bounce box. Make some pre-hike notes in your DataBook and carry that. The 2005 DataBook is the 27th annual edition!
TJ aka Teej
It irresponsible to go hiking with out maps. They are always on the list of essential items.
Guidebooks on the other hand. If you don’t have them, you can usually pick them up in the hiker boxes. Maps have improved dramatically over the years. No real need for guidebooks. I do recommend carrying Wingfoot’s Handbook or the ALDHA companion and Data book.
Peaks
I had the Companion but sent it home because I never used it. I haven’t seen the Data Book, but there are city maps in the back of Wingfoots that point you to the laundries, etc. The Companion is just “This is why they call it Blood Mountain,” and interesting reading is a luxury, not a necessity.
If you want to save some money, you can always go with an older version of a guidebook. You’ll miss some Trail reroutes and a new shelter or two, but that’s no big deal. Also remember that the Trail is a busy place and if, for example, you get to Erwin and can’t find Miss Janet’s for the life of you, you’ll run into another hiker in no time.
0101
I purchase both but use the guidebook at home for planning. I hike with the map and companion. I use the map for the trail and the companion for town information. If you get good at map reading a map will tell you a lot more about where you are and whats ahead on the trail then a book will. I do love reading the guides though and will make notations in the companion and on the map for some thing I get from reading them.
Big B