Ok basically, tell me as much as you can. I know cotton is a big no-no. What clothing is absolutly necessary, and can you make any specific brand recommendations? Thanks.
Jeff
The Low Down on Clothing for a Through Hike
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#2
Patagonia capilene! REI makes a good store brand replica called MTS, not quite as pricey. Mountain Hardwear also makes great quality clothing- very durable… but again, pricey. If you shop around and check out REI outlet and things like Sierra Trading Post though, you can find some good deals. Also I feel that a 200 weight fleece is a must.
LarsyParsy
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#3
As a lady I must say I love my Bergelene underwear and tank tops, it’s a must have. Pricey, but I am noticing when I spend the money it’s worth every penny and I am so rewarded out there. Oh and my bergelene shirts too, I bought two and switch them out. Love them, they dry fast and feel good to wear. Oh and never underestimate the power of sock liners under your wool socks and wrap those feet up in moleskin BEFORE you blister, cover all the sensitive rubbing spots, you’ll be thankful you did. With my high arches, I went all out and got the serious full leather boot, my knees thanked me and I don’t notice the weight and you cannot destroy these puppies! 
Just think you build better leg muscle quicker with the boot on!
SaunteringAbbey
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#4
I agree- sock liners are a MUST! I got some made by fow river that having Xstatic fibers (silver)… this really does seem to help cut down on the funky foot odor.:tongue
LarsyParsy
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#6
For my section hike I used Underarmour briefs (like bike shorts without the padding), a cheap poly t-shirt from a sports store (soccer shirt?), patagonia heavy weight fleece top and bottom(for cold mornings and to sleep in), two pairs of smartwool socks, one pair fox river sock liners, a quilted puffball jacket or vest for the really cold nights, a lightweight windproof jacket(mountain hardware gore windstopper), a lightweight rain jacket and pants,zipoff pants, gloves, and something to keep your head and ears warm. When the weather warms up you can ditch the puffball vest, gloves, headgear and possibly the fleece or at least change to silkweight. Once you start hiking you will end up putting most of the stuff in your backpack since you’ll work up a sweat pretty quick. You’ll want it when you stop and set up camp and the chill starts to set in. You may be able to cut down on a few items if you want to jump into your sleeping bag as soon as you make camp, but I like to be able to walk around a bit without freezing.
NOOGA
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#7
Instead of the 200 wt. fleece, I was quite comfortable with the EMS Windshear Jacket and 200 wt. vest. If it was really cold, I just wore my rain shell (Precip) too. Marmot makes a Dri-clime Windshirt, but it doesn’t have the pockets and co$ts twice as much as the Windshear. This layered over a ltwt. capilene zip-tee and XO air-strip shirt which rinses and dries in a flash. I like to have the pockets for small necessities. The shirts are also pricey, but you can often find discontinued colors, etc. at Campmor or Sierra Traders.
Lady Di
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#10
Sock liners (1) keep feet odor down by absorbing moisture as your feet sweat (2) help keep you from getting blister and (3) provide extra cushioning/protection for the all important feet. I recommend two pair heavy socks, which does basically the same thing, but if boots not large enough to accomidate them, then by all means, use sock liners.
Rain pants–not necessary but good rain gear is, like a sil nylon poncho, or a rubber poncho (a bit heavy, but worth it’s weight in gold in a super heavy downpour). A good poncho will let you hike all day in a heavy rain and not get wet. You can get hypothermia and die in a cold summer rain. Also chaffing can occur and be very bad if you hike in shorts and they get wet like in a rain. Chaffing between the legs from wet hiking shorts has ended many an AT hike. Very painful and both it and hypothermia are something you definately don’t want. Good luck. Keep on hiking. 
Maintain
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#11
Different boot experts have different opinions about sock liners. Their purpose is to provide a surface for the heavier sock to rub against so it doesn’t rub against your foot and create a blister. But many say that with a good hiking sock rather than a old wool rag sock, the liner is unnecessary. Another thing, if you wash or rinse out socks on the trail, a liner dries much quicker than a heavy hiking sock.
As posted previously, good rain gear is necessary. But I would not consider a poncho adequate cover when you are in a windy and exposed area. Also, rain pants may not be necessary much of the time. However, when and where you are exposed to cooler weather, they should be carried and used. For me, that’s early in the season (before Memorial Day), late in the season, and anytime in the White Mountains.
Peaks
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#12
Flame and I thru hiked the AT last year (March to Sept). The majority of our clothes came from Wal-Mart and K-Mart. We hiked in 0 with a 15 below wind chill and never had a problem. Our first week out it didn’t get above freezing. Our water would freeze while we were hiking. We had to break ice in the springs to filter our water. Flame is very cold natured and her clothes worked perfect. There was no difference in weight of our items. My winter pack weight was less than 20 lbs without food and water. Our capilene cost $12 for tops and $16 for bottoms. Our shorts were swim trunks with the liners taken out ($5). Our zip off pants were $12. Our rain jackets were from Campmor ($22). Our fleece was also from Wal-Mart. All of our gear lasted the entire hike with out a single problem. It was not a money issue with us. We’ve been hiking for 40 years and have learned what works and what doesn’t. It just didn’t make since to spend money on things that didn’t improve the quality of our hike. There is a lot of hipe in equipment sales. If you get a chance look at Earl Shaefer’s gear. You might be surprised. We also hiked with Pineneedle who outfitted completely from WalMart. Boots, Tent ($16), sleeping bag, clothes, everything. He summited the day before us and still had his Walmart gear. On the sock issue, we traded our socks in at Trail Days for new Smartwool socks (free trade). I hiked the entire trail without sock liners and not a single blister. Blisters are caused by poor fitting boots. The socks only coverup some of the problem. I saw people with horrible feet problems. Tape, moleskin, gause, liners, you name it and their feet were one big blister. Get the right boot and break it in and you want have blisters. Flame used liners and had two small blisters in 2,100 miles. Your enjoyment will come from the hike and the people, not the gear.
Papa Smurf
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#13
Concur with all of Papa Smurf’s comments. Very good advise from a trail expert and very experienced hiker.
Keep on hiking. :cheers
Maintain
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#14
Papa Smurf,
Could you post your gear list? Outfitting from WalMart and Kmart sounds very appealing. My planned gear cost is higher than I expected, and could use some kind of blueprint for a more economical way to outfit myself for next year.
That would be greatly appreciated.
Bigfoot
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#15
You’re clothing list will change with the seasons…and miles. There are some things worth putting a little extra cash into (for weight or duribility), and somethings that aren’t. Everybody’s got their own way to do it, and as long as it keeps them marginally comfortable and safe…they’re all the right ways to do it. Here’s my list for the AT:
ALL YEAR LONG:
worn: Patagonia Silkweight Capilene L/S Tshirt, swimsuit trunks, smartwool trailrunner socks. (no liners, they don’t make a difference for me, though some would say I have feet of a rare kind…I’ve blistered only once in all of my hiking…)
Insulation (abt 20oz): Patagonia Expedition Weight tops (8oz) and bottoms (8oz), powerstretch glove liners (1oz), powerstretch balaclava (2oz) (durring the summer I use a quilt which has no hood, therefore, the balaclava keeps my head warm at night if need be.)
Raingear (abt 16oz): Red Ledge Thunderlight Anorak (8oz) and pants (6oz), OR rain mitts (not even an ounce).
Spring/Fall additions: Western Mountaineering Down Flight Jacket (10oz), fleece socks (2oz).
This list works for me. I’m not suggesting it will for you, though it is certainly just another viewpoint. One piece of advice with clothing. It’s always better to have to much clothing than to little. YOu can always manage to send it home/give it away quickly enough if you find you’re carrying too much.
Hungry Howie
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#16
I found out that Goretex and Windstopper (jacket) were both too heavy so they got switched out to Marmot Precip (or a cheaper alternative) and 100 wt fleece pullover. I do not use liner socks and don’t forget the hat and gloves. A good hat and gloves will keep you a lot warmer. Windstopper gloves are my favorite. I sent the rainpants home. I noticed Walmart and Kmart do not cary polypro during most the year, only hunting season. I still use my original polypro bought from Farm and Fleet.
TB
TurekyBacon
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#17
Here is a list of the basic things we used:
Walmart- balaclava, poypro shirt and pants, socks (traded for free Smartwools at Trail Days), shorts, zip off pants (used in winter in camp and town), fleece mittens (only used one week), fleece pullover, (Flame also used fleece pants) bandana, pocket knife
Flame made us some fleece jackets. (no pockets, It was a pullover with a full zipper so we could adjust as we got hot) She kept her’s most of the trip. I shiped my home early. It was too hot for me.
Campmor - 1 shirt, rain jacket (no pants, only used jacket in camp and as a windbraker in cold weather, one 4 liter platepus
Army surplus - 1 shirt (very thin polypro $1), wool glove liners $2
We used a tuna can stove, tyvec ground cloth, regular plastic bottles
REI - CD clip flashlight on sale for $129, treking poles sale prices $49 per pair (wore out three sets of tips but were replaced free), one Smartwool t-shirt (sleep in and town), 3/4 length ultra light thermarest
Wore Vasque boots
External pack that I’ve had for many years ($59) weighs less than 4 lbs. I didn’t use a waistbelt, just shoulder straps. I was never cold. I got hot in Juy and August!
Papa Smurf
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#19
I see most of you only took 1 set of capaline/polypro top and bottom. I was planning on taking 2 to have a dry set in camp after a day of cold rain. Is this overdoing it? ( i would love to shed the weight of that extra set)
Bigfoot
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#20
Bigfoot… You can bring an extra set if you like. You might fall in love with the clean extra set… or you might send them home at Walasi-Yi like most people. Don’t forget that clothing is all personal. Some people love fleece, others like puffy jackets. Some people do not carry any insulation for your legs others cary fleece pants. The AT if full of post offices to mail home extra stuff and outfitters to get new stuff.
TB
TurkeyBacon