Gear: what would I recommend for a solo hiker?

I just found myself responding to that question and so I’m repeating the answer for some one who did not want my budget suggestions.

Note he was asking about the AT. I wouldn’t recommend sunglasses for the AT.

Sunglasses I was just given. They are out of business so I can’t recommend them.

Instead of the $200 list I suggest for people who haven’t hiked I would recommend as follow:

XMid Pro 2p tent. Alternative, Zpacks Altaplex.

Thermarest sleeping pad. I love my Feathered Friends bag but if you aren’t zipping it to your wife’s bag when hiking I’d probably recommend 850 fill power down. I’d look for REI Magma on sale (bag or quilt).

For a stove: https://www.amazon.com/Camping-Backpacking-Titanium-Ultra-Light-Smallest/dp/B09BBKK92B stove —the GasOne stove.

https://www.imusausa.com/product/imusa-aluminum-mug-10cm/ 1.25 quart cup for a cup/pot. For two people either the Stanco Grease Pot or a careful choice of titanium.

A long handled spoon. I prefer polished titanium but the Sea to Summit aluminum spoon is lighter. Lexan “sporks” (spoon one end, fork the other) are an alternative.

Katadyn or Sawyer water filter. Hydropak or CNOC water bag.

InsectShield for having your socks and clothes treated to avoid ticks.

One pair of convertible pants —White Sierra online are often a great price. Two pairs of darn tough socks (life time replacement guarantee). Note I’m currently hiking in my Costco socks with the Darn Tough socks in reserve.

It is good to have socks that you can have sent to you on trail that are already treated. In my experience a trail will either have ticks or mosquitoes.

I’m currently using pants I bought on trail with my REI pants in reserve. I finally wore the White Sierra pants out on trail after years of use. Pants you own are always cheaper than buying new.

It is good to hike with a buff. I actually hike with two. One for my neck and the other for my head on cold nights or mornings. You can also use one to strain water before you filter it.

I have a Senchi AlphaDirect fleece for a mid-layer/fleece. I like the cut and sizing better than the one I bought for the PCT last year. Still like full zip microgrid fleeces for the AT though. Six ounces instead of four.

For rain on the AT I recommend a Frogg Toggs hat (best wide brim hat I’ve found. It is better than my Tillley hat—it weighs less, sheds water better).

For the CDT I’m using a baseball cap. I was happy with the change for the PCT and the way it works with a sun hoodie.

LiteAF food bag. Nylofume sack as a pack liner ($2.50). I bought myself a Hilltop Bags custom food bag instead of LiteAF (and use my LitetAF bag for clothes and as a pillow).

Otherwise a bag for my toilet kit (paper, hand sanitizer and trowel). A bag for meds & electronics (vitamins, altitude sickness pills, charger, power cords, power bank/battery, spare reading glasses). A bag for my water treatment: filter and hydropak bag.

For the AT I recommend thePacka.com for rain gear. For the CDT I’m using a Visp jacket and Versalite rain pants. Lightheart Gear rain jackets and Versalite rain jackets are also great. For the AT I would probably go back to the EMS (Eastern Mountain Sports) full zip rain pants.

Different trails, different gear.

For the AT I don’t recommend a sun hoodie. For the PCT I lived in one. Crater Lake by Mountain Hardware is my current favorite. My wife likes the Black Diamond ones.

For wearing in the evening to keep warm as it cools after a full day hiking a puffy is good. I’ve used them with and without a hood. Feathered Friends, Mountain Hardware, REI and Montbell make great puffies that are lighter and warmer than economy alternatives.

Economy alternatives aren’t that bad. The down free Patagonia micropuff is ok too. Bottom line is that there is a huge range of alternatives you can use on the AT and be ok.

I’ve been surprised at how much I’ve enjoyed my Black Diamond Carbon/Cork poles. Had to replace my ergo Aluminum ones when one snapped and the other was eaten by deer. Carbon was all the local store had.

So I recommend them. So do some trail pros like Skurka.

I like my Kakwa 55 pack by Durston.

Nitecore power bank and headlamp. I keep one battery bank with my electronics bag and a second in my shoulder bag with my headlamp and sunglasses.

I’ve moved from a Spot to an InReach Mini II, with insurance. Not needed for the AT.

I’ve a new shoulder strap bag from Ripstop by the Roll (DIY kit).

That’s a basic list.

Lots of things I’m not sure brand matters or I haven’t made up my mind about.

You can Google the gear rather than my providing affiliate marketing links. Keeps advice honest that way.

Gear: new food bag

I replaced my ecopak food bag with a custom color Dyneema one from Hilltop Bags. Slightly larger, much more durable.

https://hilltoppacks.com/collections/bear-food-bags

The ecopak is ok, but my guess is it has a lifespan of about one thru-hike. I’m on my second ecopak while my liteAF Dyneema bag that I use to keep clothes dry is still going strong.

While I don’t expect crowds on the CDT, my LiteAF food bag went from unique to ubiquitous on trail on the AT and the PCT which meant that in bear boxes & such it became hard to pick it out.

Win was right to suggest that I get something more distinctive. Her “Bear piñata” bag has been memorable (and I just bought her a new one in Dyneema to replace her second ecopak one).

So I got one a little less generic but not as distinctive. The hang bag (the little bag with the cable in it that you throw over a branch to use to hang) is the color of my LiteAF bag that it came with. That bag keeps my clothes dry in my pack now while a Nylofume bag protects my sleeping bag.

I have separate dry bags for my medical/electronics (a yellow bag) and my water filter (so I can sleep with it and carry extra water at need) (blue bag). I used to use the hydration pocket in my pack for that but my current backpack does not have one.

I’m happy with the gear.

Gear: our new tent

Pictures of our two tents, the XMid and the Off-set Trio

This post has some pictures, links to alternatives in the same class, and a link to a video.

Old & new together
Yes. Roomy. 42 square feet. Great headroom.

Other tents made of DCF/Dyneema

Tarptent Dipole $799

30 ounces (including stakes).

Great ventilation

https://backpackinglight.com/tarptent-dipole-li-review-1-2/ —great review. Saw a fair number on the PCT.

History. https://www.tarptent.com/tarptent/

If I had not gotten what I did the Dipole was the other tent I was looking at.

Hyperlite Unbound

28 square feet.

24 ounces. Without stakes.

$699. It is a little small and a little heavy compared to the competition. Had an advertising campaign.

The lightest tent, at under 10 ounces:

The Whisper

Note that it doesn’t have a bottom. I would be leery of using it on the Appalachian Trail or any wetter area.

The Bonfus

This is a tent made by Italians. Originally made in Norway, the company moved with the owners when they went home to Italy.

https://bonfus.com/tent/

Our new tent, an Off-set Trio

The Trio is 23 ounces (without stakes)

42 square feet.

For comparison, our old tent:

XMid Pro 2 is about 20 ounces + stakes.

Caveats

I have not included the Carbon DCF tents as they have a track record of spontaneous failures.

I used titanium shepherd hooks on the Appalachian Trail but have since moved to MSR Groundhogs for harder, rockier soil. Made the move on trail, otherwise I would probably have gotten something similar from Amazon like PMags recommends.

My video of the two tents

https://www.facebook.com/share/r/y8jhMYddu3kpSRvP/?

New Gear

My Visp came in. 5.1 ounces.

Also had my four ounce Senchi designs fleece come in. Includes a bag for washing it. I like the trim details and the slightly larger size.

I need to get the Spot out and replace the battery in it.

New gloves as well, now for new sun gloves.

The old ones wore through on the palms.

Making progress towards the CDT.

Gear: liners & shoes

I tried a Dyneema liner. Did not complete a thru hike before it was wicking water from my backpack inside the liner into my sleeping bag.

I’m now using Nylofume. It only costs $2.50. And I can tell when it isn’t waterproof without having to use the “wet sleeping bag” test.

Otherwise, this is finally out. https://www.halfwayanywhere.com/trails/pacific-crest-trail/pct-gear-guide-2023/

My Moabs are 40.5 European. The Topos are size 43 Ultraventure low tops. 10.5 vs 17.6 each. I’m getting used to them but they work.

The Ultra Raptors are 13.5 ounces each and European 41.5.

I’m liking the Topos and hope that they are comfortable with a full pack for longer distances—so far the longest distance with a full pack was ~4.5 miles or so.