• Appalachian Trail Gear List

    Most Popular Backpacks For the Appalachian Trail

    BackpackWeightCapacityMaxPrice
    Hyperlite Mountain Gear 3400 Southwest Pack2.18 lbs55 liters40lbs$355
    Osprey Exos2.7 lbs58 liters40lbs$220
    Gossamer Gear Mariposa2.0 lbs60 liters35lbs$285
    LiteAF Curve X401.6 lbs55 liters30lbs$245
    ULA Circuit2.6 lbs68 liters35lbs$280
    Gossamer Gear G4-201.6 lbs42 liters30lbs$195
    Granite Gear Crown 21.7 lbs60 liters35lbs$175
    Most Common Backpacks on the Appalachian Trail

    See our comprehensive review and list of the most popular backpacks for the Appalachian Trail

    Sleeping BagWeightFIllTemperature Rating Price
    Feathered Friends FlickerReg: 27.1 oz / 771g Long: 28.1 oz / 799 g900-fill down20ºF / -6.67ºC$429
    Rei Magma 15Long – 1 lb. 14.6 oz.Regular – 1 lb. 12.2 oz.850-fill down16°F / -8.9°C$400
    Mountain Hardware Bishop Pass 15Long – Left Zip: 2 lbs. 7.9 oz.Regular – Left Zip: 2 lbs. 5.4 oz.650-fill down15°F / -9°C$275
    Therm-a-Rest Corus 20 QuiltLong: 1 lb. 13 oz650-fill down20°F / -6°C$300
    Katabatic Flex 22 Quilt1 lb. 6.1 oz.900-fill down22°F / -5.5°C$410
    Enlightened Equipment Enigma1.17 lb950-fill down20°F / -6°C$355
    Western Mountaineering Ultralite 20FRegular – 1lb 13oz850-fill down20°F / -6°C$540
    Comparison Table for Backpacking Sleeping bags for the Appalachian Trail
    ShelterWeightMaterialTypeCapacity
    (people)    		price
    Z packs Duplex1.2 lbsDyneema composite fabricTrekking pole2$699
    Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL22.8 lbsRipstop nylon/polyester meshSemi free standing2$400
    Gossamer Gear The One1.1 lbsNylon Ripstop SIL/PU fabricTrekking pole1$300
    NEMO Hornet 21.9 lbsNylonFreestanding2$400
    Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL23.1 lbsRipstop nylonSemi Freestanding2$500
    REI Flash Air 2.8 lbsCoated NylonTrekking pole2$350
    Zpacks Free Duo1.9 lbsDyneemaFreestanding2$850
    MSR Hubba NX 12.1 lbsRipstop nylon/15-denier nylon meshFreestanding1$410
    Hyperlite Ultamid 21.2 lbsDyneemaTrekking Pole2$735
    Six Moon Designs Lunar Solo1.7 lbsSilicone Coated PolyesterTrekking pole1$250
    Appalachian Trail Shelter / Tent Comparison Review Table

    Read our comprehensive review of the best tents and shelters for backpacking the AT

    PCT ShoeDrop (Heel to Toe)Weight (Pair)Price
    Hoka Challenger ATR 65 mm1 lb. 3.7 oz.$140
    Merrel Moab 2 Ventilator5 mm1 lb. 15 oz.$110
    Brooks Cascadia8 mm1 lb. 6 oz.$130
    Salomon X Ultra 3 Low11 mm1 lb. 9.8 oz.$120
    Altra Lone Peak 60 mm1 lb. 4.5 oz.$140
    Hoka Speedgoat 54 mm1 lb 4.8 oz.$155
    La Sportiva Bushido II6 mm1 lb. 5 oz.$130
    Topo Athletic Ultraventure 2 5 mm1 lb 4.4 oz.$135
    La Sportiva Wildcat12 mm1 lb. 9 oz.$120
    AT hiking and backpacking shoe comparison table
    Sleeping padWeightR-ValueTypePacked SizeThickness Price
    Big Agnes Q-Core Delux[regular] 1lb / 453g3.5Air[regular] 4 x 7.5in / 10 x 19 cm3.35 in / 8.5 cm$129
    Sea to Summit UltraLite Insulated 16.9 oz / 480 g3.1Air4 x 9 in / 10 x 23 cm2 in / 5 cm$140
    Exped Dura 3R38.8 oz / 1088g5.2Air9.1 x 6.3 in / 23 x 16 cm3.5 in / 8.9 cm$112
    Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Lite (Women’s)12 oz / 340 g5.4Air9 x 4.1 in / 23 x 10 cm2.5 in / 6.4 cm$200
    Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xtherm15 oz / 425 g6.9Air9 x 4 in / 23 x 10 cm2.5 in / 6.4 cm$230
    NEMO Switchback Sleeping Pad14.5 / 411g2Foam20 x 5.5 in / 50 x 13 cm0.9 in / 2.3 in$45
    Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite (Small)8 oz / 227 g4.2Air9 x 3.5 in / 23 x 9 cm2.5 in / 6.4 cm$150
    NEMO Tensor Insulated 15 oz / 425 g3.5Air8 x 3 in / 20 x 8 cm3 in / 7.6 cm$142
    Therm-a-Rest NeoAir UberLite8.8 oz / 249 g2.3Air6 x 3.5 in / 15 x 9 cm 2.5 in / 6.4 cm$220
    Klymit Static V2 16.33 oz / 462g1.3Air8 x 3 in / 20 x 8 cm2.5 in / 6.4 cm$52
    Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol14 oz / 396g2Foam20 x 5.5 / 50 x 14 cm0.75 / 1.9cm$55
    Best Sleeping pads for backpacking the Appalachian Trail
    JacketWeightFillPrice
    Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer 28.3 oz / 235 g800-fill goose down$325
    Men’s Nano Puff® Hoody12.8 oz / 363 gNil $249
    Men’s Torrid APEX Jacket7.75 oz / 220gClimashield Apex$185
    Arc’teryx Cerium LT Down Hoodie10.9 oz / 309 g850-fill-power down$303
    RAB Microlight Jacket – Men’s8 oz / 226 g750 fill power$250
    REI 650 Down Jacket 2.011 oz / 311 g650-fill-power down$99.95
    Best insulated jackets for thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail
    ShellPriceWeightFabricPit zips Pockets
    Arc’teryx Zeta SL$29910.9 oz / 309 gGore-Tex (2-layer) with Paclite PlusNo2 zippered hand
    Enlightened Equipment Visp$2105 oz / 142gRipstop 7D nylon outer layerYesNo
    Marmot Precip Eco$99.9510.1 oz / 268 gNanoPro EcoYes2 zippered pocket
    Outdoor Research Helium $1596.3 oz / 178gPertex Shield Diamond Fuse (2.5-layer) [face fabric] 30D nylon ripstopYes2 zippered pockets
    Montbell Versalite$2196.4 oz / 182 g2-layer GORE-TEX INFINIUM™ WINDSTOPPER®10-denier Ballistic Airlight nylon ripstopYes2 zippered hand pockets
    Frogg Toggs$304.8 oz / 132g100% PolyethyleneNo2 zippered hand pockets
    North Face Venture 2$9911.6 oz / 330 g2.5-layer DryVentYes2 zippered hand pockets
    Arc’teryx Beta SL Hybrid Jacket$276.2512.3 oz / 349 gGore-Tex Paclite, Gore-Tex Pro, & Gore C KnitYes2 zippered hand pockets
    Patagonia Torrentshell 3L$14913.9 oz / 394 gH2No Performance Standard shellYes2 zippered hand
    Most popular rain jackets on the Appalachian Trail
    HeadlampLumensRechargeabilityWeightPrice
    Nitecore NU25360Yes1 ounce $36.95
    Black Diamond Spot 350350No3 ounces with batteries $29.93
    Petzl Actik Core450Yes2.65 ounces with batteries $69.95
    BioLite 330330Yes2.43 ounces with batteries$59.95
    Petzl Tikkina250No3 ounces with batteries$19.95
    Petzl Swift RL900Yes3.5 ounces$119.95
    Coast FL1R200Yes1.1 oz$34.99
    Most popular headlamps for backpacking and thru-hiking the AT

    See our comprehensive review of the most popular headlamps on the Appalachian Trail

    SockPrice
    Darn Tough Microcushion$24
    Smartwool Crew Light$23
    Injinji Trail Midweight $16
    REI COOLMAX$10
    Wrightsock Coolmesh 2$17
    Woolrich Ten Mile Edge$20
    Hiking Socks for the Appalachian Trail

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