“You have burdened me” – weight band
When I did my first section hike on the AT in 2019, everything was borrowed from my son. After that hike, I decided to do this “thing” and started buying my own gear. Gear considerations for section hikers are the same as for thru-hikers. I generally agree with the advice to keep your base weight under the 20-pound threshold. The lighter the better. But at the end of the day, I'm more of a light hiker than an ultralight. I don't mind a little extra weight for comfort and convenience. I like to keep my total skinned-out weight under 35 pounds in most cases. I know that for many, that's still too much. When I was in the Army's 10th Mountain Division, the pack weight required for semi-annual 12-mile road march qualification was 35 pounds. I like historical symmetry. Still, the lesson I learned from my last section hike is that I really need to cut some weight from my gear list. Lessons learned don't stay with you unless you do them. These are just lessons learned. So, with that in mind, I decided to take a closer look at my gear list and see where I could cut weight.
Tent site, Black Rock Hut, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
The Big Three: Backpack, tent, and sleeping system (10 pounds)
So, the first thing to consider is the Osprey Kestrel 48 Pack (with rain cover). I bought this pack directly from the Osprey site after my first section hike on the AT in 2019. It was a 2018 model that was almost 50% discounted. You can’t beat a nice Osprey backpack for $100. This backpack has served me well on short section hikes over the past 5 years. I love the organization, the ease of carrying, and the airflow between my back and the backpack. However, this backpack weighs 3.7 pounds. Also, the hip belt pockets don’t close easily with the backpack on. This backpack really needs to be retired. As I mentioned in a recent post, I would love to buy the 2.3 pound ULA Circuit, but it’s a pricey backpack.
My first shelter was an ALPS Mountaineering Lynx 1 tent. I loved it, despite its weight of 4 pounds 9 ounces with the footprint. It was a bargain when I bought it in 2019 for under $100, but I decided I was really going to continue on this AT journey. In the spring of 2021, I purchased my current tent, the Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL 1 tent (with footprint, weighs 2 pounds 10 ounces). This tent is spacious, protects me and all my gear, can withstand heavy rain, and is relatively easy to pitch. I saved a third on the price using REI Rewards, so it was a good price and I'll probably stick with this tent until I can no longer use it.
Tent site, south of Boiling Springs, PA
I still use the REI Radiant 19 Sleeping Bag, a sleeping bag I bought in 2019. It was also a discontinued model, so it was a bargain. I compared it to the REI Igneo 25 Sleeping Bag, which is more than twice as expensive (and now discontinued), in the store. The Radiant has similar specs, and when I got into both sleeping bags, it felt roomier than the Igneo. Given the price difference, it was an easy decision to buy the Radiant. I really like this mummy style sleeping bag, it's perfect for side sleepers, and it weighs a decent 2.5 pounds. The only problem is that it's too hot for summer, but it's great for spring and fall, at least for me. For summer, I'm starting to look at lighter quilts, like the Zenbivy Core Quilt Down 25, which weighs 1 pound 9 ounces. I started with the inexpensive Klymit Static V2 Sleeping Pad, which is just over 17 ounces. I recently replaced it with the NEMO Tensor, which is 16 ounces. An ounce is an ounce. Especially when it comes to the weight. One of the comfort items I wanted was this ultra-lightweight 3 oz stretch pillow from Outdoor Vitals.
REI Radiant 19 Sleeping Bag (Image from REI.com)
Kitchen and Hydration (1.5 lbs)
My kitchen equipment is pretty standard: an MSR Pocket Rocket, a TOAKS 750ml Titanium Pot with Lid, and a TOAKS Titanium Long Handle Spoon. I also have a few items that a Pack Shakedown Artist would probably throw away: a TOAKS 450ml Cup (yes, for coffee) and an AntiGravityGear Pouch Cozy (to keep food warm while hydrating). For my food bag, I have an Outdoor Research Graphic “Moonshine” Dry Bag 10L. That’s 13.4 oz total. For my hydration system, I use a standard Sawyer Squeeze, a CNOC 2L bag for dirty water, one 750ml Smartwater bottle, and two 1L Smartwater bottles. That’s 9.5 oz total.
All things considered, the only thing I would have to do to significantly reduce weight would be to swap out my backpack. In the summer, swapping out my sleeping bag for a quilt would be a major consideration. Apart from these two factors, I feel pretty coordinated within these two main groups.
MSR Pocket Rocket and TOAKS Titanium, Stony Man Summit, Shenandoah National Park, Virginia
consumables
These fall into the consumables category, but are worth considering when considering total weight. I only brought a 4 oz fuel can. I try to keep food to under 1.5 pounds per day, but as I mentioned before, I have a habit of overpacking at the beginning. There is no way around the weight of water other than not carrying too much. I usually fill up completely at the beginning of the day, since I hate running out of water. I often refill my bottle once a day, depending on the weather and terrain. I also sometimes carry water in my dirty bag if I think there may not be a water source during a day hike. Consumables vary a lot, but they make up a large portion of the total weight, so they should be considered closely.
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