As my thru-hike of the Foothills Trail approaches, I’ve been slowly trying to dial in my gear the way I want it. It’s easy to get a little obsessive, especially if you’re concerned about weight. I’ve gone over the process of ultralight backpacking and given tips on how to cut some pack weight on this blog, but winter is always an added challenge to anyone’s setup. I definitely have been guilty of sitting on the floor of REI within the past few weeks, furiously debating between buying a 4.6 oz package of dehydrated food with one that is 3.9 oz.
To an outsider looking in, it’s hard to relate to the craze of trying to have the lightest sleep system possible or the madness surrounding the dichotomy of carrying enough food while keeping it below a certain weight. But let’s admit it, it kind of sucks to carry everything you need on your back for miles. That’s why it’s so easy to fall into the ultralight cult. Because this hike takes place in January, I’m already trying to prepare myself mentally for a heavier setup. At some point, I’ve just had to accept the situation for what it is and try not to be so hard on myself for my pack weighing more than I would typically like it to.
In this post, I figured I would go over the gear I will take with me on this hike. A lot of it is similar to what I have taken on previous hikes, yet some items will be new for me. And some are undoubtedly luxury items, but they are too cool to leave behind.
My Big Three
Backpack: Gossamer Gear G4-20
Tent: Nemo Hornet 1
Sleeping bag + sleeping pad: Western Mountaineering Versalite and my Big Agnes Insulated AXL Air sleeping pad
Side Note: I’ve decided not to take my 40-degree quilt because the temperatures for this trip will surprisingly stay relatively tame (average low of 35 degrees). Also, my Western Mountaineering bag is not vegan, but I still have it in my possession and its warmth-to-weight ratio is too good to not bring for right now.
Cooking Set
Sea to Summit Alpha cook set (pot, bowl, cup, spork)
Lighter and emergency waterproof matches
Sea to Summit wilderness camp soap
Clothes
2 Walmart Baselayer tops
1 pair of leggings
North Face sweatshirt
Frogg Toggs rain jacket
2 buffs
Walmart knit gloves
1 pair of Wright crew socks and 2 pairs of Bamboo Sport crew socks (as well as some Walmart fuzzy socks for camp)
Teva beanie
Altra All-Weather Lone Peak Mid (these are on sale right now!)
Miscellanies Gear
Trowel
Personal care items: wet wipes, toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, face wipes
First aid supplies: band-aids, medical tape, alcohol wipes, moleskins, etc.
Repair kit: strips of duct tape, gear patches, and paracord
Small journal and pen
Food
Most of my food will be very basic cold oatmeal for breakfast, tuna wraps for lunch, and Ramen or Patagonia Provisions for dinner with various snacks throughout the day. However, I am trying out a few items from Outdoor Herbivore that I’m excited about such as tofu scramble, powdered hummus, and dehydrated Baja black beans. I will definitely dive into how it goes in my post-hike report!
Luxury Items
Tripod (super stoked to bring this along, even if it adds some weight)
travel size dry shampoo
Closing Thoughts
Overall, I’m happy with the way my setup has turned out. As for right now, my base weight is about 15ish pounds and the full pack weight is around 20 pounds. After some adjustments, my pack feels comfortable and it’s not too unbearably heavy with it on. Of course, it will feel much different after hiking the up and down, rollercoaster-like mountains of Appalachia for days on end. However, all in all, I’m excited for the ride and the journey I’m about to go on. Even though it’s a shorter thru-hike in comparison to other long-distance trails, I can’t wait to get out there and see what I can do.
More posts will follow as my hike gets closer. Be sure and subscribe to get emails sent directly to you for free to never miss an update!
That’s all for now, see you out on the trail!
That’s an impressively low base weight for a winter hike!