2024 AT Thru-hike Gear - How Does it All Fit in My Durston Kakwa 55L?

This is how all my gear fits in my pack …
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[@sheilahenry7279]

Reflective tape is great! I’m gonna have to get a few mitten clips. I’ve only used carabiners & they are larger & heavier. You’ve got everything so organized & well thought out. Can’t wait for your hike.

[@wandering_withWilson]

Yes… carabiners tend to be heavier for sure!

[@louatzinger4568]

Your organization skills are amazing, you have dotted all your I's and crossed all your T's. God Speed to you.

[@wandering_withWilson]

Thank you so much!

[@thehafricanultralighter4973]

My favorite kind of videos! ❤your ready my friend!

[@wandering_withWilson]

Yay! Thank you!

[@sheilahenry7279]

Great idea to hang your socks to dry. Another of you ideas I’ll use.

[@wandering_withWilson]

Glad it was useful 🙂

[@KrizAkoni]

It all fits! 🎉 I’m kinda liking that roll top liner…

[@wandering_withWilson]

I love the roll top liner - it has served me well. I just don’t know for sure if it will keep stuff dry if it rains for 4+ days

[@juliekrone5293]

great video - so many useful suggestions - you’ve really dialed it in! i love the double liner strategy - im stealing that one! 😊

[@wandering_withWilson]

Thanks! Steal away! 🙂

[@KentuckyAdventure]

I too, like someone else commented, tend to have a ton of carabiners. I like your idea of the mitten clips as well. Any particular ones you purchase? How are they holding things and not coming off and/or breaking? I am also making an assumption that you stitch them onto things.... learned that way back in home economics class in middle school back in the early 80's....not to date myself, haha! As someone else noted, that would definitely be a bit lighter especially if they are functionally the same as the biner (or binder clip, haha, same difference as they say).

[@wandering_withWilson]

I’ve been using the mitten clips for about four years. I’ve never had one break. Yes, I stitched them into just like I learned in home economics in the 80s. I’m totally dating myself - Lol… actually, I think I learned from my mom when I was about six. It was one of the many things I learned to do growing up on a farm. 🙂 I purchased them from DutchWareGear. I think I also bought some from hammock gear.

[@amerphoto1]

It will be interesting for me keep an eye out for how you like the Kakwa 55L. I have it on my list as a possible pack for next year's AT LASH hike. No better of a review can be made from an actual usurer of this pack than yourself. You are very organized!

[@wandering_withWilson]

I've got about 1K miles on it already. So far it's holding up well. ☑️

[@amerphoto1]

If you are still using it, it has to be good! @@wandering_withWilson

[@wandering_withWilson]

yes. no issues yet! @@amerphoto1

[@kimtullier659]

Can I ask what size is your Kakwa 55?

[@wandering_withWilson]

It’s a 55 liter bag

[@lisamonalisahikes]

I haven’t looked at these packs before. Please share how it holds up thru your hike

[@wandering_withWilson]

It’s been awesome so far - and I had 800 miles in it before I left for the thru-hike 😀

[@pleok08]

Friday, February 23rd: Thank-you for sharing. I keep my Garmin mini 2 in my pack brain. Being covered has not diminished its efficiency. You do you! HYOH. Good luck! Happy Trails! Ross08

[@chaosncheckt9356]

Do you remove it when you do water crossings if the water is deep?

[@pleok08]

@@chaosncheckt9356 No; but there are times when my Garmin mini 2 sits in a ziploc plastic bag in the pack brain of my backpack.

[@wanderer418]

From a First Responder view point I would have the garmin on a front strap where I didnt have to reach over my shoulder for it. Easy Acces is a must in an EMERGENCY

[@chaosncheckt9356]

@@pleok08 I walked the AT last year and a young lady a few days ahead of me was washed off her feet. Two weeks behind me a gentleman was swept off his feet and unfortunately, died. The young lady had moved her Garmin from her strap to her waist (Like I did whenever I crossed a stream) and when she went down, she jettisoned her backpack. She had her Garmin and was able to activate it. In an emergency, the Garmin isn’t going to help stuff in your pack. But, as you said “you do you”.

[@pleok08]

@chaosncheckt9356 You and I wear Garmins for different reasons. You wear the Garmin for yourself. I wear the Garmin for others (ie; wife & family) to give them peace of mind. There are often times when I forget to turn my Garmin on or to turn my Garmin off or to recharge my Garmin. I am 67+ and learn from Scouting, the US Army, and my own personal experience not to rely on electronics to accomplish any task. Electronics can be a supplement but definitely not a mainstay. IMHO. We each hike differently, and I know and accept that many hikers are totally lost without their electronics. HYOH. Happy Trails. Ross08

[@SasSaga]

Have you compared the weight of tent/ sleeping pad system to weight of hammock system? And why are you carrying a bear can (at 2lbs)?

[@wandering_withWilson]

Yes … 1 have both systems and they are similar in weight.

[@TheLynzrex00]

I like how you utilize the outside of your pack. Where do you get all of the mitten clips?

[@wandering_withWilson]

I bought them at Dutchware Gear. I know HammockGear also sells them. 🙂

[@markcourson]

wow all that in a 55l pack here i have a 85l that i can’t seem to fit everything into 🤣🤣 that’s the joys of being a beginner. question for you i know on my mini2 you can send out a link for live tracking was just curious if you would be doing something like that for people that wanna follow along or you just going to be doing videos every now and then?

[@wandering_withWilson]

I’m not going to send out a link publicly. I will be posting videos when I can. I’m not sure how that will work once I get out there but I think if I keep the video short, it will be doable.

[@markcourson]

ok thanks

[@silverbane5008]

I am thinking about buying this pack (to replace my gregory baltoro), but i keep worrying about not enough volume! I use a durston x-mid, a therma-rest x-therm, a S2S spark IV bag. I also have to take my mirrorless camera (though, no spare lenses), and food for about a week (ultra compact stuff such as dry meals, nuts, etc), a spare fleece. Do you think they can all fit in the durston 55? Can the top be rolled off less to increase volume? The sea to summit bag does not pack down small and occupies a huge amount of space even in my gregory, even in compression sack. It is not heavy though

[@wandering_withWilson]

I’m not sure as I’m not familiar with that pack or the bag. Have you seen this video? I break out all my gear and show you what I’m taking. 2024 AT Thru-hike Gear List with Lighterpack links (base weight 15-17 lbs) kzbin.info/www/bejne/oHzEemd4it-GZtU.

[@silverbane5008]

@@wandering_withWilson Wow, does all that fit into kakwa 55? You must be some packing wizard 😆But it seems it will be enough room then

[@wandering_withWilson]

Yes … it all fits! 😊

[@DaveCollierCamping]

Outstanding share

[@wandering_withWilson]

Thank you for your positive comment!

[@wesleykremer3916]

That was fantastic! Thank you! You are going to be fantastic! The Lord and Holy Spirit will wrap their arms around you! Blessing and success on the trail and safe travels!

[@wandering_withWilson]

Thank you for the blessings and well wishes 💚

[@joaniekay5600]

Hi, a suggestion for your inreach: I use the Nite Ize slide lock carabiner. I had an incident in the whites happen when I put my pack down for a break, and then after hiking for about a mile I realized my inreach had popped off. The original biner had apparently opened and then the mini was gone. I was able to go back and recover it!

[@wandering_withWilson]

Which carabiner failed? The original or the Nite Ize? - scary situation, glad it ended well for you

[@joaniekay5600]

The original one failed. Nite Ize has been great

[@wandering_withWilson]

Good to know!

[@erikgiggey4783]

ohh wow, i followed the hiking vikings from the start, they were a goof, miss his content he used to make."its there fault i remembered laffy taffy lol

[@wandering_withWilson]

OMG - that’s awesome! I seriously considered adding laffy taffy to my boxes because of them. Maybe I’ll pick some up in towns 😏

[@360Investigations]

Leave your tent just don't even bring it. All anyone does now out on the AT, is slack pack and stay inside hostels and hotels..so get rid of your tent because you won't be using it.