Appalachian Trail 2023 Thru-Hike Gear Review!

See everything I carried in my pack by the end of our 2023 Sobo Thru-Hike

[@smidgen65]

My husband used a power bar instead of a rock. It has plenty of weight and he always has one in his food bag already.

[@photomalcolm]

Good idea!

[@pleok08]

Tuesday, February 20th: Thank-you for sharing. Excellent video! Happy Trails! Ross08

[@TheLivingstons]

I own an outfitter in Marion, VA (Marion Outdoors) and we do the Darn Tough Exchange. We do not have an allowance for the exchange. We can exchange as many as we want. It’s the stores decision not Darn Tough’s. I think a lot of stores just don’t like doing it and make up a reason not to. Nice review!

[@gabriele1975]

Kudos to you for having extra clothes and socks! I can totally understand the moral boost they would give.

[@kellymccarter6032]

I was just thinking as I cooked supper that I sure missed y'all's videos, and here you are, lol

[@Sunshine-Patches2024]

Me too

[@StatOnTheAT]

I found your channel a few days ago and am on day 114 now ( on Thanksgiving break). I really enjoyed the sobo view, wish I found you earlier in the year!

[@charleskallal5544]

Great review. Thank you for taking the time to set up your tent and share what you liked and didn’t like. Looking at Zpack too so I really appreciated your attention to detail on this. I never really thought too much about hammock until Stranger was on trail. I liked the fact of setting up the tarp for immediate cover from the rain. Hopefully we will hear from Stranger on his gear review. Thanks again for all the videos!! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

[@littlemilligan]

I knew you were a photographer. The photos in the background are great. I loved your photos during the trip.

[@suehancock5573]

Merry Christmas Stranger and Cool Tree and family! 🎄🎁🎈🎅🥾🇺🇸

[@snodrog5]

Thanks! Sharing with the SoBo 2023 and 2024 groups!

[@meyerfranklin1149]

Love the photos. We enjoyed your journey!

[@olddad67]

Good job dad glad to see you teaching your son how to survive in the outdoors and what a lucky man you are to take such a great adventure with your son you’re a very lucky man you will cherish those moments for the rest of your life

[@dwayne5698]

Thanks for the review. I've said it before but you guys seem to be one of the most earnest and entertaining AT thru's there was this year. Just regular guys if that makes any sense. Happy Thanksgiving to you both and thanks for the ride along.

[@wanderlust9081]

What a great adventure for you and your son🎉. These memories will last forever. The best, a father can do for his son. Merry Christmas to you and your loved ones from Germany 🌲✨

[@joankline343]

Its good to see you again! I absolutely Love the photos on your wall. ❤ Nice review. Happy Thanksgiving 🦃 🥧

[@mtadams2009]

Congratulations and it must have been awesome hiking with your son. I do have a BA Tiger Wall and you do come in from the side. I have not used it since I switched to a Duplex. I am much older than you so I am all in on UL, I am about 8 pounds. Though because I hike with my dog my base weight is always more. I have Zpacks pack but I just ordered a more robust pack from Waymark, they are made in Utah. Thanks for taking the time to show us your gear. The nice thing is there is so much light gear available today you don’t really need to break the bank to have nice stuff. Take care

[@dawnsteisslinger353]

I so appreciate the wrap of with your gear. I also so loved your photos on your walls like other people have mentioned. Are some of those photos from your AT adventure or just other amazing trips? Thank you so much for taking us on your journey with you.🧡

[@sulj3373]

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year Cool Tree Stranger and family. Miss your happy faces. 😊❤

[@hedkase1313]

Thanks for the gear review

[@devinreed2003]

Awesome , thanks for making video. I like the little air pump!

[@1024Pete]

Thanks for the review. Cheers to all that gave you comfort and provided safety. Wishing you peace and good fortune.

[@ltanderson7916]

Excellent review

[@jim-uu2db]

Very good review, thanks.

[@bradhutchinson3275]

Love the video. Thank u so much! Can't wait to see the hammock set up. Love your photos. Where can we see more? Do you still plan a finance video? Would love to see it. Thanks again, take care. Keep making vids!

[@photomalcolm]

More photos at photomalcolm.com Thanks!

[@wendygrw]

Excellent gear review. I liked your waterproofing/stay dry system, with compactor bag and waterproof sacks within. And smart idea to have three changes of clothes, too, given all the rainy days on the trail. Happy Thanksgiving to you, Stranger, BOC and Sasafrass.

[@user-zs3zl4xt2f]

thank you for taking the time to share this, looking forward to starnger's review. Have a good thanksgiving.

[@celenasherrill1455]

Thanks for the great gear review.

[@darlene4232]

Happy Thanksgiving To All

[@paulah2223]

Just a note My husband and I have been watching yall Love seeing yall very entertaining We are only on 87 What happened to p paw if you will tell me Hope you see this 😎🤔

[@Greersights]

Thank you, and Happy Thanksgiving!

[@cesarnyc]

Superb gear review. It's refreshing that you're sharing your actual experiences with the different gear without selling out to any particular vendor. To me, comfortable shoes are essential so I really appreciated your recommendations, especially with rocky terrain. Thanks for taking al the time to do this.

[@terriecollins1655]

Love your videos

[@Sunshine-Patches2024]

Great Video, thanks for sharing

[@TeddyBearFarmer]

Nice gear video Thanks

[@suehancock5573]

Happy Thanksgiving! So glad to see you today! Enjoy! 🇺🇸🦃🍁🍽

[@akbauer2525]

Congrats!

[@jmash41]

Congratulations on completing the entire AT! I enjoyed watching your thru hike! When you had wet clothes and changed to hike in dry clothes, what did you do with your wet clothes? Thanks for sharing! Happy Thanksgiving!

[@photomalcolm]

I would have a plastic grocery bag for wet clothes

[@suehancock5573]

Happy New Year! 🎈🎆🎊🇺🇸🎄

[@Lovesracing19]

Happy Thanksgiving.

[@Elizabeth-pt4bv]

That was a fantastic gear review. Thanks for the details. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family and friends.

[@Randee04]

What an outstanding gear review! Thank you!! Looking forward to watching Stranger's take on his gear. I do hope you will do a financial breakdown and how much you spent total (did Stranger have his own money or did you two decide to have one big fund.....that sort of thing). I am considering Hoka's now, however I have a wide foot. Thank you for posting and happy Thanksgiving!

[@stattravels8109]

Your pics/photos in background are BEAUTIFUL.

[@tomellis3218]

Fine equipment review. What brand of rain jacket and/or pants did you have on trail? I’m leaning have three pairs of clothing too . I know wearing wet clothing would be a mental letdown for me. I’m thinking about the Zpack tent system but as a double not their single person again for the mental value. I’m convinced the quilt is going to be my choice just brand selection and whether to go with a 30 degree & a liner or just the 20 degree…. Your thoughts are appreciated. Happy Thanksgiving.😊

[@photomalcolm]

My rain jacket was an Enlightened Equipment Visp. If I got a zpacks tent, I would also get the double

[@MountainMan07798]

Enjoyed it.

[@sulj3373]

Happy Thanksgiving y’all.😊❤

[@maureenmukhlis2934]

Thank you so much!! What a great gear review!! Hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving!!🙏💕💕

[@reneeslembarski]

Happy Thanksgiving! I’ve used Osprey’s guarantee after my thru hike - they couldn’t repair it and so replaced it, no hassle at all. I think they have a model where you can swap out sizes of hip belt.

[@photomalcolm]

Nice, I will definitely be looking into that. Thanks!

[@Sunshine-Patches2024]

Hey, quick question for you guys, if time had not been a factor, would you guys have done a NOBO? Bill and I are still in the planning process of a SOBO or NOBO. Our most concern is if we’re in decent enough shape to start in Maine. I think it’s more of a risk for injury starting in Maine if we’re not in the shape we should be in. You guys did an amazing hike but I think you had more time to hike than we’ve had this past year. We have done a lot of the trail but over a six year period. Since Covid we haven’t had as much time as we used to for getting a lot of hiking in. Your opinions are very much appreciated. Thanks and we hope you and your family have a wonderful holiday season. Bill & Cindy Wilcox

[@spector188]

we are planning our hike using hammocks, is there any way we could get strangers thoughts on how his set up worked for him?

[@EleanorNold-ey9ir]

Thanks for the review. Also the photos behind you are beautiful.Are they your work?

[@photomalcolm]

Yep, those are mine. More at photomalcolm.com Thanks!

[@roxannaharvey8983]

Where did you get the alpaca fleece hoodie or what brand is it?

[@jameshart6529]

I dont remember if you mentioned it in this video, but with everything you showed us including your pack....how much weight were you carrying on your back?

[@edwinklaver]

Is Stranger going to post a post trail video?

[@jasonhammett6103]

what model hoka's and did you have any issue with your feet?

[@photomalcolm]

We both used Speedgoats. No real issues other than being sore pretty much all the time!

[@edwinklaver]

Is Stranger going to post a Post Trail video of any sort?

[@Running_To_Something]

What knife did you carry?

[@photomalcolm]

It’s an SOG brand, small fixed blade

[@andywebb7351]

Congrats on a successful thru and taking us along. What software did you use for your videos? Would you carry a camera or just use your phone if you did it again? Happy Thanksgiving

[@photomalcolm]

I used an app called PowerDirector. Did everything on the iPhone. My “real” camera is just too big and cumbersome for a long distance hike and I didn’t want to worry about it getting damaged/wet.

[@laflyby]

You made a comment about the padding In the shoulder straps wearing and that is expected of all the weight is on your shoulders. If you have all the weight on your shoulders, then you are either wearing the pack wrong or is improperly fitted. The intent of a hip belt is to help distribute the weight onto the most supportive portion of your body... the pelvic girdle. Ideally, you should have 80% (give or take) of your pack weight resting on your hips with the rest of the weight applied to the front of your shoulders ... not the tops. You should never have the feeling that your backpack is pulling your shoulders down. I'm not stating this to have you change how you wear your pack, but many people wear a back pack wrong and shoulder pain is a very common complaint. This is usually why. So, I want to make sure your viewers realize that even though you choose to wear the pack that way, it's not necessarily the correct way. By distributing the weight to the hips and the front of the shoulders, it can greatly reduce shoulder and back pain.

[@photomalcolm]

I guess you missed where I talked about the hip belt being too big?

[@edwinklaver]

Or doeshe have a different channel?