AT Thru-Hike Gear List (SOBO)

"I still have all the gear I used last year." You asked, and I answered.
These are the supplies I carried for 130 days and 2193 miles from Maine all the way to Georgia. Stuff used daily to successfully hike from Katahdin to Springer during my southbound thru hike of the Appalachian Trail in 2021.
Tiny Home - AT Edition (link below)
• Tiny Home | Appalachia...
Enjoy!

[@20Hikecdt23]

Hammock looks like a “must have”!

[@KaiFerrara805]

Love this. Such an awesome example of what to carry. Thanks! 🙏🏻 😊

[@LeftEnright]

Happy to help. Glad you enjoyed it!

[@Angela-Rowland]

Thanks for sharing your gear! It’s always fun to see what other hikers put in their packs. I too carried a sit pad/door mat and crocs. You are so correct about the benefit of carrying a little extra weight to have those luxury items. I always bring a miniature version of a real pillow, not the blowup kind. It was bulky, but it was so nice to put my head on a real pillow at night. totally worth it..

[@LeftEnright]

This video was meant to spread the word that you can be well equipped and still lightweight. Life is about finding your personal balance. Now a real pillow is something I might have to try. Great idea!

[@shaggyterrell8460]

I agree! I got the Klymit Drift Camping Pillow, it’s great. It’s reversible to keep it clean as well, I’m kinda ocd on that as well lol

[@20Hikecdt23]

Thanks for sharing. I got some good ideas. Thanks.

[@matthewfurst1577]

Thanks for the break down, very nice setup. Glad you are well. Great hike it was. Keep on keeping on ✌️🚶✌️🚶

[@LeftEnright]

You got it Matt and I appreciate you joining the fun.

[@juliashearson910]

Great video. Sweet and kind attitude, taking good care of oneself and looking out for other hikers. Way to go, friend.

[@LeftEnright]

If we all did, this world would be pretty much a perfect place. Cheers!

[@riverrat82]

Great video

[@LeftEnright]

I am really happy you enjoyed watching!

[@denisewittman975]

This is helpful. I’m starting SOBO in July and following your recommendations. Don’t know where I’d be without you and Matt Moves ❤️

[@LeftEnright]

Happy to help. I learned from others and think sharing knowledge is the way we all grow into better forms of ourselves. Have you reserved a spot at Baxter yet?

[@denisewittman975]

@@LeftEnright yes we have a reservation at Baxter for July 1st. Staying at the AT lodge to start

[@RAINSMAN79]

Completely agree with you about be prepared for when things don’t go as planned. Maybe an extra pound carried could save you or someone else’s life, or could mean the difference between a good time and a serious miserable trip.

[@LeftEnright]

Thank you. A safe ride home is better than any summit picture.

[@susanhalunen2858]

Hello Zac. I am enjoying your 2021 thru-hike again. Just watched day 60. Thanks for utubing.

[@LeftEnright]

Cheers to thAT! Who doesn't love a good re-run..keep posted for more new fun down the pipeline though 😁

[@Truth-Seeker75]

I appreciate your kind and realistic approach to life and gear. Congrats on your thru.

[@LeftEnright]

I appreciate it! Thanks for watching.

[@PeterCharlesworth]

I’m like you. No point being a filthy feral if you can do some simple things to stay comfortable and clean. Most of the gear looks brand new too - ready to roll! Nice work dude.

[@LeftEnright]

I washed my pack after reaching Springer but all of my gear held up without much wear and tears. I did cycle through 5 pairs of hikers although that is sort of expected.

[@Johnny-ip4mk]

Great attitude. I’m sure that it was a driving force behind your successful thru-hike. Thanks for sharing your advice 👍

[@LeftEnright]

The most understated pieces of gear is one's mindset which provides untapped ability to navigate unforeseen obstacles. Cheers!

[@auldbadyin]

Glad to see you back online and looking forward to more of your hiking and your videos!

[@LeftEnright]

Thanks for the support!

[@MikeWD9JJV]

Thanks for showing us what is proven to work!

[@LeftEnright]

..in the right hands 😉

[@j3hikes444]

looking forward to more vids, this was great

[@LeftEnright]

More fun is planned! Stay tuned

[@chrisclark4183]

Love your videos man!

[@LeftEnright]

I'm glad you are watching. Thanks 😀

[@elizabethingram9784]

Nice to see you happy and healthy. Great kit!!! Really well-done video.

[@LeftEnright]

..and now happier to read the video's first comment. 😁Thank you so much. So glad you enjoyed it!

[@hunterhoward8194]

Very informative brother I appreciate it

[@LeftEnright]

That's my goal. Thank you.

[@smadar3873]

Great video- really appreciate the info you shared.

[@LeftEnright]

Thanks for stopping by! I plan on sharing more things I have learned while hiking and backpacking.

[@lisamonalisa9288]

I am grateful for your videos. I’m like minded in wanting to carry extra things (not everything but some) love the set up. Hope to see you on trail

[@LeftEnright]

We all decide where the line is. Its good to know others are out there with more than the bare minimum. Thanks for watching and Happy Trails!

[@markwilliams9223]

Thanks for sharing!

[@LeftEnright]

You betcha!

[@christianb8228]

Cool stuff bud I enjoyed this, have you heard of Leuko tape? Better then a regular bandaid it never comes off unless you take it off.

[@LeftEnright]

Heard of and tried. Leuko on that area of my heel/ankle would start to wrinkle with all the movement while walking causing the edges of the tape to creak inward leaving sticky residue that was a pain to remove. I found the bandaids provide padding/cushion to sore blistering areas and would hold on for about a day with heavy summer sweating. Clean my feet at night and remove the bandaid. Let it breathe overnight and reapply a new Bandaid in the morning. It worked better for me. Great question!

[@meganmcdonald5229]

I’m obsessed with leukotape 🎉

[@kristasmith7270]

Your kit is the most similar to mine that I've seen! Cheers!

[@LeftEnright]

Good stuff. 😉

[@theoutdoordogandhikinggirl]

Great video and gear list. Happy trials from the Netherlands.

[@LeftEnright]

Cheers from across the ocean!

[@rosieking7085]

Found your videos from this one! Bro, you are WAY underhyped!!!!! Your vids are very well put together, way more of the trail than any other ytber, and you’re so entertaining!!!! Beautiful work! Love all your vids so far! Sad the rock met your face, but happy nothings killing your mood, not even the worn shoes. You’re so happy and optimistic! This gives me hope! Also….dude…you go far every day!!! Why? How? What trails or training did you do before the AT? Can we get a Q&A?!

[@LeftEnright]

I am blushing. Thank you for being a part of the fun and I'm pumped you appreciate my videos. The time spent filming and editing is rewarded when I hear from happy viewers who enjoy my approach to vlogging. Before the AT, I hiked in Maine and New Hampshire quite a bit and exercised (gym, kayak, bike) regularly to build my strength and stamina for long days on foot.

[@gaiterat6187]

Recommend the Evernew water bladders. Sawyer bags are notoriously fragile. Evernew fits on the sawyer squeeze no problem.

[@LeftEnright]

I check them out! Thanks for the tip.

[@harryhicock3160]

Just finding this now as I am researching and planning for an AT thru hike. Very well done review which I found helpful. A question, did you use the Peregrines for your thru hike, and if so how did they hold up?

[@ChristopherDiViccaro]

Very helpful. I’m building a thru hike kit (only 4-5 days, but I use forearm crutches) and it echoes a lot of what I’m aiming for. I have the same tent. I still may get the Moment DW li for shorter trips, but the living space of the rainbow is really nice for not much weight penalty. I’m going with a Seek Outside pack for the better suspension, but everything else is similar. I like your simplicity, organization, and your discipline to keep clean and dirty separate. Essential for long trips imo.

[@LeftEnright]

That's awesome. Kudos for continuing to seek time in nature. I didn't want illness or infection to ruin my hike so keeping relatively clean was important. Your idea of a single tent for shorter trips is intriguing. I have always had 2P tents with the worry of being stuck in my tent for long periods. I have found, when in my tent, I don't really move off my airpad. Cheers!

[@DanielOutdoors]

Good setup, im also using the pod system on bigger trips :)

[@LeftEnright]

I rave about the pod system! I really do think it is a game changer for backpack organization and maximizing storage by packing a bag in flat layers.

[@miken7629]

Just a boo boo kit for medical seems a little short. After that machete attack on trail a couple years ago I include a tourniquet, 5x9 sterile pads, gauze roll, and 4" cohesive wrap. I also include some Imodium AD in case something makes me sick. Duct tape works great on your feet when you get hot spots, add an extra layer of skin.

[@LeftEnright]

Machete attack.? Oh my. Hope all is well after that incident. Good pointers. Thanks!

[@RangerJay904]

Another clean freak! My trail name was Sir Blue the Fresh 😂and yes I had deodorant

[@LeftEnright]

Well I am sure the hikers who followed close behind were happy you did. 😆

[@tkemp4184]

Big fan of carrying a hammock for resting...naps etc. I also like the HMG pods....great way to organize. What was the total weight? Thanks again....great video. TK

[@LeftEnright]

Everything I showed shown minus the food bag weighs 16.9lbs (7.66kg). My Big Four (pack, tent, quilt, air pad) weighs 6.5lbs(2.94kg) Heck yeah the hammock came in clutch after some marathon days! I think the pods helped tremendously in simplifying my day, maximizing pack space, and organizing things to have a place for everything.

[@jeffstone28]

Just discovered your channel. How it eluded me I don't know! I find your commentaries very engaging. I started backpacking only 4 years ago and have now done about 385 mi. of the AT in sections and summited 32 of the 48 in New Hampshire so far. Two gear questions... do you use rubbing alcohol for cleansing private parts or was that for hand sanitizing? Keeping snacks in your left waist pocket, what do you do with the wrappers... also put them in the pocket? Any concerns about critters, big or small, smelling the scents in that pocket? I also have an HMG pack, the Junction 3400 and like it a lot. Looks like you spent a lot of cash with HMG, unless you have some kind of deal with them lol! Finally, what state are you from? Just curious. I'll be going through your videos and reliving some of my trips through them!

[@LeftEnright]

I carried hand sanitizer in my chest pocket and rubbing alcohol in a small spray bottle for disinfecting/wiping down my face, hands, feet, water bottles, and cellphone/gps. I carried wet wipes for cleansing of private areas. Less harsh and fresher scented. When I finished eating a snack, I neatly and tightly folded the packaging over itself to keep crumbs/residue to a minimum and cleaned the pocket out each night before bed. From Maine, I hiked and backpacked previously, so most of my gear I had before the hike and the quilt was a prototype I was testing. My tent was the most expensive purchase but well worth it when you consider how many nights I spent sheltered cozily inside. Good questions!

[@jackbean8405]

I’m almost ready for my thru hike next year and this video was very helpful.On my recent shakedown from springer to neels gap I froze at night. I had a very similar sleep system to yours so do you have any advice on staying warm at night?

[@LeftEnright]

You asked..I answered -LOTS of fatty food shortly before bed helps to keep you, the internal heater, fueled throughout the night. Since I had a quilt, I used my buff to cover my face to keep my nose from getting cold and allow my breath to not dampen my insulation. I would cover my head with a beanie then all my hoods and some nights pulled the beanie down to cover my eyes. I used toe warmers in camp on cold nights and left them on through the night. I mostly slept on my back and wore gloves with my hands in my pockets to conserve heat. Keeping your legs and arms close together prevents heat loss around those arteries. Tuck in your layers over each other (top, bottom, top, bottom) this slows heat loss around your midsection/core. How's that, Jack?

[@cliffspicer6555]

Great video and really enjoyed seeing what you took. I'm with you on the small pump. I don't think it is a luxury if you don't want mold inside your pad or if you blow up your pad with warm beath the pad gets softer when the warm air cools but not a problem with the pump. I have a question for you. I see everyone carry a down puffy with them and I do as well but I am thinking of ditching it since I already have a mid layer and a raincoat and would the raincoat and mid layer not keep you warm when at camp and not have the issue down runs into if it gets wet. It just seems like the puffy isn't needed if it's only for camp when you have enough to keep you warm when you wear the raincoat. I am sure I am missing something since everyone carries a down puffy as well.

[@LeftEnright]

Towards the end of my SOBO hike, I was getting temps at night in the 20's and needed every extra layers when sleeping to comfortably stave off the cold. I had lost so much body fat that when I stopped for the day I put on basically all my clothing to stay warm. The puffy is also nice when in town, since it stayed clean/less smelly, I would wear that around hostels/town when my laundry was getting washed.

[@tacklebill4835]

Totally agree with your ideas and theories I like the stacking system by Hyperlite How many days per re-supply normally?

[@LeftEnright]

I often planned for 4-5 hiking days (80-100 miles) in between mailed resupplies and each resupply had 4 full days of trail food. Often I would spend the night off trail, near a post office or hostel that accepted packages, eat breakfast, leave town with additional town food/snacks before noon and hike 10+ miles. This meant I got to camp without touching my resupply so I had four full days and nights of food. Some states you pass more convenient food establishments (deli blazing) which meant I could go further than five days in between each resupply. Great question...now I am hungry 😁

[@WarrenDickey]

I’m going to be starting a SOBO in early June so this video is very helpful. Did you have any problems with any of your down items getting wetted out over time? Like your puffy or your quilt?

[@LeftEnright]

Most summer nights my quilt stayed in the stuff sack and was used as a pillow. I used my waterproof layers most nights in summer months to stay warm instead of wearing an insulating layer like a puffy. My town cycle (4-5 days) and the timing of really wet weather seemed to allow for a full drying out in town to occur periodically and wet out wasn't an issue for my SOBO (Aug-Dec).

[@nelsongrau7232]

Hey Big Guy, thanks for the video. Just one question, when will we see you back out on trail cranking out the video's? Maybe the CDT or the PCT?

[@LeftEnright]

Some of those letters look familiar...

[@Onnitfan1]

Thank you for this. I only heard you mention finding one tick. Any advice on avoiding them?

[@LeftEnright]

There are chemical treatments recommended but I prefer not to use them. I found the trail was wide and clear from brush while hiking, except in the south, but I was in that region during colder months which has less tick activity. Usually areas around shelters didn't have much ground vegetation and ticks typically attach to humans by waiting on tall grass or low growth. They grab on when you rub against these tick laden plants. I undressed and cleaned myself daily which aids in finding ticks. My guess is while using a tree or cat holing off trail I had more chance of encountering a tick.

[@Onnitfan1]

@@LeftEnright Thanks!

[@mobilewintercamp7515]

I have the regular one person Rainbow. It’s done me good. How has the Double LI been? Are you happy.

[@LeftEnright]

Very satisfied! My Double Li has held up and doesn't look more worn then when I first got it. I was on the fence about buying an expensive tent but the per night rate at this point is minimal. It was half the weight of my previous tent and checked all the boxes for living space, durability, functionality, waterproofness, and lightness.

[@thrifty9797]

What's your milk powder ratio with the carnation breakfast mix?

[@LeftEnright]

1:1 On the AT, I did 2 packets of instant breakfast to 1/2 cup Nido powder, and one VIA instant coffee packet. On the CT, I switched the milk powder for protein powder because I found the milk powder was heavy on the belly and only added fat. My mix on the CT was 2 packets instant breakfast, 2 scoops premier protein powder, 2 scoops peanut powder, and 1 heaping tablespoon of starbucks instant coffee.

[@mrdark9916]

It always really bothers me the complete negligence of first aid capability aka a dedicated trauma kit. NOBODY carries one... Except me. Lol At the very least a Tourniquet and hemostatic agents.. and a shemaugh can act as a decent compression bandage. But whether it's a compound fracture or a mauling by a wild animal, or a severe cut for whatever reason, you aren't stopping arterial bleeds with a damn bandana and some half ass boo-boo kit I see 99% of people carrying. Just last year my good friends dog was killed after being gored by a wild goat, her artery was pierced and despite all the "I carry a bandana for a bandage" people she unfortunately bled out on the way down the mountain. And if ya think you can just improvise a Tourniquet you are probably going to fail and die/watch the person die. The dog saved his 11year old daughter and took the hit instead, they woke up and goats were all over the camp with no fear of people. Really woke him up to why I carry an extra LESS THAN 1lb that can save a life of a human or pet.... I also am mind boggled when people don't carry a proper knife, bear spray and whenever possible a sidearm. Animals and humans prey on lone hikers ALL THE TIME, it happens. And NOBODY thinks it will be them, but it's always someone....