Post AT thru-hike Gear Review - Appalachian Trail 2024 | Epic Adventures

[@ronaldmittelman2054]

Watched you most of the way up the trail. Congrats on your accomplishment. Awesome stuff. Didn't know you were a Penn Stater. "WE ARE"..!!! Lived in State College from 1951 to 2007. Moved to Charlottesville. State High 68 grad. PSU class of 72. Bus Adm. Hiking the Maryland Section of the AT next week. Roan Highlands in late Sept.!!! Keep on keeping on.!!!

[@garyfaulhaber1289]

Interesting info. I'm sure the companies would be interested to hear your feedback on their products. Nickels left this morning and is hiking with my sister in the Finger lakes. It sure was great to see him. Hope you're doing well.

[@sulj3373]

I’m addicted to post trail gear reviews and lessons. Thanks for sharing. Go fishing.😊❤

[@JRooneyPhotos1]

Haven’t gone yet but I’m going to! I have a golf outing for my son’s college football team tomorrow so I had to get out to the driving range a couple times this week. After the outing fishing is my next step!

[@SparkyOne549]

I buy waterproof socks, I wear my Injinjis underneath. I use them if rain is in the forecast.

[@dcaudwell]

A lighter DCF tent is total worth the price, especially considering it's your home for 5 months! The extra 300-400$ becomes $2-3 per day and for that you get more interior space, less water retention, and hours every day carrying 2lb less weight! I's put that $2-3 down any day of the week on a long hike to get those benefits! I'd also look at Lite AF, Atom Packs or the Durston packs in place of the Exos or HMG. Lighter, more comfortable and just as capable. For the summer months on the AT I'd take a 40F-ish MLD or EE synthetic quilt to save weight (and $!) and to handle the rain and relentless humidity.

[@JRooneyPhotos1]

Great suggestions! Thanks I’ll do some research

[@melshea2519]

Happy fishing any day you want!!😅BACON WRAP

[@thegreatexaggerator9077]

Altra Lone Peaks were popular with guys who needed a wide trail runner shoe. There also light, Merrill’s are quite heavy. Just a thought if you haven’t checked them out.

[@JRooneyPhotos1]

I have a couple pair of them. I have used them and agree they work from a width perspective. I never got really used to the zero drop. And they have a lot less cushion which made them a bit more painful doing my training hikes in Rocksylvania. But I really should try them again.

[@thegreatexaggerator9077]

@@JRooneyPhotos1 right, a no go in Rocksylvania for certain! I myself don’t care for the Altra’s. I’m a Brooks Cascadia guy. They come in wides, I love them

[@chinch4584]

What do you use to learn about shelter locations, hostels, water sources, laundry options? Is there a particular guide book or just learn as you go out on the trail? Also, what’s was your previous backpacking experience before deciding to do the AT. It’s been an idea in my head for years and as I get older, the call is getting greater and greater.

[@JRooneyPhotos1]

I - and almost everyone out there - used the Far Out app. I also had a PDF version of the AWOL guide book. FarOut has shelter, stealth campsite, and water source info that users update and leave comments about. So you know which water sources are flowing well and which aren’t. The key to getting the most out of it is mining the comments. Many times comments about a water source or another waypoint will mention stealth campsites that are “official” so therefore don’t have a listing in any guide. The AWOL guide has good town info and hostel info. FarOut has some of that too

[@texmexia49]

What about rain gear? What did you use and how did it work for you?

[@JRooneyPhotos1]

Sorry, just seeing this. I used the Outdoor Research Foray top and REI rain pants. They worked well enough. When it rains hard and long enough everything wets out. But they were good for moderate rain and to help in the windy conditions

[@texmexia49]

@ I had 2 sets of Frog Toggs on the Superior Hiking Trail that just wet out completely after like 30 minutes. That was standing still one time and hiking another time. Hate to think if it was really cold, so I’m searching for alternatives.

[@jakeva9802]

ASICS have 4e sized trail runners

[@wanttogo1958]

How did the Shokz headphones work out for you? I know you mentioned at one point that Deet was taking its toll on them. Any problems with them and rain? I have the same pair but haven’t put them to the test you did. Did you know of anyone who used Picaridin as their bug repellent? If so how did it work for them? Congratulations on making it all the way!

[@JRooneyPhotos1]

Thanks. I should have mentioned the Shokz. I LOVED them. I definitely needed the music and podcasts that helped me get through. Toward the very end I thought the sound quality may have degraded a little bit. But I’m not sure why or how that would have been since I don’t think they are actually speaker in the ear buds. I haven’t used them since I’ve been back but will investigate this week. It could be that the absolute downpour I got stuck in on Day 2 in the 100 MW was too much water for them. But I’m not certain. IF they aren’t 100% now I will replace them. My buddy Tadpole had a pair also and like them

[@wanttogo1958]

@@JRooneyPhotos1thanks for the feedback. Do you have a second gear review video planned?

[@lakorai2]

Join the X-Mid notacult

[@SparkyOne549]

Hike your own hike.

[@franklaferriere5754]

Lol. I use a tent, for 120, that blows these $300-800 tents away. Eureka Solitaire one man, 3.2 pds, been in every type of weather, including snowstorms, hailstorms, pouring rain, NEVER ONCE A PROBLEM. Two man version is $150.

[@bflagg94]

3.2 pounds is HEAVY by modern tent standards

[@LauraBlahusch]

You didn’t show or review your crocs!!! 😂

[@JRooneyPhotos1]

Totally forgot. I liked having them to wear around camp and they helped with a couple of the river fordings. But I might find a lighter pair of flip flops or something like that to use as camp shoes going forward. And get hiking shoes that dry faster so I can just fold streams in the shoes I’m wearing

[@LauraBlahusch]

@@JRooneyPhotos1definitely. Your poor feet from being wet🥲