Unexpected Expense$: Things I Didn’t Budget for on my Appalachian Trail Thru Hike

For a “free” hobby, backpacking is really expensive. You have to buy food, gear, get shuttles, etc. When I planned and budgeted for my 2023 thru hike of the Appalachian Trail, I was not anticipating certain expenses. So, I made you all this video about all those price tags I wasn’t expecting so that you can be prepared!
Music:
dvine / Don’t Stop My Heart / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Jones Meadow / Entrance / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Phello / Memorabilia / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com
Bonsaye / Luau / courtesy of www.epidemicsound.com

[@markcummings6856]

Great video. Thanks!

[@cobwebroseonthetrail2447]

Thank you!

[@danik6393]

Just watching this again at full volume so he gets why I’m saving like crazy 😊🤗🙃🤗😊

[@cobwebroseonthetrail2447]

Lol. Happy to help!

[@KatieValleyBourdeau]

Great advice as always!

[@cobwebroseonthetrail2447]

Thanks!

[@TXMEDRGR]

The old rule for traveling is to bring half the luggage and twice the money. It seems to apply to the AT.

[@cobwebroseonthetrail2447]

That actually sounds like a pretty good summary.

[@akochera]

Northern PA deee-stroys trail runners, be prepared. Send some new ones to Duncannon. What them transform to sandals. Kiss them goodbye in Delaware Gap. - Lego

[@cobwebroseonthetrail2447]

So true, Lego!

[@stattravels8109]

Loved that part with all the shoes, very cool pic/video!!!!

[@cobwebroseonthetrail2447]

Thanks! I sent all my worn shoes home just to do that picture with them.

[@pleok08]

Wednesday, February 21st: You are correct on number of pairs of shoes used. Six is a good number to budget. Injuries hard to budget for. Thanks for sharing! Happy Trails! Ross08

[@cobwebroseonthetrail2447]

Thanks for watching!

[@1024Pete]

Not surprised at the footwear use because those are really sneakers. I tired the Brooks Cascadia 16. However, they didn’t compare to the durability and waterproofing of the Lowa Renegade GTX Mid for hiking in mud, wet, snow and including the outside nasty chores. I get about 2 years wear out of the Lowa hikers. Never had a split or a leak. I only get a new pair so I have nice shoes and less worn soles. The old pair get used for even more nastiness. Presently, I am experimenting with the Lem Boulder Summit. LEM is lighter and very comfortable on trail. I hoping they are as durable like the Lowa brand. Using an orthotic insert eliminates fatigue for me. On the high end, I figured 8 grand for a full hike. This number would make me happy only if I end at 4 grand. After all, hiking the AT is a grand experience. As always, thanks for your valuable insight and pleasant commentary. Wishing you peace and good fortune. Happy Trails!

[@cobwebroseonthetrail2447]

I hope the new shoes or boots are comfortable for you! Everyone I knew who wore trail runners went through multiple pairs. People who wore boots seemed to go through a lot fewer pairs, but you really need to find a boot that is a good fit for you.

[@1024Pete]

@@cobwebroseonthetrail2447 Thanks. Susan and Lucy Letcher, Isis and Jackrabbit, hiked the AT barefoot. To them it was natural because they always hiked barefoot as kids.

[@chriskelly6559]

I hike in Merrill Moab low top. 700+ miles, no problems. If your sleeping pad (air) doesn't get a leak, you're lucky. I had a monthly budget of $1,000....with $2,000 put aside for unexpected stuff. Worked out just fine. Thankfully no medical problems. Crackerjack.

[@cobwebroseonthetrail2447]

Nice! It’s wonderful when you finally find the pair of shoes/boots that work for you! Thanks for sharing!

[@Spruce_Bringsteen]

​@cobwebroseonthetrail2447 maybe check out Norda, expensive but if they last longer than multiple pairs it's worth it.

[@BucksMom218]

Get cash at a supermarket when buying food…ask for cash back…no fee😋

[@LWilli5]

Sometimes there is a charge for cash back.

[@BucksMom218]

I guess they will get you regardless 🥴😂🥾🥾

[@Josephhikes]

Another really good video! One of the expenses that I seen on trail was major equipment changes. I seen a Tent and backpack change. Two other backpack changes 3 people I hiked with changed out their packs. Two of them for comfort and fit reasons, the other one for weight . (Lighter pack) I broke one of my trekking poles so I bought a new pair.

[@cobwebroseonthetrail2447]

Yes! I saw all those things happen on trail. My buddy MC had to replace sections of his poles on trail, and his backpack straps nearly tore off! Gear changes are a major expense.

[@todayslist37737]

$2k/mo+ ice cream. + Medical mishaps is my takeaway😂. Great video. I haven't seen one on this topic that was as specific before. I've watched hikers that needed a beer and pizza budget.

[@cobwebroseonthetrail2447]

Thanks! A lot of hikers I knew definitely needed a beer and pizza budget! 😂

[@markcummings6856]

Yup, Shaws will nickel and dime you to death. They got you and they know it.

[@s.jamessavell6995]

I see people using air mattress protectors on the PCT. Why the ACT doesn't confuses me. Are there no air mattress poppers on the ACT?

[@cobwebroseonthetrail2447]

I’m not sure what you mean by a mattress protector, but it sounds great! I had a 1/8” foam pad for under my sleeping pad for extra warmth and less sliding around in my tent. My pad still popped through that, though. :/

[@ronrabatin6573]

As a hiker myself with already crummy knees considering an A/T thru hike what did the Urgent care do / prescribe for your knees?

[@cobwebroseonthetrail2447]

They did xrays to make sure I didn’t have shin splints (I did not), and I was given a prescription-strength NSAID. It helped, but it took a couple weeks. A fellow thru hiker had to get a steroid shot in his knee, but that helped him a lot. A lot of the help you can get from urgent cares depends on the provider you see there. My best advice to take care of your knees on the hike is to ice them every time you’re in town, use ibuprofen to decrease inflammation if you can, elevate your legs in camp and roll out sore muscles, and cut down on your mileage if your knees are really struggling! I also used lidocaine gel cream and tiger balm for my knees as well as compression knee braces with metal stay supports on the sides.

[@flowerpower1980]

I’m curious….what did the urgent care do to help your knees? Always looking for knee advice!!! Great video!!

[@cobwebroseonthetrail2447]

I got a prescription-strength NSAID, but other than telling me to get off trail (which I did not), they didn’t do anything else for me.

[@Kristenm28]

​@cobwebroseonthetrail2447 isn't that how it always is. Here's some drugs, but we don't actually fix anything.

[@lindatipton413]

Duck tape!!

[@cobwebroseonthetrail2447]

Good one!

[@Volsman5150]

It’s amazing that you post videos about the cost and what you didn’t expect to spend on Trail. I don’t get it Why you KZbinrs don’t put out there what the cost are? You gripe about the costs, but you don’t tell anyone watching your channel what you paid?? I’m going to hike in 2025 and I’m going to tell and post what every Hostel, Rides, Tenting, and other costs as I hike the Trail. I want to let everyone know what it cost for a Rheu-Hiker can expect and what Not to spend your money on. It’s a very disturbing to me that you guys want tell what it cost at each Hostel you stay at and what the Shuttle Rides costs, plus Slack Packing along the Trail. It’s like you’re afraid to tell people what you spent on Trail!! Everybody is different and everyone will spend less or more depending on their Hike. It’s just unbelievable that you make a video on KZbin to get likes and don’t even tell your viewers what the prices are?? I’m going to tell my viewers everything and what it cost as I’m going to also tell them if it’s worth the price to stay at such Hostel, Shuttle Ride, Tent Sites etc….. People want to Know these Prixes all you guys talk about and want to know what a Hostel cost is, what the going rate is for a Shuttle Ride, what a Hotel cost to stay in and so forth! It’s amazing to me that you’d even post a video like this and Not Tell what the price is? It’s like you KZbinrs are afraid that you might have people come back and get on to you for telling the price? It’s just ridiculous not to tell the price!! Guess that’s why I’m a 25 year bar my veteran that is going to tell the price and expose some of these Hostels, Shuttle Rides for what they really are? I know people need to make money, but there are a lot of places that screw Hikers along the way when they know most Hikers are just making it out there. So next time you want to make a video about budgeting for the Trail, then people can see what it might really cost them to hike the AT, PCT, CDT?? Just mind blowing people that are millennials or Gen Zers don’t have the balls to tell the truth while on Trail. Just saying because there is no need to make a video about Budgeting for the Trail when you’re not giving prices outt! Also, you wouldn’t have go through so many shoes if you hadn’t wore Tennis Shoes/Trail Runners on the Trail. Just saying!! Hiking Boots are So much better and comfortable as well as last a lot longer then those really expensive so called Trail Runners!!

[@cobwebroseonthetrail2447]

Thanks for taking the time to watch my video. I actually don’t remember the prices for everywhere I went on trail, and the cost of every person’t thru hike will differ greatly. If you rarely stay in town, your hike with cost significantly less than if you platinum blaze the trail. If you hitch instead of shuttle, you will save money there, and if you don’t slackpack (or do it through friends), you won’t have to pay for it. Each person’s hike cost also varies based on lost wages (if quitting a job or taking a sabbatical) and what gear they choose. My recommendation is budget $1.2-2K per month for an average 6 month hike, and you will be able to do the hike comfortably. If you want to spend less, then you’ll have money saved to take more time off after your hike. Also, I chose trail runners because they are the most comfortable for my feet, and considering I walked almost 2200 miles, that was really important to me. I hope your 2025 hike goes well! Happy trails!

[@justinlee9678]

My friend, there is no need to be so hostile. This video was posted to help future hikers (like yourself) plan for their hike. Many of the places along the trail offer hiker specific discounts, occasionally up to 25% off. There is no need to accuse her of "not having the balls to tell the truth." As someone who hiked alongside her (literally) from Georgia to Maine this past summer, she is many things; brave, tough, resilient, and funny. But a coward is not one of them. She has a private life and I cannot blame her for wanting to abstain from posting every detail about her life. Every detail she CHOOSES to share is to help future hikers. I know people who did their whole hike on a budget of 5k and people who spent upwards of 10k. I personally spent 8k. Happy Trails, I hope you have a great time in the outdoors!

[@tfmahony]

This video wasn’t intended to break down the full cost of the hike. There’s plenty of KZbinrs that do that if you’re interested. This was just intended as a set of tips and FYIs for costs not everyone thinks about. Some people keep track of every single expense, some don’t. I spent about 9k total on the hike itself, if you’re curious, but I didn’t break down every expense afterwards. Happy trails!