Date: 2013-10-27
To: Gear Review
Miles today: 0.0

Here is a link to my gear: Chin's Gear Anyone with questions can email me at: davidamilner at gmail dot c0mBackpack: ZPacks Arc BlastI used this pack for the whole trip. ZPacks says that it is good for one thru but this thing has a lot of life left in it. I was concerned about it being hot in the summer but that was a non issue. I pretty much had it loaded up with the extra pockets they sell and that worked out well for me. The front Multi Pack was great for having small items I would be using during the day.The hybrid cuben fiber is a bit susceptible to wear when you have to slide down rocks but a bit of duct tape here and there and it was good.I would definitely use this pack again.Sleeping Bags: Montbell SS #1 and #5Can't say enough about both bags. I used the #1 until mid May and continued on with the #5 til my 9/17 summit. I was supported by my wife at the end so I could have easily swapped out to the #1 had the weather turned. I would consider swapping out to the #1 at Glencliff if not supported.I only actually got IN my sleeping bag once on the trip, preferring to use the bag, unzipped, as a quilt. These bags unzip all the way to the feet which I consider important.The only reason for me not going to a quilt is that option to zip it up.I would definitely used these bags again.Sleeping Pad: Thermarest NeoAirI started the trip with a very old NeoAir and it started to delaminate on me by VA. I bought a newer version and went on just fine. I am very happy with the sleep and comfort I got from the Neo. Some folks find that blowing it up is a hustle. I didn't. I would use it again.Tent: LightHeart Cuben SoloAt 20 oz this tent offers a lot. I had plenty of room for myself, all my gear, and even my dog when he visited me. I prefer a side entrance tent with the awning like this one has. This tent utilized both my trekking poles and was easy to pitch. You could get away with 4 stakes but is it fully staked out with 8. I was worried about the large footprint but it turned out to be a non issue. Even on the wooden tent platforms up north, I had no trouble. I did add some tie-outs for use on the platforms.This is not a free-standing tent and does require strong stake at the head and foot.I might switch to the LightHeart SoLong if I had it to do over again.Trekking Poles: Thermolite XL Aergon AntishockThese are VERY strong aluminum poles. I was very tough on them, trusting them to not break. They took my abuse and still look great. I fully believe I would have broken any of the carbon fiber versions. Not all aluminum poles are equal either. The aluminum used on these is tough stuff. They were worth every penny.These poles have the flicklock mechanism for the upper section and twist for the lower section. I would prefer that both sections have the flicklock if I had it to do over again and forgo the antishock.Water Treatment: Steripen Adventurer Opti Many folks cuss at these things. I have used Steripen models for years with no issues. Maybe I just take care of my gear better. Maybe I'm just lucky. This thing treated all my water for the entire trip and I used just 3 sets of batteries.I use 20oz Gatorade bottles and use the 16oz setting on the Steripen. My logic is that the Steripen works on slightly cloudy water and my water was 99% of the time perfectly clear. If it is designed to treat 16 ounces of slightly cloudy water it should be good for 20 ounces of clear. If this is a problem for a user they would probably go through more batteries. The Steripen fits perfectly on the 20oz bottles too.I would use the Steripen again. The other method that I saw on the trail was the Sawyer Squeeze. Their newer, lighter version looks sweet. I will be getting one of those for trips where the water is not clear.Light: Black DiamondWent through 3 of these on the trip. My first shorted out. Black Diamond replaced it with a piece of junk at Trail Days that lasted a couple weeks. Who makes a non-water resistant headlamp for hikers? I finally got a water-resistant model and finished with it. You want a model that has a kill switch/mechanism so your lamp does not accidentally turn on in your pack. On my first model this happened to me often. You also want a model with a red option for shelters and hostels. Red is considered polite when others are around.Watch: Suunto Core Loved this watch. It allowed me to keep track of elevation gain and loss. It allowed me to know where I was on the trail by simply looking at my guidebook and altitude. You certainly don't need something like this but I like gadgets.Rain Gear: eVent Packa, Marmot Super Mica, ZPacks Rain KiltPacka: I loved hiking in this thing. It is a pack cover and rain jacket in one. You can just use it as a pack cover and let it hang to your side when it is not raining, and quickly stick your arms through it when it starts to rain. The large pitzips offer great ventilation and since it fits OVER your pack it keeps the front of your pack drier too. It becomes problematic when it is raining at the time you need to set up your tent. You are going to get wet as you have to take off the Packa to get to your tent. Some folks pack their tarp/tent in a side pocket to get around this. I never got that to work. The eVent version, while heavier than the regular sil version, is the way I would go again. It breaths very well and is the most flexible rain strategy I have seen. Marmot Super Mica: Once the weather got hotter I ditched the Packa for a lighter, traditional, rain jacket.   I'm not sure this was the right move. Since the pack fits over this jacket it didn't breath as well.If I had to pick just one strategy I would have stuck with the eVent Packa the whole way. No rain gear is perfect. You are going to get wet on the trail. It is about comfort.ZPacks Rain Kilt: Never really used it as a kilt. I took it the whole way as expensive protection for my NeoAir on the rare nights I slept in shelters. I found the kilt to be more trouble than it was worth and would not bring it again.Clothing:Bottoms: REI Sahara convertible pants, Starter shorts, Montbell Down Pants, Under Armour Boxer Jocks 9"I have hiked with the Saharas for years. Once the temps warmed up and my pants were damp from my own sweat, I realized how much drag they created for my legs while climbing. I bought some generic shorts at Walmart in Marion, VA and hiked in those for most days the rest of the way.The Down Pants were great during the colder weather as my dry clothing for camp.The Under Armour Boxer Jocks protect me from leg chaffing 100%. I love these things. There were times during the heat wave that I had to ditch these for more air flow. If you have hiked in 95-100 degree weather you know what I mean. I'll leave it at that.....Tops: Icebreaker HopperThese merino wool tops are the ONLY tops I ever hike in, winter or summer. The wool is not itchy and has an amazing temperature range for comfort. If wet you still feel warm. As an added bonus it is nearly impossible to make them stink. I had people questioning me, if I was really a thruhiker, because I didn't stink. These are by far my favorite piece of clothing.Jackets (non rain): Marmot Windshirt, Nunatak Down ParkaI took the windshirt with me the whole way and used it a lot. I have had the same jacket for over 10 years and it is still going strong.The down parka was used in the beginning of my thru and again at the end. It is a bit of overkill for down but I liked being warm at camp. I was able to finish my thru with my 40-degree bag since I had this with me. I was good to the upper 20s with the 40 and the parka.Socks: Smartwool PHDs, Darn ToughI had been a mini crew Smartwool wearer for years until I tried the Darn Toughs. The DTs blew the Smartwool socks away. I used to go through socks like crazy. I really think I could have gotten by with 2 or 3 pair of Darn Tough socks for the entire thru. They will be the only socks I purchase in the future.Shoes: New Balance 806They don't make these anymore so I will talk in general. I think trail runners are the way to go with the exception of northern PA, NH, and ME. PA/NH/ME beat up my feet. I felt quite bruised. If I was to do it over again I think I would swap out to something with more protection on the bottoms for those sections of the trail. I would have a broken-in mid ready to be mailed to me.Traction: Kahtoola MicrospikesWorked perfectly. Best thing I have seen for icy conditions. IMO don't even bother looking at other stuff.Guidebook: The A.T. Guide It simply has everything I needed to navigate through my thru.Phone/etc: iPhone 5This was my Swiss Army item. Phones are amazing things nowadays. I had a compass, loaded maps, GPS, phone, camera, music, flashlight, guidebook, notepad, voice recorder, etc. I could have not functioned without it. For this journal I would lay in my tent at night and type away. Once I got signal the next day at some high point I would upload my pics and journal.