Jill's Gear

Jill's Gear List

My goal for my gear list was to keep my base weight (without food or water) under 20 lbs. in the cold weather and around 15-16 lbs in the warmer months. I'm sure I will tweak this while I hike, but this is my starting plan.

Update: Now that my hike is complete, I went through and added my comments about each piece of gear, noted in Red. If you have any questions or are planning a long-distance hike and would like to talk through female-focused gear, please feel free to reach out!

This post contains affiliate links unless otherwise noted, which means that if you click on one of the product links, we receive a (very small) commission.

Tent - Big Agnes Gore Pass 2 (48 oz.*)

This tent is great and perfect for all three of us. Once we split the weight, it's really not that much to carry and it's completely worth the extra space. We can comfortably fit 2 people, a big dog and our gear.

Note: I wasn't able to find this model for purchase (we bought it several years ago), but the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL 2 is comparable.

*This is half of the tent's weight since it is shared gear.
I loved this tent and have used it again since our hike ended, despite the disgusting funk. That's how much I love it.

Sleeping Bag - North Face Fission +20 (34 oz.)

This is the bag I will use in the beginning and the end of the hike. I'm a super cold sleeper and I wanted synthetic because of the wet climate - this bag should provide warmth without costing me much weight or space.

Note: I wasn't able to find this model for purchase (we bought it several years ago), but the The North Face Cat's Meow +20 Degree Sleeping Bag is comparable.

This bag was super comfortable, but it left ZERO wiggle room. The zipper stops around my waist so I couldn't use it like a blanket and it was really hard to sit up in it comfortably. I would use it again, but not on a long-distance hike and not unless it was really cold.

Compression Sack - Granite Gear eVent Sil, M & XS - (4.23 oz)

I'm using a Medium compression sack for my sleeping bag and an XS for my clothes. In the summer, I probably won't use either.

Granite Gear eVent Sil Compression Drysacks

We used these for our tent, rain fly and clothes. Loved them and will use them again. They held up really well.

Sleeping Bag Liner - Sea to Summit (5 oz.)

A liner adds 5-10 degrees of warmth to my sleeping bag, but the real bonus for me is that it will keep the inside of my bag from getting all kinds of sticks and dirt in it. I can wash the liner in towns & keep my bag cleaner.

Sea to Summit Silk Liner

Loved my liner and was so happy I had it. It kept the inside of my sleeping bag clean and I used it to carry my dirty laundry to the laundromat. Just like a hobo. :-)

Pack Cover - Etowah (6 oz)

On a rainy day, this keeps my pack fairly dry. Plus, it's hunter orange which is always helpful in hunting season.

Note: I wasn't able to find this model for purchase (we bought it several years ago), but the Outdoor Research Lightweight Pack Cover is comparable.

Worked great. Still in great shape.

Stove - c (2.5 oz)

This stove is teeny tiny and works with a bunch of different pots and pans.

Primus Express Stove-Ti

I loved my whole cooking system. This is light and perfect for backpacking.

Utensil - Sea to Summit AlphaLight Long Spoon (.4 oz)

Fantastic spoon. It's long enough to reach into those Mountain House dinners and light enough that you don't even know you're carrying it.

Sea to Summit AlphaLight Long Spoon

Awesome. Love it.

Water Bladder - Deuter 3L (7 oz)

Easy to clean and provides quick access to water while I'm hiking. I drink a lot of water and the 3L size is just right for me.

Deuter Streamer 3L

In the beginning I used this while I hiked, but eventually I kept this empty in my pack and just used two Gatorade bottles during the day. I only used this bladder at night when we got water for camp.

Camp Rag - Dollar Store Microfiber Rag (1 oz)

Cheap and easy to replace on the trail. I use this to clean out my pot after meals and to dry off gear as needed. It's absorbent and dries quickly.

I loved having these in my pack. I replaced them 3 times on the trail, in Dollar General.

Water Bottle - Gatorade Bottle (1.2 oz)

A Gatorade bottle is lighter than a a plastic water bottle and I can change it out when it gets gunky.

I was quickly addicted to Gatorade and was always carrying two bottles. One filled with Gatorade made from powder and one filled with water.

Insoles - Berry Superfeet (1 oz)

Healthy & happy feet are so important on the trail. I've been wearing these insoles for trail running and everyday walking for some time now and they are great. Wouldn't hike without them.

Superfeet Women's Berry Insoles
Spenco Total Support Insoles

Surprisingly, my Superfeet just didn't cut it on the trail. My feet hurt constantly and never felt supported. They felt flat after a few hours of hiking. I switched to a two insole system and it made a huge difference. I used gel insoles from Dollar General with Spenco Total Support over them.

Shoes - Keen Tryon WP (10.8 oz)

They behave like trail runners, but have the Keen stability. Added bonus - they're waterproof.

Keen Tryon WP

I really liked mine and went through 4 pairs. They do take some breaking in though.

Wool Bottom - Midweight Long Underwear (4 oz)

I will carry two pairs of wool pants, one for hiking (I wear them under my skirt on cold days) and one for sleeping.

Smartwool NTS Midweight Running Bottoms

I used the same pair the whole time and they never wore down.

Skirt - North Face (14.4 oz)

I debated pants vs. skirt for weeks and finally decided on a skirt. Pants are functional, but just not comfortable for me. This skirt has pockets and I cut out the liner shorts. I'll instead wear a pair of spandex shorts and I can always add a layer of wool pants or rain pants under the skirt, depending on the weather.

Note: I wasn't able to find this model for purchase (we bought it several years ago), but The North Face Eat My Dust Skirt is comparable

I am SO glad that I chose a skirt. It made it so much easier to change in the woods, when I was surrounded by dudes constantly. I just slipped my wool pants under my skirt. Bonus, this skirt is crazy comfortable.

Rain Coat - Rab Kinetic (9 oz)

My goal for a rain coat was to find something lightweight that would keep me warm when I stop hiking and the wind isn't playing nice. It breathes well and fits perfectly.

Rab Women's Kinetic Raincoat

This is an awesome coat. It's lightweight and breathable, but keeps water out. Loved it.

Coat - Montbell U.L. Thermawrap Parka (10.7 oz)

This coat is fantastic. It's like wearing a lightweight sleeping bag. It comes with a stuff sack and packs down fairly well.

Montbell UL Thermawrap Women's Parka (not an affiliate link)

Obsessed with this coat. It's perfect.

Underwear - Jockey Modern Micro (1.6 oz/pair)

I'll carry one pair of these, in addition to my spandex shorts. I'll mainly use these for sleeping.

I started with two pairs of underwear and that was fine, but I really wish I would have planned to switch out my underwear once a month. I only did it twice total and it was fine, but I should have just done it more frequently.

Toiletries - Misc. Items (20.6 oz)

I kind of have a lot in my toiletries bag and I've tried to eliminate stuff, but I just can't yet. Maybe it will happen along the way as I get used to trail life. To start, I'll take
a mirror, my glasses, my contact lenses, saline solution, Bronners soap (pictured), a razor, a toothbrush, tweezers, face lotion, diva cup & yoga toes.

I kept everything, but the saline solution with me at all times. Worth it.

Kindle & Case (12 oz)

This is without a doubt, my biggest luxury item, but I've always planned on taking it. I read a lot and will use it to journal and store music, maps, etc. Yes, I could do these things from my phone, but I like the battery life and ease of use with my kindle.

Kindle Paperwhite

Very happy with my decision to bring a kindle. I used it every single day.

Camera Accessory - Stick Pic (0.38 oz)

This little (0.38 oz!) gadget is so smart and I love that two hikers invented it. It's designed to attach to the end of any treking pole to hold your camera away from your body, proving better self and group portraits. So smart.

StickPic with Bluetooth

I do love this gadget, but I rarely ended up using it on my AT hike. I do use it on day hikes though.

Back-up Power - Brunton Inspire (5.4 oz)

My phone simply won't last a full week without an additional charge and since it is my radio, mp3 player, etc I will be carrying this back-up power supply. I didn't bother with solar power because this was so light and powerful.

Brunton Inspire Rechargeable Battery

So helpful! I used this all the time and never ran out of a charge in between towns.

Phone - Droid Incredible & Otterbox Case (6.5 oz)

A phone wasn't optional for me...I need to be able to text and call as much as I want to when I'm in towns. The plus side is that my phone holds a lot of music, gets a radio signal and has a great battery when it's in airplane mode.

The battery is great and this case was bulky, but worth it because it kept my phone safe in all kinds of wet situations.

Pack - Osprey Aura 65 (57 oz.)

I've used the Atmos 50 for years and loved it, so for my thru-hike I went up a size to the Aura 65. The frame keeps it off my back, it has big hip pockets and a separate compartment on the bottom to store my tent, which is handy when it's wet. Plus I love the lid because I can keep my coats, hat and gloves handy without having to dig in my bag.

Osprey Aura 65
Osprey Atmos 50

I am so glad that I had an Osprey, but I do wish I had figured out a way to use my 50 during the summer months. Having the "extra" space of the 65 when I didn't have my cold weather gear wasn't necessary and usually led to me carrying extra food I didn't need.

Sleeping Bag - Deuter DreamLite 50 Degree (18 oz.)

I'll use this bag in the warmer months. It's light and packs down to a super small size, even without a stuff sack. Perfect for the summertime.

Deuter DreamLite 500 (not an affiliate link)

This is pretty much the perfect summer bag. I'm was so happy with this choice.

Sleeping Pad - Big Agnes Insulated Air Core Mummy (21 oz)

I've been using Big Agnes sleeping pads for as long as I've been hiking, but for this hike I switched to the mummy style to shave off a few ounces. I'll be inflating it with the instaflator (not an affiliate link) instead of manually blowing it up.

Big Agnes Insulated Air Core Mummy
Big Agnes Insulated Air Core Regular

It was completely worth the weight because I slept comfortably every night. I did get a slow leak at one point, but was able to switch it out for another sleeping pad. The instaflator is great too and even though we got a couple of holes in it from time to time, we were always able to patch them and I would have lost my mind without it.

Pillow - Exped Air Pillow Red (3.5 oz)

This pillow is so smart. It's lightweight and packs down well. There is also a foam layer in it which is incredibly comfortable.

Note: I wasn't able to find this model for purchase (we bought it several years ago), but the Exped Ultralight Air Pillow is comparable.

So comfortable and a great luxury to have. I used a buff bandana slipped over it as a pillowcase to keep it (relatively) clean.

LEKI Women's Diva Aergon Antishock (13.8 oz)

I got these poles as a gift from Serial and they are awesome. Super stable and comfortable, plus we have replacement parts ready to be shipped to us if we need them.

Note: I wasn't able to find this model for purchase (we bought it several years ago), but the Leki Women's Cressida Antishock Trekking Poles are comparable.

My poles held up super well, despite tons of pretty hard falls. Although the cork handles were possibly the funkiest piece of gear I owned on the trail. They absorbed sweat all day and smelled so bad.

Pack Liner - Plastic Garbage Back (<1 oz.)

Yep, a garbage bag. Companies sell pack liners and they're great, but a garbage bag works just as well and if I need a new one along the trail, I can easily pick one up.

I picked up a garbage bag at the NOC and it lasted me the whole trip. Definitely a must for a wet trail like the AT.

Pot - Jetboil Sol Ti .8L (6.3 oz)

I love Jetboil. It is just so easy to use and works even in the coldest, crappiest weather. The sleeve & lid are great for drinking tea & coffee and the pot is large enough to boil water for dinners.

J etboil Sol Titanium Cooking System

I wouldn't use anything else. It's great.

Fuel - Standard Canister (6.8 oz)

These are easy enough to find on the trail, but kind of heavy. I may switch to an alcohol stove at some point.

Jetboil Fuel Canister (any brand or size would work though!)

Standard and easy to find along the trail.

Water Storage - Nalgene Wide-Mouth Cantene 2.8L (2.25 oz)

For its weight, this serves its purpose and then some. We'll use this at camp to gather water for the night and following morning, then empty it for hiking. There's 3 of us so we can go through a lot of water at camp.

Nalgene Wide Mouth Cantene 96oz

Serial ended up carrying this, but we did use it every night to get water for camp. We filled this and my 3L bladder. We drink a lot of water.

Knife - CRKT Pazoda (3 oz)

I'm going for a basic, lightweight knife without any fancy or extra.

CRKT Pazoda

Great knife, perfect size for me.

Camp Shoes - Holey Soles (12 oz)

I have many friends back home who will cringe when they see that I'm taking these shoes, but they really are great for camp. When you've had laced-up hiking shoes on all day, it's nice to have loose & comfy shoes around the tent and fire.

Crocs Unisex Clogs

These are ugly, but functional. It was nice to have camp shoes that were easy to slip on and off, even with socks on.

Socks - FITS Light Crew (2 oz/pair)

These socks are wool and cushioned perfectly. A knee-high ski sock may seem like overkill for some, but they keep me warm & comfy at night. Plus they're great for hiking in cold weather.

FITS Women's Light Crew Sock

Great for sleeping and camp. Too thick for hiking. I prefer a super thin sock, almost as thin as a liner.

Socks - Injinji Ex-Cellerator Compression Toesocks (4 oz/pair)

I'll carry two pairs of these socks at a time and switch out every other day. I like to hike in these and then switch to wool socks at camp or whenever I'm resting.

Injinji Over the Calf Compression Toe Socks
Darn Tough Women's Ultra-Light

Very comfortable, but they wore out within 2 weeks. I had several holes in them and switched out to Darn Tough socks, which lasted the entire trail for most hikers I talked to.

Short Sleeve - Stoic Merino150 Bliss (4.8 oz)

A thin, wool shirt that breathes well when you're working up a sweat, but keeps you warm when you stop for a break. I have a couple of these that I'll send up the trail.

Stoic Merino 150 Women's

This shirt was super comfy and breathed really well, but it was so thin that I ripped a few holes in it pretty easily.

Long Sleeve - Stoic Merino150 Crew (6 oz)

The long-sleeve version of the Bliss. The sleeves are the perfect length and the thumb-holes are great on chilly days. I'll carry one for hiking and around camp; and another for sleeping.

Stoic Merino 150 Crew

It was really nice to have a non-hiking long-sleeve shirt to sleep in. I'm glad I carried two in the beginning.

Summer - Title Nine Straight Line Dress - (6.9 oz)

In the summer, I will trade out my heavier clothes for this dress. Made out of swimsuit material, it's super lightweight and dries in minutes. I can easily slide wool bottoms underneath or wool shirts over, if I'm cold.

Sadly, I think this dress is discontinued now.

I ended up carrying this just for camp or in town. I wore this while we did laundry and when we ran errands around town. It was nice to have something to change into that was comfortable and cute.

Bra - Barely There Bandini (1.1 oz)

Comfortable enough to wear all day, lightweight, breathable and dries quickly. I've tried a lot of sports bras and they all rubbed me the wrong way with multi-day use. Since switching to this bra, I've had zero problems.

BarelyThere Bandini

This was the perfect bra. I carried one for hiking and one for camp/town. It does not provide a lot of support though, I will say.

Bandana - 2 Buff Bandana (1.6 oz each)

I like Buff because it serves several purposes. I'll carry 2 original microfiber at a time; one for wear (headband, hat, etc) and for camp use.

Buff Original Headband

I kept both with me the whole time, but one was used as a headband and the other was a pillowcase.

Gloves - North Face Apex (3.7 oz)

These gloves are lightweight enough to still maneuver my hiking poles, yet waterproof and warm.

The North Face Women's Apex Gloves

Great gloves.

Maps - AWOL's AT Guide (8 oz)

I'm planning to load maps to my phone and kindle, but I also opted to carry the paper book. I like this guide and have been making notes in it as I plan my hike - will be nice to have them handy.

The only book that was accurate and useful. People who had different books were always borrowing this one from me.

Camera & Case - Samsung SH100 (5.1 oz)

I like this camera because it charges by USB which means I won't need to carry an extra charging device Plus it has wifi so I can upload my pics to Flickr and email without having to wait for a public computer. The case is great too - waterproof and only an ounce.

The wifi was a little tricky and if there was a password it was usually an issue so I didn't use that feature much. But it did take decent pictures and handled itself really well in the rainy, wet weather.