Earplugs: "I just don't want to hear that jazz". Oh man, that line did it for me. Great stuff as usual. Good luck with the rest of your preps. I speak for many here by saying, we look forward to your adventure. All the best. Jack NYC
Thank you. I’ve heard the shelters are snoring, farting, and people rolling around on sleep pads. If I can keep any of that from penetrating my ears I’m happy. Thank you!
Best Socks EVER... I never would have thought I'd wear toe socks, but I'm a believer!!! NO blisters EVER!!! As for the ground sheet, we had one of those and while the Gossamer Gear tent is great, the ground sheet however is NOT... We are looking forward to seeing your hike step by step... HYOH and Track on!!!
I bought a Durston ground sheet but it didn’t arrive in time so I’m rolling with the polycro for now and hope it lasts me about a month until I get my first big resupply from home. I still don’t know how I feel about toe socks…but I’m gonna learn. 😂😂
Yeah, you're coming closer to the start date!! Looking so much forward to see you out on trail. There might be some gear which is not 100% needed as others already mentioned, but you will find out quick enough right 😉 Do what feels good for you.
It all seems well thought out. There are no doubt things in there will be quickly ditched but that’s all part of it. I’m not a through hiker or ultralight. If you lifted my setup you’d laugh at all the luxury’s that go with me on my hikes. I’m interested in how you get on with the new Durston. I use the one that you had before and I love it all. Except the pegs. I found the ones provided not up to the job and it seems that everyone I know who has a Durston have found this too. Four pegs is ok in the garden but I’m using six substantial pegs for the basic setup. Four on the corners and one each for the guy lines. I also use two of the pegs provided with the tent, the shepherd hook ones for the doors and for belt and braces, I also use another four MSR groundhogs for the middles with a bit of bungee cord. It sounds a lot but it doesn’t actually weigh too much and I’m happy with the extra security in unfavourable weather. If it won’t stay in with that amount of pegs in then I’m going home! Looking forward to watching your travels mate, not long to go. Woohoo 🥳
I filmed this about a week ago and did additional shakedowns everyday for 4 days and cut more stuff. About 4.5lbs worth. Ha ha. I’m using the titanium stakes from Zpacks instead of the Durston ones. Brought a few extras and hope they’re enough to last for awhile.
I think you have a really good core set of gear, but also a lot of excess gear that you won't need. If I find yourself not using a piece of gear after 3-4 days, send it home. But best of luck and excited to watch your journey!
Definitely not afraid to send stuff home or drop it in a hiker box for someone else to try. I cut another 4.5lbs since filming this and I know there will be a bit more over the next few weeks after I get on the trail.
Here’s a link to my lighter gear page. The gear has changed but I update that as I go along so the weights on there are the most current lighterpack.com/r/s5x40p
I used to hike once in a while with a guy, he was so in tune with the weight he carried, he would cut the bristles halfway down on his toothbrush, and cut the handle shorter, and take the tags off his clothes to cut down on the ,,i thought that was a little extreme but each to their own. Looking forward to your first day. Blackritz
It’s interesting all the different ways you can find to cut weight. I’m not ultralight for sure but getting down to the absolute basics makes sense. Thanks for the support!
you're going to hit a town every week or so. You could bring carry one can of fuel. You're going to find out real quick within the first week of how much stuff you'll be sending home.
Interesting video. I started my AT thru hike on 16 Feb 2023 so a couple of weeks ahead of you and finished 18 Jul 2023. You mentioned several times you had more stuff then others and I have to agree with you. From my own experience, you were carrying too much weight. I also noticed you were not carrying a water bottle that was reachable. I carried the same pack and no way could I get to my water bottle without taking my pack off, so it was on my shoulder strap. I did watch all of your videos before posting so I saw at day 19 you got off the trail for good. I’m sorry you got hurt and hope you decided to give the trail another try, but please consider reducing your weight. My base weight before food and water was 12lbs. I had two Smart bottles but only filled one unless I was going through a particular long dry stretch. Remember, a 1L bottle weighs almost 2lbs. As for food, I tried to limit my weight to 1.5 - 2lbs per day and tried to carry only four days worth. There were stretches early on I had to carry five but as I got comfortable on the trail, my max became three days. Best of luck in your future adventures.
Congrats on completing the trail, that’s so awesome! I kept the water on the sides because it forces me to slow down, drop my pack, and stop for a few minutes every hour. As for the weight, I ended up being 34lbs with 5-6 days of food and 2 full bottles of water. It was still heavy but not where this video was at. Ha ha. I’ve been working with my podiatrist and physical therapist and trying to get back to where I was pre trail. I have some hip issues that have always caused me some problems and that kinda translated down the legs and into the feet. I did a few hundred miles of prep hikes but as many say, nothing compares to actually being on the AT. I won’t be going back in 2024 because of ongoing tendon problems. But I will be going back. I think about it everyday and miss it. When I do go back I need to be lighter, both physically and gear wise. I also need to wear a mid shoe so I have more ankle support. Thank you so much for the support and advice. It’s truly appreciated.
@@TrackingHopper All good and while dropping that initial weight to 34 was good you were still pretty heavy. You have some great lightweight gear but def too much. As for conditioning, I hear you. I spent time on a treadmill at it’s highest elevation and walked at least an hour a day but that wasn’t enough. I dropped over 60lbs in body weight on the trail and while my pack was light, every time I went into a hostel or hotel my bag exploded and I went through each item. As a AT thru hiker from 2022 told me, if you haven’t touched/used it in three days dump it. As an added note, I was 66 when I started the trail and turned 67 by the time I hit Harper’s Ferry (my goal) and I wanted to finish in under 6-months and I did but even now, months later, I feel my knees and back are just getting back to normal.
It’s interesting because initially my goal was to do the trail when I turned 50. Then my buddy talked me in to going earlier…and then he got injured and couldn’t go. The way things are going with my feet and home stuff I’ll probably be going back on the 50th like I originally planned. 🤣🤣
I liked the HMG but CTUG wanted to send me one to see what I though. They’re both 2.5L but the CTUG feels bigger. There aren’t additional pockets like the HMG so maybe that’s it. Just a bigger central pocket. Very comfortable and it has a stronger feel to it.
The only thing I’d be worried about is your bag. No frame is really going to put your shoulders to the test. This bag also had no load lifters. Other than that looking good. See you on the trail
This pack is considered an internal frame pack. I use this pack and find it more comfortable than others. I don't miss load lifters. The way the pack is designed it doesn't actually need them. I've tried a few other packs, but this is the most comfortable for me. I hope he has good luck with it also.
A question outside of gear... I was wondering what your mileage strategy is. How many miles do you plan on averaging a day to make it to Katahdin in time?
That’s a good question. I’m averaging about 7 a day for the first 10 days to let my body acclimate and get my legs under me. After that I want to creep up to 15 milers. I have up to the end of September to do the trail but the goal is end of August.
Very heavy load and the overfilled chest pack and waist packs are blocking your vision. You’ll have to be very careful of watching your step. One misstep can ruin a trip. If you want to cut weight, cut out extra clothes and extra camera gear including that giant battery pack. No extra fuel canister. Carry no-soak/cold soak food as back up if canister runs out. If you have lots of experience thru hiking with your heavy set up, great. But people I’ve seen with set ups that heavy tend to bail out, get injured or dump gear in hiker boxes or send stuff home to lighten up. Hope this set up works for you. Good luck.
This was filmed a while back. I made more cuts before starting the trail. Big camera and a lot of other things were downsized. Final weight with 2L of water and 6 days of food was 34lbs. 115 miles into the trip I was done. Tendinitis in two tendons on each foot to so bad I could barely walk. I’m back home working on healing up. Hopefully start PT soon. The goal is 2024.
must be a really technologically advanced fanny pack where the fanny pack itself and all of its contents magically defy gravity and weigh nothing. the fallacy of ‘worn weight’. whatever you have to do to keep the number below 40. as a HMG pack user i cannot imagine carrying this amount of weight with this pack, my body hurts just watching this video.
I spent the days after filming this video going through the pack again and again. Cut about 4.5lbs out and I know there will be more as I go. Nothing is set in stone and things will change as I learn and weather changes.
Not a bad setup! Hate seeing the zpacks rain bs. It will wet out just like all others on the AT, get ripped even easier, and waste all that money for nothing. You've got alot of extras that hopefully you'll send home as you go. You will rock the trail. ~Too Easy
Yep, there are extras. I spent the next 4 days after filming this doing shakedowns and cut another 4.5lbs of stuff…but I know I’ll end up mailing or donating more.
Good luck, brotha!
Thank you!
We all have our preferred luxuries and yours is baggies! Great vid.
You nailed it. I laughed yesterday when I had everything laid out. So many bags. 😂
lots of good stuff!
Thank you. Gear is fun
Glad to see more people with CTUG kit.
I dig the CTUG stuff.
Everyone loves gear lists! I think the Crystal light container for sunglasses is smart! Not seen that before.
I hadn’t wait her until I started looking for ultralight sunglass cases. It’s pretty genius so I’m happy I stole it from someone else. Ha ha
Congratulations Hoper, looks real good
Thank you!
Earplugs: "I just don't want to hear that jazz". Oh man, that line did it for me. Great stuff as usual. Good luck with the rest of your preps. I speak for many here by saying, we look forward to your adventure. All the best. Jack NYC
Just seeing on insta that you are all but underway, so... GOOD LUCK!!! Cheers to you, Hopper.
Thank you. I’ve heard the shelters are snoring, farting, and people rolling around on sleep pads. If I can keep any of that from penetrating my ears I’m happy. Thank you!
Saw you started (Ron posted your start). Cannot wait to follow along! Good luck
Thank you! Yep, I’m out here slowly making my way. Videos will start up in about a week or so. I have to edit and upload so probably during zeros.
Loved your video!
Thank you!! Hope you’re both doing well out there!
I have a fanny pack about the same size with 2 water bottles on it I had to attach a shoulder strap because it gets over loaded easy
I could imagine needing to do that with the weight of adding water bottles.
Best Socks EVER... I never would have thought I'd wear toe socks, but I'm a believer!!! NO blisters EVER!!!
As for the ground sheet, we had one of those and while the Gossamer Gear tent is great, the ground sheet however is NOT...
We are looking forward to seeing your hike step by step... HYOH and Track on!!!
I bought a Durston ground sheet but it didn’t arrive in time so I’m rolling with the polycro for now and hope it lasts me about a month until I get my first big resupply from home.
I still don’t know how I feel about toe socks…but I’m gonna learn. 😂😂
Yeah, you're coming closer to the start date!! Looking so much forward to see you out on trail.
There might be some gear which is not 100% needed as others already mentioned, but you will find out quick enough right 😉
Do what feels good for you.
Thank you! Yep, I’ve already shed Gear since filming but I know I’ll be shedding more once I get statutes. Thank you for the support.
It all seems well thought out. There are no doubt things in there will be quickly ditched but that’s all part of it. I’m not a through hiker or ultralight. If you lifted my setup you’d laugh at all the luxury’s that go with me on my hikes. I’m interested in how you get on with the new Durston. I use the one that you had before and I love it all. Except the pegs. I found the ones provided not up to the job and it seems that everyone I know who has a Durston have found this too. Four pegs is ok in the garden but I’m using six substantial pegs for the basic setup. Four on the corners and one each for the guy lines. I also use two of the pegs provided with the tent, the shepherd hook ones for the doors and for belt and braces, I also use another four MSR groundhogs for the middles with a bit of bungee cord. It sounds a lot but it doesn’t actually weigh too much and I’m happy with the extra security in unfavourable weather. If it won’t stay in with that amount of pegs in then I’m going home!
Looking forward to watching your travels mate, not long to go. Woohoo 🥳
I filmed this about a week ago and did additional shakedowns everyday for 4 days and cut more stuff. About 4.5lbs worth. Ha ha.
I’m using the titanium stakes from Zpacks instead of the Durston ones. Brought a few extras and hope they’re enough to last for awhile.
Seems like a great setup! Looking forward to seeing the stunning shots you get throughout!
Thank you!! P.S., the Fanny pack is the shiznit!!!!
It looks like a well-thought-out pack. Peace and Safe Travels
Thank you!
Awesome man. Good luck out there! I’ll be on the CT this summer. Cheers 🤙
Thank you. That’s great man, hydrate up and enjoy your trek.
Go get it Hopper! Looks like a good starting place to me!
Thank you!
Looks like your Hokas were a good purchase. Your step looked my lighter.
Those were Lone Peaks which I started with. I’m now in Topos to get more cushion and support. Feet are critical!!
I think you have a really good core set of gear, but also a lot of excess gear that you won't need. If I find yourself not using a piece of gear after 3-4 days, send it home. But best of luck and excited to watch your journey!
Definitely not afraid to send stuff home or drop it in a hiker box for someone else to try. I cut another 4.5lbs since filming this and I know there will be a bit more over the next few weeks after I get on the trail.
Hi Chris, your dad's bud of 61 years here, Ron. I look forward to following your trek! Loved the pole humor, reminds me of your dad!
Hey Ron, I like to think I got a little of his sense of humor. 😂😂
Thanks for the video. Did you mention your base weight? If so, I didn't catch it
Here’s a link to my lighter gear page. The gear has changed but I update that as I go along so the weights on there are the most current
lighterpack.com/r/s5x40p
Great gear! I think you're ready 🙂🙃
Thank you!
I used to hike once in a while with a guy, he was so in tune with the weight he carried, he would cut the bristles halfway down on his toothbrush, and cut the handle shorter, and take the tags off his clothes to cut down on the ,,i thought that was a little extreme but each to their own. Looking forward to your first day. Blackritz
It’s interesting all the different ways you can find to cut weight. I’m not ultralight for sure but getting down to the absolute basics makes sense. Thanks for the support!
i didnt even realize February is almost over until you said you're starting soon holy crap
Right?! Im on the approach trail now.
@@TrackingHopper good luck! i look forward to seeing the new videos on the trail:)
you're going to hit a town every week or so. You could bring carry one can of fuel. You're going to find out real quick within the first week of how much stuff you'll be sending home.
I cut down to 1 can before I started along with about 4k a of other gear. 😂
Interesting video. I started my AT thru hike on 16 Feb 2023 so a couple of weeks ahead of you and finished 18 Jul 2023. You mentioned several times you had more stuff then others and I have to agree with you. From my own experience, you were carrying too much weight. I also noticed you were not carrying a water bottle that was reachable. I carried the same pack and no way could I get to my water bottle without taking my pack off, so it was on my shoulder strap. I did watch all of your videos before posting so I saw at day 19 you got off the trail for good. I’m sorry you got hurt and hope you decided to give the trail another try, but please consider reducing your weight. My base weight before food and water was 12lbs. I had two Smart bottles but only filled one unless I was going through a particular long dry stretch. Remember, a 1L bottle weighs almost 2lbs. As for food, I tried to limit my weight to 1.5 - 2lbs per day and tried to carry only four days worth. There were stretches early on I had to carry five but as I got comfortable on the trail, my max became three days. Best of luck in your future adventures.
Congrats on completing the trail, that’s so awesome!
I kept the water on the sides because it forces me to slow down, drop my pack, and stop for a few minutes every hour.
As for the weight, I ended up being 34lbs with 5-6 days of food and 2 full bottles of water. It was still heavy but not where this video was at. Ha ha.
I’ve been working with my podiatrist and physical therapist and trying to get back to where I was pre trail. I have some hip issues that have always caused me some problems and that kinda translated down the legs and into the feet. I did a few hundred miles of prep hikes but as many say, nothing compares to actually being on the AT.
I won’t be going back in 2024 because of ongoing tendon problems. But I will be going back. I think about it everyday and miss it. When I do go back I need to be lighter, both physically and gear wise. I also need to wear a mid shoe so I have more ankle support.
Thank you so much for the support and advice. It’s truly appreciated.
@@TrackingHopper All good and while dropping that initial weight to 34 was good you were still pretty heavy. You have some great lightweight gear but def too much. As for conditioning, I hear you. I spent time on a treadmill at it’s highest elevation and walked at least an hour a day but that wasn’t enough. I dropped over 60lbs in body weight on the trail and while my pack was light, every time I went into a hostel or hotel my bag exploded and I went through each item. As a AT thru hiker from 2022 told me, if you haven’t touched/used it in three days dump it. As an added note, I was 66 when I started the trail and turned 67 by the time I hit Harper’s Ferry (my goal) and I wanted to finish in under 6-months and I did but even now, months later, I feel my knees and back are just getting back to normal.
It’s interesting because initially my goal was to do the trail when I turned 50. Then my buddy talked me in to going earlier…and then he got injured and couldn’t go. The way things are going with my feet and home stuff I’ll probably be going back on the 50th like I originally planned. 🤣🤣
Why did you switch to CTUL for the fanny pack? I’ve been looking at that sucker.
I liked the HMG but CTUG wanted to send me one to see what I though. They’re both 2.5L but the CTUG feels bigger. There aren’t additional pockets like the HMG so maybe that’s it. Just a bigger central pocket. Very comfortable and it has a stronger feel to it.
@@TrackingHopper awesome. Thank you.
The only thing I’d be worried about is your bag. No frame is really going to put your shoulders to the test. This bag also had no load lifters. Other than that looking good. See you on the trail
I went back and forth with bags and so far have liked this one. If it’s not working out after the first few weeks than I’ll swap.
This pack is considered an internal frame pack. I use this pack and find it more comfortable than others. I don't miss load lifters. The way the pack is designed it doesn't actually need them. I've tried a few other packs, but this is the most comfortable for me. I hope he has good luck with it also.
A question outside of gear...
I was wondering what your mileage strategy is.
How many miles do you plan on averaging a day to make it to Katahdin in time?
That’s a good question. I’m averaging about 7 a day for the first 10 days to let my body acclimate and get my legs under me. After that I want to creep up to 15 milers. I have up to the end of September to do the trail but the goal is end of August.
Are those the wool injinji's?
They are.
I asked because I have their wool liners and they are a darker gray. I love them.
Oh, I just checked again and they’re not. They’re the 75% coolmax polyester ones
Looking good Sir. Enjoy the trip.
I'm sure you will find some things unnecessary once you are actually on the trail but better to have too much than not enough.
So true! I have a feeling I’ll be shedding gear like a paper trail all the way to Maine. 😂
Very heavy load and the overfilled chest pack and waist packs are blocking your vision. You’ll have to be very careful of watching your step. One misstep can ruin a trip.
If you want to cut weight, cut out extra clothes and extra camera gear including that giant battery pack. No extra fuel canister. Carry no-soak/cold soak food as back up if canister runs out. If you have lots of experience thru hiking with your heavy set up, great. But people I’ve seen with set ups that heavy tend to bail out, get injured or dump gear in hiker boxes or send stuff home to lighten up. Hope this set up works for you.
Good luck.
This was filmed a while back. I made more cuts before starting the trail. Big camera and a lot of other things were downsized. Final weight with 2L of water and 6 days of food was 34lbs.
115 miles into the trip I was done. Tendinitis in two tendons on each foot to so bad I could barely walk. I’m back home working on healing up. Hopefully start PT soon. The goal is 2024.
must be a really technologically advanced fanny pack where the fanny pack itself and all of its contents magically defy gravity and weigh nothing. the fallacy of ‘worn weight’. whatever you have to do to keep the number below 40. as a HMG pack user i cannot imagine carrying this amount of weight with this pack, my body hurts just watching this video.
I spent the days after filming this video going through the pack again and again. Cut about 4.5lbs out and I know there will be more as I go. Nothing is set in stone and things will change as I learn and weather changes.
Not a bad setup! Hate seeing the zpacks rain bs. It will wet out just like all others on the AT, get ripped even easier, and waste all that money for nothing. You've got alot of extras that hopefully you'll send home as you go. You will rock the trail.
~Too Easy
Yep, there are extras. I spent the next 4 days after filming this doing shakedowns and cut another 4.5lbs of stuff…but I know I’ll end up mailing or donating more.