Appalachian Trail Packing List: A Complete Thru-Hiker Gear Guide You Can Trust
You must be considering a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail. Congrats! What a badass you are, and what an epic journey you have ahead of you.
A few years ago, my husband Barrett and I completed our very own AT thru-hike.
Before our trek, we began researching gear and found the amount of information and gadgets out there wholly overwhelming!
You may be in the same situation right now, especially if you’re a beginner.
This comprehensive Appalachian Trail packing list guide covers all the gear worth considering to accomplish a thru-hike of the entire trail.
After tons of research and in-field experience, this collection of articles details everything that worked for us (and some things that didn’t).
For each category and item, I’ll explain why it’s worthy of pack space, what to think about when purchasing it, and a quick note on our experience.
Read on to learn how to pack for an Appalachian Trail thru-hike. These posts are designed to equip you with practical, real-world advice, helping you make informed decisions about every piece of gear for a safe and successful hike.
👉 Click here to download the entire Appalachian Trail Gear Checklist for Thru-Hikers.
This document is a comprehensive list covering every essential aspect of outfitting yourself for a thru-hike!
I’ve broken this gear list into dedicated guides for each category — dive into whichever is most relevant to where you are in your planning.
Since we completed our thru-hike as a couple, these guides will cover both women’s and men’s gear.
My goal with these guides is to help you start your hike as prepared as possible by sharing our take on what items we believe will serve you best.
Happy gear researching!
The Big Three Essentials
Let’s jump in and start with the big three essentials: your shelter, sleep system, and backpack.
These are likely the heaviest pieces of gear you’ll have on the Appalachian Trail.
A quick note on the big three: You can cut corners with cheaper options in almost every other category below, but I would not recommend it for the big three. These are the essential pieces of equipment. Spend the money. You’ll be happy you did.
Quality equipment in these areas kept us chugging along, and will do the same for you. (PS: If I could add one more item to my “just spend the money” list, it would be shoes.)
I’m going to tell you what we used in each category, but then also list out a few other fan favorites because, let’s face it, everyone’s personal preference varies.
Appalachian Trail Shelter Gear
Choosing your shelter is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make before hitting the trail.
This post compares everything I have learned about shelter options for Appalachian Trail thru-hikers and key considerations for choosing a tent, including style (freestanding vs. non-freestanding), season rating (3-season tents are ideal for most hikes), and size (two-person tents are favored even by solo hikers for extra room).
Plus, the specific setup we used on our thru-hike.
I also dig into other popular tent models and why a ground cloth or footprint is worth the extra weight.
Appalachian Trail Sleep System Gear
After shelter, your sleep system is the most important investment you’ll make for the trail. A bad night’s sleep compounds fast.
This post focuses on the sleeping system for Appalachian Trail thru-hikers. It breaks down everything you need to know about sleeping bags vs. quilts, sleeping pads, and liners, including the synthetic vs. down debate and how to balance warmth, weight, and comfort for every season you’ll hike through.
Appalachian Trail Backpack Gear
Your pack will be on your back every single day. Getting this choice wrong is something you’ll feel in your shoulders, hips, and knees for hundreds of miles.
This post covers everything you need to know about choosing the right backpack for an Appalachian Trail thru-hiker, from capacity and frame type to fit, weight distribution, design features, and the accessories worth adding, like a pack liner and rain cover.
Appalachian Trail Clothing Gear
On the Appalachian Trail, you’ll hike through variable weather conditions, including everything from humid days to freezing mornings.
The clothing you’ll choose to wear on your thru-hike should be layerable, comfortable, lightweight, durable, and adaptable to rapidly changing weather conditions, ensuring protection on the trail no matter what.
This clothing post covers exactly what to pack for warm weather, cold weather, and rain, with advice on moisture-wicking fabrics, what we actually wore, and the pieces worth splurging on vs. where you can save.
- Clothing
- Base Layer: Hiking Clothes (Top and Bottom)
- Cold Weather Base Layer
- Mid-Layer
- Insulating “Puffy” Jacket (inc. Synthetic Jacket vs. Down Jacket in a Nutshell)
- Underwear
- Bra
- Sleep Clothes
- Zero Day Outfit
- Rain Gear (inc. Rain Jacket, Rain Pants, and Rain Kilt)
- Sunglasses
- Gloves & Glove Liners
- Rain Mitts
- Wet & Dry Grip Gloves
- Hats & Other Headwear
Appalachian Trail Footwear Gear
This page focuses on the footwear needs of Appalachian Trail thru-hikers. It covers key considerations for selecting durable, comfortable, and weather-appropriate footwear for long-distance hiking.
The guide compares popular shoe and boot options, highlighting the importance of proper fit, support, and the trade-offs between weight and protection to help hikers choose the best option for their journey and optimal performance on long hiking days.
Appalachian Trail Food & Cooking Gear, Water Treatment System
Food and water are what keep you moving on a thru-hike.
This post covers everything from what we actually ate(including a few days’ worth of food ideas for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks) to cooking gear, bear-resistant food storage, and building a reliable water treatment system for use at water sources found along the trail.
It also covers recommendations for backpacking stoves, gas/fuel, and cookware such as cups, bowls, mugs, and pots, as well as electrolytes and energy supplements to keep you fueled throughout your journey.
- Food
- Cooking & Eating Gear
- Bear-Resistant Food Storage (Bear Bag & Bear Canister)
- Water Treatment System
Safety & Repair Appalachian Trail Gear Items
This post covers a variety of safety and repair tools designed to keep you safe and prepared on the trail. It includes:
- Support & Safety: Trekking poles for balance, a knife/multi-tool for emergency fixes, and pepper spray for personal protection.
- Repair & Maintenance: A first aid kit, sewing kit, gear tape, shoe repair glue, and duct tape to address any gear or injury issues.
These items ensure you’re well-equipped to handle planned and unexpected challenges during your Appalachian Trail adventure.
Appalachian Trail Electronics, Navigation & GPS, Essential Hygiene Items, Less Important Hygiene Items, Bug Management Gear
This post covers a wide range of items for trail, grouped into several key categories:
- Electronics & Navigation:
It details must-have gadgets such as your phone, headlamp, battery bank, wall chargers, and a waterproof sack/dry bag. It also emphasizes navigation tools—including AT maps, both paper and digital guidebooks, and a dedicated GPS unit—to help you stay on track. - Hygiene & Toiletries:
The guide lists essential bathroom items like a complete bathroom kit, sunscreen, hand sanitizer, toothbrush, and toothpaste, along with additional personal care products such as soap, floss, deodorant, mirror, hair brush, anti-chafe balm, and wipes. - Bug Management:
It recommends effective bug control solutions, including insect repellent, an insect head net, permethrin insect repellent, and even an EpiPen for emergencies.
Overall, this post ensures you have the right mix of electronics, navigation aids, hygiene products, and bug management gear to keep you connected, healthy, and safe on the Appalachian Trail.
- Electronics
- Navigation & GPS: A.T. Maps, Guidebooks, and Wayfinding
- Essential Hygiene Items / Toiletries
- Less Important Hygiene Items / Toiletries
- Bug Management (Regarding mosquitoes, flies, gnats, bees, and ticks)
Appalachian Trail Luxury Backpacking Items
This post features a mix of comfort, convenience, and fun extras to enhance your Appalachian Trail experience. It includes practical items for downtime, unique personal touches like a mascot, gear to capture memories and stay entertained, and more!
Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike FAQs
Our thru-hike start date was in early April. We eventually realized an early spring start would have worked better for us. Timing is just one of the many things I wish someone had given me a straighter answer on before we left.
This post answers some of the questions I had most wondered about before hitting the trail, from snow gear and hunting season to permits, pack weight, how long it really takes, and the best time to start your hike.
- Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike FAQs
- What is the Appalachian Trail (AKA the AT)?
- Do you need snow gear for the Appalachian Trail?
- What gear do you need for hunting season?
- Do you need to pack any permits while thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail?
- What does ultralight backpacking vs. lightweight backpacking mean?
- How long does an AT thru-hike take?
- Can someone accomplish a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail with no experience?
- How can I prepare for the Appalachian Trail?
- How often should I change gear on an AT thru-hike?
- How did you watch for changing weather conditions?
- When should I start the AT?
Pin it for later:
To Sum Up: Appalachian Trail Packing List
That’s it! The exhaustive Appalachian Trail packing list. You, of course, only need some of the items on this list, but everyone is different.
If you want to complete a thru-hike of the AT, use the above information to consider whether or not each object is worthy of your personal pack space and what to think about when purchasing each item.