How to pack your life in a backpack

It’s time for gear chat! The most exciting part of planning your thru-hike in my opinion, is to check out and acquire all the equipment you need. But what you need and what you want may differ.

Disclaimer: I’m not an ultra-light hiker, nor do I aspire to be. For some of you some of my gear choices will seem luxurious, while some might wonder how I can go by with so little. It’s so individual! I think this will work for me, and I’m sure I learn along the way and might change up my gear as I go. So let’s start!

The one to pack them all

As for my backpack, I chose the Osprey Aura AG 65. It’s a backpack made for the female anatomy and I love how it feels on my back and it sits well on my hips. I removed the top pocket because I don’t think I need the full 65L storage (now down to 55L I guess), and the less space you have the less shit you take with you that you don’t need. I had the pack on my 1-week-trip in Sweden and loved it.

The roof over my head and the sleeping situation

Well, roof is a bit too optimistic, let’s say the fabric. I’m taking the Durston X-Mid 1P. A tent you see a lot in the long-distance hiker community I believe, as you don’t need tent poles but put it up with your trekking poles! I love 2-in-1 uses! It’s still quite spacious inside, and since I’m not too tall (I’m 1,65m/5‘ 4‘‘), there is still space to put my backpack inside. And it’s weight is still below 1 kg/2 pounds!

As for my slumber party, I have an inflatable pad (by McKinley, I forgot the model) with an R value of 3.9. The higher the value, the better the insulation from the ground, so this is pretty good! My sleeping bag is the Sea to Summit Flame FmII. Super small packing size, light and keeps me warm down to -4 Celsius (25 F). I also have a silk inlayer for some extra warmth and to keep the sleeping bag clean.

A home‘s heart is its kitchen

That probably means my home‘s heart is small, because there is not much to it. But what do you know , you actually don’t need a lot! I have the Jetboil MicroMo which is a burner with an integrated pot that holds 0.8L. And honestly what do you need more? Boil some water, pour it into your dehydrated meal (or you put the meal in the pot) and done! However, I will not eat with my fingers so I also bring a spork. To filter water, I have the sawyer squeeze water filter.

The Emperor‘s New Clothes

No, I will not hike naked. I still find the title funny. And considering how little clothing I’m bringing, it probably borders on naked (at the latest when everything is wet from the rain and I don’t have clothes for change).

I have with me 3 pairs of underwear (wow, how luxurious), two sports bras, long merino wool bottom layers (legging and top) for sleeping, but will wear it if it’s really cold. One hiking t-shirt (brought to you by my two best friends as birthday/parting gift), one pair of hiking trousers and one pair of hiking shorts. My rain gear is my trusted rain jacket from Jack Wolfskin (and it’s well tried!) and a pair of rain trousers. For extra warmth I have a fleece midlayer and a puffer jacket (it’s so puffy I’m gonna die!!). Finally two pairs of hiking socks (merino wool of course) and two buffs (a thin and a thick one) which can be used both as a hat, headband or scarf. Oh, and some gloves!

Shoes, shoes, shoes

Yes three times, this is how often I expect to replace them as I shred them on my way NOBO. But to start with, I have the Brooks Cascadia 17 Goretex. I’m a huge Brooks fan, have been using their running shoes for years, and now I just upgraded to trail runners. For camp, I have my old scruffy crocs fakes. Who knows if they survive this, but I won’t be too sad if they don’t.

Is hygiene even a thing on the trail?

Even if it’s not, I will indulge in the luxury of a few items. Furthermore, keeping yourself and your surroundings clean also helps to prevent sickness. Therefore I’ll always take some hand sanitizer with me. Toothbrush, toothpaste, dental floss, a small towel, an itsy bitsy tiny hair brush, Vaseline and sunscreen are packed as well. As for the bathroom business, I have a kula cloth, baby wipes and a back country bidet. Wish me luck to figure out how to use that correctly, or I’m off even worse! And of course, the obligatory trowel. Hikers, don’t leave your shit on the trail, and I also mean the literal shit. Dig a cat hole, and pack our toilet paper. As always, Leave No Trace, so we can all enjoy nature for a little while longer.

Miscellaneous and luxury items

A few things I just want to bring with me: my e-reader (bettern than packing 10 books, I think you’ll agree!), a sit pad (I don’t want a cold butt) and a journal. Also important is a head lamp, the Appalachian trail guide (I will also use the FarOut App) and of course my trekking poles. I also put together my own first aid kit containing some blister plaster, normal plasters, wound dressing, anti-bacterial and wound-healing creme, antihistamine creme, pain killers, pills against diarrhoea, cough drops, small tweezers, tape and a nail file.

I also have some electronics with me of course, including a powerbank and charging cables.

And that’s it. Nothing more coming. I expect to change stuff around as I hike on, as I will see what works and what doesn’t, but I think it’s a good set up to start. My pack comes in just above 10kg (22.5 pounds). Let’s see how much it weighs once I’ve added all the food!

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