2016 SHT Gear List

No comments or suggestions? Please help.

I looked at it when you first posted it.  It looks good to me.  Looks like you got your temp ranges covered with out extras. I guess only thing you maybe forgot is hiking poles? How’s the duplex standing up?

SHT is something I’ve had on my bucket list.   Good luck with your hike

Looks good to me. I don’t know that country, so take this with a grain of salt. Two questions:

–Looks like the Zpacks Duplex and the 5×7 tarp are redundant.

–Seems like a lot of carrying capacity for water: 3 liters plus. Would you carry that much water? The capacity is not heavy, but the water will be. :-)

Enjoy your hike!

Not a lot to tweak, looks like a pretty perfect lightweight kit for the spring in the north woods. Good luck on your thru hike. I’m going to assume since you live on the arrowhead you know about the closing of the section between Gooseberry and Split Rock due to controversy.

Why not take two bandanas and skip the four light load towels and the hankie?  Skip the ziploc bag then too. You could use dropper bottles instead of the Nalgenes for your soap. A Toob toothbrush weighs one ounce with the refillable tube of paste. The paste is not really a necessity. I would be tempted to decide between rain pants and wind pants. Though even with a rain kilt as a substitute you would’ save much. Never seen Qtips on a list before. I wouldn’t take camp shoes either. Could take a Smart water bottle with the sport cap and leave the backflush adapter at home. Overall like said already, pretty solid.

Want to start out thanking everyone for their well wishes along with their comments and suggestions on helping to reduce pack weight.

Andy – Thank you for catching the missing trekking poles. I have added those. The SHT is a very beautiful trail. I like it, and hate it at the same time. I have done 90% of it in sections. There’s no long significant elevation ups or downs, but a lot of up down, up down. I like to say it nickel and dimes you. The views are awesome from the many ridges and lookouts. Lots of beautiful waterfalls too. I highly recommend the SHT.

John – The 5×7 tarp probably should go away, but after being on the trail many times before wishing I had a tarp for relief from the cold wind, or from the rain. The other reason is I will have my dog with and if it’s raining during a break I would like to setup the tarp and be under that versus setting up the tent and getting that wet inside. Definitely a luxury item. I don’t plan on using all the bladders while hiking. The 2 liter bladder will be used for camp use. The water will be for my dog and I. Even though most water sources are very close to campsites, I have found it easier in the past to fill them up when I get to or about to camp versus taking short walks to get more when there empty. The Aquafina bottle is for making mix drinks of Nuun, Gatorade, or lemonade.

Shawn – I was told by the SHT association that the reroute north of Gooseberry Falls will be changed again this summer to a permanent reroute, but probably not before I go. It’s unfortunate what happened to the land owner from a few random hikers.

Ken – Updated the Hankie to bandana, I had the wrong wording. Two of the light load towels were for bathing and drying off. Another one was to dry my dog off from rain before entering the tent and going to sleep with her down quilt. I could just add the one to her pack. I can easily drop the 4x light load towels for adding another bandana. Good call there. For the soap I could easily change to a dropper bottle. I have thought about doing this before but I didn’t like the idea of the cap falling off and soap getting over other stuff. While thinking about this I remember I have some dropper bottles sold by MLD a few years ago. I will have to give them a look. As for the tooth brush, I have tried the Zpacks tooth brush kit for the last few year, but it never feels like my teeth are as clean as when I use a real tooth brush. My first couple of backpacking trips were with one of these tube style. From what I remember they were bigger than just a regular tooth brush. Next time Im at the store I will give the tube style a look over. I have a ULA rain wrap and from what I remember the addition of the pants was almost a wash in weight, so I will stick with these for now. I wouldn’t feel comfortable hiking in rain pants vs wind pants. Qtips, I know that is an odd thing to find on a gear list. I guess I have a fetish with keeping my ears clean. Also thought of using these to apply the New Skin if needed, although I may just use my finger to apply. You don’t know how many times I have gone yay or nay to the camp sandals. My only justification is for allowing my feet to dry out, and bathing. As of know there nixed. How is it that you use a Smart water bottle with the sport cap for back flushing a Sawyer Squeeze?

I have updated my gear list with some of the recommended changes and more updates will be coming from the other recommendations. Thanks again for the help!

Your comments about the tarp and water capacity make sense. Have a good time.

The blue plastic piece on the sport cap snaps onto the filter output like it was made for it.