Comfort/Light Weight

You'll want to spend two nights in the canyon. Maybe three if you can get them. A single overnight makes for a very strenuous hike, as the second day is very long and very steep and very relentless uphill. You'll probably be happier going south>north; make your last night at Cottonwood, which gives you around 7 miles uphill on the last day. Take your time heading uphill, and try to do it very early in the morning.

We hiked from the North Rim in late June a few years ago — it was 37F at the parking area, and 105 at Roaring Spring. So be at least a little prepared for cold weather, though it's unlikely you'll need to camp/sleep at very cold temps.

Even though it was written for Scouts and different climate, I think my paper might be easy to digest and useful to a newbie to the sport. You won’t be below freezing. As others have said, you can get by with minimal shelter and staking can be a pain so maybe just a bivy. You will need food storage (Ursack, Outsak, etc) since you can’t hang it, and you’ll need decent water capacity. I think everything else in the paper would still apply.

I’ve only hiked it once back when I was a kid (July 82). I recall snow on the north rim and only 90 or so at the bottom. Wonderful time. Hope I can go back.