New Guy . . .be gentle :)

I used a 4L stuff sack (SeatoSummit Nano Sylnylon with waterproof roll top closure)for my EE Rev 20F. Size wise it is perfect but not impressed with the durability of these bags. I have several and the durability is very low. Even a quilt zipper impacting a rock upon the bag being dropped with compromise the material. But, yes the size is perfect for it.

Derrick

WOW wish my first gear list looked like yours!!

Any who im a gorilla owner(just trained mine to talk with sign language). To answer your question it depends on the weather and which gear I chose to bring which also depends on weather.

I usually stuff any down items in first(assuming its not really cold and I will be in need of my little puffy). Then I go by weight so heavier(compact) stuff goes next which is uaualy clothes, food(if not using my cannister)sleeping pad. Snacks in one of the side pockets, water bottle in the other. Shelter either goes in the back pouch or in the main bag depending on how many knick knacks I bring Ipad, fishing pole, photography gear ect. DSLR goes on hip attached to a thinkpad photography hip belt ran through where the gorrila hip belt goes for easy constant access. If I bring a bear can its attached to the top.

2. I prefer no to use a stuff sack with my quilt, its just easier to stick it in the bottom of the bag. And it is doubtful that you will damage the down by compressing it unless using some kind of compression sack. and having it with out a stuff sack saves weight and likely compresses it less. obvioulsy there ore other things that can happen like spilling food sunscreen or basically anything that could dirty your bag. so just be aware of that and youll be fine.

Yep,

The gear list is coming along. I'm a IT manager by trade, so I research everything and try to get the best that I can afford at the time. Fortunately, I have been able to sell heavier stuff and use the funds to purchase the lighter stuff, so I have been a pretty nice list without coming out of pocket . . . much . . .

Dave

Dave — Your gear kit looks like a pretty standard ultralight setup. There’s not really anything unique to the Gorilla or your other stuff that affects way you’d pack.

Your question regarding stuff sack for quilt is actually more closely related to overall packing of the pack, since “standard” ultralight way to pack a quilt is just loosely pushed down at the bottom of your pack in a waterproof pack liner, which will also contain other items you pack that you need to protect from water.

Mike Clelland has a really good series of videos on youtube about packing ultralight, start out with the one about “entire pack contents”:
Mike Clelland Youtube videos on packing ultralight

One tip for you that could be slightly different is regarding your Tarptent Notch. I (and many others) like to stick my Tarptent upright outside the pack in one of the side pockets that are often used for water bottles. Notch stuffsack is long and narrow but you should have straps to secure top of it against the pack, with bottom part resting in side pocket. Works well to have tent on outside of pack, but depending on your water carrying needs and preferences this may not work for you.

Thanks for the info on videos, I'll check them out. I'm with you on the tent outside the Gorilla. In fact, it fits in the large mesh pocket in the middle of the back and it may actually ride better in the side pocket as you suggested. I'll give it a look!

Thanks again,

Dave

Dump the Frog Jacket.

I just spent 4 days on a loop at Clingmans Dome and day three & four were non-stop heavy rain.

The jacket wetted out after the first 4-5 hours on day three and day four I was soaked and cold in mid 30's getting back to the top of the dome.

No way to dry out in camp with too much rain and moister in the air.

Left my eVent Jacket in the car to save a few ounces (Never again)

What type of event jacket to you have/like? I'd love to have some input from the pros on what works best or what their favorite is.

My current situation makes it interesting, because I am a big guy, but hiking to get the weight off. Its kind of frustrating to walk into the stores around here that sell hiking/camping stuff and find that they don't seem to have any big guy sizes. I typically wear 2x or 3x depending on the cut. Most of the hiking gear I've tried runs smaller than normal clothes . . .so beggars cant be choosers.

With my walking, I'm taking the weight off. Not super fast (I shoot for about 6-8 pounds a month) , but not slow enough to drop a lot of coin on apparel that will be too loose in a couple of months.

I think since I still want to lose about 50 lbs, I'll try to choose my days (hikes) carefully and if it starts coming down too hard for too long, head to the tent, the car or the house. Hopefully at the rate I'm going, it will only take a couple more months to get to a place where I have some more options.

Man, for just starting out you went for some high end stuff. But like any tools, I believe you should buy the best you can afford.

I have two of those same EE 20 degree quilts, perhaps the best backpacking investment I've ever made.

I also have a couple sets of those Costco carbon fiber trekking poles. Cant beat em for the price, but just be careful as the adjustment mechanisms on mine keep breaking, and Im not that hard on them. I wrote the only negative review of them on Amazon if you want to check it out, but I will probably be editing it to a better score. I have been keeping length adjustments to a minimum and this last set has been holding up pretty well. The carbide tips are not "replaceable", so when my last ones wore out, I cut the old tips off (careful not to damage the poles) and replaced them with some Black Diamond ones that are easy to replace.

Regarding rain gear, Im not sure if the Frogg Toggs you have is the same material as my Dri Ducks UL II set, but they saved my JMT hike last year during 4 consecutive days of heavy thunderstorms. Not a drop got through and they held up under my pack. I'm still using the same set.

Pros and cons of different jackets is a whole nother thread(several infact and a couple review comparisons)

If i was losing weight like you i would stick with the frog toggs and plan my trip accordingly. light rain should be fine. And acutally it was not my expierens that my frog toggs wet out in that amount of time but there are to many factors to weigh in why his wet out and mine did not.

I use my arctyrex alpha sv wich is a little over kill for back packing it gore tex proshell..

There are a ton of reviews on here about rain gear breathablity water proofness and everything in between. but if your going to be 50 pounds lighter next year(or even 20 in a couple months) none of it will matter unless your going with a poncho.

You have good stuff. Just usewhat you have the clothing a jackets get real expensive especially if your going to have to buy it all again in a year.

David,

I’m a big guy too – 6 feet tall and around 275. I have a Packa in eVent that I just love. It’s cut very generously and has huge pit zips. It’s not the lightest thing out there – mine weighs 17 ounces – but it works well with the advantage of keeping your pack as dry as the rest of you.

I think it’s okay for your rain gear to be a little too big – it just means it breathes better.

I would suggest going with a poncho. No worries about losing size or weight.

The three guys that were with me did much better with Ponchos.
I will be using my zpacks poncho through the summer and the eVent Jacket for colder shoulder trips.

Anyone commenting on wetting out in Appalachia should be knowledgeable of the effect of the humidity year round. (That's where he says he will be hiking mostly)

Edit to agree with Davids suggestion : )

"Anyone commenting on wetting out in Appalachia should be knowledgeable of the effect of the humidity year round."

I dont think anyone commented on wetting out in Appalachia?

Some people just had different expierences than you with frog toggs thats all.

David,

I like your gear list. It's the first one I've seen that I would carry myself so ya done good on your first attempt, very good.

TT NOTCH-> Very similar to the new TT Moment DW (I have a Moment single wall)

Caldera Cone Tri Ti-> Love it. (I have a CC Sidewinder W. Inferno woodburner option)

NEO-AIR -> it's a good choice for comfort

A few ecommendations:
1. Cabela's Polartec Power Dry polyester long johns – grid cut inner is very warm for the light weight. (top for summer, both for spring & fall to extend sleeping bag range and for cold mornings in camp.

2. MSR Groundhog stakes (they hold VERY well)

3. Synthetic filled puffy jacket for spring & fall

4. light poly or merino wool balaclava for sleeping on cool nights, etc.

5. P.S. As "Karple T" said, try an eVent or GTX Pro Shell rain parka. A bit more weight but FAR more durable and absolutely waterproof and very breathable. My REI Kimtah eVent parka on a 20% off sale was a geat bargain. Get one size larger to fit over your puffy properly.

Guys,

Thanks for all the great info . . . !

Yep, I like the idea of the poncho and you've given me some good suggestions to look at. I actually do have the Dry Ducks Ultra Light Jacked/pants combo. I'm really liking the poncho suggestion though.

I plan on starting with some short 2-3 day runs and then seeing where it goes from there. :)

David,

Glad to see another person on here from Knoxville. It really is a great place to live for those interested in the outdoors. I do 3-4 section hikes on the AT each year. I do hang my food on those trips 100% of the time, mostly due to mice. Those shelter mice are ferocious! (I don't use an Outsack)..A good idea to hang in order to keep them away from bears also.

Ryan

As others have said…what a great first list! It cost me a ton of money and way too many mistakes to get a list like that :)

Ditch the tyvek ground sheet. Weighs a ton, and even Henry Shires recommends no ground cloth. If you just HAVE to have one then try for a polycro one that's much lighter.

I have the gorilla and I really, really like it. I just cloud pack my EE quilt in the exped schnozzle so that it fills up the whole bottom of the pack, then keep my sleeping clothes, down pillow cover and booties (if I take them) in there too. Then I cinch it all up to be water tight, then pack my stove kit (everything fits in the pot) and tent on top of that, then my food at the very top. For most of my trips that pretty much covers it…

Any rain gear goes on the outside, same with my windshirt. I've started just folding my exped mat and leaving it up against the back of the pack, but the jury is still out on that – so I won't recommend that yet. It's hard to keep it there while I stuff the quilt in the pack. I'm still playing with that.

Have a blast…and welcome to the world of hiking! You'll love it…what a great way to lose weight

My favorite rain gear is an ID rain cape(large=5oz).
I combine it with my polycryo groundcloth worn as a rain skirt in really wet cold weather.

Capes and rainskirts don't have to be made of breathable material because they are breathable by design.

The ID cape can be worn in such a way that it covers your pack and has bungees to keep it from blowing around in the wind.

I have tried many breathable rain jackets and find them heavy, unreliable and one use items.
Many like full length ponchos, but I find they blow around and get in the way on scrambles and such.

Don't expect to be dry in extended rain in any raingear. Dress accordingly. Wear clothing that is hydrophobic and warm wet wet.

I also wear a windshirt underneath to help keep me drier and reduce some of the draft that you get under a cape. I have even worn windpants under my getup in freezing, blowing rain.

As you know, the mountains near Knoxville get a lot of rain.

I have always hung my food high enough for bears, but its the little critters that tend to get your food. And they can often reach a bear hang. The Smokies have bear cables, but I will warn you that mice can climb them.

Most AT thru-hikers do not generally hang their food from bears in most locations. You will usually see food bags hanging inside the shelter about pinata-height for a bear. But at least you can hear if the mice go after your food.

All of your contributions are greatly appreciated. Thanks for the great info and kind words!

Dave

1. Don't have that pack so can't comment.

2. I line my pack with a trash compactor bag and just stuff my sleeping bag down in there without the stuff sack.

3. If you want to be entertained on this question head over the Whiteblaze as this has been bantered over endlessly in many threads. The bottom line in my opinion is I think the best thing to do is to hang food in a tree using the PCT method. I can honestly say that I've used all 3 methods though (hanging, bear can and just sleeping with it in my tent), and I've never had a problem yet…with "yet" being the key word. There are a lot of bear interactions with people on the AT, but in general the bears are not overly aggressive towards food with the exception of a couple of localized hot spots (such as a small area in GA). And as another poster stated most of the thru hikers just hang their food in the shelters, which will only deter mice and other small animals. So anyway, my official advice is to hang it in a tree using the PCT method.

Here in the NE US, have never seen bears go into a shelter after food, even when only one or two people were there. You'd think they would, just never have seen or heard of them doing it.

But when tent camping, always hang the food. Had a bear huffing around the tent for most of a night when forgot that blueberry kool-aid, not tea, was in my water bottle. This was a few miles West of Mahoosuc Arm, maybe a hundred yards off trail.
A big open logged area, grassy, with berry bushes just coming in around the edge of the forest. It had a very bear-like feeling about it.

Through hikers have told me the bears are much more aggressive in the Smokies.
I'd hang the food well away from the shelter down there, unless other hikers there were already hanging the food in the shelter, in which case it probably makes no difference what you do. Left shelter society some while back, so don't have the latest on shelter decorum in such situations.

Certain portions of the AT have provisions for hanging food. I believe there are bear cables at all of the shelters in GSMNP, and there are also bear cables in GA. NJ has bear boxes (kinda like the ones in the Sierras).

Generally the best way to handle compressing your sleeping bag is to put it at the bottom of your bag liner & allow the weight of everything in your pack to compress it down.

If you're staying in a shelter or camping in a established primitive campsite, then I'd suggest you always hang your food. Right when the sun goes down the mice come out. If you have anything that's not sealed up they'll find it. If you're tenting by a shelter I'd be sure to always hang my food or anything that smells outside of my tent. I had a mouse chew through my bug netting to get to some toothpaste that I lazily left out. If you stealth camp you should be fine not hanging your food. O and try not to sleep under hanging food bags in a shelter if you can. It's no fun waking up at 1am to a mouse falling on you.

Any of you Gorilla owners give me some input packing/loading the gorilla (how do you do it?)