My 2026 Appalachian Trail Hiking Gear List

Embarking on a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail—a grueling 2,197.9-mile journey from Georgia’s Springer Mountain to Maine’s Mount Katahdin—transforms your relationship with the outdoors, and nowhere is this more evident than in the gear decisions you make. The eternal debate between minimalism and comfort arises in every decision: shave a few grams to cover the miles more easily or carry a little more weight to sleep better and maintain sanity during those long, humid nights? Successful hikers quickly learn that the “perfect” setup is deeply personal, forged through trial hikes, trial and error, and the hard-earned wisdom of those who have gone before.

My list is not intended to influence opinion, it is only intended to provide the decisions I made to reach a compromise between my physical abilities and my fears. With these selections, I am attempting to tip the odds in my favor, for the successful conclusion of the goal I have set for myself: completing a NOBO hike on the Appalachian Trail.

Equipment list:

Perspectives:

Here are some thoughts on my choices:

• Helinox Chair Zero – I’m trying to optimize my recovery time outside of hiking and I’m hoping that having a seat will be better than sitting in my tent or on a rock when I take a midday lunch break. This is especially important to me as I will be turning 66 on the trail and my last hiking attempt was cut short by a worn knee that required a knee replacement.
• It’s still up in the air: I’m still evaluating bringing an umbrella and a bear can instead of a bear bag. I find the bear may be the hardest decision as it would be the heaviest item I would carry, but it frees me up from having to hang up my food bag after a long day of hiking. I’m still trying to figure out how I can be in the middle of the woods and not be able to hang that branch of the mythical unicorn tree that meets the expectations of the Appalachian Trail Conservancy tree!

Looking for a complete Appalachian Trail gear list checklist? Use The Trek’s Appalachian Trail printable gear list.

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