Less is More – New England Trail Equipment List

Lighter, better, faster, stronger?

I remember the pride I felt placing my slim 40-liter Windrider on the scale at the Amicalola Falls Visitor Center in March 2024. A volunteer looked at my glorified bag with a smile: “Well, looks like you’ve done this before.” Only 21.8 pounds with 4 days of food and water. Thank God I look like I know what I’m doing, because I’m faking it until I get here. And I’m not sure I would have made it to Katahdin if my backpack weighed much more than that.

Spending four and a half months in the woods got me thinking about the idea of ​​going lighter. How much smaller could I make my backpack to make it to the 30 mile point feeling… easy? The more experience I gained, the more realistic a super minimal setup seemed to me. I also liked the idea of ​​fully enjoying my natural surroundings on the trail with fewer luxuries in my gear. For the New England Trail, I went a little further out of my comfort zone to really adapt the “less is more” mentality. More kilometers, more experiences, more harmony with myself and the path and, ultimately, more freedom.

To start, while I’ve upgraded a lot of equipment, I don’t believe in buying everything new or spending a fortune. Working in outdoor retail certainly has its perks, but I used/modified a lot of what I already had and bought secondhand or on sale when I could. At the end of the day, this gear list is what I’ve accumulated and what works for me, not a shopping list! Any way you can get out is the best.

three big

Pack: Hyperlite Mountain Gear Elevate 22
I loved my Hyperlite backpack for my AT and LT hikes, no other backpack fits me as well. While it’s not my first choice, purely for capacity reasons, I love that the Elevate is a scaled-down version of their most popular larger 3-packs. I took off my hip belt and ran my REI Trail 2 Waist Bag instead. No dead space, a little more storage for snacks and it still works for transferring weight. Everyone wins! Add a nylofume lining to the backpack, even if the backpack is waterproof, for added protection.

Sleep system: Nemo Change + Enlightened Team Apocalypse 30
Knowing my hiking style, and also my luck with inflatable pads, I’ll go with a simple accordion-style sleeping pad. Especially in the warmer months, I like to have a portable yoga or lounge mat to stretch out during lunch or at the end of the day. They aren’t the most luxurious, but it all comes down to camp selection and the rest of the kit. You’ll get used to sleeping on it! Upgrade to a lighter 30° quilt to save weight and space. I also anticipated that this trip would be warmer; More on that later in the post. bringing a pillow also; Sleep quality is everything and it’s worth an extra ounce or two.

Shelter: Zpacks Hexamid Pocket Canvas
I guess I’m a canvas person now. A handful of nights spent as a cowboy camping on the AT opened my eyes to the flexibility (and weight savings) of using a tarp. I got a great deal on this product secondhand, so I thought it was worth a try. Learning curve and all, I love the ventilation and adjustability of a tarp. Throwing with 6 MSR mini groundhog stakesa REI Flash Carbon trekking pole and a 3’x7′ walking stick Tyvek footprint.

Footwear + Clothing

Spent:

• REI Swiftland l/s running t-shirt – S for man; top hike – This t-shirt is lightweight and dries incredibly quickly. I’ve been using it for all my colder climate trail runs and backpacking trips this past year.
• REI Swiftland Running Tights – S for woman; walk down – I prefer to wear shorts on (long distance) hikes: they are simply easier. However, as evidenced last week, spring in New England is super erratic. We went from 90° all week to temperatures that fell below 50° for most of my trip, even with a cool sub-zero night. They are resistant, comfortable and also quick-drying.
• Icebreaker Sprite (latest version)– size M; merino bralette – I have seen this bralette a lot and I still love it. Moisture-wicking merino racerback style that didn’t stick to the hiker’s stench during that (unwanted and unintentional) 13-day period on the AT without a proper shower.
• Light and resistant micro equipment; hiking socks – Darn Tough is well regarded as the gold standard, especially with its lifetime warranty. I never had to wear it, but I still collect their socks. Merino is essential for wet East Coast trails!
• Polish; headband/multipurpose – It wouldn’t be a hike without my Bertha Buff. 💀⚡🥀
• Altra Solitary Peak 9 – 8 men; shoes – I’ve been wearing Lone Peaks for day hikes, hikes, and everything in between since 2019. The LP6 has been my favorite model, so I’m happy to see the fit coming back in that direction. This model is the first to offer a version with a Vibram sole. There are no issues with the standard Max-Trac grip, but if you wear out the soles of your shoes faster than you tear up the uppers, the extra $15 for the LP9+ might be worth it. I also won’t be bringing camping shoes on this trip. I have many opinions on this.

Full:

• Mountain Hardwear Airmesh Hoodie – M for women; middle layer – My second Airmesh Hoody, I love them so much! Similar to Alpha Direct 90 fabric on the inside, brushed exterior for added wind resistance. This layer is incredibly breathable, lightweight and warm making it the perfect active mid layer.
• Team Light Up Hot Jacket – M for women; swollen – I didn’t expect to need this, but it’s the perfect padding for the east coast with synthetic insulation in case it gets wet. This has also seen thousands of miles and is still as warm and comfortable as when I bought it. Another accessory for cold weather: a pair of REI Merino Lined Gloves.
• Frogg Toggs Ultralight Jacket – unisex M; rain jacket – Nine times out of ten it is not worth it to me to buy an expensive raincoat to go on a hike. This one is lighter and more breathable than most, and there really is no such thing as waterproof. One jacket lasted me the entire AT and only needed a few patches. (Pants are another story).
• Light and resistant micro-equipment + Compression sock; back-up hiking socks + sleeping socks – I’ve been wearing compression stockings on backpacking trips for a while to improve circulation (recovery!) while I sleep. You’ll never have to deal with sore calves and they are a merino blend; Perfect socks for a trip to the city.

Water Filtration + Kitchen:

• Katadyn be free water filter With 1 liter tank: easy to use and clean, I never have to remember which bottle is for dirty water and I have an extra liter of carrying capacity if I need it. Also carrying two 1L plastic water bottles.
• BRS 3000T kitchen (+ fuel and Bic mini lighter) – Had it for years, still works great. It’s not the most fuel efficient option, but for <$20 there's nothing better.
• Toaks Titanium Jar 750mL + long handled spoon
• HMG Roll Top Food Bag + bear hanging kit

Everything else:

Hygiene:

• grow fabric
• Igneous portable bidet with bottle cap
• Two of swords #LNT palette always
• Nomadix small towel – for human-type cleanings + shelter (condensation occurs!)
• small hand sanitizer
• lipstick
• hair brush (cut handle)
• toothbrush (cut handle)
• travel size toothpaste

First Aid Kit + Safety:

• medications (ibuprofen, benadryl, immodium)
• triple antibiotic + insect bite ointment
• Westcott small titanium scissors (for cutting/tweezers)
• several strips of KT tape
• gauze roll
• small roll of waxed dental floss + needle (for field repairs)
• alcohol wipes
• tiger balm (for recovery)
• pepper spray
• Gerber Mini Paraframe razor

Electronics:

The elusive base weight of less than 7 pounds. Not bad at all!

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