Thru hiker kit

[ringtail-THFKAfood]

Currently I use a kit that is customized to specific trips. But for a thru hike you need a kit that provides a lot of options.

I would choose a Warbonnet Edge tarp (11.3 oz.) with a Dream Hammock Sock (8.2 oz.). A total of 19.5 oz. for weather protection compares to 19 oz. for a Warbonnet SuperFly. The combination of small tarp and sock extends the lower temperature range of your quilts at least 15 degrees, but a larger tarp only extends the range 5 degrees at the most. The Dream Hammock sock does not have zippers to stick and can be vented the appropriate amount to avoid condensation. Ad stakes and guylines for a total package of 23.3 oz.

My Edge tarp is rigged to pitch as a ground shelter using the hiking poles. No extra hardware is needed.

A comfortable ground pad gives you the option of sleeping on the ground, in a shelter or the floor of a hostel. A NeoAir shorty at 8.7 oz. gives you lots of options at a reasonable weight.

The hammock would be a Warbonnet Blackbird single 1.7 with 8 foot Dutch Kevlar tree savers, whoopies and 6" easton tent stakes for the marlin spike hitch. Add a ridgeline organizer and the whole hammock comes to 28 oz. You do not need bug protection for much of the hike, but the shelf in the Blackbird is addictive. And the integrated bug net keeps the top quilt in the hammock when you leave the hammock.

For insulation I would use a Warbonnet Wooki and Mamba at 40 oz.

This 100 oz. kit would keep you comfortable down to 10 degrees and survive the night to zero. It is possible to trim the weight. Go with a cuben or diamond tarp. Go with a 1.1 single BlackBird. Go with a hammock without a bug net. Go with an underquilt protector rather than a sock. Go with shorter tree saver straps. Go with a 3/4 length underquilt. Lots of ways to cut weight, but this kit allows me to make suboptimal site selection decisions ( e.g. hang at the overlook) and still be comfortable.

Compare that kit to a pretty good ground-dweller kit:

Western Mountaineering Versilite = 32 oz.
TarpTent Notch = 27 oz.
NeoAir All Season = 17 oz.

A total of 76 oz. or 24 oz. less than my kit. A better nights sleep will let you carry the extra pound and a half

[Slowanderer]

It appears you have been extremely busy, testing and creating.
Will we see a Trip Report with this set up?

[Kroma]

If I was thru hiking I'd take an 11ft gathered end netless hammock at 8oz. Kevlar straps and whoopies for 3 oz. bottom entry bugnet 6 oz. cuben fiber tarp w doors, lash it guylines, mesh snakeskins, stakes entire tarp package 12 oz. so 29 oz for shelter/sleep.

Insulation would change depending on location/season so TQ/UQ combo would be anywhere from 24 oz in summer (40 set) to 34 oz in colder situations (20 set).

Totals are: 53 oz in summer to 63 oz in colder.

13-23 ounces less than your ground example.

[Afterparty]

I plan to thru hike with

<<<<<< this stuff

[ringtail-THFKAfood]

Yes, I can go out with a lighter kit. I can push the base weight down to 8 pounds if I am willing to sleep on the ground. But if I have to live with the gear for almost 6 months then I take what I want to use and not what is lightest.

[Kroma]

But if I have to live with the gear for almost 6 months then I take what I want to use and not what is lightest.

Interesting philosophy

[B-Square]

Ringtail - Your list is along the lines of what I have been working towards with exception of your choice on the TQ and Tarp. I think the 3 season Mamba maybe a little light on insulation for me, and so far I like the 10ft HG Standard with Doors in Cuben for my BB for a tarp.
>
But as always HYOH and nice to have a sanity check for comparison - Thanks for the Post.

[W8lkinUSA]

Would a BB top cover and underquilt protector not give similar warmth ratings? This seems to provide greater flexibility in usage.

[Over_That_Way]

I am thru hiking the AT next year. Just ordered up some 15ft tree straps to replace my saver/whoopie combo. I have run into issues with reaching around and between trees along the long trail. Other than that, really not much different than your kit.

[Chop]

I've been using this setup for all my thru hikes:

11.5' tarp

8' tree straps

Standard length whoopie slings ( I say standard as my first sets I got from Dutch and have replicated the length on all further DIY)

Hammocks: I have swapped between integrated nets as well as hammock plus sock. I like hammock with integrated net best.

20 degree underquilt for all miles

32 degree bag for about 4000 miles/20 degree for over 5k.

I need to make a new tarp, as the 9000 miles on the current one have taken its toll (though surprisingly not too much). I will make it 11' to pitch it lower and also increase the width by 6-12 inches per side for better coverage.

The above setups have served me well on all my thru hikes, be it AT, or PCT or even in Arizona.. Even in Washington with the bigger trees this setup has been good.

On the PCT this summer (second thruhike of the PCT ) , I tried to set up with only the tree straps and either no whoopie slings or one whoopie sling. This was achieved 19/20 times.

I am with ring... I could also get down to 8 lbs base weight going to a ground only setup, but I sleep sooooo good in a hammock, the weight is justified.... In addition, I rarely need to dry out gear during the day after rainy or stormy nights.

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