New Veteran, New Hammocker

[Grampy]

I shall be medically and honorably discharged this month. I have never hammock camped before; but due to my situation I have learned that the light camping options of hammocking behooves me above all others. If I were fully healthy, I would go across the whole country; 'twould behoove me to attempt one part first. I decided upon the Appalachian Trail as it is closest to home.

Thus, my buddy, FireInMyBones, has been helping me prepare some gear. He suggested I join this forum for more input. FireInMyBones recommends I keep the 'base weight' under 15 lbs. So far, I am good. The books weigh the most. I have been attempting to memorize as much of the books as I can in order to downgrade their pages and reduce the burden. So far, the books are the heaviest items I have followed by the beast repellant, hatchet, then the jungle bag.

What are ways in which I can reduce my burden? What recommendations can I get on this or that?

The gear that I have gathered so far:

1. The Complete Guide to Edible Wild Plants, DoA . . . .edit} downsize pages
2. U.S. Army Survival, Evasion, and Recovery, DoD . . .edit} downsize pages
3. 10 liter dry bag - Sea to Summit
4. 2 liter dry bag - Sea to Summit
5. Emergency crank radio - Scorpion
6. Pocket Profile AT maps – antigravitygear
7. All-weather notepad, small – DoA . . . . . . . . . . . . .edit} remove
8. All-weather logbook, small - DoA
9. 2013 Southbound: The AT Guide, David Miller . . . . .edit} remove or condense
10. Hatchet and knife “Bullseye” - Smith & Wesson
11. Sharpening stone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . edit} consider
12. Wood stove - FireFly
13. Multi-tool – Appalachian Trail . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . edit} consider
14. Flint
15. Compass & asthmas – DoA
16. Button compass
17. Matches, 2x – NDuR
18. Cold weather PolyPro top – DoA . . . . . . . . . . . . .edit} consider \
19. Cold weather PolyPro bottom – DoA. . . . . . . . . . .edit} consider \
20. Hot weather PolyPro top – DoA . . . . . . . . . . . . . edit} consider | Clothing = $$ . . .
21. Hot weather PolyPro bottom – DoA . . . . . . . . . . .edit} consider |
22. ACU top – DoA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . edit} consider /
23. ACU bottom – DoA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .edit} consider /
24. PT shorts – DoA
25. Beast repellant
26. Jungle bag, sleeping – Snugpak
27. Towel, microfiber – OutGo
28. Hammock – Grand Trunk
29. 550 cord
30. Backpack “Catalyst” – ULA Equiplent
31. EyePro – CSS
32. Head and neck gear – Seirus
33. Reusable bandages – ACE
34. Holy Bible – GOD
35. 3 liter water bladder – Camelbak . . . . . . . . . . . . .edit} downsize to Gatorade, side pouches; shoulder straps hold thinner bottles

On Its Way:

1. Dutch clips – Dutch Gear
2. Dutch buckles – Dutch Gear
3. Bug net – Warbonnet
4. Hammock Tarp w/ stakes - Tad Pole . . . . . . . edit} en route
5. Cookware, 900ml Ti - Snow Mountain . . . . . . .edit} en route

To Get / Undecided:

1. Boots – DoA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . edit} consider
2. Running shoes – DoA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .edit} consider
3. Socks
4. Walking poles
5. Hygiene and poo gear
6. Duct tape, small
7. Food container
8. Water procurement
9. Carabiners
10. MOLLE gear and pouches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .edit} probable deletion
11. Medical supplies / Medicine (90 days or so)
12. Mat, Pad, Hammock Quilt