Rachel is an outdoor industry professional with over 15 years of experience — she started as a ski instructor in 2009 and hasn't really stopped moving since. She's completed a thru-hike of the Appalachian Trail, spent a year living and traveling full-time out of a van, and has logged years of sport climbing, bouldering, skiing, and backpacking across the U.S..

She writes about all of it here: gear that actually works, lessons that took miles to learn, and the kind of practical trail knowledge that doesn't talk down to you. This blog is built on the belief that getting outside is for everyone — not just the people who go hardest, fastest, or have the most expensive kit. You'll find AT journals, gear reviews, trip logs, and honest advice across all of it. No gatekeeping.

Inspired by this The Trek article, this post is a brutally honest breakdown of how my gear evolved over the course of my 2018 Appalachian Trail thru-hike—what I started with, what I ditched, what I loved, and what I will never carry again.

If you’re overwhelmed by gear lists, I get it. I was too. Choosing what to carry for 2,000+ miles can feel impossible—especially when you’re budgeting, battling decision fatigue, and low-key terrified of making the wrong call.

But here’s the truth no one told me: your gear will change. What works at mile 5 might suck at mile 500. And that’s normal.

So instead of trying to get it "perfect" from the start, here’s what I recommend: build your base, then let your trail experience guide your swaps.

In this post, I’m sharing:

• My favorite ride-or-die gear
• What I carried at the start, middle, and end of the AT
• How much it all weighed (ish) and cost (yep, I tracked it)
• What I’d do differently if I were starting again

Think of this as a real-life case study in how gear evolves on a thru-hike.

Favorite Gear

What I Carried on My Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike (and Why It Changed)

From Amicalola, GA to Damascus, VA

Sleep: Tent, Sleep System, and Pajamas

Eat: Cook System + Food Storage

Pack: Gregory Maven 55 $229 54oz

Poles: REI Co-Op Traverse Power Lock Cork Women's Trekking Poles $99.95

Hiking Clothes

Footwear

Electronics

Toiletries

First Aid Kit

At Harper’s Ferry

By the time I got to harper’s Ferry my thruhiking gear had changed a LOT. 1,023 miles (the ceremonial halfway) into my hike, I started wanting to reduce my base weight but also indulge in little luxuries. I started treating my hike more like a lifestyle than a short-term trip and it made it a lot more enjoyable for me.

Sleep

Eat

Pack

Clothing

Footwear

Electronics

Toiletries

First Aid Kit

From Grafton Notch, ME to Katahdin:

By the time I hit the last few hundred miles of the trail, I was wrecked — and not just from the walking. I’d come down with Giardia, needed real rest, and had to make a quick detour home to Fryeburg, ME to recover (and play maid of honor in my best friend’s wedding — glamorous timing, right?).

While I was home, I scrubbed my gear, swapped out anything moldy or broken, and picked up a few winter essentials. The nights were getting cold, and I knew the hundred mile wilderness and Baxter State Park weren’t going to cut me any slack.

Sleep

Eat

Pack

Poles Black Diamond Trail Shock Pro (Women's) $99.95 17oz (Check Amazon for better pricing)

I still use these in 2025!! And I also put snow baskets on them in the winter and use them for backcountry skiing. These are the best most durable trekking poles!

Clothing

Footwear

Electronics

Toiletries

First Aid Kit

What’s in My Pack Now: My 2025 Gear List

These days, I’m not thru-hiking 2,000 miles. I’m just weekend backpacking with my dog and my fiancé. My gear has changed a lot since the Appalachian Trail, and honestly, so have my priorities.

I still love the outdoors, but I’m not about to commit to another 6-month long thru-hike again any time soon. My current backpacking setup is lighter, simpler, and way more comfort-focused. Whether I’m heading out for a quick overnight or dreaming about a future 2–3 week section hike, this is the gear that works for me now – in 2025.

If you're looking for a dialed-in weekend backpacking gear list, this is it. Designed for casual adventures, trail dog logistics, and sharing snacks with someone you love. But a lot of it could work for a thru-hike!

Sleep

Eat

Pack

Poles Black Diamond Trail Shock Pro (Women's) $99.95 17oz (Check Amazon for better pricing)

I still use these in 2025!! And I also put snow baskets on them in the winter and use them for backcountry skiing. These are the best most durable trekking poles!

Clothing

Footwear

Electronics

Toiletries

First Aid Kit

What I Learned From Carrying My Life for 2,000+ Miles

Thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail taught me that your gear is just a starting point – not a final answer. Every item in my pack went through its own journey, just like I did. Some gear was perfect from day one. Some I cursed and ditched within weeks. And some surprised me by sticking around all the way to Katahdin.

If you’re planning your own AT thru-hike (or any long-distance backpacking trip), here’s my two cents: there’s no such thing as a “perfect” gear list – just the right gear for you, right now. You’ll learn, adapt, swap, and figure it out as you go. Heck, my gear has changed a lot in the past 6 years since my thru-hike too.

Use this post as a resource and reality check. See what worked, what didn’t, what I wish I’d done differently—and most importantly, what stayed with me all the way.

Your gear will evolve. You will too. Let the trail teach you.

📚Blog🏕️Appalachian Trail 🎙️The Guidebook Podcast👩🏻‍💻Digital Marketing for Outdoor Brands

🙋🏻‍♀️About Rachel📞Contact

MeltzerSeltzer