Gear

You may have heard the 'Big 3' mentioned a lot in thru-hiking. This essentially refers to your main three pieces of equipment: Your shelter, your sleeping system and your backpack. These are generally the heaviest items and where you can shave the most grams off. 

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My Big 3 are as follows:

 

Shelter: Big Agnes Copper Spur UL2

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I wanted to go fairly lightweight with my tent but was constrained with the amount of money I was willing to spend. In the end I was deciding between about four different tents all with their own pros and cons and for me, the Big Agnes Copper Spur won out as best all round tent. It was lightweight, weighing 1.2kg and offers more room internally and storage spaces than others. It also has two doors which I really liked and super easy and quick to set up.  Coming in at A$589 on sale was also what sold it to me. 
 

1. The Zpacks Duplex is probably the cream of the crop on the thru-hiking scene. It is ultralight weight weighing in at 700 grams however it also comes in at around $US700 so that was a little out of reach for me this time round. 

2. Nemo Hornet UL2 was the other strong contender. It's lightweight however it runs short on space and had a higher price tag than the Copper Spur. 

3. Gossman Gear The One - I really liked the look of The One and how light it is, however as it is a single walled tent it is prone to condensation forming on the inside of the tent. Did I want to be having to dry out a tent every morning before I put it away - not really and so in the end this is what ruled it out for me. It is also not a freestanding tent meaning its held up only by your hiking poles. 

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Sleeping system: Enlightened Equipment Custom Revelation 20D Quilt & Thermarest Neoair Xtralite sleeping pad

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To quilt or not to quilt that is the question. I have never tried a sleeping quilt system before but from what I have read, it's the way to go for shaving weight off. As an alternative to a sleeping bag a quilt essentially just covers the most necessary parts of the body. It saves weight by not having a back or the side that you would lay on. Provided you have a high R rated sleeping mattress the quilt straps to the mattress and acts just as a normal quilt would. On those extra cold nights you can use the drawstrings on the quilt to fully enclose yourself. 

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I had a world of fun custom making my quilt through Enlightened Equipment. I chose a 850 down quilt, rated to 20degree F (-6degrees C). Navy on the outside, hot pink on the inside. Here's a tip - choose a bright colour on one side so you can also use it in case of an emergency. 

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A staple amongst thru-hikers is the Thermarest Neoair Xtralite sleeping pad. Rated R4.2, it is heavily insulated so you can camp comfortably all year round and is over 6 centimeters thick. It does cost more than other sleeping pads on the market but ultimately having a good warm nights sleep and the fact it only weighs 330grams was a big selling point for me. 

 

Pack: Osprey Lumina 45L

 

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I am completely sold on Osprey Packs. I cannot rate them highly enough. I'm onto my fourth pack now (not because they have worn out) more because I just seem to collect them. I have travelled all round the world with my Osprey Aura 50L pack. It has been on so many great adventures with me that I almost feel like I am cheating on it by taking the Osprey Lumina 45L. However with nearly a 1kg difference in weight between the two, it's time to give the Lumina a good work out. It's ultralight weight (800grams) and no thrills. Designed for the ultralight weight hiker.