re: General Backpacking Thread

Get all your gear together. Weigh it and figure out how much volume it takes up. Stuffing it in a plastic tote works, just measure the tote and figure out the liters or cubic inches. Get a pack made for that weight, volume and fits you or your son right.

I have Gossamer Gear packs, but never carry more than 25# total in them. More than that and I use my bigger ULA pack. Your son should not carry more than about 20% of his body weight.

For meals check out Packit Gourmet. They are great.

Alite makes good backpacking chairs that weigh a little over a pound. I have one that I take on trips that I will be sitting by the fire or socializing more. If the trip is more just hike, setup camp, then sleep the chair stays home.

Get a water filter(Sawyer Squeeze is my goto). Figure out how far to the next creek and carry just enough to get you there. Maybe a little more just in case it is further than you thought. Just use plastic water bottles from the store rather than super heavy Nalgene. That will save you a few pounds of weight in pack.

One mistake I see new backpackers make is they carry extra weight of things to make it fun and not good shelter and insulation. Make sure you have a way to keep warm, dry, full, hydrated, not lost, and something to carry it in. You shouldn't need more than 20# to do that.

Have fun on the trial.

+1 to ULA and Packit gourmet. To save weight, I would drop the tent and go with hammocks. They save a ton of weight, are way more comfortable than a tent and double as a chair. LINK

As others have said you need to figure out exactly what you need to bring, and what you can do without. The AT is no joke and if you're an inexperienced hiker, I would be going as light as possible. The Butterfield Trail in Arkansas is an excellent trail to help get you ready for the AT.
LINK

There are a lot of different factors. Depends on the hammock and how much you're willing to spend. Same can be said for tents. I know when I dropped my tent, poles and fly, sleeping bag and pad for tarp, hammock, under quilt and top quilt, I saved two pounds in weight. ENO and other big box hammock/tarps are heavy. Lightweight packs make a huge difference as well. It really comes down to what you're willing to spend.

Look at the Eagle Rock Loop Trail in Arkansas. About 30 miles or so with some pretty nice elevation change. Get an internal frame pack no question. I've had Gregory packs, Osprey packs, and Lowe Alpine packs. I personally like either Gregory or Osprey. For 2 weeks, depending on how long between resupply and types/amount of gear I would look at no less than a 50 liter pack. I have recently switched to a hammock (Warbonnet Outdoors) and have really like it so far. My pack weight is down to under 12lbs without water for 2 night hikes. That being said, I still use my Big Agnes tent and like it alot although the netting has some holes in it. Get a down bag for sure- save weight and space.

I used to be a big Kelty guy but Osprey is leaps and bounds ahead in terms of product design. Lighter and cooler, not even debateable

Kelty is OK, but don't fit well for most people. It's all about fit. Osprey works for most people though, provided it's the right size of course. Going and getting fitted is key, but good luck getting something for $100.

OP: Don't be afraid to spend money on a good, well fitting pack for your son. He won't outgrow it. Most people's torso lengths don't change all that much once they're 15. A bad fitting pack will ruin this experience for him. A lot has changed since you got your external frame military pack.

I linked to Warbonnet in my earlier post. I love my blackbird and it has held up very well over years of use and many long trips. Osprey packs are some of the best. My ULA pack rivals anything out there right now. My old North Face pack is still one of the best packs I've ever owned. 45-50 liter pack is more than enough room if you spend the cash for lightweight, pack able gear. Lightweight is code for expensive . Idk the OP's budget, but he mentioned $100 so I don't think he has or wants to spend that kind of money right now. I'd be looking at 65 liter internal frame packs for himself and 45 liter for his son.

What volume are you looking at? 40-ish liters is standard for the AT, whether section or through hiking. Don't cheap out on shoes or packs man. It'll be a bad time if you do. I'm talking about your son more than you. If you've used your external frame with no issues (I assume you have) then just use it unless/until you get more serious about backpacking. Go get your son fitted for a real pack. It's a worthwhile investment in time and money.


eta: At the very least you'll need to accurately measure his torso length to get the right size. It has nothing to do with height or girth or anything else. Even in the correct size, the fit might be totally off and cause a lot of discomfort. You'll also need to make sure you're not getting an ultra light pack if he doesn't have ultra light gear, etc. There's a lot that goes into it.

2 tents? Why?