Each yr right here at The Trek, we ask long-distance hikers on the Appalachian Path (AT) concerning the stoves and water filters they used on their 2023 thru-hike. This yr we added a ton of latest questions on gear hikers used, together with rain jackets, trekking poles, GPS units, menstruation merchandise, and much more!
On this closing submit of the collection, we’ll cowl the most well-liked cooking programs, resupply methods, water filters, energy banks, and many extra gear selections, in addition to water- and tickborne illnesses.
We had a complete of 409 responses this yr. Thanks to everybody who crammed out the survey! The information was collected from October via November of 2023 via our survey, which was marketed utilizing our social media platforms, Backpacker Radio, and TheTrek.co. Some responses from earlier years have been eliminated, and apparent errors in begin and finish dates have been adjusted. No apparent duplicates have been discovered.
Fast Navigation
Water filters
Water- and tickborne illnesses
Resupply methods
Cooking programs
Energy banks
GPS units
Rain gear
Trekking poles
Self protection
Menstruation
Luxurious objects
Water Therapy
We requested hikers how usually they filtered the water they took from pure sources. 85 p.c of hikers in our survey filtered their water each time. An much more overwhelming majority (97 p.c) nearly at all times filtered their water. Solely two hikers claimed to have by no means filtered their water, whereas 10 hikers stated they sometimes did so.
Water Therapy Kind
Water remedy is often executed by way of 5 strategies:
- A filter that water is pushed via manually, making it able to drink immediately (e.g. the Sawyer Squeeze). That is normally hooked up to a grimy water bottle or pouch.
- A pump that filters the water (e.g. the MSR MiniWorks). This requires no wait time.
- Liquid chemical remedies, which take a couple of minutes to react earlier than the water is protected to drink (e.g. Aquamira).
- Tablets (e.g., Aquatabs), which function the identical method as liquid remedies. Pill remedies have been round longer than liquid remedies and, whereas small, are bulkier than liquid choices.
- Units inserted into the water bottle or bag that use UV rays to deal with the water (e.g. the Steripen).
Mid-size filters, such because the Sawyer Squeeze, have been probably the most generally used water remedy sort for the previous handful of years, rising steadily in reputation. This yr 93 p.c of hikers used a mid-size filter, in comparison with final years 94 p.c. Solely 4 p.c of respondents used small filters such because the Sawyer Mini this yr. Giant pumps, UV, and liquid chemical remedy drops have been every utilized by 1 p.c of hikers. Solely 2 hikers used tablets this yr.
The most well-liked water filter by far was the Sawyer Squeeze, utilized by over 250 hikers. The Katadyn BeFree and Platypus QuickDraw have been talked about quite a few occasions. Some hikers carried a number of filters as a redundancy or could have switched throughout their hikes. Precise numbers for every filter are exhausting to seize, as many didn’t keep in mind the mannequin identify or switched fashions continuously.
READ NEXT – Sawyer Squeeze vs Katadyn BeFree vs Platypus Quickdraw: Which Filter Is Finest for Your Via-Hike?
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Sicknesses on Path
We requested hikers about multiples sorts of sicknesses or illnesses they could have encountered on path, together with waterborne sickness, norovirus, and tick-borne sicknesses. 15 hikers (3.6% of respondents) said they contracted a waterborne sickness, reminiscent of giardia, sooner or later throughout their hike.
Notably, lower than one p.c of these hikers who at all times or nearly at all times filtered their water and in addition contracted a waterborne sickness. As compared, 20 p.c of those that sometimes filtered their water contracted a waterborne sickness, and 1 of the two hikers who by no means filtered their water did as effectively.
We requested hikers in the event that they contracted norovirus and at what location on the path they suffered from it. A staggering 20 p.c of all hikers in our survey contracted norovirus throughout their hike. It’s troublesome to pinpoint any explicit location the place it was most typical, however the overwhelming majority of the hikers have been within the southern states once they suffered from norovirus. Maybe that is as a result of bubble being at it’s most concentrated within the south initially of thru-hiking season.
Virtually half of all hikers within the survey handled their garments with permethrin this yr. One other 35 p.c checked themselves each day for ticks. Many respondents cited a number of prevention strategies and sporting picaridin. In the meantime, 8 p.c stated they took no particular precautions towards ticks.
No matter their preventive measures, 17 hikers (4 p.c) contracted Lyme illness this yr. Of these 17 hikers, 11 checked for ticks each day, 3 handled their garments with permethrin, and 1 did each as prevention techniques. Two extra didn’t reply what their prevention techniques have been, whereas one Lyme illness sufferer stated they’d not used any prevention techniques.
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Resupply Technique
The overwhelming majority of hiker resupplied each 3-5 days. Resupplying each 4 days was the most typical possibility by far, chosen by 50 p.c of hikers. There weren’t many outliers this yr: two respondents resupplied each day, whereas on the different finish of the spectrum, a single intrepid hiker solely resupplied each eight days, the longest interval reported.
Most hikers (80 p.c) select to resupply by buying meals in cities as they hike via. 14 p.c resupplied with a mix of mail drops and buying meals on the town, and solely 6 p.c relied solely on mail drops.
Sometimes, we’ve discovered that hikers with dietary restrictions use mail drops extra usually that these with out. That’s the case once more this yr, however the distinction isn’t as pronounced as in years previous: Fewer hikers with dietary restrictions used mail drops this yr, whereas extra hikers with out restrictions selected to mail a minimum of just a few packing containers.
14 p.c of hikers had some type of dietary restriction this yr, the most typical being vegetarian.
READ NEXT – Prime Stoves, Filters, and Energy Banks on the AT: 2022 Via-Hiker Survey (prior yr survey)
Nearly all of hikers (91 p.c) used a canister range. This has been the most well-liked possibility for some time, rising much more in reputation over final yr’s 86 p.c. 5 p.c of hikers went stoveless, whereas even fewer used alcohol or liquid stoves. One hiker used a wooden range.
15 p.c of hikers swapped out their range alongside the best way. When switching, canister stoves remained the most well-liked alternative, though 20 hikers determined to change to going stoveless. Most hikers (92 p.c) have been glad with their range selections. Nonetheless, 5 p.c or 20 hikers have been extraordinarily dissatisfied with their range. Of the hikers who switched their range throughout their hike, only one reported any degree of dissatisfaction.
Prime Stoves
As in years previous, the highest range mannequin in 2023 was the MSR PocketRocket. This canister range has held the highest spot since a minimum of 2017. Beneath are the tables for all the prime manufacturers and fashions.
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Energy Banks
Virtually each hiker this yr (98 p.c) carried an influence financial institution. The capacities of their energy banks diverse, with a cluster round 10,000 mAh and one other round 20,000 mAh. This is smart as a result of 10,000 and 20,000 mAh are normal battery financial institution sizes.
The 7501-10,000 mAh vary was the most well-liked by fairly a bit, with 39 p.c of hikers carrying an influence financial institution inside that capability vary.
Completely different telephone fashions require a special variety of milliamp hours to cost, relying on the scale of their batteries. Right here’s a useful chart to find out what number of telephone costs you will get from an influence financial institution based mostly on it mAh capability. Talking in broad phrases, a ten,000 mAh financial institution has sufficient juice for 2 full costs of a mean fashionable smartphone.
The most well-liked mannequin of energy banks have been troublesome to find out, with so many choices of measurement and hikers not remembering precisely what mannequin they’d. There have been many manufacturers listed as effectively, however two manufacturers have been decidedly the most well-liked.
Anker was the primary model once more, with 201 hikers utilizing their model of energy financial institution. Nitecore was as soon as once more the second hottest model, with 107 hikers utilizing that model. The one mannequin of energy financial institution that was a transparent favourite was Nitecore’s NB1000.
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GPS Units
We additionally requested hikers about their use of GPS units for the primary time this yr. Virtually two-thirds of hikers carried a GPS system on their hike. Garmin was overwhelmingly the most well-liked model, with 237 hikers utilizing certainly one of their GPS units. Particularly, Garmin’s inReach Mini 2 was the most well-liked mannequin. Different manufacturers and fashions have been utilized by only a few hikers compared.
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Rain Gear
We requested hikers about the kind of rain gear they used this yr and their favourite manufacturers and fashions. A rain jacket was the most well-liked possibility, and lots of hikers used a mix of umbrella, rain jacket, and ponchos.
For many who took a mixed strategy, pairing a rain jacket with an umbrella was the most well-liked possibility: 70 hikers opted for this combo. Many of the umbrella customers fell into this class (i.e., most weren’t standalone umbrella customers), with solely 13 hikers who used an umbrella as their solely type of rain safety. A small cohort (7 hikers) carried all three choices.
Frogg Toggs was the highest model and mannequin of rain gear utilized by hikers, as an reasonably priced and simply replaceable possibility. Beneath are the tables of the remaining prime manufacturers and fashions.
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Trekking Poles
We requested hikers this yr about their trekking pole use as effectively. Virtually all hikers used trekking poles, as you’ll be able to see from the chart above. We additionally requested what sort of poles they used: carbon fiber or aluminum. It was nearly an excellent cut up, with 44 p.c choosing carbon fiber and 55 p.c choosing aluminum. The highest manufacturers are proven within the desk under.
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Self Protection
This yr we requested hikers numerous questions on their security on path, together with in the event that they carried one thing for self protection throughout their hike. 27 p.c of hikers stated they carried some type of safety with them. We additionally requested what they carried, and the outcomes are proven within the desk under.
| Safety Kind | Responses |
|---|---|
| Knife | 69 |
| Mace/Pepper Spray | 39 |
| Gun | 4 |
| Taser | 1 |
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Menstruation
One other query we added this yr was for hikers who menstruate, and what merchandise they used throughout menstruation. Every sort of menstrual product was used extensively and lots of hikers used a mix of a number of merchandise. Tampons and pads have been probably the most generally used menstrual product total.
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Luxurious Gadgets
Final however not least, we additionally requested hikers in the event that they carried a luxurious merchandise and what it was. About three-quarters of hikers stated they carried a luxurious merchandise and a few listed a number of objects. The record of things was lengthy and numerous. A few of the extra widespread luxurious objects are listed within the desk under, however that is on no account a whole record.
| Luxurious Merchandise | Responses |
|---|---|
| Pillow | 74 |
| Journal | 26 |
| Kindle | 21 |
| Chair | 13 |
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Abstract
- Nearly all of hikers at all times filtered their water from pure sources.
- Mid-size filters, such because the Saywer Squeeze, have been the most well-liked sort of water remedy, with 93 p.c of hikers utilizing them
- 20 p.c of hikers contracted norovirus, 4 p.c of hikers contracted a waterborne sickness, and 4 p.c of hikers contracted Lyme illness throughout their hike. Virtually half of hikers handled their garments or gear with permethrin to forestall Lyme illness.
- Most hikers resupplied each three to 5 days, with each 4 days being the most well-liked interval.
- Buying meals on the town was the most well-liked resupply technique, with 80 p.c total selecting that technique. 20 p.c of hikers had dietary wants; these with dietary wants have been extra barely prone to ship themselves a minimum of some mail drops.
- Nearly all of hikers used canister a canister gasoline range, with the MSR PocketRocket being the most well-liked.
- The most well-liked energy financial institution capability was 7,501-10,000 mAh, with Anker and Nitecore being the most well-liked manufacturers.
- Virtually 2 out of three hikers used a GPS system, with Garmin being the most well-liked model.
- Rain jackets have been the most well-liked sort of rain gear used, though many hikers took a mix strategy involving umbrellas or ponchos as effectively. Frogg Toggs have been the most well-liked mannequin and model of rain gear.
- Virtually all hikers used trekking poles, with aluminum being barely extra widespread than carbon fiber. Black Diamond was the most well-liked model.
- 27 p.c of hikers carried some type of safety for self protection.
- All sorts of menstrual merchandise are extensively used on the AT, however tampons and pads are the most well-liked for hikers who menstruate.
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Extra From the Appalachian Path Via-Hiker Survey
Thank You!
The survey couldn’t be potential with out the hikers who reply all our questions, so many due to those that participated! Congratulations to all in your hikes! An enormous thanks as effectively to Zach Davis, Kelly Floro, and Owen Eigenbrot for his or her assist with this yr’s survey. Don’t neglect to take a look at the opposite posts from this yr’s survey linked above. To remain up to date on subsequent yr’s thru-hiker survey, subscribe to The Trek’s publication.
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