My Gear

Ok, so you may now laugh at me for the list below. After 2 weeks into my trip I have sent half of it back home or given it away to people who need it more. I am down to stuff that I think I will actually use now. I realized quickly that, even though I am carrying everything on wheels, it is still important to calculate weight and space. There is no way to be ready for something like this. You just need to start with the essentials and then figure out what you need as you go along. I started with way too much and I feel silly for it.

 

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I made this list before I started: I was stupid to bring this much stuff.

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I am using a jogging stroller, meant to carry two children, to carry all of my gear. Food, water, shelter, clothing, hygiene, first-aid, protection, tools, and miscellaneous.

Food: 

  •  Packs of oatmeal and grits for breakfast. (Can add dried fruit to oatmeal or beef jerky to grits.)
  • Rice and beans
  • Canned or foil packs of chicken (i don’t like tuna)
  • Those $1 ‘RiceSides’ and ‘PastaSides’
  • Ramen (duh)
  • Peanut Butter and Nutella
  • Tortillas (for chicken mixed with mayo and must or just slap on some peanut butter and Nutella)
  • Trail mix (my own blend)
  • Hot chocolate
  • Whiskey (just in case)
  • Condiments (totally swiped from Chik-fil-a) ((oh wait, I may not see Chik-fil-a once I leave Atlanta! AHHHH)
  • Basically, anything that you can buy in a gas station…
  • Pocket Rocket stove
  • An aluminum pan with lid
  • 2 bowls for Domino

 

Water:

  • I will be carrying 4 gallons at minimum until I reach the Mississippi River and then 8 gallons after that. I will refill and top everything off every chance that I have. I will be using stackable water jugs that you can buy at a store and just refill them when I can.
  • I have a Katadyn water purifier that I will use in case I need to.
  • I also have a LifeStraw that I will use when needed.
  • I also have Iodine tablets in case of emergency.
  • Water is life. Take it seriously

 

Shelter:

  • Tent I got at Wal-mart for like $20 on a Black Friday sale. 7’x7′ seems like it will do the trick…
  • Tarp: Thin and somewhat small. Just large enough to cover up my stroller in the rain and whatever else I may need it for.. (emergency shelter from rain or shade from the sun)
  • REI Flash inflatable sleeping pad that I spent way too much on because I bought it without researching. I’ll use it until it pops (it will) and then I’ll buy a cheap thermarest pad
  • Sleeping bag I found on Wal-mart’s website. Fluffy and warm. Let’s hope it holds up to it’s 30 F rating
  • 2 Fleece blankets for Domino; one to lay on and one for cover
  • A hammock (generic one from Amazon.. brought it just because I have it)
  • An effing pillow. I don’t care if you make fun of me. I need it.

 

Clothing:

  • NO COTTON ANYTHING!
  • One long dry-fit underwear
  • Two brief dry-fit underwear
  • Socks: 2 thick pair, 4 medium pair, 4 thin pair (the expensive ones… your feet are the most important thing next to having potable water) ((This is just what I am starting with, I will replace them and/or add to the collection as I go along))
  • Shoes: I am starting with a pair of Salamon XA PRO that I have trained in. They fit great and feel even better but they are heavy. I also have a pair of Eddie Bauer sandles that I got on sale and I am thinking about bringing an old pair of Mizuno running shoes as a backup since they are very light-weight.
  • 2 long sleeve Dry-fit shirts
  • 2 short sleeve dry-fit shirts
  • Flannel shirt
  • Fleece
  • One of those light-weight but really warm jackets that look like a thinner version of the life-vest Marty McFly wore in Back to the Future. Everybody has one these days. And they should. I got mine at an REI garage sale and love it. It’s a great layer to have around. Layers are important when dealing with every different type of weather imaginable.
  • An outer shell jacket that doesn’t match anything else (like every one of my other layers) supposedly it is wind and water proof.
  • Rain jacket and pants from Wal-mart (because I highly doubt that the jacket I have is totally waterproof)
  • 2 pair of quick dry pants that zip-off into shorts that you can only wear when you are hiking or else you look like a total weenie
  • Gloves (waterproof)
  • Safari hat
  • Regular hat
  • Beanie
  • Ear warmer
  • Face mask
  • Thermal pants and shirt for sleeping
  • Yellow Safety Vest (It’s not lame, you’re walking on the side of highways and shit.. let people have a chance to see you)
  • I will be sending clothes back and forth throughout the whole trip. This list is just what I am starting with.
  • When I say ‘dry-fit’ I really mean the cheap version that Wal-mart carries..

 

Hygiene:

  • Toilet paper
  • Toothpaste (small tube)
  • Toothbrush
  • Deodorant
  • Soap (something that you at least believe is biodegradable)
  • Soap dish
  • Dental Floss
  • Q-tips
  • Condoms
  • Contacts, glasses, and all that shit (both of my eyes are the same prescription so I am just bringing one box but have 3 others that can be shipped to me when needed.)

 

First-aid:

  • Bug spray (the good stuff 100% deet)
  • Space blanket heat thingy
  • instant cold compress pack
  • multiple types of bandages (make sure to include butterfly closures)
  • liquid skin (glorified super-glue)
  • super-glue
  • hydrogen peroxide (in smaller container)
  • alcohol pads
  • a couple of popsicle sticks
  • ace bandage
  • triple antibiotic
  • icy-hot
  • im also including medicines in my first aid section….
  • allergy stuff (flonase, astelin, zyrtec-D) ((spring pollen kills me))
  • eye drops
  • day-quil tablets
  • sudafed tablets
  • anti-diarrheal tablets
  • benadryl tablets
  • zantac 150
  • airborne
  • shit ton of ibuprofen
  • prescription muscle relaxers
  • prescription ambien
  • tweezers (ticks and unibrow)

 

Protection:

  • Knife (4.5″ fixed blade.. legal in all states)
  • Bear spray (works on more than just bears)

 

Tools:

  • Multi-purpose tool
  • 2 allen wrenches that I need for my stroller.
  • Bungee cords
  • Bag of dryer lint (tinder for fire)
  • Vasoline
  • multiple lighters and waterproof matches