I have kept a record of what I have spent so far on getting myself ready for the Appalachian Trail.
I have paid for items in both GBP and USD.
To make things as easy as possible. I have converted the USD amounts into GBP.
If there is no amount next to the item, it means I already owned it. I have also rounded the amount to the nearest whole number.
This does not include additional costs such as paying for a personal trainer, supplements while training (including protein powder), & visiting my Naturopath, dentist etc.
In order to fund the below, I have been buying items slowly throughout the year as I had money come available through Patreon, speaking gigs, and other paid work I do.
E.g. My big purchase in January was the visa, in February I paid for my flight to Atlanta, in March, I bought my Thermarest, etc.
This way I was able to spread out the costs and it wasn’t a big hit to take in one go.
Research/Books
Appalachian Trail - Thru Hikers Companion 2017 - £7
How to Hike the Appalachian Trail: A Comprehensive Guide to Plan and Prepare for a Successful Thru-Hike - By Chris Cage - Free
Take A Thru-Hike: Dixie's How-To Guide for Hiking the Appalachian Trail - $6/£5
£12
Visa & Insurance
US B/B2 Visa - $160/£124
To have the visa delivered - £18
Insurance (GlobalLink) - £108
£250
Travel & Accommodation
Travel to London - £22
London to Gatwick Airport - £14
Flights to Atlanta - £354
Accommodation in Atlanta - $100/£78
Accommodation 2 nights @ Hostel - $60/£47
Travel from the airport into Atlanta via- train then Uber to the hostel - $70/£54
Travel to Springer Mountain Car Park - $10/£8
Flight home from Boston to Manchester - £190
£767
Big Ticket Items
Raidlight Sleeping Bag
Osprey Auro 50 Backpack - £140
Thermarest NeoAir XLite Mattress - Regular £115
Tent (Terra Nova 2 man tent) - Borrowed
Black diamond walking poles - £44
£299
Electronics
Head torch
Batteries X3
iPod Shuffle X2
Headphones apple
iPhone 6
Lifeproof Case - £65
TeckNet PowerCrest C1 -USB Portable Charger External Battery Pack Power - £12
USB Charger Plug Syncwire 4-Port USB Wall Charger - £14
£91
Waterproofs
Exped Pack of 4 Dry Bags - Bright - £29
Poncho £2
£31
Supplements
Hammer Electrolytes X2 - £42
Bio-Health - Magnesium X2 - £12
Bio-Health - Iron & Vitamin C X2 - £8
Lamberts - Digestizyme - £12
£74
Clothing
ExOfficio Women's Underwear Bikini Brief £16
Invisii -X2 (free)
Arita Sports Bra (free)
Pink Buff
Baseball Cap
Sunglasses
Walking gloves
Thin fleece
Stance Socks X3 (free)
Cloggies - £4
Trainers - Saucony
Leggings
Thermals to sleep in
Top to wear walking
£20
Personal
Moon Cup - £2
Tweezers
Tampons
Nail file
Ibuprofen
Imodium
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Sunscreen
Hairbrush
Deet
Compeed X2 - £12
Trowel - £2
Coghlans Toilet Tissue - White, 2 Pack - £3
Bandana X2 - £3
Rite In The Rain Unisex Waterproof Notepad, Black, 4 ⅝ x 7-inch - £10
Pencil
Sea To Summit Alpha Light Long Handled Spoon - £11
Life systems Ex4 Anti Mosquito Clothing Treatment - Size 350ml - £11
Homeopathic remedies for the traveller - £47
£101
Water System
Platypus Hoser 1 Litre Water Bladder & Hose - £14
Sawyer Products SP128 Mini Water Filtration System £20
OASIS Water Purification (50) Tablets - £2
£36
Total Costs
£1,681/$2,165
The biggest chunk of my money £1,017 has been spend on getting my visa, insurance, travel & accommodation paid for.
Which means I’ve spend £664 on gear.
With my most expensive items being my backpack (£140) and my air mattress (£115). However, I really do look at both of these as investment pieces, and hope they will last me longer than my hike.
A pretty pie chart!
However…to be fully transparent…
I’m very fortunate I was able to borrow as tent (thank you Ellen!!), as I would have struggled to pay for it, along with everything else I needed to buy. A tent would have been my largest expense, I was looking at the £350 - £400 range.
My life proof case was a christmas present.
I’ll be catching a lift with a friend from the finish to Boston via car, so I’m not sure what the petrol costs will be.
I still need to add in costs for permits while out on the trail which I think will cost approx. $20
My accommodation for when I’m in Boston will be paid for by my mum as she’s coming over to meet me at the end.
Still to buy…
I need to replace my current shoes and get a new warm down jacket. (I’m still holding out that a company will sponsor me these last few items - If not I will look at buying these over in the States)
I do not have a cooking system (stove, fuel etc) as I’m going to start the hike and see how I get on eating cold food. This may change as the hike goes on.
I also need to buy bear cord, to hand my bear bag, & two large tent pegs - otherwise I think that pretty much covers it!!