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AT
Survey Guide
Getting
Ready
Background
Info
Making
Time
Start
Dates
Routes
Mail
Drops
Bounce
Boxes
Backpacking
Gear
Top
Twelve
Sent
Home
Best
Gear
Worst
Gear
Replacements
Top
Brands
First
Aid
Water
Treatment
Maps
/ Guides
Seasonal
Changes
Backpack
Weight
Health
Insurance
Sickness
Pain
/ Problems
Vitamins
Weight
Loss
Trail
Food
Supply
Top
5 Foods
Recipes
Danger
on the Trail
After
the Trail
End
Dates
Cost
Hiking
Again
Favorite
Sections
Biggest
Surprise
Best
of the Trail
Worst
of the Trail
Lessons
Learned
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Appalachian
Trail 2003 Hiker Survey
The
majority of survey responses we received were from northbound
thru-hikers, so these results are therefore representative
of their experiences. To date we have received 49 replies
to our Appalachian Trail survey. According to the ATC, there
were 503 hikers that reported finishing the AT in 2003.
Backpacking
Gear
- Continued
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Gear
Replacements
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When
it comes to Appalachian Trail thru-hikers, many backpacking
gear manufacturers are more than happy to help out when a
piece of gear performs less than satisfactory. This is because
they know that many AT thru-hikers love to talk gear (well,
in the beginning of their hike, anyway) and they have a way
of spreading the word when equipment just doesn't cut it.
Many hikers find a way to get replacements for broken down
gear, or reimbursed for the cost. This can be achieved by
talking to representatives at Trail Days in Damascus, VA,
or by contacting the manufacturer or dealer directly. REI
is very good in dealing with Appalachian Trail hikers, and
companies such as MSR, Mountain HardWear, and PUR (among others)
are available to help out at Trail Days. Of course, manufacturers
and stores are not always cooperative, but it never hurts
to try.
Below
are some of the gear replacement (and non-) comments shared
by hikers who took our Appalachian Trail 2003 survey:
Gear
|
Hiker
Comment
|
| Asolo |
Asolo
would not replace boots, but store they were bought from
did. |
| Black
Diamond |
Headlamp
replaced 3 times. |
| Bridgedale |
Socks
and liners replaced. |
| Campmor |
Replaced
hiking poles 2 times. |
| Dana
Designs |
Backpack
stay came through pack. Dana Designs sent loaner pack
and made repairs. |
| EMS |
Replaced
hiking poles. |
| Garmont |
Very
nice to thru-hikers. |
| Granite
Gear |
Replaced
pack with heftier one, but was able to keep both. |
| Gregory |
Replaced
hip belt. |
| Gregory |
"Customer
service a great disappointment." |
| Kelty |
New
backpack. |
| Leki |
Bent
hiking pole. |
| Leki |
Very
nice to thru-hikers. |
| Marmot |
Replaced
jacket ($300 credit.) |
| Montrail |
Replaced
shoes. |
| Montrail
|
Replaced
shoes. |
| Montrail |
Replaced
2 pairs of shoes. |
| Mountain
HardWear |
Replaced
gaiters. |
| Mountain
HardWear |
Replaced
gaiters. |
| MSR |
Dromlite
bag leaked, replaced. |
| MSR |
Very
nice to thru-hikers. |
| New
Technica |
Boots
- sole separated. |
| Outdoor
Research |
Replaced
gaiters 2 times. |
| Patagonia |
Replaced
stretch gloves. |
| REI |
Replaced
|
| REI
|
Replaced
hiking poles. |
| Salomon |
Shoes
fell apart - replaced. |
| Smart
Feet |
Replaced. |
| Sweetwater |
Replaced
broken filter parts. |
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