While your pack, shelter, sleeping bag, and shoes are the most important items to research and invest in, I know you’ll also be making decisions about the rest of the key items in your kit. Here’s my best thru-hiker-specific advice on what to consider for those other essentials.

Stoves

Your biggest decision in picking a stove is what type of fuel to use. While most backpackers only seriously consider isobutane canisters or liquid white gas, the sheer length of a big thru-hike means that other fuel options start to look appealing due to efficiency considerations and ease of acquiring them. Your...