The Appalachian Trail Backpacker, 3rd: Trail-proven Advice for Hikes of Any Length

Rating:
Summary: Worth A Look.
Review: This is a super little book that has a lot of practical information on backpacking and hiking. There are sections on nearly every type of gear, food, shelters, wildlife, hiking strategy, and trail courtesy. Most of the information is not specific to the AT, and you probably won't find much use for the book once you're out on the trail. The book has thorough appendix that list gear, other sources of information, and AT organizations. The book is aimed more towards the novice, but since the authors relied on hikers with more than 100,000 miles of AT knowledge, nearly everyone should be able to find something useful in this book.

Rating:
Summary: Useful for Introductions Only
Review: Well written but very basic introduction to the AT and to backpacking in general. If you have already been on a backpacking trip of any length, most of this information is going to be a refresher. For instance, an entire chapter on footwear. If you don't already know whether you want to wear boots or tennis shoes, maybe this book is a good investment for you. This isn't something I'd read again or even keep as a reference.

Rating:
Summary: Useful for Introductions Only
Review: Well written but very basic introduction to the AT and to backpacking in general. If you have already been on a backpacking trip of any length, most of this information is going to be a refresher. For instance, an entire chapter on footwear. If you don't already know whether you want to wear boots or tennis shoes, maybe this book is a good investment for you. This isn't something I'd read again or even keep as a reference.