Trekking Packing list
Are you an experienced hiker with a trekking vacation on the horizon? My husband and I embark on a trekking trip generally once every two years and we’ve learned a few things that we’d like to pass along here.
As a general rule you want to carry fewer things and you want those things that you do carry to be light as marshmallows. This requires you to be very discerning in choosing what to take with you.
I’ll tell you a funny story about this….
We once backpacked the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru and wanted to bring some gifts for the local children. We were told that what they most appreciated were school supplies–specifically colored pens and pencils. So we each carried a large zip-lock bag of assorted pens and pencils in our packs. By mid-way through the first day on the trail we were actively selling our fellow trekkers on the virtues of gifting the locals with school supplies…and we ever so graciously offered to divvy up our supply amongst the group. They weren’t convinced. It seemed no one wanted to add any extra weight to their loads and we were desperate to drop weight from ours. Where was the love? ;o)
The moral of the story is to question every single item you plan to put in your pack or on your person.
If you’re going with an adventure travel outfitter (such as Tucan Travel) then they will probably provide you with a list of packing recommendations. These should be tailored to your destination and activities and it would be folly to ignore. Take this list seriously. *Note: These tips are focused on individuals traveling with an outfitter; we won’t be providing any guidance around packing for food and shelter in this posting.
Footwear
The most important items are your boots. Don’t run off and buy the latest, greatest pair of boots a month before your trip (unless you plan to hike in them every week-end between now and then). Boots should be broken in well before you go or your feet will remind you daily of your lapse in judgment while you are on your trip. How humbling! Note that they should not be so worn that you risk them self-destructing half-way through your trip.
And if you normally wear orthotics in your shoes I would recommend that you take them as well as the insoles that came with your boots. Sometimes it’s good just to change out the insoles to give your feet some relief. Just like it does when taking off your boots at the end of the day and slipping your tired feet into a pair of sandals.
Apart from making sure your boots fit properly and are well broken-in before you go, select boots that have good lug soles, are at least water-resistant (if not water-proof), and provide good structural support. If you’re already an experienced hiker then you can appreciate the weight trade-off in a structurally sound pair of boots. If you’re at all in doubt, imagine putting 20-30 pounds on your back and walking around the neighborhood in your flip-flops. Makes my feet hurt just thinking about it!
When it comes to selecting socks this is a very personal preference but one thing is for certain–stay away from cotton for a variety of reasons. (This extends into all types of clothing as well, except perhaps for the ever handy bandanna.) Choose a blend of wool and synthetic materials, rather than pure wool. This will give you a good balance of warmth, strength, thickness and wicking capabilities. Try the socks on with your hiking boots to guarantee a good fit; you should be able to wiggle your toes without hitting the end of the boot and walk uphill without your heel sliding in the boot. The right sock will help you avoid gaping spaces or tight spots. And consider socks with extra cushioning in the heel or toe if these are places you’re likely to get blisters.
For the end of the day and evening you will want a light pair of shoes or sandals to change into and give your feet a much needed breather from the boots.
Backpacks
The next most important item is your pack. Most packs these days have internal frames; gone are the old days of looking like a walking piece of scaffolding. And today’s materials are durable, water-resistant, and light-weight. If you haven’t already done so we recommend taking the time to be fitted for your pack. Packs come in various sizes for both men and women and some packs can be adjusted further within a specific size to best fit the length of your torso.
When considering pack features look for the following:
Clothing
Learn the art of layering. There are three layers to consider when selecting clothing for your trekking trip–base, warmth and protection.
The base layer usually consists of clothing made from polyester, polypropylene, merino wool, or silk. It’s basic function is to provide just enough coverage for the hottest conditions you expect to encounter. If it’s too thick then you’ll end up having to strip for comfort. If it’s too thin then even in the warmest conditions you’ll be wearing another layer over it.
The warmth layer usually consists of fleece, wool or very light down or synthentic sweater-type garments. The role of the warmth layer is just that–to keep you warm when conditions are cool. This layer is worn over the base layer when the base layer isn’t sufficient.
The protective layer is to provide comfort while in the elements such as wind and rain and to guard against resulting heat loss. Generally you’ll want a shell jacket, either a soft-shell or hard-shell. Hard-shell jackets are usually wind- and water-proof but usually restrict your mobility while soft-shell jackets are normally only wind- and water-resistant but provide more flexibility of movement.
Don’t forget a hat–one that is appropriate for the conditions you’re expecting. This might be a hat with a brim to shade your face or a cap to keep your head warm. And if you carry a bandanna you can always secure it beneath the backside of your cap to shade the back of your neck if necessary.
Depending on the climate at your destination you will want to carry a pair of gloves with you, even if they are only glove liners to take the chill off while sitting around the camp site in the evening. If you are expecting inclement weather then consider water-proof glove shells to keep your hands both warm and dry.
Hygiene
Towels: Consider a small towel (wash cloth size) for washing up and a larger one for drying. Once again, stay away from cotton and seek out a fast-drying towel that can be tied to the back of your pack to dry during the day.
Toilet Paper: Take a partial roll from home and store it in a zip lock bag to make sure it stays dry.
Creature Comforts & Miscellaneous
Sleeping Pad: If these are not provided by your trekking company then you will want one of these to cushion your joints during the night. We like the Therm-a-Rest brand for their ultra-light benefits.
Trekking Poles: These are well worth the investment, especially if you will be on uneven terrain and/or hiking on steep declines. Not only do they assist you in keeping your balance, they also help keep your body upright. Look for a set with grips that fit nicely in your hands and have wrist straps to prevent them from going sliding down the mountain side. Some poles even have miniature compasses built in to the tops of them–a handy little feature. (I’ve actually been offered money for my poles by other hikers while out trekking in the wilderness.)
Toasty Tootsies: Consider purchasing fleece socks or down booties to wear around camp while your hiking socks are drying for the next day’s activity or simply to keep them warm and cozy after sundown. Many come with bottoms which are rigid enough to walk around camp in without damage.
Portable Urinal: Have you ever been in your tent, all cozy and warm in the middle of the night, and then suddenly had the undeniable urge to use the bathroom? Have you then realized that it’s either sub-freezing outside your tent or a 50-yard dash through the camp site to get to the toilet in the moon light? If this has happened to you then you can appreciate how handy a portable urinal might be. Check out thes products from Comfort House–there is a separate model for women even!
Duct Tape: Hopefully you will never need it but when you do, you do. Duct tape is handy for repairing holes in jackets, sleeping bags, tents, air mattresses and boots. Something else it’s handy for? Preventing blisters. Yep, that’s right, just put a swatch of duct tape on the backs of your soar heels and this will prevent any further rubbing on your skin and hopefully prevent the nagging blister.
Water Purification: A unit such as the Katadyn Hiker Water Microfilter is handy for filtering out harmful bacteria in the local water supply. You will also want to carry a Nalgene water bottle for collecting the water.
Sunscreen and Bug Repellent: These are especially important if you will be hiking at altitude and/or in humid climates where bugs can be vicious. Make sure the bug repellent contains Deet (25% or higher is recommended). And re-apply both periodically if you are sweating a lot.
Headlamp: These come in handy for walking around a dark campsite after dark or simply finding something in your tent after the sun has gone down.
Taste of Decadence: And finally, how about a single chocolate bar for a little bite of decadence every now and then? I’ll never forget the moment on our Inca Trail hike when one of our fellow trekkers pulled out a bar of dark chocolate Chocolove to share with us all. What a surprising delight!
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