hiking is one of my favorite ways to explore the world. when you walk you can go wherever your feet carry you and explore natures places without stint. but if you want to enjoy walking your bag should not be to heavy.
my first hiking experience with camping gear was in new zealand around Lake Waikaremoana. i carried way to much stuff. not nesseccary stuff that made it difficult to enjoy the hike. after two days and one night i quit the trip and let the boat-taxi carry me back. fail!
now 3 years later i can say, i have learned a lot on this disappointing trip and afer a couple of backpacking tours around asia and my one month hiking tour on the canary islands, here is what my improved luggage looks like. of course my pack list might not fit everbodys necessities, but i hope to give you an insight and help to decide what to take on your hiking adventure.
clothing
the clothing depends on the weather of the country you are hiking in of course. i prefer warm climate, where the sun i shining and the weather is nice. that makes my luggage lighter as well as my heart.
- 1 tank top
- 2 t-shirts
- 1 long sleeve
- 1 touser which you can zip the leg short
- 1 pant
- 1 fleece jacket
- 1 rain jaket
- 4-6 underwear
- 1 bikini
- 3 pair of socks
- 1 pair of water shoes
- 1 pair of hiking boots
sleeping gear
because i want my bag light but still want to camp outside, i got sleeping gear that is not to big and heavy.
- sleeping bag 1,5kg
- iso mat 1kg
- tent 1,3 kg
- a pillow to blow air in
my sleeping bag is comfortable to a temperature of 8°c, once i was in a situation where it was very cold. some guys borrow me a silk sleeping bag. i was very surprised by this thin inlet. it really makes a big difference and only weight 140g. this is something definitely worth carrying if your sleeping bag is quit thin.
electronic devices
as i do love taking photos, i always carry a camera with me. camera gear with lots of lenses can be very heavy so i decided for a small system cam. it depends on how professional your level of photography is and how much weight you want to cary. i also do have a computer with me to work from wherever i am.
- small camera + charger + card reader + belt clip
- mobile phone + charger
- mac book air 11” (1,1kg)
- outdoor equipment
- there are a few important things for me to survive in nature
- leatherman
- uv light water purifier
- head torch
- lighter
washing bag
my cosmetic is very limited and in small portions, everywhere in the world you can get what you need. it is not necessary to cary a lot around. keep you luggage light
- a piece of soap
- cream
- a bit washing liquid for cloth
- dry toothpaste and toothbrush
- spirulina tablets
- sunscreen
- shaver
- tampon
- plaster and desinfection liquid
in addition i cary
- sun glasses
- googles- cause i love to swim after a good hike if there is the ocean, a lake or a river around
- towel ultra light
- a cotton bag for foodshopping and little stuff to cary to avoid the use of plastic bags
- my diary and a pen
- maps and guides
- a good book
- my ukulele + tuner
food and water
if you are on a multiple day trip with no excess to stores and civilization to get supplements it is necessary to plan your meals. food that is light and has lots of energy is the best to take. if you have a cooker you have a bigger choice of food to take and a warm meal wherever you want, but i don’t carry one with me.
examples of what is in my food bag:
- fruits like apples, oranges, bananas…
- dried fruits like dates, raisins, plums, figs…
- vegetables like avocado, tomato, carrot…
- nuts like walnut, peanut, hazelnuts…
- bread or wraps, rice or corn waffles
- cookies and energy bars, peanut butter, chocolate
- caned food like chickpeas and baked beans
i think thats enough to survive and really keep the backpack light. tell me how is your luggage when you plan to go hiking. is there anything missing? i would love to read your comment!