Your gear is everything when you are hiking. Carrying too little or too much can be a life-or-death result. I have been able to do a nice bit of long-distance hiking over the past couple of years and looking forward to my upcoming hike on the West Highland Way in Scotland in September 2024. In this article, I have pulled together my best ideas on the gear I carry. Check out my post on What I Carry in My Hiking Packs. This article is the companion one, with the checklists.
Main Gear Checklist
Some of these items get broken out into the daypack that I carry. For my hiking trips, I use a luggage transfer service. This is a great way to travel if you are not camping. To arrange my hikes and deal with all the lodging bookings and luggage transfers I use MacsAdventure.com. Other companies also set up hiking adventures like this, it is pretty common.
Clothing/Footwear
___ T-shirts, short sleeve, 3 pairs, base layer*
___ T-shirts, long sleeve, 1 pair*
___ Short sleeve, button, Columbia style shirt, 1 pair, acts as a dress shirt and for the airplane
___ Long pants, convertible to shorts, 1 pair, I think I wore one and carried one pair
___ Lightweight flannel shirt. I can’t remember if I took this, seems one shirt too many.
___ Underwear, 4 pairs. I do not like the quick dry underwear, starts to itch pretty quickly.
___ Socks, 4 pairs
___ Hiking boots
___ Teva sandals, or lightweight trainers, nice to change footwear
___ Fleece jacket, pairs well with the raincoat for colder weather, zipper front, mid-layer*
___ Rain jacket
___ Rain paints
___ Bandanna
___ Lightweight gloves
___ Hat, and stretch cap
___ Bug head net
*You can take fewer shirts, underwear, and socks and do more laundry.
*A lot of people wear the lightweight Patagonia Puffy Jackets
Backpack Gear
___ Backpack, day pack, and main backpack
___ Day pack rain cover
___ Trekking poles
___ Water bottles, 2–1L bottles
___ Headlamp with batteries
___ Flashlight
___ Sleeping sack?
___ Quick dry mini towel
Navigation
___ MacsAdventure Phone App, download the GPX files
___ Downloaded GPX files
___ GPX phone app
___ Compass
___ Stedman trail book, West Highland Way. A lot of trails have a guidebook as well as a Facebook Group. For the WHW I follow West Highland Way Tips & Tricks on Facebook. Great place for asking questions and getting tips for the hike.
___ Trail map, phones don’t always work
___ Trip itinerary
___ Plastic sleeve to hold important papers
___ Watch
Kitchen
___ Spork
___ Small bar of soap
___ Laundry soap packets
___ Plastic bags for carrying food, Zip-Loc bags
Health & Hygiene
___ Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, and toiletries
___ Half roll of toilet paper and poop shovel
___ Medications
___ Moleskin, Compeed plasters
___ Benadryl
___ Antiseptic gel or wipes, travel wipes, Stall Mates
___ Glasses, sunglasses
___ Sunscreen
___ Lip gloss,
___ Tube of Cortizone•10, great item for rashes from hiking
___ Insect repellant
___ Knee brace
Emergency & First Aid
___ First aid kit, SAM splint
___ Whistle
___ Ace bandages, Leukotape, or self-sticking Ace bandages
___ Duct tape, wrap around a credit card.
___ Rope bracelet, a small bundle of light rope
___ Matches
___ Itinerary left with family
Food
___ Energy cubes, Blok
___ Nuun hydration tablets, Liquid IV Hydration Multiplier
___ Plastic bags, Zip-Lock bags for food
___ Rubber bands
Extras/Technology
___ Phone
___ Phone charger and cords, headphones
___ Charging brick
___ Short extension cord, 6′ works great
___ Universal plug converter
___ Sketchbook, watercolor paints, pencils and pens, container for water
___ Pocket knife/multi-tool
___ Extra set of straps
___ Binoculars
Travel Documents
___ Passport
___ Travel documents
___ Airline documents
___ Credit Cards and currency
___ Apple Pay or Google Pay on your phone
___ Travel insurance
___ License
___ Covid documents
___ Covid Test Kit, unbox and make smaller
___ Face masks
___ Plastic sleeve for documents.
Another Good Hiking Checklist
https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/backpacking-checklist.html
Day Pack Checklist, 22 Liter
Your luggage moves on to the next BnB and your day-pack stays with you.
___ Rain jacket
___ Rain pants
___ Bug head net
___ Insect repellent
___ Bandanna
___ Small pocket knife
___ Ace bandage
___ Personal first aid kit
___ 2, 1-liter water bottles
___ Gloves
___ Headlamp
___ Maps and trail book
___ Plastic zip bags for lunch and food
___ Extra nuts and snack stuff
___ Toilet paper and trowel, maybe some sanitary wipes
___ Whistle, also often built into the pack
___ Phone charger
___ Cap and wool hat
___ Sunblock and lip balm
___ Moleskin, or Compeed
___ Pepto Bismol and Advil. You can nice little travel tubes at drug stores.
___ Passport, money, credit cards
___ Phone with Apple Pay or Google Pay on it. I traveled to the UK in 2022, and almost every transaction was done on the phone using Apple Pay or Google Pay. Set that stuff up. It is so much easier than using paper money. Every place did their commerce this way, including buses, trains, stores, and restaurants. This is also your alarm clock, GPX app, Google travel maps, and camera.
First Aid Kit
You probably don’t need everything on this list, but it is a good place to start.
1. Adhesive Bandages: Various sizes for minor cuts and blisters.
2. Sterile Gauze Pads: To dress larger wounds and help control bleeding.
3. Adhesive Tape: Secure bandages and dressings in place.
4. Antiseptic Wipes: Clean wounds to prevent infection.
5. Tweezers: For removing splinters or ticks.
6. Scissors: Cut tape, gauze, or clothing if needed.
7. Pain Relievers: Aspirin or ibuprofen for pain and inflammation.
8. Antihistamines: For allergic reactions or insect bites.
9. Hydrocortisone Cream: Relieve itching and inflammation from rashes or bug bites.
10. Blister Treatment: Moleskin or blister pads for foot care.
11. Disposable Gloves: Protect yourself when providing first aid.
12. Triangle Bandage: Can be used as a sling or for immobilization.
13. Instant Cold Packs: Reduce swelling and relieve pain.
14. Emergency Blanket: Provides warmth in case of exposure.
15. CPR Face Shield: For performing CPR safely.
16. Space Blanket: Reflects body heat and provides insulation.
17. Irrigation Syringe: Clean wounds effectively.
18. Duct Tape: Useful for quick repairs on gear or makeshift bandages.
19. Safety Pins: Secure bandages or make makeshift repairs.
20. Emergency Whistle: Signal for help if needed.
21. First Aid Manual: Basic instructions for emergencies.
22. Medications: Personal prescription medications if applicable.
23. Torch/Headlamp: Ensure visibility in low-light conditions.
24. Multipurpose Tool: Includes scissors, knife, and other tools. I usually buy one when I arrive. I try to stay with carry-on for my flights.
25. Personal Information: Emergency contact numbers, any medical conditions, and allergies.
There are also many good first-aid kits available on Amazon.
Remember to periodically check and restock your first aid kit, and customize it based on your specific needs and any special medical requirements you may have. Additionally, consider taking a first aid course to enhance your knowledge and skills in handling emergencies.
Check out my companion article, What I Carry in My Hiking Pack
Download my Backpacking Checklist
