Hiking holiday packing list: Your pirate guide to packing!

The basics

Here you will find a packing list with the basic clothing and equipment for hiking. For a multi-day hiking trip, you should take the appropriate change of clothes (shirts, socks and underwear).

1. Hiking boots/trekking sandals

2. Short trekking pants or long trekking pants/zip-off trekking pants

3. A practical shirt (one that drys quickly and doesn’t get heavy when wet)

4. Fleece sweater/fleece jacket

5. Rain jacket (Make sure it's waterproof, not just water resistant! Water resistant jackets resist water about as well as pirates resist rum)

6. Waterproof trousers

7. Underwear

8. Thick hiking socks

9. Sunglasses

Additionally for winter / cold regions:

1. A good hat

2. Warm gloves

3. Crampons (For solid footing in icy conditions)

Equipment

At least as important as functional clothing is appropriate hiking equipment. These items are absolutely essential for any hike, regardless of how long or short it might be, to avoid getting lost:

1. Walking sticks

2. A compass

3. A map

4. A lighter

5. A pocket knife (just make sure you don’t put it in your carry-on)

6. Matches

7. Some cash (possibly your bank card)

8. A drink bottle (You can even grab fancy one with a water filter in it)

9. Energy bar/glucose tablets

10. Flashlight + batteries

11. GPS device

12. Emergency mobile phone (charged)

First aid kit

Often overlooked is the travel first aid kit, which is important even for short hiking trips. Whether it be sunburn, nausea or a bruise after a fall, without a first aid kit, a hike can be over sooner than you’d like. So be prepared and grab these essentials:

1. Your personal medication (Don’t forget your inhaler if you need one!)

2. Wound and blister plaster

3. Pain and fever remedies

4. Toilet paper (or some wet wipes)

5. Allergy pills (possibly nasal spray and eye drops)

6. Some antiseptic cream for cuts and scrapes

7. Suncream

8. Mosquito and tick protection (check everywhere for ticks after your hike)

Other items

Even if you're out in the wilderness, you never know what sort of things you might need. You might need to make some quick repairs, emergency purchases or quickly freshen up. Here's a list of general items that could be needed.

1. ID card

2. Health insurance card

3. Enough cash (if necessary, EC-card)

4. Safety pins

5. Sewing kit

6. Spare laces

7. Hand sanitiser

8. Cosmetics (soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, hair tie, brush, etc.)

9. Towel