One of the biggest questions to ask is: what should I take in my backpack? This will obviously depend on the season, the “commitment” of the hike, its duration. I therefore suggest here lists depending on the hike to help you in this choice. Again these lists will not necessarily reflect everyone’s opinion, some will take more, others less. The idea is above all to give a basis with which you will get away.
I do not give advice on the number of items to take with you, especially for clothes. Just keep in mind that clothes require a lot of space especially in autonomy so you must not be too greedy. For my part, my philosophy is to have a set that I wear and another in reserve (except the pants). I wash my clothes as soon as I can.
Try to travel as lightly as possible, you will gain comfort, speed, but also the ability to take more food and therefore leave longer, farther.
Do not hesitate to share your opinion, tips and advice!
Clothing - Plus d'infos
- Water and wind proof jacket : even in summer it can rain a lot or one can experience a thunderstorm. A rain protection is therefore mandatory. The jacket can be Gore-tex or just a K-way. Ponchos are a good solution to.
- Breathable top: It gets warm in summer and no one like to hike in a sweaty top. So choose breathable textile, it will also dry faster.
- Option - warm top: especially if you sleep in a shelter, it can get cold by night. Choose something light.
- Pants or short : of course it depend on your habits. For my part I chose a pant with removable legs. Choose breathable textile once again.
- Underwear : choose what you like but it should be soft and none irritating.
- Sock : Your socks are one of the main elements to pay special attention to because having blisters on both feet after 15min of walk spoils a little the day. In summer you need breathable socks that sweat away quickly. Wool (merino) is the best material for this in my opinion.
- Hat : Be careful with the sun! Wearing a cap or hat is more than advised in the summer.
- Shoes: The most important choice. Your feet are your way to move so you have to take care of them and therefore choose suitable shoes. Whether they are high or low (according to the tastes of each one) they must breathe.
Equipment
- Backpack : For a day do not exceed 35L (and still it is already a lot). Privileged bags with abdominal belt to relax your shoulders.
- Sunglasses : Very important especially in the mountains because UV are "more aggressive". Choose categories 3 or 4.
- Walking sticks : I am quite adept of the sticks even for a day hike but it really depends on everyone.
- Water supply : Take enough water for the day (or plan for refueling points). The water pocket (camel bags) allows to drink regularly without having to open its bag. For the gourd, I usually take a plastic bottle, it is light and solid.
- Liner : mandatory if you sleep in a shelter
- Orientation : Depending on your itinerary and your orientation skills, do not forget the map and the compass (even GPS but not necessarily useful for the day). However, it is only useful if you know how to use it. Fortunately the trails are very well indicated in general in France.
- Knife : a small knife is always convenient if only to cut the sausage from the lunch break.
- Headlamp : The headlamp does not take up space and can save you in case of serious delay on the schedule. It is also very useful at the shelter. The phone lamp can be handy too but you will have a busy hand and the battery holds less well ...
- Food : Do not forget the lunch snack and what to nibble during the hike.
Clothing
- Water and wind proof jacket : even in summer it can rain a lot or one can experience a thunderstorm. A rain protection is therefore mandatory. The jacket can be Gore-tex or just a K-way. Ponchos are a good solution to.
- Breathable top: It gets warm in summer and no one like to hike in a sweaty top. So choose breathable textile, it will also dry faster.
- Option - warm top: especially if you sleep in a shelter, it can get cold by night. Choose something light.
- Pants or short : of course it depend on your habits. For my part I chose a pant with removable legs. Choose breathable textile once again.
- Underwear : choose what you like but it should be soft and none irritating.
- Sock : Your socks are one of the main elements to pay special attention to because having blisters on both feet after 15min of walk spoils a little the day. In summer you need breathable socks that sweat away quickly. Wool (merino) is the best material for this in my opinion.
- Hat : Be careful with the sun! Wearing a cap or hat is more than advised in the summer.
- Shoes: The most important choice. Your feet are your way to move so you have to take care of them and therefore choose suitable shoes. Whether they are high or low (according to the tastes of each one) they must breathe.
- Gloves and cap : For certain treks especially in the mountains or in regions like Scandinavia, I systematically take gloves and caps for the evening or in case of sudden drop in temperatures; even in summer.
- Option - gaiters : The use of gaiters can be advised in wet and / or muddy terrain to protect the pants and to avoid the infiltration of water into the shoe.
Equipment
- Backpack : Its volume will depend on the duration of the trek and the "civilized" points encountered. In any case avoid large volumes to avoid filling them with useless items. I have a 65L which allows me to stand full autonomy 7 days alone (food included).
- Shelter : An extremely important element because it will be your "Home" for the duration of your trek. You have the choice between the tent, the tarp or even the over-bag for a beautiful starry night.
- Sleeping bag : Take with you the "good" bag, neither too hot nor too cold. In general I put my bag in a waterproof bag to have it always dry for the evening.
- Mattress: You have the choice between foam mattress, self-inflating or inflatable. The R-value is important to estimate the thermicity of the mattress (a R-value of 2.5 corresponds to a suitable mattress up to 0 ° C, the higher the R-value the more the mattress can be taken in the cold) .
- Option - Liner : Useful for not dirtying down too much.
- Stove: Gas, gasoline, alcohol or wood, there are different types, sizes and weights. Try it before leaving to not have bad surprises.
- Cooking stuffs: Depending on the number of people. Do not carry unnecessary utensils that will weigh heavily.
- Combustible : Suitable for your stove. Boil 1L of water at home before you leave and weigh the lost mass of the gas cartridge (for example) to estimate your need. For my part I go on 16g / L (with my stove and my cooking).
- Water supply : Allow about 2L of continuous water. The water pocket allows to drink regularly without having to open its bag. For the gourd, I usually take a plastic bottle all stupid, it is light and solid.
- Option - Micropur or filter : Provide pellets to decontaminate water or a filter. So you can drink water from virtually any stream. Just make sure the water you are drawing is clear and free of suspended particles.
- Orientation : Depending on your itinerary and orientation skills, do not forget the map and the compass to even see the GPS if you are traveling along an unmarked route. However, it is only useful if you know how to use it. Fortunately the trails are very well indicated in France, in general.
- Knife: A knife can be useful in many circumstances but a "Rambo" model is useless.
- Headlight : always useful on the evening or if you walk by night
- Sunglasses : Very important especially in the mountains because UV is "more aggressive". Choose categories 3 see 4.
- Walking Sticks : I am quite adept of the sticks especially if the bag is a bit heavy and there is a lot of uneven.
- Option - Solar Panel : If you leave away from any source of electricity for a long time, a small flexible solar panel can be useful to recharge phone, GPS or camera.
- Survival blanket : Very useful in case of problems but also to isolate the bottom of the tent (used as floor mats). Always have it in your bag.
- Kit "Bag end" : I often take a few small items such as a string (clothes rack or emergency laces), a sewing set (such as those found in hotels - very practical in case of tearing clothes), notebook, pen , ... little things that must be really useful and weigh nothing.
- Health kit : Go to the most useful : pills for headache or stomach. If there is an emergency : call the rescue !
- Towel : Small microfibre towel, for the bath, the toilet or to mop the tent for example.
- Food : To adapt according to the duration, the effort, ..
Clothing
- Waterproof jacket : Essential to protect oneself from external elements. The gore-tex is a good solution not to be soaked with sweat.
- Breathable top : It is necessary to avoid being wet in order not to be cold. A warm and breathable top is essential.
- Warm top : Privilege the polar during the effort and the down jacket in the evening if the temperatures are not too extreme otherwise to take down jackets adapted to the temperature.
- Pants : Choose a waterproof pant, preferably not to be wet by snow. I am not fan of polar lined pants, I prefer to add a tight underneath;
- Underwear : this will depend on you ... Especially favor the materials that do not irritate!
- Socks : Your socks are one of the main items to pay special attention to because a lot of the heat is lost by the feet and you have to keep them healthy. Choose merino socks adapted to the temperatures encountered.
- Cap or chapka: The majority of heat loss occurs through the head. It is therefore necessary to protect oneself effectively especially in the evening at the camp. So choose a warm hat or even a down filled chapka in extreme cold.
- Shoes : The most important choice. Your feet are your way to move so take care and keep them warm. Whatever they are they must breathe.
- Gloves : The centerpiece of the winter wardrobe if you do not want to lose finger tips. Take waterproof and windproof gloves appropriate to the temperature conditions encountered.
- Balaclava : In case of extreme cold or strong wind the use of a neck strap or even better a hood really helps to protect the face. The nose and cheeks tend to freeze, be careful!
Equipment
- Snow shoes or ski : To choose according to your preferences or your ability. Prefer the robust one and easy to repair.
- Backpack: Its volume will depend on the duration of the trek and the meeting points encountered. In any case avoid large volumes because they will quickly fill them with useless things. For my part I have a 65L which allows me to stand full autonomy 7 days alone (food included). However in winter the necessary material may need to use a:
- Pulka : On snow and in case of large volume transported, the pulka can be interesting because it allows to release the back of a heavy load.
- Shelter : This is an extremely important element because it will be your "Home" for the duration of your roaming especially in winter in case of a snow storm. Prefer a 4 seasons tent provided for this purpose. Do not hesitate to take one size bigger and a large apse for comfort.
- Sleeping bag : Take with you the "good" bag, that is to say adapted to the winter temperatures. In general I put my bag in a waterproof bag to have it always dry for the evening.
- Mattress : You have the choice between foam mattress, self-inflating or inflatable. The R-value is important to estimate the thermicity of the mattress (a R-value of 2.5 corresponds to a suitable mattress up to 0 ° C, the higher the R-value the more the mattress can be taken in the cold) .
- Option - Liner : Useful for not dirtying down too much.
- Stove: Gas, gasoline, alcohol or wood, there are different types, sizes and weights. Try it before leaving to not have bad surprises.
- Cooking stuffs: Depending on the number of people. Do not carry unnecessary utensils that will weigh heavily.
- Combustible : Suitable for your stove. Boil 1L of water at home before you leave and weigh the lost mass of the gas cartridge (for example) to estimate your need. For my part I go on 16g / L (with my stove and my cooking).
- Water supply : Allow about 2L of continuous water. The water pocket allows to drink regularly without having to open its bag. For the gourd, I usually take a plastic bottle all stupid, it is light and solid.
- Option - Micropur or filter : Provide pellets to decontaminate water or a filter. So you can drink water from virtually any stream. Just make sure the water you are drawing is clear and free of suspended particles.
- Orientation : Depending on your itinerary and orientation skills, do not forget the map and the compass to even see the GPS if you are traveling along an unmarked route. However, it is only useful if you know how to use it. Fortunately the trails are very well indicated in France, in general.
- Knife: A knife can be useful in many circumstances but a "Rambo" model is useless.
- Snow Shovel : Always practical. Do not choose a plastic but metal shovel.
- Headlight : Good in the evening in camp or if you walk sooner or later especially that the nights are long and the short days in winter.
- Sunglasses : Very important when everything is in snow. Choose categories 3 see 4.
- Ski Mask : More suitable than glasses in case of wind or storm. Choose one that breathes well.
- Option - Solar Panel : If you leave away from any source of electricity for a long time, a small flexible solar panel can be useful to recharge phone, GPS or camera. The advantage of this solution, however, is that of taking out replacement batteries or batteries.
- Survival blanket : Very useful in case of problems but also to isolate the bottom of the tent (used as floor mats). Always have it in your bag.
- Kit "Bag end" : I often take a few small items such as a string (clothes rack or emergency laces), a sewing set (such as those found in hotels - very practical in case of tearing clothes), notebook, pen , ... little things that must be really useful and weigh nothing.
- Health kit : Go to the most useful : pills for headache or stomach. If there is an emergency : call the rescue !
- Towel : Small microfibre towel, for the bath, the toilet or to mop the tent for example.
- Food : To adapt according to the duration, the effort, ...
