In this post we talk about how to make the backpack for a walk, whether it is short, like a few days, or long, even several months like ours.
We walked around Sicily between October 2021 and April 2022 and then about a third of the italian peninsula in 2023. Before this we had already done many treks, in different areas, seasons and weather conditions; yet only this very long journey allowed us to understand what makes a perfect pack perfect.
Here we would like to share with you what we have learned.
Article structure:
The importance of experience
Recommended clothing
A complete list of items and clothes, designed for both men and women
1. The importance of experience
And now, what should I bring with me?
If you are a walker, chances are you have been asking yourself this question several times before leaving.
It can even create a mild sense of anxiety that doesn't let you sleep the night before departure.
We spent a lot of time deciding what to bring before leaving. We have prepared lists that we have edited practically till the last minute.
But the real soldier is seen in battle, not in the drills. As much as we had prepared in the pre-departure, it was during the walk, after two-three weeks, that we managed to separate the wheat from the chaff.
Here you will find our advice matured on the way. Chances are you have different personal needs or preferences. Don't worry: you can still take a cue from our ideas to outline essential equipment and then modify it according to your tastes and experience.
Small note on the seasons
During the walking trip through Sicily, we found almost every possible weather. First we started with the heat of early October, then we found winter, at times particularly cold and rainy, in mountainous areas reaching 2° (celsius). Other days in winter and early spring we walked at 25°, in short sleeves.
The program was to walk, but also to spend whole days in the house to arrange the video and photo material, so we had to make sure we were comfortable in the house, potentially in the cold (that of an unheated house).
Precisely because we faced this variety of situations we realised that our equipment was good for any weather condition (not extreme, of course): we could really go on anywhere, except maybe the summer in warm places; in that case we could have removed the heaviest clothes.
So whatever path you have in mind, our tips will be good for spring, autumn and winter, or even for summer in cold places, that is, when you go to altitude and temperatures can drop. For summer walks at low altitude it will be enough to remove some outer layers such as down jacket and wool sweater.
2.Recommended clothing
A) The first layer: underwear, socks and t-shirts: how many to bring?
To be around for six months (but again, it also applies to six days) we brought, each other:
3 pairs of underwear
3 of socks, including 2 double-layer anti-bladder and 1 wool for break days.
2 tight tank tops or undershirts (essential on cold days; sometimes we only washed these and not the layer immediately on top, like t-shirts and shirts).
1 t-shirt,
1-2 long-sleeved shirts.
We chose the shirts because we liked a vintage style, but you can replace them with 1-2 other t-shirts.
Don't bring more, you really don't need it! Things can be washed and dried in front of a heat source.
B) Pants, how to do it? Thick, thin, light, heavy, how to choose?
We chose to have two: 100% cotton, long pants plus a pair of light pants to wear as a reserve. If it gets cold with the light pants you can always wear tights (absolutely recommended: it is one of the best allies in case of cold). If you travel in summer and suffer the heat warm legs, you can replace long light pants with a pair of shorts.
In any case, if you can withstand the heat well it is preferable to have two pairs of long pants: they make life easier when you have to cross stretches with tall, spiky grass, thorny bushes or ticks.
One last tip in this department: bring along waterproof pant covers, in case you find yourself walking under a downpour. The combination of boots, poncho and pant covers will keep you completely dry.
C) Sweaters and jackets, which ones to wear?
Avoid bringing heavy sweaters or sweatshirts, instead, opt for dressing in layers that you can quickly remove and add. Each of us had:
A lightweight hoodie
A lightweight wool sweater. You can also look for it at the secondhand clothing store.
A lightweight down jacket that folds into a pocket. This piece has been very useful on colder days to have something that keeps you very warm while weighing very little. Essential for staying warm after sweating, perhaps during a break without sun and with a cold wind.
Unpadded windproof jacket, rainproof and windproof.
Whichever windbreaker you choose should have a hood and be rainproof and windproof (for light rain and wind). We practically used the windbreaker all the time! It may seem unnecessary, especially when you have a poncho for rain, but it's not. On certain warm days in winter/spring, the sun was shining, and we were wearing short sleeves, but occasionally, the sun would come and go, maybe along with a cold wind. In this situation, all we needed was to put the windbreaker directly over the t-shirt, and we were fine, whereas with a fleece or down jacket, we would have been too hot.
The situation is different in the case of heavy rain. In that case, you can put the poncho directly over the windbreaker: only the poncho is foolproof in covering both you and the backpack (especially the area between you and the backpack where water could seep in).
D) Shoes
Shoes are probably the most important choice. Choose the wrong shoes for a hike, and you'll regret it forever.
It happened to us many years ago, on one of the Santiago trails. We found ourselves having to buy a new pair of shoes in a store. The old ones were too uncomfortable, but still too new to throw away, so we had to carry them in our backpacks.
But how do you find the right shoes?
Whatever pair you find most comfortable, you can follow this simple strategy. Buy them a bit before the hike, let's say a month, and take them on day hikes (15-20 km) near your home.
Try them on both flat and hilly terrain. If they still feel comfortable after 3-4 hikes, then you can consider them a good pair to take with you on the hike.
In any case, you can take an extra precaution and bring lightweight hiking sandals. They might allow you to take a break from foot pain if the shoes become uncomfortable after several consecutive days of walking.
Shoes or boots? That is the dilemma.
We've done hikes with both, but for walking during the winter or the transitional seasons, there's no doubt: 100% boots.
Why?
Mid-high boots are the best option for walking during the rainier seasons because they allow you to enter muddy or wet areas without excessive discomfort. On the other hand, low shoes could get wet or, worse, muddy, and it would be difficult to clean and dry them for the next day. Additionally, boots protect the ankles from possible sprains, which can be very unpleasant when you have many days of travel ahead.
Many people are afraid that boots are uncomfortable and heavy, but in our opinion, it's only because they haven't tried the right pair.
Here is the Dallapé 'Adamello' model that we used on our journey:
For a good 6 months and 850 km of travel, they didn't even give us a blister. They are soft and, at the same time, wrap around the ankle. Once the sole is worn out, you can resole them for about 70-80 euros.
Regarding the choice of size, we like to leave a bit of room for the foot in the boot so that we can wear double-layer socks to prevent blisters. So, we always recommend leaving about 1-2 cm between the tip of your foot and the tip of the sole. If the seller of your boots has a size conversion chart based on foot length, you can take this extra space into account and buy them slightly "roomy."
3. A comprehensive list of items and clothing, designed for men and women
If you are traveling in the summer at low altitude (< 1500 m, or 5000 ft)
3 Underwear
2 double layer socks
2 T-shirts or 1 T-shirt and 1 shirt
2 lightweight long pants (or one of them can be shorts, your choice)
1 Gore-Tex or K-way (waterproof jacket)
1 Hooded fleece
1-2 lightweight neck gaiters
1 lightweight pajamas/jumpsuit for home
1 poncho
1 waterproof pant cover
1 pair of flip-flops
2 sports bras (women)
To add if traveling in all other seasons or in high-altitude summer (>1500 m).
1 pair of lightweight gloves
1 fleece neck gaiter
1 pair of leggings
1 pair of woolen socks
1 down jacket
1 woolen sweater
2 undershirts/thermal shirts
To add if you are a woman:
Essential menstrual gear
1 medium/small microfiber towel
1 portable brush
2 hair ties
1 shampoo and 1 conditioner (If you're away for 6 days, you'll wash your hair approximately twice, so bring a small amount of product, ideally in travel-sized containers.)
Items for every season
Needle and thread (always useful for mending clothes)
Small tube of petroleum jelly (to apply to your feet to prevent blisters; we found sufficient to have the double-layer socks mentioned earlier, but it's always good to have a backup)
Band-Aids, about ten of them
Sports tape for blister prevention (if blisters start to form on your feet, it can be troublesome, so we applied it whenever we felt the beginning of irritation. Very useful.)
Medications (paracetamol, pain reliever, anti-inflammatory)
Deodorant, a small tube
Biodegradable wipes
Water bottle or camel bag (we recommend getting a large one, at least 3 liters; you can always fill it up less.)
Swiss Army knife (always useful for various tasks; especially to open wine bottles when there are no corkscrews around!)
Scissors
Tweezers, unless it's included in the Swiss Army knife
1 microfiber towel.
Tissues
Toothpaste
Toothbrush
Lip balm
Hand cream, a small tube
1 sleeping bag liner (if it's summer and warm, and you expect to find blankets) or 1 sleeping bag (if it's cold and you expect not to find blankets). The ideal sleeping bag is down-filled, weighing less than 1 kg. If you're going to high altitudes or sleeping in a tent when it's cold outside it's better to invest in a "mummy" sleeping bag from a technical brand like Ferrino.
Cord for hanging clothes to dry
Clothespins, 5-6 of them
Triple socket adapter (always useful if there are many people sharing a room)
Power bank
Phone charger
Notebook for writing
Pencil
Rain cover for your backpack (check your backpack, it may already have one integrated)
1 sun hat, preferably with a wide brim
1 beanie for cold weather
1 pair of sunglasses
Cotton bags (for separating clothes and for dirty laundry)
1 lightweight carabiner (for hanging things on your backpack)
1 solid soap for washing clothes and body (better if it's biodegradable soap).
Final thoughts
Here are our recommendations on what to pack in your backpack for any duration of hike and in any season.
We hope that this comprehensive list has been helpful and has at least given you an idea of what you'll need on your journey.
What do you think? Did we leave out anything important? Let us know in the comments or contact us directly through the contact form; we're curious to hear the opinions of fellow hikers.
In the meantime, happy preparations and happy walking.
Elisa e Walter