What to pack for a weekend hike: a rain-tested list
A short list for two days in the mountains: no extra kilos, but everything that saves you when the forecast is wrong.
This list was born after one very wet October. It has hung on the wardrobe door ever since and has never let us down.
Clothes: layers, not thickness
- Base layers that are not cotton
- A fleece or a light down jacket
- A waterproof jacket with a hood
- Spare socks in a separate bag — the most valuable thing on a hike
- A hat and thin gloves, even in September
Sleeping
- A tent you’ve pitched at home: all the pegs are there
- A sleeping bag rated 5 °C below the forecast
- A sleeping mat — without it the cold comes up from the ground
- A head torch with spare batteries
Food and water
Plan two hot meals a day and a snack every two hours. A small stove and gas canister, one pot for two, a spoon and a mug. You can take water from streams, but bring a filter or tablets.
First aid
- Plasters and a bandage
- Painkillers and an antihistamine
- Blister plasters — put one on as soon as something rubs
The most important item doesn’t fit in a backpack: tell someone at home where you’re going and when you plan to be back.
What you can leave at home
The axe, the third T-shirt, the 30,000 mAh power bank and the 600-page novel. Tested: you won’t use them.
