Top Tips for Packing a Multiday Hike

Here is the thing about packing for a multiday hike. Everyone has an opinion, until they are three days in and out of dry socks. Then they have a conversion experience.

I have done enough mountains to know what earns its place in the pack and what gets quietly abandoned at base camp. This is the list I actually use.

Hygiene and Skin

— 01 —

Wipes

Your best friends on the mountain. Hands, body, wherever necessary.
Do not underestimate how much work these do when running water is a distant memory.

— 02 —

Tissues

There are a lot of boogers in the mountain. Pack a lot of tissues.

— 03 —

High SPF Sunscreen

And reapply every two to three hours. Do not skip your hands. Sunburn on the hands is a particular kind of misery and it takes forever to recover. Never mind what it does to your skin over time.

— 04 —

Toothbrush and Toothpaste

Let's not be savage just because we are in the mountains.

— 05 —

Wide-Brimmed Hat

Not a cap. A wide brim. If you burn as easily as I do, your face and neck need proper coverage. They are the first places to show signs of ageing, and the sun at altitude is merciless.

— 06 —

Muscle Tape

For your feet and any areas that tend to get sore. Apply before you start, not after the damage is done.

Clothing and Layers

— 07 —

Hiking Pants and Shirts

Good quality ones. They do not attract or retain sweat, which means they do not hold odour. On a multiday hike, this is not a small thing.

— 08 —

Long-Sleeve Hiking Shirts

I insist on the long sleeve. Some people do not mind short sleeves on the mountain. I am inked and have sensitive skin, and I have no interest in being sunburned from wrist to shoulder for the rest of the trip.

— 09 —

Hiking Pants and Shirts

Good quality ones. They do not attract or retain sweat, which means they do not hold odour. On a multiday hike, this is not a small thing.

— 10 —

Long-Sleeve Hiking Shirts

I insist on the long sleeve. Some people do not mind short sleeves on the mountain. I am inked and have sensitive skin, and I have no interest in being sunburned from wrist to shoulder for the rest of the trip.

— 10 —

Underwear

Pack a fresh pair for every single day on the mountain. This is non-negotiable.

— 11 —

Liner Socks

Worn under your hiking socks, they protect your feet from chafing and your shoes from holding odour. A small addition that makes a real difference.

— 12 —

Merino Wool Hiking Socks

These make a significant difference to how your feet feel over a full day of walking. They also help keep blisters away. Always pack more pairs than you think you need. Rain and river crossings have a way of making dry socks a luxury.

— 13 —

Hiking Boots

Good quality boots can make or break a multiday hike. Always test them on various day hikes first to make sure they are properly broken in and any adjustments have been made. Do not debut new boots on a five-day traverse.

— 14 —

Crocs, Slops, or Camp Shoes

For after the hike and around camp. Your feet have worked hard all day. Give them something easy to be in.

— 15 —

Waterproof Raincoat

Waterproof. Not water resistant. The difference between those two words is the difference between being dry and being completely drenched at altitude in the cold.

Sleep and Camp

— 16 —

Sleeping Bag

Make sure the temperature rating is appropriate for the climate you are going into. Do not guess on this one.

— 17 —

Sleeping Bag Liner

Adds warmth inside the sleeping bag and is very necessary. Temperatures in the mountains tend to drop dramatically in the early hours of the morning, often more than you expect.

— 18 —

Inflatable Pillow

Takes up almost no space in your pack when deflated. Your neck will appreciate it enormously.

— 19 —

Quick-Drying Towel

The name is accurate. It really does dry quickly, which matters when you decide to take a dip in a river and still need to pack up and move.

— 20 —

Headlamp

Make sure it has fresh batteries or is fully charged before you leave. You do not want to discover it is dead when you need it most, which will inevitably be at 5am in the dark.

— 21 —

Power Bank and Cables

To keep your phone, watch, and any other electronics going. There are no plug points on the mountain.

— 22 —

Travel Mug

For morning coffee or hot soup at camp. Worth every gram it weighs.

— 23 —

Hiking Bowl, Plate, and Cutlery

Lightweight plastic or hiking-specific sets. Everything you need, nothing you do not.

— 23 —

Hiking Bowl, Plate, and Cutlery

Lightweight plastic or hiking-specific sets. Everything you need, nothing you do not.

Hydration and Health

— 24 —

2L Water Bladder

An essential. Easy to drink on the go without stopping or needing help. Always fill it before you leave camp or your starting point. You are not always guaranteed fresh water streams ahead.

— 25 —

1L Bottle

Great for mixing your hydration sachets, magnesium, or energy effervescents. Tends to become a life-saving combination by day two.

— 26 —

Rehydration Sachets

You lose an enormous amount of electrolytes when you sweat all day at altitude. These put them back. Do not skip them.

— 27 —

Magnesium

Slow Mag or similar. A significant number of hikers suffer from muscle cramps, especially in the legs, during multiday hikes. Magnesium prevents that kind of drama before it starts.

— 28 —

Painkillers and Anti-Inflammatories

Another essential. In case of injury or illness on the mountain, you want something on hand. Do not rely on someone else in your group having theirs.

— 29 —

Corenza or Cold Remedy

It is easy to catch a cold in the mountains, especially with the temperature shifts. Having something to manage it early keeps it from becoming a bigger problem mid-hike.

Food and Fuel

— 30 —

Oats

Start your morning with enough energy to sustain you through a long day on your feet. Oats do that job well.

— 31 —

Coffee

I struggle to start my day without it. On the mountain this is especially true.

— 32 —

Energy Bars

For on the go. You need fuel between meals and they are easy to eat without stopping.

— 33 —

Trail Mix and Biltong

Dried fruit and nuts for the sweet and the salt. The combination provides a good energy balance and is easy to snack on while moving. Have enough. Then pack a little more.

— 34 —

Dried Mango or Peach

Sugar provides a lot of energy, which you will need. Dried mango especially. Trust me on this one.

— 35 —

Tuna Sachets and Crackers

A reliable light lunch. Easy to pack, easy to eat, enough to keep you going through the afternoon.

— 36 —

Freeze-Dried Meals for Dinner

Easy to make at camp and calibrated for the right calorie count after a long day. Add a Nando's sauce sachet. It makes all the difference.