My Hiking Gear List
Quick lists of my hiking gear:
♦ hiking gear for New Zealand
♦ hiking gear for Europe.
This article will give you an overview of my hiking gear for a multi-day hike. I will explain why I bought it and also if I would use it again, and what the best alternative gear options are.
1. My Pack
I recently purchased the Osprey Sirrus 50 Women’s Pack (black). I actually wanted to buy the Osprey Exos 48L, but stock and time constraints had me choose a different pack. Looking back, I am very happy with my choice.
The Sirrus 50 has some additional features and weighs 1.63kg, a little more than the Osprey Exos 48 at 1.15kg. The alternative for men is the Osprey Stratos 50.
I absolutely love this pack and it is a step closer in the ultra-lightweight direction. For the price, this is an excellent bag if you want something sturdy and high quality for bigger loads. This bag is good to carry up to 20kg…but obviously you would not want to carry 20kg on your hike. More on how to lighten your pack coming soon.
For a detailed overview of all recommended lightweight hiking packs, click here.
2. Sleep system
A. Sleeping Bag
At the moment I am using a Millet XP800 down sleeping bag and it has been good to me for almost 10 years.
The overall performance of this lightweight sleeping bag is great! It has not lost much down over the years and still feels like new. If you store your sleeping bag right, you can get a lot more life out of it. More on that later.
I absolutely love this sleeping bag, however, I am upgrading to a newer model soon. I am a side sleeper and would love to try out a quilt in the future.
Specs:
Weight: 800g
Limit: -17 degrees Celcius
Comfort: -1 degrees Celcius
Unfortunately they don’t make the same one anymore, but the updated version – Millet Light Down 0 is even lighter at 720g!
B. Sleeping Pad
I used to use a foam mat and to save money, but that soon turned into regrets.
In 2012 I invested in a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir inflatable mattress and it still serves me well. It is super comfortable and lightweight (410g) and has a patented insulation system to keep you warm at night. I am 180cm and I am happy with the regular size.
Specs:
Weight: 410g
They have since updated the NeoAir to the NeoAir Xlite (340g) that has a 4.2 R-Value. If warmth is more important than weight, consider the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm (425g) for a 7.2 R-Value.
C. Shelter
The TerraNova Laser Competition (940g) is hard to beat. It has won multiple awards and has been around for a long time. I bought this one in 2013 and still use it for multiple long hiking trips per year. For a full review, click here.
Why I picked this tent:
- Lightest on the market in 2013
- Double-wall
- 3-season tent
- Porch for cooking when it rains
- Can stand a storm
- Durable
- Easy to set up and pack away
- I can easily keep going 🙂
Specs:
Weight: 940g
Unfortunately in some countries, the TerraNova Laser Competition 1 person edition is no longer available. There are however two replacement products currently available: the 2-person version (1.25kg) and an ultralight version (650g). The ultralight version is now the lightest double-wall shelter in the world!
Alternatively, the Z-packs Duplex (680g) and the Big Agnes Tiger Wall UL2 (1.1kg) are some of the top choices on the market. For an overview on the best lightweight hiking tents in the world, click here.
Choosing the right tent for you is very important as it will be your home for many nights. Sometimes comfort goes above weight, especially if you’re tall.
For a complete guide on how to pick the right tent for your needs, click here.
D. Groundsheet
For extra comfort when it rains, I carry the Terra Hiker Rain Poncho. It acts as an extra raincoat, but also as a groundsheet. Personally, I like to use a groundsheet even if it is not necessary because it keeps the bottom of your tent dry and clean. The specific material absorbs very little moisture from the ground, making it easy to dry in the morning.
It is easier to pack away a dry tent and you will experience the benefits if you are camping on dirt. In grassy areas, this isn’t a problem.
Specs:
Weight: 260g
3. Camp Kitchen
A. Cooking Pot Set
Specs:
Weight: 204g
For cooking, I use an aluminium cooking pot from 360 degrees Furno, a brand widely available in Australia. This was on special before my last trip to New Zealand, and since I left all my cooking gear in Europe for when I am back there, I needed something fast.
This is a budget-friendly option and is often seen on the trail. Similar designs are available from Amazon and other brands. I just found the 360 degrees Furno one the lightest available in department stores. Because I was cramped for time, I decided to test it out.
Overall performance of the 360 degrees Furno pot set is very good. With the weight coming in at 204g, it gives you good value for money. The cooking pot comes in 2 pieces: an 850ml large pot and a 350ml smaller pot, which functions as the lid.
What I love about the lid is that it can be used as a cup as well. I have a habit of drinking soup before dinner, while I wait for my main meal to hydrate. Many other options come with a lid that is flat, which means it cannot be used for other purposes.
For a budget-friendly, high-quality option, the 360 degrees Furno cooking gear is definitely worth checking out.
The downside however, is that these cooking pots are made from aluminium. This is not only notorious for being unhealthy to cook in, but it also gets hot when you cook. For me, this meant that I had to wait a little while before I could drink my tea or soup, because I used the lid for cooking and thus it was hot.
A very good alternative for the heat problem is purchasing a titanium cooking set. These are very popular amongst thru-hikers but are a little bit more expensive.
As soon as I need another upgrade, I will purchase this one from Toaks, available on Amazon. The only thing with that one is that the lid is flat, and I would need to find a cup or alternative lid.
If you have any recommendations or ideas on this, please let me know in the comments below.
B. Cooking Stove
My cooking stove is also from 360 degrees Furno. Weighing in at 99g it is on the heavier side and would recommend buying something lighter such as the below.
I bought this stove because it came as a package with my cooking pot set. To be honest, I will invest in another lightweight stove for my next hike, because at 99g, it is definitely a bit heavy for a stove. However, this is an excellent budget option and its overall performance is great!
I have another stove for my hikes in Europe: the MSR Pocket Rocket. I left this stove with my family in Europe for my European hikes. I definitely recommend the pocket rocket. It is lightweight, durable, and wind-resistant. It is definitely worth the investment and is good value for money.
The lightest stove is 25g and is as good as my 99g one. It is really up to you how much weight you want to carry.
Specs:
Weight: 99g
C. Water Filtration
There are many options to filter water and one of them is the Aquatabs or Micropur water purification tablets. I have used them for years and am very happy with it. However, they contain small doses of chlorine, so on a long thru-hike, I would recommend the best-reviewed Sawyer Squeeze Mini or the Platypus GravityWorks Water Filter.
4. Electronics
A. Phone and Cameras
- Samsung Galaxy S10
- 4K Action Camera
- DJI Mavic Pro 2 drone
I used my Samsung Galaxy S10 phone as the main camera for filming during my hiking adventures. The camera on this phone is excellent. There are three different lenses, it shoots 4K video and offers a wide range of features. You can take some very high-quality photos with this phone. Your only issue will be storage, so bring enough memory cards. If my budget allows it, in the future I would go for the Canon G7X.
I also took with me a cheap waterproof 4K action camera from Aldi, which I used when it was raining or when I didn’t have my hands free. It performed very well, but the battery life is not the best. Instead of buying a cheap action camera, next time I will bite the bullet and purchase a proper GoPro action camera. They offer much more value and quality.
The third camera I took with me is a DJI Mavic Pro 2 drone. I love this drone. It is one of the lightest drones with the highest quality and 4K video options. The camera has a built-in stabiliser and is very easy to control. The remote connects to your phone with an app, making it user friendly. Another bonus is the battery lifespan of 30 minutes flying time. The DJI Mavic Pro 2 drone is one of the best-recommended drones for hiking.
B. Portable Charger
The portable charger that I have been using for the past 3 years is the Orico 10,400Mah. It charges my Samsung Galaxy S10 3 times and is definitely good for trips of up to 7 days.
If I would go on a hiking adventure for more than 7 days, I would go for a 20,000Mah portable charger option. One of the most recommended in terms of weight and performance is the Anker PowerCore 20,000Mah. This is definitely on my wishlist.
C. GPS & Safety
For my last hiking adventure in New Zealand, I finally purchased a Garmin InReach Mini for safety and GPS purposes. When hiking solo, it is always advised to have some kind of PLB or two-way communication device. After extensive research, I decided that the Garmin InReach Mini was my preferred choice of equipment.
The Garmin InReach Mini offers two-way communication, GPS, satellite tracking and an emergency button. Garmin works with a subscription system, but you can select different levels for your needs. Depending on the subscription level, you will be able to send and receive messages, are covered for helicopter rescue and much much more.
I highly recommend the Garmin InReach Mini. Weighing only 99g, it is the lightest two-way satellite communication device on the market. It offers many features and is just a must-have in an emergency.
As a bonus, the device connects to your phone via BlueTooth, making it feel like you are messaging someone with your phone. Maps are also accessible via the app on your phone. There is so much to talk about and I will do a full review on this in the future.
Specs:
Weight: 99g
Other popular options for GPS or safety equipment are the Garmin InReach Explorer, SPOT, or a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB). When it comes to safety, it is hard to set a budget. It is important to identify the right item for your needs because not all of these safety gear items will have the same functions. Compare before you buy, and in particular check out the subscription options and costs.
5. Clothing & Raingear
For all the clothing that I usually bring with me on a hike, please refer to my lighterpack gear list. You will find links to the items itself, and their weight.
This is a list of the clothes I found are the most practical for me on my hiking adventures. I have tried and tested many shirts, hiking pants, socks etc. For now, the ones mentioned in the list are my favourites.
When it comes to rain gear, I have also tested numerous rain jackets and their waterproofing. At the moment I am pretty happy with my current rain gear.
For rain pants, I use the Decathlon trail running waterproof pants. It wears super comfortable and is one of the highest breathable rain pants out there. With 2.5 layers, fully taped seams and a weight of only 197g, I can say that this is by far the best rain pants available. It is made for trail running, meaning it is made for keeping sweaty people dry. And it works fantastic!
Specs:
Weight: 197g
I have three waterproof rain jackets, which I use for different occasions, depending on the season and location.
The first one is the cheapest and lightest option. It is the Decathlon Waterproof Trail Running Jacket. Click here for the men’s version. This is one of the best performing jackets for its price and is super lightweight with only 195g. It has 2.5 layers waterproofing and fully taped seams. Most importantly, it has one of the best breathability scores for any rain jacket. At the time of writing, this jacket costs only AUD$69 and is sometimes on a half-price sale! I tested this in England on the Pennine Way and it sure was an excellent performer.
Specs:
Weight: 195g
The second rain jacket that I use, is a Mammut Convey Tour HS Hooded Jacket Women. I bumped onto this jacket during a sale in a local outdoor shop. It has 2.5 layers waterproofing and again fully taped seams. The breathability score is not known and this is where it lacks just a little bit. However, it kept me dry in Scotland! At 288g, this is one of the best performing lightweight rain jackets that offer high-quality materials and durability.
Specs:
Weight: 288g
My third jacket is a RAB Women’s LADAKH DV Jacket. It is on the expensive side, but it offers high-quality Goretex Waterproofing. Coming in a little heavy at 400g, it is worth bringing in colder and stormy weather. Breathability is excellent.
Specs:
Weight: 400g
6. Footwear
My go-to footwear are trail runners. Not because of the hype, but because they actually keep me from getting blisters and tendinitis. There is no shoe that fits all and it is important to find the right fit for your feet. I personally like a wider toe box and usually end up with a men’s version.
For the last 800km I used Salomon X Radiant GTX Low hiking shoes. They are a very comfortable shoe and fully waterproof. I am buying my next pair as we speak, because I found them on special.
7. Miscellaneous
A. Headlamp
My latest headlamp is one that I found by accident in Decathlon. It is a very cheap one, but it does the job well. It offers only the white light option, so if you want something with the red light you can use at camp, this torch won’t be good enough.
There is plenty of choice when it comes to headlamps. What I usually look for is one that is lightweight, has a white and red light, is ideally rechargeable, and doesn’t cost an arm and a leg. Please let me know in the comments if you use a headlamp that has fantastic performance.
B. Other
For everything else, such as toiletries and accessories, please check out my lighterpack list.