This list will need to be modified to suit your group, your groups goals, the weather forecast, the time of year, the number of nights out and the specific area you are walking in.

What to wear

• Long sleeve shirt, with collar (sun protection)
• Shorts or long loose pants (avoid jeans)
• Hat
• Comfortable footwear and socks
• Sunglasses

Personal gear to carry

• Backpack (larger pack, generally around 70 litres – but don’t feel the need to fill it)
• Waterproof liner
• pack into a heavy duty garbage bag or similar
• backpacks are not waterproof
• leave water and fuel bottles outside the liner
• Water bottles & water
• soft drink bottle works fine
• consider where you will be able to collect water along the way
• Water purification system (tablets, pump or UV)
• Whistle (loud, plastic and pealess)
• Snacks
• Trail mix (Scroggin, Gorp): nuts, seeds, dried fruit, smarties, etc in a bag
• Muesli bars
• Personal medication (such as for asthma, heart issues, or allergies)
• Rain coat (a sturdy raincoat with a hood)
• Jumper
• A set of thermal underwear
• Copy of the walk’s maps and compass
• Pocket knife
• Torch
• Sunscreen and insect repellent
• Matches / fire lighting equipment
• Space blanket
• Some cash and ID
• Plastic bag for garbage
• Sleeping bag
• make sure it is rated for likely low temperatures
• Sleeping mat
• insulate you from the ground, very important for warmth and comfort
• Cup, bowl, knife fork spoon

Shared in tent / food group

In larger groups, you may want to share the load among a few friends to save on weight. Otherwise you will need to carry all this stuff yourself.

• Tent (with extra bits like poles and pegs)
• share with others in your group to reduce weight
• other options like Bivy bags, tarps and hammocks can be good alternatives
• Cooking stove
• Fuel (enough for your meals, plus a bit)
• Billy to cook in
• Extra water containers (eg wine bladder)
• Scouring pad (for cleaning)
• Toilet paper, trowel and hand washing liquid
• Meals for people in group
• breakfasts (muesli, powdered milk, porridge)
• lunch (flat bread, english muffins, cheese, salami, peanut butter)
• dinner (veggy curry on rice/couscous, soup, pasta and veggies,burritos)
• drinks (hot chocolate, soup, tea, coffee, powdered cordial)
• Garbage bag

Shared in group

• First aid kit
• Map of the area
• List or people in the group, and their next of kin contact details
• PLB (if out of mobile phone coverage or in a small group)

Extra things to consider

• Your phone (or another GPS) – make sure they are charged
• Battery charger for your phone
• Headphones if you like listening to music or a book at night
• Camera
• Swimmers
• Book to read
• Note pad and pencil
• Extra warm clothing if in alpine area or cooler time of year
• Change of clothes and socks
• Personal hygiene
• Toothbrush/paste, comb, sanitary napkins

If you want to print out this list you can download it here.