I’m a planner and a list maker, I think it’s the Virgo in me, so part of the fun (for me) of any vacation is researching and planning it. I also get a weird thrill out of creating and refining packing lists to be as small/light as possible. Mostly because I once carried a backpack that weighed over 20 kilos (about 50lbs for any readers who use Imperial) while backpacking across Europe in my 20s and man, was that too heavy. Since then, I have become increasingly adept at packing light and generally fly with just a carry-on backpack (and crossbody bag) because thankfully, I learn from my mistakes.
The challenge of packing for my walking trips is two-fold. First, I need to bring/use a good hiking backpack and I’ve needed to fly to all of my walking trips to date. Unfortunately, many, or rather most, hiking backpacks don’t conform to carry-on restrictions, especially as the restrictions are getting smaller on some airlines. Take my mid-sized 44L hiking backpack – it’s the same volume as many carry-on travel backpacks but the dimensions don’t conform (it’s too tall) so I would have to check it and checking backpacks is problematic due to the straps. This is why I ultimately bought a 30L hiking backpack for my last long distance walking trip as its dimensions work for most airlines (you can read my review here). That being said, I still want it to be as light as possible, especially if I’m carrying my pack on a 100+ km multi-day walk.
The second challenge is finding clothing that work for hiking/walking AND for dinner out in a city. I have lots of hiking clothes but most of them look like hiking clothes and that’s not necessarily what I want to wear when wandering around a city sightseeing or out for dinner. And I often combine some regular travel into my walking vacations. When I packed for my 2019 trip to Scotland that included the West Highland Way, I used a luggage transfer service and brought basically two different (if small) sets of clothing but that meant my pack was a bit heavier and fuller than I would like. I needed to improve.
Of course, being me, the first thing I did was hit the internet for some research. There was only one problem – there are lots of travel packing lists and recommendations, and pretty much the same number of hiking ones (most of which were geared to backcountry hiking and included lots of gear I don’t need on my walking holidays as I tend not to camp (I would definitely need to check my bag if I brought my camping gear). But there weren’t a lot of packing lists and recommendations for long distance walking (where you need a good hiking pack, hiking shoes/boots and the proper clothes) which also included regular travel days (where I’d like regular casual clothing like jeans).
So, I set about creating my own. First, I started by refining my West Highland Way packing list from 2019 to be lighter. As you’ve probably read before, a loaded backpacking pack should be no more than 20% of your bodyweight and a daypack 10% or less. For my walking/traveling, I took the middle ground between the two in order to create my goal of no more than 15%, and hopefully less, because I’m not really backpacking but I need more than I would on a day hike, clothing especially because I do want some choice. I also wanted to find a compromise between the ultra-lightweight packers (who often only have one extra set of clothing, if that) as I didn’t want to constantly to laundry while traveling, and bringing two different sets of outfits.
While my last trip to PEI was more of a straight walking trip, as there were only a few non-walking days, I used that as a starting point (you can find my PEI packing list here). But I’m still refining it to find the perfect balance (so I can fit in a pair of lighter jeans, lol). Yes, it’s easier to pack for only a hiking/walking trip or only for travel but I’m kind of enjoying the challenge of doing both, as lightly as possible.
What’s changed in my packing lists?
Backpack – When I did the West Highland Way, I used a luggage transfer service but I can’t always count on there being one. Plus it was awkward to travel with two backpacks – the main travel one and my daypack. And since I’ll never be as much of a minimalist to survive with just my 18L daypack and my 44L Gregory Amber woman’s backpack, which is my go-to pack for weekend backcountry trips, is too big for carry-on, I bought a 30L Helly Hanson backpack which worked great in PEI. I won’t bring a daypack, other than a packable one for day trips or wandering around. Next, I need to find a super lightweight, and hopefully packable, crossbody.
One set of clothes – I’ve slowly been upgrading my walking/hiking clothes to ones that look less like they’re hiking clothes, but still have all of the benefits, so I can also wear them while wandering around a city and not look too out of place. It helps that I dress casually everyday and it’s easier with tops as hiking pants mostly just look like hiking pants. This lets me bring less but not have to do laundry constantly.
Lightweight, easily washed & dried clothes – So, this goes with the last point but while upgrading my clothes, I also considered ones that not only looked nicer but also packed up smaller (and wash and dry fast). It’s worth investing in clothes with Merino wool, for all of the above reasons. And check out men’s Merino wool t-shirts and sweaters, they are often cheaper than the women’s versions (annoying but true). Also, TruEarth detergent stripes are perfect for travel laundry – light, small, not a liquid, and they work equally well for hand washing as in a machine.
Compression packing cubes – I’m late to the packing cube party as at first, I thought they were just extra weight. But then I was given a couple as a present and decided to try them out on my last trip. Not only did it make my pack more organized, which is super helpful when staying at multiple places, but they did allow me to pack smarter. But, I have to be careful that I don’t use them as an excuse to pack more.
Less toiletries – A 30L bag isn’t huge and while cutting back on clothing helped, I still had some paring down to do. Plus I also want to keep weight down and less stuff, especially liquids, means a lighter pack. First up, I switched to a solid shampoo (better for the environment and lighter) and am looking for a solid conditioner I like. I’ve also cut out some toiletries and consolidated others so it’s about half the size and weight as before. If I stay in hostels, which I often do, I do need to take the basics but if I stay in hotels or B&Bs, I can pare it down even more.
Camera vs. Phone Camera – I love taking photos and own a couple of good cameras, but thankfully, phone cameras have come a long way over the past 10 years and it’s not really necessary to take an extra camera. If I did video, perhaps, but I don’t and my camera is kinda heavy. I took it to Scotland and used both but when I brought it to PEI last fall, I didn’t as I’ve upgraded my phone, and therefore its camera, in the meantime.
Final Thoughts
Except for my backcountry camping trips, I’m never going to be a complete minimalist. I like having a few changes of clothes and don’t want to do nightly laundry. But there is always room for improvement and I’m getting there. Can’t wait to see how the changes work for my next trip.
What changes have you made to make your pack lighter? Any clothing you can’t live without on your long distance walking trips? How do you pack for walking/hiking and travel?
Rambles and Walks 