I use a range of gear for all my multi day hikes from two days in length all the way up to multi-week trips (including my 2018 1005 km Bibbulmun Track thru hike). The equipment listed in this article is what I used during 2019 which has served me well but I always do some minor tweaking depending on the destination, weather and time of the year. I also swap out gear if I’m travelling with my wife Gill where we need the two person version of something.
In compiling this list I focused on gear that is readily available on the Australian market. I want to know that if I do need a replacement, I can walk into a local store and pick it up or have it delivered in a matter of days. I usually like to carry the lightest weight gear I can afford and justify. However there are a number of items where I have deliberately NOT chosen the lightest option, instead making my choice based on other considerations such as comfort or function.
This is the second year of publishing this list – the changes I have made represent a bit of an evolution rather than a revolution. Many pieces of gear have remained on my list from 2018 and were never in danger of being removed having become firm favourites. Some of the gear that has changed even surprised me and while I have further lightened my load in some cases, I have gone for heavier options in others.
I have included some brief reasons for choosing each piece of equipment and a link to a written review where available that provides much more detail. I use the term ‘system’ for most of the item headings as the products often combine to work together.
Please note that this list is based on my particular needs and circumstances. The items of the list may or may not suit your personal needs however I hope that it will provide you with a basis for developing your own gear kit. You can download a PDF version of this list here.
PDF Version of my current gear list
The following link is a downloadable version of my 2019 multi-day solo hiking gear list. I will do a full update of this list on an annual basis (last updated 10 December 2019).
In this case I have replaced the Osprey Exos 48 Pack that I have been using for the past three years with a heavier option.
Why I chose this pack:
I love having hip pockets
On extended hikes I lose upper body mass and I find that this pack continues to retain its comfort and doesn’t dig into my shoulders
I’m a big fan of the trampoline style suspension frame that provides airflow across the back and stops me from getting a sweaty back (mostly) even in periods of high heat
I can fit all my equipment for an extended hike including eight days of food into this pack and it will comfortable carry up to 21 kg in weight if necessary even though I rarely ever carry that much
As a blogger I carry a fair amount of electronics so I need to ensure this sensitive expensive equipment stays dry
In addition, I don’t want my clothing or sleeping bag to get wet
I used to use the 70 litre dry bag but switched to the 90 litre size as it can go on the outside of the pack if necessary which occasionally happens at night time when I need to protect everything from that fine red central Australian dust
Provides additional protection for gear inside the pack
I use this in conjunction with the pack liners and dry sacks. This is definitely overkill but even in the wettest of conditions I have never had wet equipment
This tent weighs just under 1 kg including pegs and poles which makes it one of the lightest double skin tents on the market and lighter than many one person tents
It also takes up very little space in your pack
The two person option means I can keep all my gear inside with me with only a 100 gram weight penalty over the one person version
The MSR Groundhog is one of the worlds best known tent stakes for good reason. Sometimes you just want a tent peg that grips in and holds and the MSR Groundhog is just that tent peg
Over the past 12 months I have added two of these tent stakes to my kit to provide versatility
When I use a bladder I drink more water than I would when using a bottle
I may not always fill up a 3 litre bladder but on days where I walk 20-40+ km, when its hot, or when I know water may be hard to find, I definitely use this amount of water and often much more
I use this particular bladder mainly due to the magnetic chest clip that keeps the drinking nozzle in place which makes it easy to access
Ever since I started using Jetboil stoves I have used their fuel as well if it’s available
It’s the smallest Jetboil canister available
In rehydrating a commercial meal each day for dinner and two hot drinks a day, as a solo hiker I can comfortably get 12 days of use out of a single 100g canister
Most stock shoe inserts don’t provide much foot support
I usually swap out the stock inserts and use the Blue Superfeet inserts on most (not all) of my shoes
I get around 350 km of life out of them and my feet are much happier for using them particularly on big trips where I can travel 25-40+ km per day, after day with a loaded pack
I usually avoid heavy gloves unless it is absolutely necessary so I find these lightweight merino gloves work well to keep me warm and still provide the ability to feel
I only carry gloves when the temperature is expected to be around 0° Celcius
This bit of technology has taken pride of place in my hiking kit for so many reasons and has now replaced my Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) and GPS
The two way communication option is a huge bonus on remote solo trips providing my family with the ability to track how I’m going in real time and to communicate with me even when there is no phone signal
Miscellaneous Equipment
Sunglasses: Maui Jim ‘Sand’ Sunglasses
Why I chose this:
They fit my face extremely well and with the curve in the lenses there is no discernible gap to let in unwanted light
I tend to update my sunglasses every few years and have been very happy with this pair but unfortunately this model of sunglasses is now out of production
The smallest size in the range carries all my little bits and pieces including all those little accessories that are otherwise hard to locate when you need them
This compact camera fits in my pants pocket making it easy to get at
The 1″ sensor provides high quality images for a non SLR camera
Memory Cards: SanDisk Extreme Pro 16GB Memory Cards
Why I chose this:
I use memory cards for both my digital voice recorder and my camera
I prefer 16GB cards rather than a single large card as it provides me with a degree of flexibility
I also prefer to use high speed cards which makes transferring sound/image files onto my computer much faster
Phone: iPhone 8
Why I chose this:
Personal preference here I know but I’m an Apple guy across all my tech
It’s easy to use and relatively secure
Phone Case: Mophie Battery Case
Why I chose this:
Due to the amount of social media / blogging I do, a phone case that is also a battery made sense
With this case I get 2.5-3 days of phone life which also reduces the size of the power bank I need to carry
It also provides extra protection for my phone when I’m out bush
Toiletries
Toothbrush:
Why I chose this:
You have to clean your teeth but its OK to be a minimalist
Use a short handled toothbrush if you can find one (try the airlines on overseas flights) or cut the handle down on a longer brush to reduce the size and with that a tiny bit of weight
The small size is lightweight and reasonably waterproof
Colour coded so I can tell by sight in minimal light which packing cell I am after
First Aid Equipment
In over 40 years of hiking I have never had a serious accident or needed to treat one. In most cases what I am dealing with is blisters, splinters or ticks. Having said that, I still carry basic first aid equipment just in case. My first aid supplies go into the same packing cell as my toiletry gear.
Splinter Pick
Why I chose this:
Sometimes you get splinters so I will always carry a decent splinter pick
Tweezers
Why I chose this:
Can be used for splinters as well as removing ticks
Don’t stint on the quality here as most cheap tweezers just won’t pick out the small stuff as they don’t have the stiffness and/or fineness at the tip
Compression bandage X 2
Why I chose this:
For immobilising limbs in the case of snake bite or physical injury
Triangular bandage X 1
Why I chose this:
Just in case!
I have never had to use this in real life but its a versatile piece of safety gear
Crepe bandage X 1
Why I chose this:
Another part of my first aid kit
It is suitable for use as a dressing retention, stemming bleeding and providing light compression
Safety Pins X 5
Why I chose this:
Always handy to have and not just for first aid use
Ever split your pants or broken a strap?
Pain Killers: Nurofen X 6
Why I chose this:
The only time I use Nurofen is when I’m hiking
In addition to dealing with the rare headache it also aids with inflammation that can arise from doing extra long days
I don’t use Nurofen that often and only when absolutely necessary
Go: Laxatives
Why I chose this:
I’ll always carry a few tablets just in case
Stop: Imodium
Why I chose this:
Also just in case
There is nothing worse than having diarrhoea on a hike!
Foot Taping
I know from personal experience when I do multiple days of 25+ km I will develop hotspots on the balls of my feet which have the potential to ruin my hike. I now tape my feet, mainly the front sections, for the first week or two and this fixes my issue. It also allows me to do big distances day in day out with no pain or discomfort. My taping system consists of the following:
Foot taping 1: Fixomull
Why I chose this:
Non allergenic and easy to remove when you need
Provides the base layer for my strapping system
Foot taping 2: 38mm strapping tape
Why I chose this:
Provides the main protection and goes over the Fixomull
Foot taping 3: 20-25mm strapping tape
Why I chose this:
The final layer to hold everything in place
Band-Aids: Miscellaneous waterproof X 15
Why I chose this:
I use Band-Aids on nearly every extended trip, mainly for my toes at the start of the trip while the skin is hardening up
Wash cloth: Chux
Why I chose this:
Cheap, lightweight and very easy to rinse out
A good lightweight option for cleaning yourself
Just cut it down to size before you leave home!
Tea Tree Oil
Why I chose this:
Part of my wash kit
Helps remove much (not all) of the smell built up on multi-day hikes
Swap Outs
I carry most of the equipment above year round but there are some pieces that I change over (swap out) depending on the weather, physical conditions of the hike, or the numbers of hikers. The following equipment is what I will carry as the conditions dictate.
If I’m going into sub zero temperatures and need extra warmth then this is my liner of choice
Can be used as a sleeping bag when its hot
Powerbank: Cygnett 27,000mAh USB-C Powerbank
Why I chose this:
When I’m doing big trips in remote areas I need extra battery power and this unit will last me for two weeks based on my requirements for podcasting and blogging
This is not a lightweight unit but what for it does it packs a punch
I use this particularly when I’m hiking in the Australian Alps above the tree line where the UV is extreme and some additional shade is essential
Lightweight
PDF Version of my current gear list
The following link is a downloadable version of my 2019 multi-day solo hiking gear list. I will do a full update of this list on an annual basis (last updated 23 December 2019).