The Ultimate Packing List
All you need, in one file.
Probably my favorite part of planning a trip. I often spend quite some time tailoring my equipment list to the needs of a particular expedition, asking myself all of the usual questions: How often will I find clean water? Will it rain? How cold is it at night? What if I have to cross marshes or rivers?
Plus, it is very easy to forget an item or miscalculate the amount of food you need.
I was done with copying and pasting previous lists and fine-tuning them to the next hike. That’s when I decided to create a universal tool, that I could use every time, that would adjust itself to my needs of each trip.
I am therefore pleased to introduce to you, my first version of The Ultimate Packing List!*
*for hiking trips. You won’t find tips on bike and beach vacations here…
How To Use It
Download the file and go to the worksheet “Packing_List”.
At the top, you will see the trip parameters (P1 to P6). Enter the number of days you plan on hiking and select all the other conditions for your trip from the drop-down menus.
The packing list will automatically adjust in two ways:
Some sections will grey or ungrey themselves.
Other numbers will adjust themselves (quantity of food, size of the backpack, volume of water bottles, etc.)
This list represents a subjective (my) opinion and I encourage you to get advice from local experienced guides and hikers.
Number of Days
The most basic parameter. It impacts the amount of food you will have to take with you, as well as the camping and cooking gear, and as a result, the size of the backpack. Enter the total number of hiking days (not nights) and these items will automatically adjust.
Terrain
It may not sound like the most obvious factor but trust me, you do not approach a mountain trip the same way as a forest one. To name a few differences: predictability of the weather, the weather, insects, or more simply, boulders to climb. Did I mention the weather?
Weather
No one wants to hike in a t-shirt in the rain, nor in a winter coat in the sun. That’s why I integrated this parameter: to make sure you’re covered but don’t overpack.
If you’re in doubt, better to set it as “Rainy”.
Availability of Water
Probably the first thing I check for my expeditions. For some it won’t be a problem as you will be surrounded by rivers and lakes. For others, you might even want to pinpoint potential streams on a map. Overlooking it could literally mean life or death.
Temperature
You would think the warmer the season, the less gear to carry. And you would be mostly right, apart from a few important items to protect against the heat. You also definitely don’t want to forget anything when going for a long winter trek.
Water Cleanliness
Equally as important as water availability. What good is it to have plenty of water if you cannot drink it? Asking yourself this question before ensures you will bring filters or purifuying tablets as needed.