A Multi-Day Hike Kit List- What Should You Pack?

Sorting out what you will need to include on a multi-day hike kit list can seem like an absolute pain in the bottom at times. It can be enough of a faff if you’re planning to complete a route, which takes you through populated areas. Cafes, pubs and shops can make food and drink much less of an issue. If you’re planning to follow a remote route like The Cape Wrath Trail up in Scotland though, then you’ll need to be far more self sufficient. Forget something important out there like tent pegs ( guilty as charged ) and it could be many miles before any help is available.

I’m not trying to scare you off of completing these adventures. Having enjoyed many multi-day trips myself in remote parts of Wales and Scotland, I just know how time consuming it can be to ensure you have everything you need to have peace of mind when out in the wild. Hopefully this article makes preparation that bit easier for you,especially if you are new to it.

Before we delve into the kit list itself, I shall briefly add that my longest multi-day trip has been four days long at the time of writing this. Don’t give up reading though if you are planning something longer. Other than obviously bringing more food, I think much of what I will include will prepare you fully. Let’s get to it then.

**The full monty! This is most of the gear I took for a series of three and four day trips up in western Scotland. I don’t think I’ve ever been more organised.**

Storage

You won’t get very far without a backpack of some kind. My choice is the Vango Sherpa 80 litre pack. I have owned it for the best part of two years and it is still going strong despite some mistreatment from me at times slinging it in the back of the car. Some folk might scoff at the idea of bringing such a big pack. I never understand how some of these You Tube stars head off with only fifty or sixty litres available. I’ve always appreciated having the extra space, but I guess that’s a personal preference.

**Yours truly modelling the backpack after a two day hike in Mid Wales. I’m six feet tall and it fits perfectly.**

Dry Sacks

In that photo I stupidly didn’t carry any dry sacks and instead thought the rainproof cover would suffice. I payed for that after a day of hiking in biblical Welsh rain I can tell you! There are numerous brands and sizes available, but they all serve the same purpose- keep your vital items like toilet paper, underwear and electrical gear away from the water. Essential in any upland area I’d say.

Your Tent

You might sometimes get away with a simple bivvy sack like I used on my three day hike across the wild terrain of Knoydart. On that occasion I was using bothies along the way during a quieter time of the year, so carried the bivvy as a back up option. It wasn’t used in the end, but I’m still glad I carried it just in case.

Outside of this, a small tent is essential for obvious reasons. I have only used those provided by OEX, but have been a very happy customer. if it isn’t broken, don’t fix it as they say! I have plenty of experience using the 2 man Jackal II tent, which I have reviewed here.

More recently for longer trips I purchased the smaller but lighter Bobcat tent. So far I have been pleased with its performance even if it is only fit for sleeping in and little else. A larger tent might be more preferable during late autumn and winter, when you’re likely to spend more time in it.

**The Bobcat has room for one, but offers a sheltered porch area to cook and store your backpack.**

Toiletries

I think for these bits I shall just list the items I carried. It should be pretty obvious what their purpose is.

One toilet roll.
Two plastic toothbrushes.
One tube of toothpaste.
Pack of anti bacterial wipes.
Anti bacterial gel
Tweezers ( for ticks should you get bitten )
First aid kit with plasters, dressings etc.
Blister plasters
ear plugs
suncream
bug spray or Smidge if heading to a place where bugs are particularly bad.
One quick dry travel towel.

Clothing

This is what I carried on my four day trip to Jura island. If you are planning a longer trip, then you could always wash some of these items if necessary and dry them in a bothy or outside the tent if the weather is on your side.

Two quick dry T shirts.
Two pairs of lightweight trousers. One pair of shorts could be taken as well, but if you are likely to be walking through long grass, then trousers are far better.
One pair of lounging trousers. For dry trousers each evening.
Two pairs of pants. Yes this does mean I wore each pair for two days. I normally change every day, but find this works fine when away from other people.
One pair of swimming shorts.
Three pairs of good quality socks. Thick socks work well and protect your feet on long hikes.
One pair of waterproof overtrousers.
One fleece.
One down jacket.
One waterproof jacket.
Thermal base layer. I mostly use this in the evening and when sleeping.
One beanie. Don’t forget that you lose most of your heat through your head.
One pair of waterproof gloves.
One pair of thinner cotton gloves for erecting the tent in colder weather. Thick waterproof gloves aren’t practical for this.
One fleece jacket.
One pair of waterproof walking boots with ankle support.
One spare pair of laces for the boots.
One pair of gaiters.
One pair of sunglasses with carry case.
A sun hat.
A mosquito head net.
One pair of aqua shoes if planning to ford rivers or bathe in lakes or the sea.

**Jackets of choice during my multi-day trips. The fleecy jacket often gets tied around my waist until the evening.**

Electrical Gear

Some of the equipment here is far from essential. I just find them useful to bring, as they enable me to capture the beauty of the places i visit.

-One mobile phone. This is used to take photos, film and also as a GPS device as I use the online OS map App. I have found this an extremely useful App to use, as i know where I am at all times, even if I have strayed a bit from the path I should be on!

-Two portable chargers. These are small and can be purchased online. Each one charges a mobile phone three times. Don’t forget the leads to connect devices to the chargers.

-One small drone.

-One head torch with spare batteries if needed.

One hand held torch or lantern to hang in the tent.
One small sleeping mat inflator.

Food & Drink

One of the most important aspects of your multi-day hike kit list must be your food and drink. Not only does it give you something to look forward to at different points of the day, but it replaces the countless calories you will probably be burning during the day. Here is what I take including the kit needed to cook it:

One stove. I use the Jetboil, which is expensive but has never set a foot wrong in two years. it also has the unit to boil water and cook food too.
Two gas canisters. I always carry a spare one with less gas in it as a back up just in case the other one runs out early.
One flint and steel.
One box of matches.
One set of plastic cutlery.
One set of purification tablets or a filter to purify water along the way.
One empty milk bottle with handle for water storage.
One spare plastic bottle as a back up.
One camping drinks mug.
Two plastic bags to store rubbish. Remember to leave no trace at all times.
One cloth to clean items.

Food & Drink

Much of this comes down to personal preference, but I always look carefully at how much each item weighs and what it will provide me in terms of energy. As already mentioned, you’ll likely be burning through calories like there is no tomorrow, so in some ways you don’t have to worry about being a bit of a piglet. Here are some items I bring, which provide plenty of carbohydrate, while also being fairly light:

Porridge pots. Just boil up some water and you are ready to go.
Small tins of beans with easy open lid.
Bread rolls.
Dehydrated meals. There are many brands available, but I personally enjoy those made my Firepot.
Pot Noodles or pasta pots for lunch. Again just boil some water and you are good to go.
A couple of bananas.
A couple of satsumas. Fresh fruit tastes really good in the morning I find.
Snickers bars.
Bag of nuts and mixed fruit. Trail mix works well too as a snack during the day. It’s full of energy and tasty too!
Long life milk sachets. Coffee or tea just isn’t the same without it!
Coffee/ tea bags in a small plastic bag.
Alcohol of some kind. This clearly isn’t essential, although for me it makes the trip even more enjoyable. You’ve certainly earned a wee drink after a hard day on your feet.

Other Items

One sleeping bag. The time of year will determine the comfort rating it will need to have.
One sleeping mat. The higher the R value the mat has, the warmer it will be.
One thin mat to sit on and to put under the main mat.
One sleeping bag liner.
One inflatable pillow. Those with an elastic bungy cord attached are particularly good as they don’t keep sliding off your mat during the night.
One good quality book to read. Perfect if you are spending a prolonged period of time by yourself.
One selfie stick if you are a keen photographer or film maker.
A paper OS map of where you will be heading.
One compass.
One Swiss army knife.
A small plastic spade for toilet duties.
One walking stick or trekking pole. You’ll obviously need two if you’re using a tent, which needs poles to hold it up.

To Wrap Things Up……

This is where I hope I haven’t left anything out. Looking back through it, I am pretty sure that this multi-day hike kit list will have you ready and prepared for any eventuality. I generally haven’t included brands for most of the items I’ve suggested, as half the fun is doing your own research before you buy them- at least it is for me anyway. If you do want specific suggestions, then please feel free to contact me and I’ll be happy to help where I can. Happy adventuring!