Has anyone been on a hike/long walk?

[Seventyone72seventy3]

I am planning on walking a pilgrim's trail which takes about 5 days (4 nights). I walk a lot but have never done a trek like this! I am planning on staying at guest houses every night but there is no luggage service to take any stuff on to the next stop. I am reasonably fit but really don't want to carry a heavy rucksack as I have a bad back and just wouldn't enjoy it. What do you think the minimum amount of stuff I can take as I have no idea! Temperature should be 20 degrees more or less. Thanks!

zip off trousers are just the job, quick dry too. Do not wear jeans. Do not wear cotton.

and do NOT do as someone suggested and chuck clothing in guest houses. That's really skanky. Take away what you brought and recycle it.

Craghoppers Kiwi Pro Stretch trousers are lightweight, water resistant and SPF40. Regatta do similar but cheaper called Chaska. They are both comfortable and fine for all day warmer walking. They dry very quickly. They also do shorts/capri/zip off versions. I'd only worry about ticks if you will be walking through long grass/woodland. Make sure you take tick tweezers.

I walk long distances by myself (with dog) and I really enjoy the headspace.

Craghoppers or the Mountain Warehouse make, or the Millets one. As always, if they fit you go for the bloke trousers as they are cheaper and better made. I'm wearing MW's best as we speak, and the bloke ones have extra pockets and also intelligent touches such as reinforcement round the hems, which otherwise wear out on your boots or shoes.

the women's ones tend to be in stupid colours and have fewer pockets as well as costing more.

I did the Coast to Coast a few years ago, over 2 weeks, but we did have a luggage service. Another shout out for full merino t shirts. For some reason they just don't smell, however sweaty you get, although they are a bit more expensive to buy. For a 4-5 day walk you should only need 2.

If you are a lady OP, I would also strongly recommend you wear a well fitting sports bra too. I know you're only walking but it makes a huge difference to your overall comfort. Good luck ....

is it an organised walk?
a friend did it and their suitcases were transported from hotel to hotel so all they needed to carry where spare socks, raingear, drinks and food for the day. those fitted into a normal 20l backpack.

Im currently on a 5 day walk and am too embarrassed to say how little i have in my backpack! I do, however, have clean knickers, wet wipes, toothbrush and hand sanitiser! I can walk for miles but struggle to carry much with these old shoulders! Water and snacks take priority here!

is it an organised walk?
No. Or rather there are groups who will organise it all but it makes it very expensive. I'm trying to keep costs down.

I would also strongly recommend you wear a well fitting sports bra too
Noted. Thanks.

Pile up everything you think you will need, and then look at it ruthlessly and cut it down to absolute essentials. You will be glad when you are carrying it all day every day. The grams add up.

@MaMisled sounds good! Hope you're enjoying the walk.

I'd also start working on reusable san pro (if you need it and don't currently use it). You really don't need ten boxes of Tampax cluttering up your rucksack.

But unless you are hosting an ambassador's reception at the far end, you don't need to worry about loads of clothes. You can rewear most of your clothes day after day - it's a long distance walk, nobody expects you to be fragrant and fresh!

Another vote for 100% merino tops. Your trip sounds amazing @Seventyone72seventy3 - enjoy!

Yes to marino t-shirts. Also a thin marino long sleeved top to wear underneath.I would bring one complete change of clothes (if you can shower where you are staying overnight, you can wear the same clothes every day for hiking, shower and have something cleaner to put on afterwards. Then you can just wear it last day if you are flying out straight after, or keep it "clean" to change into when you are done), a couple of extra pairs of socks, some pants. I would bring hat, buff, gloves and a shell jacket. That's about it.

Im going on my first point to point hike in August... I do a lot of day trips anyway.

But i think you need to check out the terrain, and train for it.
Mine involves altitude and mountains... so if you live near me, you can see a middle aged woman walking with a backpack (6kg working towards 12kg) every night for about 1 hour. I also go 2-3x week to the Gym for the treadmill (good for gradiance) and running up / down the stairs... I love swimming so do about 1 hour/ week.
I have 2 trips to the Alps im my training plan...April & June. But i do know I'll be ok.

So if I had to sum it up: get a well fitted backpack and use every spare minute to work on your cardio while carrying the weight. .. good luck!

Pack your proposed rucksack with what you think you need and go for a few trial walks - on a treadmill if necessary. Trekking poles are so, so worth it!!

Hiking poles are a lifesaver, I have extra-light ones from Craghoppers. They are brilliant, honestly.

You can do things like sawing the handle off your toothbrush to save a few grams here and there, take maps out of their cardboard covers, remove any surplus wrappings and packaging from anything you take - it all adds up.

I would bring hat, buff, gloves and a shell jacket.
Is buff a typo or something else?? Sorry can't work it out!

@Ylvamoon I am doing shorter hikes in preparation - but without a rucksack! Yours sounds a lot tougher though.

I'm not flying out afterwards, just getting the train home so I guess I can get it looking a bit scruffy!

When you say "quite fit" what do you mean? If you mean you do the occasional 10 mile hike, or jog 10k once a week, I think you'll struggle unless the distances are short each day. My parents did the Camino and said loads of folk dropped out because they weren't used to carrying even quite small (10kg) packs for 20k at a time.

If you do it, get really good boots and road-test them lots. Do a couple of 25k walks to prepare yourself (and your back) for the increased stress. Build your core muscles and do plenty of mobilisation exercises.

Good luck!

As previous posters have said, the best thing you can do is get a really well fitting rucksack. Go to a shop where you can try them filled with 5-10kg weight.

Full zip fleece with armpit vents will be a lifesaver.

Do you know what the guest houses have available? Because you may get away with just a toothbrush, hair brush and suncream.

I also prefer 2 bottles to a camel pack but it's individual - DH prefers the camel.

I'd take 4 pairs of socks total max - 1 on, 1 spare and 1 hung on the back of your pack drying after washing at the guest house.

A buff is a thin neckwarmer that can also be worn as a sweat band, hairband, or emergency rotisserie tourniquet. Buff is the brand name. They're brillant.

I would bring a buff and gloves.

What might you need apart from clothes? Clothes can be minimal if you'll have some way to wash them (you might need to carry a small bottle of hand washing liquid). I would bring a small first aid kit, 2 water bottles (but I do get stressed about a lack of water), a couple of snacks per day - I don't know whether you'll be able to shop en route, a lot of luggage can be cut out of you're walking in urban areas - phone, charger, and adapter, purse, book or similar for evenings, don't forget pyjamas, maps, washing stuff (do you need to bring your own towel?) - toothbrush & paste, shampoo ... depends on what toiletries are provided in the places you're staying.

I've done several long walks but never had to carry my own luggage, thankfully. Your trip sounds amazing. I've always wanted to walk in Italy. Good luck!

As in for toiletries!

Just an ordinary tourniquet, not a rotisserie tourniquet, whatever one of those might be. Thanks, autocorrect!

Ha! I did wonder what a rotisserie tourniquet might be but didn't want to look even more clueless.

If you mean you do the occasional 10 mile hike, or jog 10k once a week, I think you'll struggle unless the distances are short each day. Yep! The terrain isn't particularly gruelling but it is further than I normally walk.