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!

I also never step foot on a long walk without a good sized thin (so dries in no time) cotton bandana.
Have used during walk as -
Bandage
Bag (didn’t quite put it at end of stick over shoulder but I wanted to. I was actually banned from doing so that time by dp.)
Wash cloth
Towel
Cushion for shoulder strap if troubling
General rag - cleaning seats/drying stuff/sitting on
Sweat band
Sun burn protector
Replacement strap once when rucksack buckle broke.
Face cloth to put moisturiser/sun cream on
Flag to wave at fellow walkers who are mile or so ahead and suddenly pop up in the landscape (and wave back).
Glasses/binocs cleaner

Wash and dry in streams by day and at night stops. Invaluable.

I've also never walked with poles before - do they definitely help? What should I look out for?

If you want to make it as easy as possible, I'd be carrying in my pack-
one fresh pair of pants,
fresh pair of socks, for each day.
One spare sports bra,
one spare tee-shirt,
and one spare fleece.

-so that's only socks, pants and three spare tops to be carried in your rucksack.

(though I have lived in european mountain huts for days on end, where there's no shower/running water - so I may be happier to be a little more grubby than most?)

Then, when I was walking, I'd be wearing -

walking boots,
(socks),
good quality walking trousers (ie. softshell - brand like mountain equipment),
sports bra,
tee-shirt, fleece,
and a hard-shell jacket.

I'd also carry in my rucksack -
a map,
compass (if you know how to use one - no point if you don't),
whistle,
headtorch,
hat,
phone & charger,
toothbrush & tooth paste,
sunscreen,
medicine,
1 litre water
snacks

(remember, you may be able to get food and water along the way, so you don't need to take too much)

OO - sorry - that's supposed to read -

-a fresh pair of pants for each day!

And bandana.

poles would be useful if it's hilly.
But they can be expensive and a bit of a faddle.

If you get some, get the lightest ones you can afford. I have some lovely Black Diamond ones, which are great as they're light, fold up small, can be used for running, and have lasted years.

The key to packing for these sorts of trips is going as lightweight as possible - every gram counts!

Make sure that you have a decent rucksack too OP.

If you don't, you can often find a bargin on ebay or an outdoor selling group on facebook.

• I think a bag that's somewhere between 35-45 litres would be fine. (40 litres ideal).

Some good brands of rucksacks are - Deuter, Ospray and Lowe Alpine

Merino wool knickers, I got some after reading reviews on some walking websites. I wouldn't do it but some hardened walkers (think Nepal trecking) said they wore them for 3 days. I got a pair and wore them on a 17 mile hike , honestly they were so comfortable and absorbed any sweat. I admit to a quick sniff at the end of the day, they were as fresh as when they were put on in the morning.

Agree with a lot of PPs, but how exciting! I'm envious.

I'd cut your pack size to max 35 litres that way you won't over pack. Consider only taking 2 of each item of clothing - wash one wear one, but for five days you may well get away with not washing anything except pants and socks. You might need to invest in some higher end technical stuff for this to work well, merino is a good shout. Some flip flops or lightweight sandals will be great in the evening to give your feet a break.

Electronics will weigh a lot so consider how much of that is required beyond a phone, charger and adaptor.

Take minimal toiletries, if you've booked b and bs you might not need to take anything beyond suncream, toothbrush, toothpaste and deodorant. A microfibre towel is a godsend if you need your own.

If you're considering poles you need to practice with them first and make sure you set them up at the right height and get your technique right. I see a lot of people walking very inefficiently with poles, they do help, but will help a lot more if you use them correctly.

Second the buff - so useful. Sweatrag, hat, tissue, bandage, can do it all!

I am sooo envious
Place marking for packing tips as planning the coast walk this year. I don't want to walk in a big group but neither I want to do it all alone, more like alongside someone or a small group.

carry a power bank (or 2). taking photos with a smart phone takes a lot of energy. and a double charger so you can charge both phone and bank at the same time.

I personally use one pole as I have one wonky leg. I have it in the opposite hand to the wonky leg, and basically it hits the floor at the same time as that foot. It genuinely helps take the strain off that leg. When I’m not using it, it collapses down and I stick it into the keeper straps on my rucksack. It’s taken me up mountains and down again - I wouldn’t be without it.

Definitely echo what others have said about a proper rucksack too. Mine is old now but it’s a Berghaus women’s fit one, which has a curved bit to hold it away from your back, so you don’t get so sweaty. Love it. You want one that fits your back properly, so the waist strap sits on the right bit to take the strain off your shoulders. It makes such a difference.

Do walking poles have a spike on the end? I ask because I went on a short hike this morning and it was very icy. A spiked pole would have been very useful but probably not worth buying if not generally used in non-icy conditions!

They normally have a rubber bung on the end which you can remove - there’s a spiky bit underneath. The rubber bits get lost a lot but you can buy spares for a couple of quid. The Lake District is dotted with lost bits of mine, bits tend to eat them

Bogs, not bits 🙄

Poles are good, especially if you have a lot of downhill. As previous poster said, you can get ones where you can take the rubber tip off and there is a spike underneath.

Walking poles are the biz, can't recommend them highly enough! Also, get the best socks you can afford, and the zip-off trousers mentioned by pps are highly practical.

Something I haven't seen mentioned on the thread is insect repellant - depends on the time of year but I wouldn't hike without it if there's a chance of midgies or mozzies.

don't take too much tech. A decent small camera with replaceable batteries. If you aren't in a guided group, take a sensible phone (i.e. a non-smart one) which costs £10 and will have a battery that lasts two weeks. Do without the internet for a few days. If you are in a guided group you don't even need that.

Oooh good point Livefats - Italian mozzies are evil little bastards. Take some antihistamine cream as well, the bites are maddening!

@mencken she's staying in guest houses, so she'll be able to charge up her phone. And if it's a smartphone, she'll be able to use its camera which will, most likely, be just as good as a small camera (but more compact)

OP - good walking poles have carbon fibre tips. I have used mine in ice and they've stopped me decking it on many occasions. (some people use them in lieu of an ice axe) But if it's hot when you're going, then you probably won't have this issue.

The reason why so many people advocate walking poles is because they really help support the knees when coming down-hill - even the fittest people often get sore knees after exercising for a few days on the trot

If you can afford them, then these are brilliant -

www.absolute-snow.co.uk/V/Black_Diamond_Alpine_FLZ_Adjustable_Trekking_Poles_95-110cm_-_Carbon-(180282)?Curr=GBP/?keyword=&gclid=CjwKCAiAj-_xBRBjEiwAmRbqYroDIuVtS-rBQBm-SoJeZeqZzfxFGmrDyPjxmz0CsynRdqq__RT8jBoCETEQAvD_BwE

But I also know a professional mountaineer who uses this-

www.amazon.co.uk/Collapsible-Lightweight-Shock-Absorbent-adjustable-Accessories/dp/B07HBLFGT7/ref=sr_1_9?dchild=1&keywords=walking+pole&tag=mumsnetforu03-21&qid=1581006922&sr=8-9

But if it's hot when you're going, then you probably won't have this issue.
Yes but at the moment it is icy and I am hiking so if I can buy ones that are handy for ice and also normal conditions even better. I didn't know about rubber tipped ones with a spike underneath - perfect!

I'm so jealous. Have a wonderful time.

This sounds fantastic.

Would it be possible to send yourself a little package to the final B&B with some clean underwear and clothes/shoes to change into for the journey home. Obviously check with the owner first.

i would also be looking for a final B&B that had a deep bath.