We are in the final stretch folks – departure for the Coast to Coast Path in England is a month away (literally!).

The Dad and Daughters crew have been hard at our training in and around each of our respective cities and provinces. At this point, we also need to add a focus on packing to our pre-departure regime. So let’s talk packing list!

A have posted a few blogs on packing that I recommend a read through – some ‘rules’, some ‘tips’ and some specific lists from my last trips. I just did a reread and they are all still super relevant so that makes me happy.

• Let’s Pack – Packing Tips
• Let’s Pack – Clothing
• Let’s Pack – Toiletries

Specifically though for this Coast to Coast Path adventure, I am recommending the below specific list that takes into account the time of year, distances each day, activities other than the hike, and the mixed long distance path experience of the crew.

Let’s get to it…

Upper Half – Hiking

• 2-3 Tech T-shirts and/or tank tops
• 1 Tech Long Sleeve
• 1 Micro fleece or warm layer Long Sleeve or Zip Up (you will wear this on the plane, chilly evenings when not hiking and while on mid-day hiking breaks too)
• optional Sun Shirt – I love an Eddie Bauer long sleeve button-up UV shirt. I love it as a thin layer in the evening and I love it on the plane. When hiking in the heat, I want very little sun exposure so wear it all day hiking on hot days. This blonde burns fast!

Lower Half – Hiking

• 2-3 hiking bottoms (I do a short, a capri tight and full length hiking tights. If you have a zip off pant you can count that as a 2 in 1)

Under Bits

• 3-4 undies (one for the day, a new pair for the night and spare)
• 2 sports bras (ladies you will wear one of these when not hiking too and need more than one so you can wash them and they often don’t dry overnight. Wee ticks love tucking into sports bras so changing them out for a good wash gets rid of these jerks! And yes there will be ticks. Sorry)
• Pajamas

Pack all the above in 1-2 compression or stuff sacks! Think of them like drawers that squish.

Outer Hiking Bits

• Hiking Poles
• Rain jacket
• Rain pants
• Toque – all have an amazing bamboo toque from Wild & Raven we will be showing off this trip. The best!
• Hat (for sun but also works for rain, especially for the crew wearing prescription glasses)
• optional 2 Buffs – good for your head, on your arm for sweat and runny nose, a sling, thigh chafe cover, a carry sack, etc!

Pack your rain gear in a compression sack. This will be in your pack everyday – if the weather spirits love us, you will never use it.

Foot Bits

• Hiking boots or trail shoes – the ones you will wear every day, every km on trail
• optional runners – if you have room, changing to a light weight runner on long stretches of road walking (or when being a tourist) feels dreamy! Like clouds!
• Gaiters – soft short pair for every day to avoid bits in your boots, a optional second tall waterproof pair for the Moors and rainy days
• Sandals – for the evening, your toes will thank you for the fresh air
• 4 hiking socks (or combo if you use liners) – you will need 2 socks a day so you can switch-out midday.
• optional Knee length compression socks – but hugely recommended. I wear them on the plane, in the evening and even overnight if my dogs are barking, and in a heat wave while I hike. My feet love to get their ‘swell on’ once in a while, these socks keep em contained and they help with cramps and recovery

In Your Hiking Pack

• Hiking Pack (20L to max 35L)
• Rain cover for Pack (might be built in)
• Water bladder 3L
• First Aid Kit (see list below)
• Carabiner
• Phone (and camera), optional power pack and cords, optional headphones – all in a waterproof ziplock or case
• Small bug spray with deer (horseflies!)
• Sun screen for face and body
• Lip chap with SPF
• Trail guide and map – not all of us need to carry these but we should have a couple between us for when we split on low and high route options.
• Kleenex / Toilet paper (and ziplock to pack out)
• Small hand sanitizer
• Your lunch and snacks as applicable
• Candy (mmm Coke Bottles and Sour Soothers are my recommendation!)
• Wallet and some small cash (for honesty boxes or wee stops that don’t take card)

I like to put ‘like’ items in a little case – sunscreen, lip chap, Kleenex, sanitizer etc so it’s easier to find. I also bring a cute little zippy case for snacks. Over the days you will cumulate a little variety of half eaten cookie and candy packages from the shops – these keeps them and their crumbs contained. This is called the Happy Zippy!

You will find what works for you between the pockets in your backpack. My best recommendation is to put things back where you found them! If your pocket on left hip is for lip chap, sour soothers and hand sanitizer then don’t go putting your lip chap in the right pocket.

Plane, Train, Evening & Tourist

Basically all the activities you will do when not hiking. This is wear a little cotton next to the skin when you have been head to toe in tech gear can feel like a dream!

• Plane / Train / Tourist light pack that can be squished really small to go into or hooked to your larger backpack when we travel about – I have a Osprey Ultralight Stuff Sack Backpack that can be stuffed into its own pocket that I swear by. No I do not work for Osprey – yes I am available if they want me too 😉
• Plane / Train / Tourist outfit that you will also wear each night at the pub post hike and shower. Think simple, think small to pack but also comfy and photo worthy. I do a cotton pants tight black and cotton tank. Then use my hiking fleece or sun shirt or tech long sleeve to layer up.

Random Must Have Bits

A brain dump of the extra things I bring along that I feel are essential and are relevant to all the activities you will do.

• UK plug or adapter
• Tech charger leads/cords that work with the UK plug or adapter
• Headphones
• Light weigh water bottle – think the weight and size of a Smart Water Bottle. You need to stay hydrated so this is your plane, train, evening, tourists ‘always with you’ bottle AND suggest you also take it on the hike each day with some electrolytes. Your bladder is water only.

Toiletries

These are super personal but happy to share my list if it’s helpful. I will say you use less than you think and if visiting a country like England you can buy what you run out of or forget. Finally, everyone is prettier on vacation – relaxed and happy is beautiful – so take less or even more makeup. Don’t stress!

• Brush or comb
• Small shampoo (and conditioner)
• Brush or comb
• 1/2 bar soap (in a waterproof bag / case)
• Deodorant*
• Body cream
• Face Cream
• Razor
• Tweezer (remember ticks!)
• Prescriptions*
• Toothbrush, toothpaste and floss*
• Q-tips
• Nail clippers
• Tiny stinky bathroom smell spray
• Meds Rescue – a little sample of the meds you might need if feeling unwell. I bring a single little blister pack (and take a photo of the instructions) of the following: Pepto, Imodium, Gravol, day Sinus or Allergy, night Sinus or Allergy, a few throat drops, Advil and Tylenol.
• optional hair spray
• optional dry shampoo
• optional hair elastics
• Minimal make up*
• Perfume sample*

Anything with a * I bring on the plane with me in the above-mentioned stuff sack backpack – with 20hrs of travel ahead of us, these help me feel human. For sure your prescription meds must be carried on with you!

All of this is packed in a little toiletries bag!

Extra’s I Swear By

• Sunglasses
• A few laundry sheets or soap
• Silk sleep sack – they often only have a comforter in the BnBs and I am a sheet gal so bring my own!
• An extra, empty compression of stuff sack of about 8L or 10L for your dirty laundry. Keep that stink contained 😉
• Ziplocks – a couple medium sized one and a bunch of sandwich size for snacks when the bag breaks, wet socks, exploded sunscreen, etc.
• Electrolytes! Nuun is my go to. I like the ones with caffeinee for a wee boost during my hike and without caffeine in the evening to help recovery. I use that lightweight water bottle mentioned above for my Nuuny-juice!
• Sleep mask (for the plane and each night. The sun is up at 5am and black out curtains are not a thing in English BnBs)
• Ear plugs
• Copy of your passport and your itinerary – and leave a copy of each at home with a loved one!

First Aid in Your Hiking Pack

• Headlamp or small torch with batteries
• Emergency blanket
• Blister treatment – I swear by and only use UK sourced Compeeds but do what works for you! Blister bandaid, Leuko tape, wool, etc.
• Individual wrapped Alcohol swabs – before you do anything first aid-like swab those hands and the treatment site!
• Safety pins (a few) or needle and thread – the little travel sewing kits are a dream
• Bug bite relief
• Polysporin or equivalent
• Whistle (may be built into your pack strap, I know Osprey has a whistle strap)
• Tweezers (from your toiletries bag)
• Emergency electrolytes or sport beans
• Bandaids
• Prescription rescue meds – inhaler, epinephrine, etc. If you have these make sure you fellow hikers know where to find them and when you need them. Put them in an obvious outer pocket on your pack too!
• Medical tape
• Tensor bandage
• Lighter
• Duct tape – wrap a whole bunch around the lighter instead of trying to being a roll
• optional Saline Tubes
• optional Iodine Soaked Pads
• optional Tegaderm Dressings

The optional items may be better suited to treating blisters and skin abrasion off the trail so you don’t need to carry them in your hiking pack. Also work with the crew you are hiking with to share the load on these items where it makes sense.

Well that’s it – wow that feels like a lot but at almost 2000km of long distance path hiking I feel like it’s a solid list for newbies and a good place to play with for the non-amateurs.

One final MOST SUPER IMPORTANT TIP …

Packing tends to be one of the most stressful steps for people. I can see that. It’s not the actual packing – it’s about all the many, many, many micro decisions you have to make that can be exhausting. In a world where we are all sitting on the edge of decision fatigue, packing can break the bank. Try this:

1. Set aside a place where you can put your to-be-packed items as you collect, buy and decide on them. I literally get dressed for my training hikes from this pile and then put them back when washed.
2. Hang your packing list up beside it – and in detail as you decide. Do not just list 2 tech tshirts. No! List 1 smartwool red tech tee, 1 grey under armour tee. Decision made, moving on.
3. Check off the list twice. When you add something to the pile highlight it, when you actually put it in your bag to depart cross it off.
4. Keep a list of things you decided NOT to take and why (an example from my list: purple tech T-shirt do not pack, it rubs my arms weird on my pack straps). This may sound odd but trust me. In the last days and hours before you depart you will doubt yourself, and start to rethinking that purple shirt – the answer is NO because it rubs my arms weird which I figure out 2 months ago. Leave it home! Stick to the list.

Ok longest blog post with the most bulleted lists goes to this gal. I meet with our Dad and Daughters crew tonight about packing – this blog post is the agenda.

Brande (31 sleeps!)