Whether you’re tackling the Pacific Crest Trail, the Camino de Santiago or, like me, heading to the Arctic Circle, there’s a whole heap of different advice on what gear you do and don’t need for a hiking expedition, whether you’re a beginner or expert.
It typically takes years of testing, refinement, trial and error to craft your perfect setup. So much of it comes down to your own individual set of priorities and sacrifices. Perhaps you absolutely cannot live without a morning coffee, even halfway up a mountain. Maybe you’re happy to ditch a stove altogether and go weeks without hot food to justify carrying a super luxe inflatable mattress.
Whatever your preference, allow me to shave off some of the time (and cost) of finding your perfect expedition kit as I put the best on the market to the test and build the ultimate adventure pack list.
How I Tested
To do so, I’ve considered everything you need - from tents, to clothes, backpacks to trekking poles - and put them to the test across several expeditions, before refining it to reach the final, ultimate setup I carried on an Arctic expedition across Greenland.
I’ve tested for durability, weight, cost and of course style, striving to find the middle ground of gear that won’t weigh me down, but will also last more than one season. This isn’t for the ultralighters who cut off the end of their toothbrush, the straps off their bags, and forgo any hot food for weeks on end.
Instead, I’ve sought out the kit that will keep you safe and comfortable, won’t rip at the first sign of a rock, and will last, so as not to create waste and add to the destruction of the environment we’re seeking to explore.
With all of that in mind, here are my top recommended products.
Follow in my footsteps, and shop now.
Packing
Backpack: Fjällräven Kajka 75L
On a long expedition, your backpack can be your best friend or your worst enemy.
A correctly sized, well-fitted bag will safely stow all of your kit and sit comfortably on your back, distributing your weight appropriately between your hips and shoulders. Choose the wrong pack and cramming in gear will be a daily battle, after which you’ll suffer hours of sore muscles and even injury with weight pulling in all the wrong places. For my expedition in Greenland, I needed to carry food, water, shelter, clothes, first aid, cooking equipment and a sleep system that could withstand sub-zero temperatures,. My pack needed serious capacity.
For this, I turned to Fjällräven and the Kajka 75L. Having built hardy expedition bags for nearly a hundred years, the brand is trusted and renowned for a reason. Still working with its innovative one-of-a-kind birch wood frame, the Kajka is unparalleled for durability and weight distribution, even with extremely heavy loads. Available in two sizes, at my height of 5’5”, I chose the S/M, which has slightly tapered shoulder straps to better fit a smaller frame and a shorter adjustable hipbelt. While the bag looked nearly as big as me fully loaded, once I heaved it on my back, it felt stable and secure, allowing me to confidently traverse Greenland’s tough terrain carrying a nearly 20kg load.
Weighing in itself at 3380g, made of tough Vinylon and recycled 500D polyamide, after weeks grazing rockfaces, landing in mud and being hoisted around mountains as well as airports, the Kajka feels as strong as ever, standing miles above the thinner fabrics of more lightweight options for resilience in extreme conditions.
With a whopping eleven pockets, it also allows expert organisation, ensuring you never lose a thing on expedition. Other useful features include ice axe holders, hiking pole holders, side compression straps and a built-in rain cover. For a bag that will last a lifetime of adventures, the Kajka is it.
Buy now £318.20, Amazon
Terra Nova Southern Cross 1 tent
Maybe the most important, and often most expensive piece of kit you’ll select for a trek is your tent. It must be sturdy to protect from the elements, easy to pitch when you’re spent at the end of a long day, spacious enough to provide a good night’s sleep, and light enough that you can still traverse well with it on your back. Quite a checklist.
For me, the Terra Nova Southern Cross 1 ticks all of these boxes. A four-season, 1-person shelter weighing in at 1.7kg, it’s not the lightest, but it will keep you safe, warm and dry in extreme weather. Folding down to a pack size of 42cm x 15cm, it’s suitably compact, yet offers plenty of room to recover from a hard day’s walking. With a generous vestibule, as well as you, it can also house your pack overnight - keeping everything dry and adding extra security. And even with a large pack stowed inside, there’s still room to shelter and cook under the porch if needed.
When it comes to pitching, the Southern Cross 1 couldn’t be easier. With just two poles and an integrated inner and outer fly sheet which go up as one, even in challenging conditions, this shelter can be pitched solo in under five minutes with the inner always staying dry.
The tent’s pole structure offers great strength in winds, and its fully taped flysheet made of Watershed 30D Nylon Ripstop ensures it’s fully waterproof. A fellow hiker described this tent as ‘bombproof’, and when caught in extreme weather on a mountain, that’s welcome reassurance.
Indeed, sleeping in the Southern Cross 1 adjacent to the Greenlandic ice sheet, I was warm, secure and thanks to the tent’s multiple ventilation options, always condensation-free. The great outdoors isn’t smooth and gentle, so for me this tent is the best in class offering robustness, comfort, convenience and longevity.
Buy now £420.00, Terra Nova
Thermarest Hyperion 20 UL Down Sleeping Bag
A good night’s sleep to ensure proper overnight recovery is an absolute must on any through-hike, and to achieve that, you must remain warm. For women, especially, who on average sleep 10 °C cooler than men, sleepless shivering nights can catch up on you mentally and physically very quickly.
As someone who runs extremely cold at night, this was a big concern to me as I headed to camp on Greenland’s ice sheet. After much searching I found everything I needed in the Thermarest Hyperion 20 UL Down Sleeping Bag. Weighing just 594g and compressing down to just 15 x 20cm, this mummy-shaped bag offers excellent warmth-to-weight/size ratio.
When picking a sleeping bag, it’s important to understand the difference between a comfort rating and an extreme limit. The former, which in this case is 0 °C, means that right up until that temperature, you’ll be happily comfortable sleeping in this bag. The extreme limit tells you the lowest temperature at which you’ll remain healthy - though you may be shivering and awake. With a limit of -6C, the Thermarest Hyperion offers an excellent range, and kept me warm and sleeping well even when camped enveloped in the cold chill emanating from Greenland’s central ice sheet.
Made with 900-fill, water-resistant Nikwax Down, it also solves the age-old explorers’ conundrum of down vs synthetic. While Down is lighter and generally packs down smaller, it’s usually highly sensitive to moisture, losing shape and loft quickly when wet. By treating the Down with water-resistant Nikwax however, Thermarest have ensured this bag stays drier and maintains loft 60 times longer than when untreated.
Ergonomically designed with a patented Thermacapature lining to trap more body heat, even on the coldest nights, this bag kept me cosy and sleeping well, ready for the next day of climbing.
Buy now £399.50, Wild Bounds
Sea to Summit Lightweight Dry Bag Set
When venturing into unpredictable weather, double bagging to protect your kit on expeditions is mandatory. With very few hiking backpacks offering full waterproof protection, the best way to avoid a soggy down sleeping bag after a long day trekking in the rain is to double up with dry bags.
Lightweight and durable, Sea to Summit’s range are some of the best on the market, offering a range of sizes and thicknesses to suit your adventure style. With roll-top watertight closures, you might choose a large single dry bag like the 65L River bag, which lines the entirety of your pack, or you could organise your kit into a selection of smaller bags with the Lightweight Dry Bag set, which includes capacities of 8L, 13L and 20L.
Having tested each of these in sideways rain and during deep river crossings, I can attest - there’s no moisture making it through these, so whatever the day throws your way, sodden pyjamas won’t greet you at camp.
Buy now £46.95, Amazon
Big Agnes Rapide SL sleeping pad and pillow
After a long day of stomping over hard ground, the last thing you want is to sleep on it, so investing in a super comfortable mattress and pillow will serve you well.
For comfort, durability and efficient packing, I’ve found no better than the Big Agnes Rapide SL range. Offering a 9cm thick mattress, with a larger 11cm larger outer chamber to keep you comfortably cradled and prevent you from rolling off the edge, the Rapide delivers a secure night's sleep.
Made with four-way stretch nylon and a quilted top, both the mattress and pillow provide cushioned luxury alongside ultimate dependability. Aviation-grade lamination and stringent factory testing ensure this sleep system has exceedingly high tear-strength and puncture resistance, which can stand up to the pokes and scuffs of the great outdoors.
With the mattress packing down to just 9 x 18cm and the pillow less than 10cm tall, combined, the two weigh just over 500g - a tiny weight to pay for an excellent night's rest.
Buy now £194.95, Amazon
Rab Thermic Neutrino sleeping bag liner
The fluctuating temperature of expeditions - especially when climbing to high ground - can be a real challenge to pack for. Choose a sleeping bag ready for the coldest possible drops and before reaching the peak you’ll toss and turn too hot.
A thermal sleeping bag liner is therefore a great way to add flexibility to your sleep system. Made with super soft microfleece, Rab's Thermic Neutrino liner adds around 5°C of overnight warmth, as well as protecting the inside of your expensive sleeping bag from whatever nasties you may bring into your tent after a day spent in the wild.
With a tapered mummy shape and an effective stuff sack, it packs down efficiently and weighs just 400g.
Buy now £70.00, Rab
Alpkit EZ Sleeper sleep mat
At half the weight of other foam mats on the market, the Alpkit EZ Sleeper offers excellent payback on warmth and comfort with little sacrifice on weight.
Primarily designed to be used alongside your normal mattress to boost warmth during winter, the pad’s insulating IXPE foam reduces heat loss to cold ground extending your kit into colder months. Weighing just 245g with a foldable design, for ultralight adventurers, the EZ can also replace an inflatable and be used standalone during summer expeditions, providing security against punctures with its virtually indestructible foam makeup.
Easy to strap to the outside of your pack, it’s also a very welcome sit pad on damp or sharp ground.
Buy now £24.99, Amazon
Clothing
LOWA Renegade Evo GTX Mid W Hiking boots
Nothing can ruin a beautiful hike more easily than poor footwear. Whether it’s wet feet, blisters or sore ankles from lack of support, bad shoes can cause a whole world of pain and inconvenience. In hiking circles, the boots versus trail runners debate rages, and both sides vehemently argue their merits. However, for a sub-zero expedition across extremely uneven terrain, I’d say a boot is the only way to go. Yes, they’re heavier, and they won’t dry as fast as runners, but a well-fitted and designed boot will offer vital support, cushion and warmth.
I’d recommend the LOWA Renegade Evo GTX Mid W. The latest in the best-selling Renegade collection, these boots are pretty legendary in the hiking community for their unique blend of comfort and practicality. Made with a unique Vibram sole with expert grip, the slip-resistant tread allows for safe passage over even the harshest babies’ heads of Greenland. Built with a GORE-TEX lining, the Evo is also fully waterproof, and kept my feet perfectly dry when trudging through deep Arctic bog.
Made specifically with the anatomy of women’s feet in mind, they also offer supreme comfort with a female-specific made instep, and deep moulded cushioning to support and cradle your feet throughout a long day of hiking.
Comfortable from the first wear, these require no breaking in, yet deliver long-lasting performance even when carrying you over the most extreme terrains.
Buy now £175.95, Cotwolds Outdoor
Danner Joseph Leather Sandal
After a long day of hiking, there’s no better feeling than pulling your boots off of swollen, achy feet. You’ll thank yourself for packing some comfy camp shoes like Danner’s Joseph leather sandals.
Easy to slip on and off with a magnetic buckle that snaps into place, these also have padded straps for extra comfort when you need it most. Crafted with sturdy leather and Vibram soles, the Josephs are also hardy enough to hike in on hot days, or when facing deep river crossings.
Fully recraftable if they ever do wear, they can be easily repaired so should last you through years of adventures.
Buy now £140.00, Danner
Terra Nova Evolution Waterproof Socks
Waterproof socks are a no-brainer on expeditions. No matter how much you trust the waterproofness of your boots, oftentimes rivers spill over the top.
Invaluable too for avoiding morning or evening dew when walking around camp in sandals, these are an absolute must to add an extra layer of protection to keep your toes warm and dry. Having heard all sorts of horror stories of hikers cutting short their trips due to trench foot (yep, seriously), the Terra Nova Evolutions haven’t failed me yet.
Buy now £29.99, Amazon
Arc’teryx Beta SL Jacket Women’s
Made of next-generation GORE-TEX, the Arc’teryx Beta SL is a failsafe outer shell that will keep you dry whatever the weather.
Tested on Arctic Greenlandic ice, in sideways rain on Dartmoor and in weeks of constant damp mizzle in the Scottish Highlands, I can attest that no moisture is making it through this jacket. Weighing in at just 300g, putting it on for the first time, you might not believe it, such is the lightweight technology utilised, but when held up against the elements, it offers ultimate protection from wind, rain and storm.
Featuring pit zippers for ventilation, adjustable cuffs, numerous pockets, safety reflectors and a helmet-compatible stormhood, the Beta SL can flex to any outdoor use you could think of.
Buy now £450.00, Arc’teryx
The North Face Jazzi GORE-TEX waterproof trousers
Featuring full ankle to waist zippers, the Jazzi GORE-TEX waterproof trousers can be hoisted over bulky boots and layers within seconds. Once on, there’s no way a drop of moisture is making it through, ensuring absolute protection from the elements, while the breathable fabric and zips and poppers make ventilation easy.
Ideal for mountaineering, these served me well in heavy downpours and icy conditions without adding weight or bulk to my bag or my silhouette.
Buy now £180.00, The North Face
Montane Women’s Alpine Nano Hooded Down jacket
For the colder evenings spent in the wind chill of the ice sheet, Montane Women's Alpine 850 Nano kept me cosy and warm.
The hooded down jacket is designed with a close fit for a trim shape which allows agile movement on the mountains. Filled with 52g of high-quality, fast-drying 850 fill down, it also features panels of synthetic insulation in high-moisture areas, ensuring maximum thermal efficiency.
Weighing just 200g, and packing down into its own pocket pouch - no bigger than a hand - this jacket brings maximum warmth with minimal weight and space - expedition gold dust.
Buy now £300.00, Montane
Fjällräven Abisko Trekking Tights
From Fjällräven, the Abisko trekking tights are the comfiest, most technically robust women’s hiking trousers I’ve found.
With a flattering full-length fit, the Abisko are also highly functional for wear in the roughest terrains thanks to their durable, double-knitted stretch fabric made from recycled polyester. Reinforced over the seat and knees, in these, you can move with confidence, assured of their longevity even when really tested.
Crucially, they also feature pockets, but lower down the leg, avoiding the terrible rubbing often caused between higher zips and the waistbelt of a backpack.
Buy now £195.00, Fjällräven
The North Face Women’s Sunriser Hoodie
When you can only choose a single base layer for a weeks or months-long trip, that one top has to achieve a lot. The North Face Sunriser hoodie does just that.
With long sleeves, thumb loops and a hood, it offers full upper body coverage to shield from bugs as well as in-built UPF sun protection up to 40+. Lightweight and comfortable, the partly recycled fabric is also breathable and sweat-wicking, managing moisture as well as odour throughout the day. Also featuring reflective detailing, this all-rounder will even help you stay visible in low light.
This has probably been the most worn and most versatile piece of clothing in my kit.
Buy now £70.00, The North Face
Adidas Xperior Merino 200 base layer and Montane Dart XT Thermal Long Janes
For both hygiene and comfort it’s important to always carry separate clothes to sleep in to ensure that whatever trials the day may have entailed, you always have a clean, dry layer to wear within your tent - and crucially your sleeping bag. ‘Cotton kills’ is a popular phrase amongst adventurers, warning of the lack of moisture control in standard fabrics. When a cotton t-shirt gets damp, then cold, it will insulate that cold moisture against your body. If left on in low temperatures, this can become dangerous.
Merino wool however wicks moisture away from the body and effectively regulates temperature to ensure you’re kept cool in cool temperatures and warm in the cold. A thermal merino t-shirt and leggings provide a perfect sleep outfit to see you through an expedition.
For me, the best setup is the Adidas Xperior short-sleeve merino t-shirt, and the Montane Dart XT Long Janes. Soft, comfortable and warm these also have supreme odour-control, allowing a good night’s sleep for me - and anyone else in my vicinity.
Buy now £85.00, Adidas
Montane Women’s Sirocco Lite Insulated Jacket
With one outfit for the whole expedition, the only variance you generally have is in which layers you require for any given climate. After a moisture-wicking base layer comes a warmer mid layer, and for this the Montane Women’s Sirocco Lite insulated jacket is ideal. A highly versatile hoody it features top-level wind resistance and an insulated core to maintain bodily warmth while preventing overheating. The four-way stretch fleece and tight fit ensures comfort without sacrificing on free movement, and the smooth outer finish makes it ideal for layering under a warmer outer later when needed.
Buy now £150.00, Montane
Fabletics On-the-go PowerHold high-waisted
In case of warm weather, or river crossings a simple, light pair of shorts are in need. Free from any seams which might rub under a backpack I’ve found cycle shorts to be ideal.
Slimline while allowing full freedome of movement, the On-the-go PowerHold high-waisted shorts from Fabletics are great for hiking and climbing and can easily be layered under trousers if the forecast looks uncertain or weather takes a sudden turn. Featuring mesh pockets, and UPF sun protection they’re also both anti-chafing and moisture-wicking for ultimate comfort and functionality.
Buy now £59.00, Fabletics
Accessories
OM Systems TG-7
Imagine grappling with a slippery, unresponsive iPhone screen, trying to capture a unique memory but being prevented by rain or extreme temperatures. It’s anxiety-inducing too, attempting not to drop your navigation device, entertainment, emails and overall portal to the outside world into a lake or down a cliff face just to get that shot. Cue the OM Systems TG-7 - a near indestructible digital camera designed for exactly these circumstances.
A rugged, impressively hardy camera which also delivers on image quality, this is the ultimate camera for photographers on extreme adventures. Waterproof down to 15m, freeze-proof to -10C, shockproof for drops of up to 2.1m and crushproof to a weight of 100kg, this is a camera you need not worry about - no matter where you’re taking it.
With 12 megapixels, ultra HD 4K video and maximum F2.0 brightness for exceptional performance in low light, this robustness doesn’t mean sacrificing on any of the image quality. From its underwater mode to Microscope Macro, whatever your situation, the TG-7 delivers bright, sharp images whether capturing marine life, landscapes, action shots, distant wildlife or in-the-moment videos. Built-in Bluetooth and WiFi also make transferring images quick and easy.
For anyone who wants to bring a snippet of the adventure home, this camera is a game-changer.
Buy now £449.00, OM Systems
Oakley Clifdens
For the old-school expedition look, echo the style of early Alpine explorers in the stylish Oakley Clifdens. With a removable bridge blocker and side shields, these glasses channel early glacier glasses, and serve a very practical purpose of providing wrap-around protection from snow, rain and dust.
With the blockers removed, the glasses look more like a classic day-to-day Oakleys making this pair extremely versatile on and off the trail.
The no-slip nosepad increases grip to help keep glasses securely in place even when sweating or covering difficult terrain, and their polarised Prizm Snow lenses enhance performance and experience during high light exposure on bright white, and reflective icy surfaces.
Buy now £231.00, Oakley
MytiMug 650ml Titanium
When packing for an expedition versatility is key, and so the MytiMug cooking kettle is a must. Acting as cup, mug and cooking pan it pretty much makes delivers your entire camp kitchen.
With a 650ml capacity, the MytiMug is ideal for a solo adventurer needing to boil enough water for a standard dehydrated meal plus enough leftover for a hot drink. When not in use, it’s large enough to fit a 100g gas canister plus the essential salt, pepper and spice sachets ready to liven up camp meals.
Ultra durable and highly conductive for efficient heating, it’s made with 30 per cent recycled titanium, making it ultralight at just 127g including lid.
Buy now £38.99, AlpKit
Finisterre Apex 5-Panel
For sun protection and to hide the deteriorating cleanliness of your hair on a long expedition, every kit must contain a sunhat. The Apex 5-Panel from Finisterre is water repellent, quick-drying, and breathable. Lightweight and with a fully flexible peak it also folds easily into the smallest of pockets and doesn’t get crushed in transit.
Buy now £40.00, Finisterre
Sealskinz Howe All Weather Fusion gloves
There is little that makes me grumpier on an expedition than having cold hands. Losing circulation and dexterity in your fingers in cold and wet conditions can also be dangerous, causing falls from lack of grip or delaying the pitching of vital shelter.
The Sealskinz Howe All Weather Fusion gloves are a staple in my kit list. Fully waterproof with a unique three-layer technology, they ensure no moisture will ever reach your paws.
Lined with natural merino wool, they also provide unrivalled warmth, while a polyurethane suede palm offers lasting grip and free movement.
Buy now £80.00, Sealskinz
Alpkit Carbon Ultra Marathon Twins
For a time, trekking poles were snubbed by younger hikers as crutch for those struggling with ageing joints. Thankfully today it’s widely agreed they’re a must for any serious adventurer.
Reducing the strain on knees, hips and ankles, poles redistribute weight and help you walk further and for longer. Providing vital extra points of balance, they also aid in safe river crossings, on steep inclines and when travelling across unstable terrain.
Adopting the Alpkit Carbon Ultra Marathon Twins mine have saved me from dangerous falls more times than I care to remember. With an adjustable length and snap lock mechanism, they are strong and stable, with a grippy EVA handle which absorbs shock and vibrations to prevent injury and discomfort. Made of full carbon and folding into three sections, the Marathon Ultra Twins weigh just 205g each and can be stowed at a pack down height of 37cm, making them an ultralight addition which brings huge performance gains.
Buy now £89.99, Alpkit
Lifesystems Water Filter Purifier Bottle
Food, water, shelter - the three fundamental needs on any expedition. While in many locations water might be abundantly available, knowing whether it’s clean is another matter, and losing any gamble when it comes to the safety of drinking water is likely the fastest way to end a trip and potentially do yourself serious harm.
The Lifesystems water purifier bottle, then, is a potentially life-saving piece of kit, ensuring instant safe water to drink at any time. With an innovative filtration system built in, waterborne pathogens, particulates, chemicals and heavy metals are all removed. Removed, too, is the wait time and off-putting odour and taste experienced when using chlorine tablets.
Based in a BPA-free Tritan bottle, the Lifesystems Purifier is easy to clean and boasts a long-lasting filter which treats up to 600 litres.
Buy now £47.00, Amazon
Lifesystems Adventurer First Aid Kit
It’s a basic thing, but one vital to pack: a first aid kit. When expeditioning, it’s important to hope for the best but be ready for the worst, and that includes dealing with injuries or medical emergencies.
The Lifesystems Adventurer First Aid Kit pulls this all together for you in one place. Containing basic medicines, bandages, gauze, dressings and plasters, this go-to kit is carefully organised into compartments, so you can find what you need quickly.
At 330g, it’s also compact, so there’s no excuse not to be prepared.
Buy now £26.99, Amazon
