If you plan to carry everything with you each day, the trick of course is to take as little as possible. Choose a quality backpack to suit whatever weight you feel comfortable carrying, try it on and have it adjusted to fit you. (A good rule of thumb is to carry no more than 10% of your body weight.)
Most experts agree on the following gear list for this kind of walk:
- Two sets of lightweight, quick-drying clothes for walking
- One set of clothes to wear to dinner (this can be eliminated by wearing the following day’s clothing to dinner)
- One pair of boots, waterproofed and well worn-in
- Two pairs of thick socks
- Two pairs of thin socks
- One lightweight pair of shoes for other times (I like to carry hiking sandals which can be worn on the trail)
- One waterproof poncho which will cover your pack, or one waterproof jacket and a pack cover or sturdy garbage bags to protect your backpack from rain
- One lightweight silk liner and small towel (if you will be staying in gîtes where sheets and towels are not provided or available for rent)
- Underwear and toiletries (of course) including Band-Aids and disinfectant wipes
- Sunscreen, sunglasses and hat
- Lightweight water bottle or water bladder
- Pocket knife (if preparing sandwiches on the trail) and a torch (if camping)
- Detergent for washing clothes (shampoo or soap is a good substitute) and pegs or safety pins
- Maps and a compass (There are several free compass apps for your mobile phone. I also recommend installing the Iphigénie (paid) and Cartes IGN (free) map applications).
- Walking poles (this is a personal choice—many consider poles essential, others prefer not to carry them).
If you find yourself missing an essential item, you’ll find hiking equipment stores in several towns along most walks. (These may be several days apart—if you see one, check for anything you need before rushing past.)
And if you find you’ve brought far more than you need, consider mailing the unwanted items home or donating them to another walker.
If reducing your pack weight to 10% of your body weight proves too difficult, consider carrying a day pack and having the rest of your luggage transferred ahead.
Many more practical tips for long-distance walking
