Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!
Packing for the Laugavegur Trail with Hot Weather Stopovers
55
items I recently did a 6 day guided hike on the Laugavegur and Fimmvörðuháls trail in Iceland with stopovers in the UK and Singapore. Luggage was limited, and the temperature range I needed to pack for large. Here is everything I took.
Sections
7
Bags
Tops
Bottoms
Footwear
Electronics
Other Gear
Bags
My duffle bag, day bag and dry bags to keep me covered for all occasions and weather.
My main bag for transporting everything. It was checked in on the planes and carried on the back of the truck between huts on the trails.
This bag doesn't claim to be waterproof, but it has a number of features in common with those that do. The mat...
1 x 70L Duffle | Mountain Designs
For keeping my sleeping bag dry and small so it doesn’t fill most of my duffle bag. You may be able to get away with a smaller one. My bag is over 20 years old and is rated to -10C, while my husband’s lighter weight sleeping bag fitted in the 13L pa...
1 X 20L Compression Dry Bag | Sea to Summit
For clothes keeping the clothes that weren’t needed for this part of the trip dry. This bag is lighter weight and is slightly more flexible than the orange bags (next), but also more fragile. Perfect to fit in the spaces between my other large bags. ...
1 x 20 L Ultra Light Weight Dry Bag | Sea to Summit
I used this as my sponge bag. It’s smaller and lighter than a normal sponge bag and kept all my toiletries and medicines safe and clearly visible.
(Affiliate link)
1 x 5L Lightweight Dry Bag | Sea To Summit
I used this to squeeze in, and keep dry, an extra puffer vest. The problem with putting everything in dry bags is that there is a lot of space between them. This was great to fill in some of those gaps.
(Affiliate link)
1 x 5L Compression Dry-Bag | Sea To Summit
Lightweight, but rugged enough to be getting things out of it every day. I had one bag for clothes in my duffle and one bag for clothes in my daypack.
(Affiliate link)
2 x 20L Dry Bag, Lightweight | Sea To Summit
My small grey dry bag was used to keep all my electronics dry. Everything from my phone, to my iPad, a battery pack, the cables and my power point adaptors for international charging.
I carried this in my handbag why flying and my day pack when hikin...
1 x 5L Lightweight Dry-Bag in Grey | Sea To Summit
I have scoliosis and searched high and low for a comfortable day pack. This one was a winner with a proper padded waist band and plenty of adjustments for a proper fit. It’s a little bigger than recommended, but comfort wins out. Added bonuses are th...
45L Day Pack | Deuter | REI Co-op
Tops
I took a total of 14 tops, most of which were thin enough to could be layered. As I have built my wardrobe up over time, there are some which are no longer available so the full list is:
Base Layers
1. Thermal Top - Patagonia
Base Layers or Casual To...
A fantastic skin skimming base layer that will go under other base layers for extra warmth. I’m a size XS.
1 x Thermal Top | Patagonia
This is the latest version of my top. I love the subtle print that adds interest when worn as a casual top. It also doubles as a base layer when walking, and is loose enough to wear the Patagonia top underneath it for extra warmth.
(Affiliate link)
1 x Long Sleeve Top | Rohan
Comfortable, warm, and with great waist shaping. This top doubles as a base layer and a stylish casual top for around town. I’m a size 12.
1 x Long Sleeve Top | Macpac
A lovely soft top that can be worn as a mid or base layer when walking, and with a nice range of colours that mean it also works as a nice casual top.
I bought a Size S so it’s not figure hugging and works as a top as well as a base line. I would tr...
1 x Long Sleeve Top | UNIQLO
Zip front fleeces are great for temperature regulation. Wear them sipped up at the start of the day, unzip them as you walk up, then finally take them off without pulling off your beanie at the same time. (Affiliate link)
1 x Fleece Jacket | Kathmandu (Alternate)
This jacket comes in multiple colours. I love the waist shaping and brick like pattern in this jacket which make it more flattering than a lot of puffer jackets. It fits over my thermals and fleece and under my raincoat. I’m a size M.
(Affiliate L...
1 x Short Puffer Jacket | Patagonia
This jacket was always an indulgence, but I loved the idea of longer length for around town on those sunny, but cold days or when you will be in and out of warmer locations and you don’t want to wear thermal leggings. As it happened we had really warm weather so it wasn't needed as I will probably keep it for non-hiking trips in future.
1 x Long Puffer Jacket | Macpac
The latest version of my current raincoat. I might have a little jacket envy looking at all the new features.
(Affiliate Link)
1 x Rain Jacket | Kathmandu
Cashmere looks elegant while helping to regulate temperature. I included this for evenings out with family and friends, as it works in many temperatures. It was also great for flying when you are never quite sure what temperature the cabin will be.
...
1 x Cashmere Top | Uniqlo
This shirt looks even better with the slim leg coral benga jeans and the sleeves pushed up. The curved him is flattering and elongates the legs and the body. Once again the elastic was perfect for keeping the sleeves up without cutting off circulation (I have had this problem with other tops).
1 x Linen Shirt | Blue Illusion
These crop tops are a great alternative to a technical performance bra for those with a small bust. These are easy to wash out and wear again the next day (if the ere is space for them to dry).
(Affiliate link)
5 x Crop Top / Bra
Bottoms
I packed 10 bottoms including my waterproof pants. 4 pairs of walking pants, 3 pairs of thermal pants, 2 pairs of waterproof pants, and 1 pair of shorts.
I tried on sooo many pairs of trousers the last two times I needed new ones and both times I decided that these were the best fit. Other trousers seemed to have excess material in the wrong places and not enough where I need it. I now own 3 pairs in ...
3 x Walking Pants | Macpac
Feel good pants. Feel good for the comfortable, great fit and loads of pockets. Feel good for the environmental impact as they are made from 96% recycled nylon from fishing nets.
(Affiliate Link)
1 x Walking Pants | Patagonia | REI Co-op
I have to admit that these are very different than my older Rohan waterproof trousers which are heavier with zips up both sides. If I owned these I would only take one pair. (Affiliate link)
1 x Waterproof Trousers | Rohan (Alternate)
I took a second pair of waterproof pants for those days that I didn't expect rain. This part are very similar to my zillion year old pants. They pack down really small and are easy to throw in your day bag, but also effective in all but the worst rai... Now that I have more experience with them, I would consider taking just these in the future.
(Affiliate Link)
(Affiliate Link)
1x Light Weight Waterproof Pants | Alternate
Best for sensitive skin. As I can't wear most wool next to my skin, I opt for technical materials for my thermal leggings. My thermal leggings are an older version= of these. (My husband updated to the men's equivalent for the trip). As the weather was mostly good, I only wore one pair, but I would have needed more if the weather was bad.
3 x Geothermal Pants | MacPac
Capris were the key workhorse in my hot-weather outfits, although the hiking pants weren't bad in most conditions. These are similar to the me-made capris that I packed. I love that capris are sun-smart as they cover down to the knees and that these,...
(Affiliate Link)
(Affiliate Link)
1 x Capris | Target (Alternate)
Best for travel. While I normally prefer cotton briefs or a least a cotton gusset, these dry so much faster when you are on the go. These aren’t as good a technical performance briefs, but are so much cheaper.
9 x Women's Briefs | Brilliant Basics
Footwear
Shoes and socks for hiking, relaxing and river crossing.
These boots fit my regular width toes and offer great support to my narrow heels and ankles. I added inserts for extra arch support. (Affiliate Link)
1 x Walking Boots | Mammut
Beautifully thin and deliciously warm. Perfect for when you don’t have room for thick socks in your boots or in your bag. I own multiples in different colours.
5 x Walking Socks | Mountain Designs | Anaconda
Super warm socks that are a great alternative to socks + thermal leggings when you know you are going to warm up during the walk.
(Affiliate Link)
1 x Long Walking Socks | XTM | Anaconda
The best of compression and warmth. I was thinking about wearing compression socks and dealing with the cold when hiking as I can have problems with my lower legs on long days. Then I discovered I don’t need to choose between comfort and warmth. Thes...
1 x Compression Walking Socks | XTM | Anaconda
Inner soles with firm arch support to reduce how much my feet pronate. I took one pair to switch between my boots and runners.
1 X Inner Soles | The Athlete's Foot
Cheap sneakers for when I am not hiking to get my feet a break from my boots. The worst case scenario is that these can be left behind so I have room for souvenirs.
1 x Sneakers | Kmart
This come in a pack of 5, but I only took one pair away. The length of these socks make them perfect for waiting with my boots or sneakers when I don’t need or want the warmth of my walking socks.
1 x Sport Socks | Big W
Coloured socks make it easier to match pairs for even wear. Note that these do show a little when worn with sneakers. In the plus side, they don’t disappear into your shoe when you walk in them. While these come in a set of 4, I only packed 3 pairs.
3 x Sneaker Socks | Big W
Slides have so many uses they were worth making space for. They are great for when you just need out of your boots at the end of a long days hike, to wear to the (thermal) pools, or during those parts of the trip when we had warmer weather.
1 x Archies Women's Support Slide Taupe
Best for river crossings. I took wetsuit boots as I already had them and other people liked that they help keep the worst of the cold out when crossing rivers, although when the rivers are knee high, there is only so much they can do. Other people took an extra pair of runners, crocs, or smaller water shoes.
1 x River Crossing Shoes (Alternate)
Electronics
While there might be no reception on the trail, I still need my phone for pictures and watch for counting steps, as well as light weight electronics and chargers for the rest of the trip.
I chose this travel adaptor because it's small but still gives we two different USB ports as well as a powerpoint to plug everything in. If I am only going to one destination, it gives me everything I need to use my tech gadgets.
(Affiliate Link)
(Affiliate Link)
Travel Adaptor
I chose this battery back because it is one of the most compact for its power. It also lets me charge two devices at once and shows me how much power remains. By switching my phone to airplane mode and turning it off when not taking pictures, I managed to keep my phone and watch charged on a 7 day trek.
Cygnett ChargePro 20K Power Bank (Graphite)
My camera when hiking and my connectivity to the rest of the world when not.
iPhone | Apple
For books, games and entertainment while travelling. It weighs a lot less than several books!
iPad | Apple
Other Gear
All the other things I needed for a successful trip including my poles, sleeping bag and health essentials.
I started with this little kit. I liked that it was light weight and that and the hard shell and bright colours made it easy to find in my pack. As this will be my personal kit I removed the CPR face shield and gloves, and added in some more plasters...
1 x First Aid Kit | Chemist Warehouse
I’ve torn my calf and thigh muscles a few times so I normally travel with stretchy tape. I like this one because it’s latex free so I don’t come out with a rash after using it.
(Affiliate link)
Kinesiology Tape | Elastoplast | Chemist Warehouse
Perfect for river crossings or to prevent your legs from giving out. I first used poles when I tore my calf but wasn’t willing to give up my walking trip. These are a similar design to the one I own.
(Affiliate Link)
(Affiliate Link)
Walking Poles | Mountain Designs | Anaconda
So many tools, so little space. While you can't pack a Swiss Army knife in your carry on, if you are checking luggage it is worth including one. While it was only used to cut strapping tape on this trip, in the past it has sliced bagels and cheese, opened bottles of wine, removed splinters and more! Having to purchase a separate product for each of these jobs when needed would have resulted i...
Swiss Army knife
While my current sleeping bag is about 30 years old, if I needed to, I would look for something like this to replace it. Just like mine this is rated to below freezing and has a hood that you can draw shut to keep out the cold. Unlike mine, this doesn't way a tonne and require a forklift truck to move it :)
Sleeping Bag | Mountain Designs
Bathers for the thermal pools and springs. These are 3 piece (don’t forget to grab the matching top) which makes them easier to put on. I grabbed the top and bottom in different sizes for the perfect fit.
Marrakesh Reversible Bikini Bottoms
A woollen beanie kept my head and ears warm even when wet.
Macpac Baseline Merino Blend Beanie
For those times when you want to use your phone and it’s just too cold to take your gloves off.
Macpac Performance Glove
Super warm and the zip makes these easy to get on and off. While they are water proof, water will get in if you are taking them on and off to take a few pics of the amazing views. Fortunately they are still warm enough when wet.
XTM Women's Nina Softshell Gloves Ivy Green
Snacks
I have some food intolerances, so I took my own snacks for the hikes and bus rides. I made up 9 bags with 4 assorted mini-packets for variety. These are the mini-packs I would include again. I was full of good intentions and also took chocolate covered chickpeas, but they rarely got eaten, and while the cranberry and sultana snacks added variety, they were just not as good as the yoghurt covered ones.
A great option to nibble on throughout the day. The yoghurt adds a bit of sweetness and short time energy boost, while the sultanas helped me keep going over the longer term.
Sunbeam Yoghurt Coated Sultanas 180g | Woolworths
Time for a break? Time for a Kit-Kat. I alternated these with Mars Bars for Variety.
KitKat Milk Chocolate 11 Mini Bars Share Pack 154g | Woolworths
Great for a reward at the top of a steep section. These were always the first snack to go on the days when these were in my snack bag. It is a good thing I split up my snacks by day or they may have all gone on the first day.
Mars Milk Chocolate Bar Party Share Bag 12 Pieces 192g | Woolworths
Chocolate that doesn't melt! Yum! Yum! I had of packet of these in every snack pack. They are nice for snacking on and great for sharing.
M&M's Milk Chocolate Party Share Bag 11 Pieces 148g | Woolworths
Great for when I needed an energy boost.
Uncle Tobys Muesli Bars Chewy Choc Chip 6 pack | Woolworths
These were a great find. A really good light snack for when I needed something, but couldn't handle anything heavy.
Table Of Plenty Mini Rice Cakes Milk Chocolate Snack Packs 6 pack | Woolworths