Hiking / Trekking Packing List Calculator

Strip a hiking / trekking packing list to its skeleton and you'll find: documents, money, comms, health. For 7 days at a variable climate, you'll cycle through outfits more than you think — but the truly essential hiking / trekking kit stays constant.

Lay these out first, then build your hiking / trekking clothing layers on top.

With a variable climate profile, your hiking / trekking wardrobe should mix-and-match around a single colour palette. A rotation of two trousers, four tops, a smart layer and one versatile shell covers the whole itinerary.

Choose quick-dry fabrics so a sink wash can extend your supply beyond the 7-day mark without carrying a full suitcase of clean clothes. The carry-on math only works if the hiking / trekking wardrobe dries overnight — test each piece at home and cut anything that fails.

Travel-sized toiletries are easy to overdo. For a 7-day hiking / trekking, you need: toothbrush, toothpaste (travel tube), deodorant, sunscreen SPF 30+, a small bottle of body wash that doubles as shampoo, and any prescription items.

Menstrual products belong on the list too — familiar brands can be scarce in some destinations. Toss in lip balm and a small hand sanitiser for the hiking / trekking days out.

Tech kit for 7 days of hiking / trekking should be lean: phone, charging brick, USB-C or Lightning cable, a 10,000 mAh power bank, headphones, and a universal travel adapter. A Kindle beats a stack of paperbacks on any hiking / trekking.

If you're shooting photos beyond your phone, bring a compact mirrorless or action cam — full-frame kits are rarely worth the bulk for a variable-climate trip.