The Ideal Packing List For 100km Hikes

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When the adventure of your life starts, the 100Km hike, you want to be well prepared. This also means: All questions about equipment, hiking boots, and the packing list should be ticked off beforehand. So they do not burden you then and you can concentrate on the essentials.

It also gives you peace of mind knowing that you have everything you need during those 24 hours in your backpack and with you. Everything that matters, not more. You tested it, you know it works, you know what you need and where you find it. In order to be well equipped and prepared, we show you in this post what is on the packing list for your 100Km hike and what you can safely leave at home. We also give you tips for the time in advance, during and after the mega-march. 

Before the mega-march:

Use the time to get your equipment together and test it and optimize it if necessary. Lightweight equipment is important because, on the go, you can feel every gram on your back and body. Weigh and decide what to buy, what’s new, what you already have and what you can continue to use, and what you can lend to equipment from friends and family.

Make at least one or two, maybe more test walks. Remember, you may not be used to being on your back with so much luggage. Therefore, it can be difficult at first to assess how much it makes sense to take with you and what is definitely too much. Only when you make a test walk with the packed backpack in full hiking contour, you will be able to determine if you have packed properly. Avoid back pain due to over-rucksack or shoes by carefully checking and optimizing such things in advance.

The focus should be on good hiking boots. Important are also special hiking socks, as well as a backpack that is not too big and heavy. 20 to 30 liters are enough for your backpack. Do not make the mistake, and take a 60-liter backpack, which weighs in the unpacked state alone one kilogram more than some 25-liter backpack. 

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Functional clothing is useful to prevent excessive sweating and rubbing on the skin. This includes trekking pants, as well as functional T-shirts and underwear. You will notice the difference when hiking. When it comes to trekking pants, consider choosing zip-front pants where you can take off your legs if you get warm while running. When you dress on the onion principle, so many layers on top of each other, you can always react quickly. If you are too warm, you take off a shift, you are too cold, you put on a shift again. 

Belongs on the packing list:

  • Identity card
  • Means of payment
  • Mobile
  • Hiking tracker
  • Backpack (20-30 liters)
  • Rain cover for backpack 
  • Outdoor GPS tracker such as GoFindMe
  • Trekking pants 
  • Functional shirt
  • Underwear
  • Function jacket/rain jacket or rain poncho
  • Fleece jacket or softshell jacket
  • Hiking socks 
  • Hiking boots 
  • Blister patches 
  • Sunscreen (hat, glasses, cream)
  • Headlamp (possibly with spare batteries)
  • Vitamins and minerals 
  • First aid kit incl. Rescue blanket & emergency pharmacy 
  • Pocket knife
  • 2-liter hydration bladder (if necessary with water filter)
  • Purse or breast bag
  • Handkerchiefs
  • Trekking poles
  • Music / MP3 player / headphone
  • Seat cushion for breaks
  • Energy bars
  • Reusable cup

 Since there are only food and drinks from the first food station, please remember to bring snacks for the first few miles. At the start, there is also no way to refill the bottles. So please come with already filled bottles to the start. 

When packing the backpack, you should store the things that you need often and quickly, as high as possible. At best, you have a backpack with many side pockets or get yourself a practical fanny pack in addition. The easier you get your luggage, the less energy and time you spend on the road. 

At the mega-march:

During the mega-march, you should make sure that you always drink enough. This is essential to keep your energy balance in order. It’s best to bring a 2-liter hydration pack with you to be able to drink enough fluids between the feeding stations. Make sure you fill up your drinking containers at all stations for the next stage. You can also use the vitamin and magnesium sticks or tablets from time to time when you realize you are threatening to get a little tired or something is pinching.

You should also treat small signs of blisters or pressure sores directly with plaster and mask. So you prevent the best possible that they are unnecessarily bigger and more painful. It’s better to stop for a while, instead of ignoring it and feeling it painful later on.

After the mega-march:

After the long hike, you can treat your body to rest and relaxation. Give your feet fresh air to breathe, give your body enough food and fluid to fill the reservoirs. Also, check if there are bruises and blisters on your body.

What are your equipment tips? What do you take with you? What do you leave at home? What experiences have you had or what questions do you have? Let us know in the comments and share them with the community!