How to use this list

Tick each item as you pack it. Your progress saves automatically and persists for two hours — useful if you need to pause and come back. Use the reset button at the bottom to start fresh before a new trip.

The list is organised by category and weighted towards a lightweight, one-night summer or shoulder-season camp in the UK or similar temperate upland. Adjust the sleep and clothing sections for colder or wetter conditions.

Shelter

• Tent, tarp, or bivvy bag
• Tent pegs (check count matches your tent requirement)
• Guylines (2–4 spare for exposed pitches)
• Groundsheet or footprint (if not included with your shelter)

Sleep system

• Sleeping bag (rated appropriate for expected overnight low)
• Sleeping mat (inflatable or foam — do not skip this even in summer)
• Pillow or pillow stuff sack

Clothing: worn or carried

Pack clothes in a dry bag inside your pack or use a pack liner. Assume rain on any UK trip.

• Waterproof jacket (taped seams, hood)
• Waterproof trousers
• Insulating mid-layer (fleece or down jacket)
• Base layer top (merino or synthetic)
• Base layer bottoms (for sleep and cold evenings)
• Hiking trousers or shorts
• Hiking socks (at least one spare pair)
• Spare underwear
• Camp shoes or sandals (optional but valuable for rest stops)
• Gloves (lightweight, packable)
• Hat or buff

Navigation

• OS map or printed map of your route (1:25k for UK upland)
• Compass
• Phone with downloaded offline map (as backup, not primary)
• Phone in waterproof case or dry bag
• Fully charged battery pack

Safety and emergency

• Headtorch and spare batteries (or USB-charged version with cable)
• First aid kit (blister supplies, wound dressings, pain relief, antihistamine)
• Emergency whistle (often on pack buckle — confirm yours is there)
• Emergency foil bivvy bag (flat-packed, single use)
• Personal medication
• Sun cream (even in overcast UK conditions at altitude)

Water

• Water bottles or reservoir (minimum 1.5–2 L capacity)
• Water filter or purification tablets
• Backup purification method for multi-day or remote routes

Food and cooking

• Stove (gas canister or meths)
• Gas canister (check level before departure)
• Lighter and backup matches (in a waterproof bag)
• Pot and lid (small single-person pot is usually enough)
• Spork or long spoon
• Mug or insulated cup
• Evening meal (one-pot or freeze-dried)
• Breakfast (porridge sachets, bars, or similar)
• Snacks for the approach and any walking the next day (bars, nuts, cheese, crackers)
• Salt and spices sachet (optional but improves morale)

Camp hygiene and leave no trace

• Small trowel or folding trowel (for waste burial where no facilities exist)
• Biodegradable toilet paper
• Small hand sanitiser or soap bar
• Rubbish bag (for all waste, including other people's if you find it)
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Microfibre towel

Admin and extras

• Cash and/or card (for emergencies, shops, or transport)
• Phone charger cable
• Notebook and pen (optional but useful for notes on the route)
• Camera or camera settings ready on phone
• Book or entertainment for the bivvy

Pre-departure checks

• Fully charged headtorch
• Stove fuel check
• Weather forecast downloaded or noted
• Overnight location confirmed against access rights
• Emergency contact knows your plan and expected return time
• Forecast low temperature vs sleeping bag rating reviewed

Reset all ticks