About a year ago, I decided to experiment with my inn-to-inn packing list. I’d just finished reading Glen Van Peski’s book, Take More, Do Less, which inspired me to pare down my gear to the essentials for the Camino Portugués. My overall assessment of this lighter packing list was favorable. It wasn’t 100% perfect (because nothing ever is), and it’s very different than my typical backpacking gear lists. But I was sold on the idea of packing lighter on my future European inn-to-inn treks.
Fast forward to this European walk, a 430-kilometer section of Via Francigena in Italy in April 2025. Once again, I was embarking on a springtime hike, where cooler days, rain, and unpredictability were on the horizon. Rather than fret about shifting seasons and overpacking, I embraced my inner GVP (Glen Van Peski) and tried to pack light again.
Scroll down to the end of this packing list, to see: (1) my MVP gear items for the Via Francigena; (2) what items I deliberately left at home; (3) my opinion on some new gear I tried during this trek; and (4) the three things I should have left at home.
(Note: I publish my packing list after each hike because I think there’s value in seeing what gear other hikers actually used, liked, or disliked on a particular thru-hike. NONE of the hyperlinks in this post are affiliate links. They are merely provided as a quick reference for the reader. Any item with an asterisk * is a new gear item for this trek)
HIKING ITEMS
- Backpack – Gossamer Gear G4-20 pack (42L/frameless pack)
- Rain protection– Sea to Summit Pack Cover (size: small)
- Hydration– 1L plastic bottle w/ sport cap
- First Aid Kit – Lamb’s world, some Compeed patches/bandaids, Tylenol, allergy medicine
- Hygiene – Kula Cloth, plus doggie poop bags and a small bit of TP
CLOTHING
- Hiking Shirt* – Jolly Gear Triple Crown button down
- Hiking Shorts – Patagonia baggies 5″ shorts
- Underwear – Jockey seamless bikini underwear (x4)
- Bras – Branwyn merino wool bralette (x2)
- Town Shirts – Icebreaker merino wool t-shirt & black tank top
- Hiking/Town Pants* – Outdoor Research Ferrosi Pants
- Sleep Clothes – Icebreaker 150 short-sleeve base layer top & Patagonia wind pant
FOOTWEAR
- Hiking Socks – Smartwool running socks (x3)
- Shoes* – Topo Athletic Ultraventure 4 trail running shoes
- Town shoes – Crocs Swiftwater sandals
OUTERWEAR
- Fleece jacket* – Patagonia R1 Air full-zip fleece hoody
- Rain jacket – Patagonia Torrentshell 3L rain jacket
- Rain pains – REI Junction cycling rain pants
- Rain gloves* – Outdoor Research Helium rain mitts
- Gloves – Some generic knit gloves
- Hat – Headsweats Race hat
- Earband/Buff– Buff CoolNet UV+ multifunctional headband
- Sunglasses – Tifosi Swank running sunglass
ELECTRONICS
- Phone/camera – iPhone
- Earbuds – Apple Airpods
- Watch* – Garmin Forerunner 165 (with charging cable)
- E-reader/Entertainment – iPad Mini 4
- External battery – Slim 5000 mAh external battery
- Power adapter* – 220V plug with 2 USB ports, plus 4-in-1 braided charging cables
- Headlamp – Nitecore NU25 headlamp (360 lumens)
- Electronics Storage – Ziplock baggie
HYGIENE
- Toiletry Storage – Kavu toiletry bag
- Towel – Nomadix ultralight quick-dry towel (size: 54″ x30″)
- Shower items – Travel shampoo, soap, disposable razor
- Dental Care – Travel toothbrush/toothpaste + floss
- Vision – Disposable contact lenses & glasses
- Haircare – Comb, mini hair clip, leave-in conditioner
- Skin care/makeup– chapstick, sunscreen, mascara, deodorant
Ostello / Hospitale STUFF
- Sleep sack – Sea to Summit reactor sleeping bag liner
- Pillow case* – Therm-a-rest trekker pillow case
- Laundry – safety pins (x2), clothespins (x2), Laundry soap sheets*
- Massage ball – Rawology cork ball
- Eating – Plastic utensils
- Shopping Bags – reusable nylon bag + UL grocery bag
PERSONAL ITEMS
- Fanny pack – Cotopaxi 1.5 L Del Dia hipack
- Wallet – WEBO wallet
- Personal items – Passport/ID, ATM/Credit card, Euros
- Pilgrim items – Pilgrim credenziale for daily stamps along the Via Francigena
- Journal – Field Notes pocket-size (5.5″x 3.5″) notebook + pen
- Guidebook* – Walking the Via Francigena (Cicerone)
MVP ItemS
Some pieces of gear are so useful that you wonder how you ever made do without them. This was the case for two items on my list for the Via Francigena.
- Braided 4-in-1 cable. One modern-day challenge with communal, dorm-style lodging is the limited number of power outlets for pilgrims to recharge their electronic devices. To avoid monopolizing any shared outlets, I’ve always traveled with a 220V-USB charger with multiple USB ports. However, I discovered an even better solution this winter: a 4-in-1 braided charging cable. This cable has a single USB port on one end spliced into four cables (two USB-C, one Lightning, and one USB-micro) on the opposite end. Such a simple solution to the charging conundrum, and each cable is color-coded! Talk about genius! Verdict: 👍👍
- Airalo eSIM. Before 2024, I never traveled with a local SIM card in my phone. I looked forward to unplugging from the world while I walked. And free wifi in European bars, hostels, and albergues was always plentiful enough to meet my needs. However, it’s become less feasible to rely solely on Wi-Fi. More navigation tools require an online connection, and there’s a growing need to make reservations to ensure lodging is available each night. I used the Arialo eSim on my Via Francigena trek, and life was so much easier. I am a convert! Verdict: 👍👍
GEAR I DIDN’T PACK
To lighten the load on this Italian trek, I left several items at home. Glen Van Peski probably would have cut out even more of the gear on my list. But I felt like I made some good choices, including the following gear:
- Trekking poles. TSA won’t allow trekking poles through security in your carry-on luggage. But even if they’d been allowed, I still would have left my trekking poles behind. A few weeks before my departure, I had carpal tunnel release surgery. So, using trekking poles wasn’t a wise option until my hand and wrist were fully healed. Hiking without any poles on the Via Francigena wasn’t a deal-breaker. Sure, there were some steep climbs and descents, especially heading into the medieval walled cities perched atop high hills (I’m looking at you, Radicofani). However, leaving my trekking poles at home didn’t really slow me down.
- Ibuprofen. Ibruprofen is a great over-the-counter medication for pain or inflammation, and it has been a mainstay item in my first aid kit for 20+ years. However, one of the key lifestyle changes I needed to make after donating my left kidney six months ago was to abstain from ibuprofen for the rest of my life. That also meant it was time to overhaul my first aid kit and swap this pain medicine out for the more “kidney-friendly” acetaminophen (Tylenol) or paracetamol (Panadol).
- Gaiters. I’m a huge fan of running gaiters. You won’t find me on any backcountry trail without them. But after hiking without gaiters on the Camino Portugués last spring, I decided this item just wasn’t necessary on anything resembling the Camino. That assessment doesn’t mean I won’t ever pack them on a European trail. My Dirty Girl gaiters are still 100% on my packing list for my upcoming Tour du Mont Blanc trip in September 2025. But they will continue to remain home on less rugged European walks.
- Puffy jacket. Another item that I take on every backcountry hike is my Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer down puffy jacket. It’s lightweight, warm, and makes for a perfect pillow when I’m sleeping in my tent. However, I swapped it out for my Patagonia R1 Air full-zip fleece hoody for this adventure. This decision was largely driven by my desire for an in-town layer that I could wash, if needed.
- Swiss Army Knife. I love my mini Swiss Army knife. It’s the perfect size and has a small 1-inch blade, nail file, and scissors. However, like my trekking poles, I had to cut it from my packing list so I could avoid having any checked luggage. C’est la vie.
NEW Hiking Gear FOR THIS Trail
- Shoes. The Via Francigena isn’t a backcountry trail. It’s a mix of dirt paths, cobblestone lanes, sidewalks, and asphalt roads. As a result, I wanted to try a more cushioned shoe, such as the Topo Athletic Ultraventure 4 trail running shoe. This durable trail shoe features a Vibram sole, a wide toe box (similar to my beloved Altra Lone Peak shoes), and significantly more cushioning than the typical trail runner. I loved the extra cushion these shoes provided. However, I did have one BIG issue. The inside collar of both shoes split open after only 100 miles, and I had to repair the fraying fabric with dental floss. Additionally, my heels wore giant holes on the inside of the shoes. Both of these problems could have been unique to my gait or fit. Were these good-quality trail shoes? 100% Yes. However, I don’t experience these issues with my Lone Peaks, so perhaps Altras are a better fit for me and my long-distance hiking needs. Verdict: 👎
- Hiking shirt. This past Christmas, my husband bought me the Triple Crown button down hiking shirt from Jolly Gear. This sunshirt resembles a typical long-sleeved, collared shirt, but with some hiker-friendly features. The fabric is a lightweight, wicking polyester/nylon blend with a UPF 30 rating. There’s a sun hood that tucks away when you want to look less like a hiker and more like a tourist. I especially LOVED the zipper pockets on the chest, which allowed me to carry my wallet on my body at all times instead of digging it out of my pack whenever I stopped for coffee or a bite to eat. This shirt was warm enough for my cooler mornings, and it dried super quickly on my sweatier days. My only complaint is that it retains odor (like all technical fabrics), so it needs to be washed frequently. Verdict: 👍
- Hiking/Town Pants. I have a love-hate relationship with hiking pants. I don’t like how most hiking pants fit or move with my body, but I wanted something nicer than my typical Nike running tights to wear in town each day. My compromise was the Ferrosi Pants by Outdoor Research. They were lightweight, quick-drying, technical hiking pants that fit me like a dream. The pockets are perfectly sized, and there weren’t any extra annoying zippers (because I loathe convertible zip-off pants). In the end, I never actually wore them while hiking. Most of the days in Italy were warm enough that shorts were fine, so these pants were reserved for my time in town. Yet I still think they were the perfect pick for this adventure. Verdict: 👍
- Garmin GPS watch. I generally believe simpler is better. That’s why the Timex Ironman transit watch is my default watch for long-distance hikes. It’s dependable and durable, and runs on a battery that never needs recharging. However, the Via Francigena isn’t a typical backcountry trek. I planned to spend the night indoors every night and would have access to power outlets. So, I threw caution to the wind and swapped out my simple hiking watch for my Garmin Forerunner 165 GPS watch. The biggest benefit of wearing this watch was my ability to monitor and record my distances daily. I know it’s a nerdy reason, but I am 100% a nerd. Verdict: 👍
- Laundry detergent. Another new item I carried on this pilgrimage was laundry detergent sheets. I typically wash my laundry by hand each night and supplement it with a trip to the laundromat every 4 or 5 days. Some European laundromats include detergent with each wash, while other laundromats (and hostels) require you to bring your own laundry soap. Rather than worry about buying soap, I packed a few Arm & Hammer laundry detergent soap sheets in a ziplock baggie. These sheets were lightweight, and my laundry loads were small enough that I only needed a half sheet for each wash. Verdict: 👍
3 Items Not WORth their weight
- Via Francigena Guidebook. I don’t typically carry guidebooks on my hikes. As a general rule, they are too bulky and too heavy to be worth the weight. But, as I planned this trek, I realized I needed more information than the blogs and free resources I could find online. The top book for the Lucca to Rome section is the Cicerone guidebook. Unfortunately, it was not cheap ($28), and the ebook version was equally expensive ($26.50). I ultimately purchased the print version, but this was a mistake. To keep this guidebook compact and lightweight, Cicerone Press printed it in 2-point font. Seriously, the font on this book is so tiny that it’s barely readable to my 50-year-old eyes. And at 7.4 ounces (nearly half a pound), I regretted carrying this book every day! I wish I’d purchased the e-book instead. Verdict: 👎
- Rain mitts. When I did my last springtime hike in Europe (the Camino Portugués), I only packed a pair of lightweight knit gloves to keep my hands warm. And after seven consecutive days of rain, I had to resort to a pair of thin, plastic, food-handling gloves (snagged from the bakery section of a grocery store) to keep my hands warm and dry. Thus, when packing for the Via Francigena, I brought my Outdoor Research Helium rain mitts. At 2.2 ounces, they are super lightweight and far more durable than those free food-handling gloves. However, I only wore them once on the Via Francigena, so I’m not sure GVP would say they were essential. Verdict: 👎
- Pillow case. Another backpacking item I should have left at home was my Therm-a-rest stuffable pillowcase. I love this item in the backcountry. You simply shove your puffy coat inside it, and you have the perfect backcountry pillow. But I don’t know why I thought I needed it on this Italian trek. I had a bed and a real pillow every night. It was 2.3 ounces of dead weight. I’m blaming my decision to pack this item on brain fog. Verdict: 👎
Final Thoughts
In the end, I was pretty happy with my Via Frangicena packing list. This was my first time hiking in Italy, so there were some big unknowns. What would the weather be like in April? Would there be laundromats along my route? Would this be similar to the Camino de Santiago, or a very different hiking experience?
My advice to future pilgrims is this. If you’re on the fence about whether to pack a “just in case” item, I’d recommend leaving it at home. The Via Francigena passes through a few bigger towns where you can purchase extra gear, if needed. Be thoughtful about what you pack because more weight inside your pack equals less comfort while walking. I saw some pilgrims with enormous backpacks, but you need less than you think.
If you’d like to see how this packing list measures up to some of my other European hikes, check out the following links:
- My Camino Portugués Packing List
- My West Highland Way Packing List
- My Camino del Norte Packing List
- My Tour du Mont Blanc Packing List
If you’re curious to see how the Via Francigena compares to the Camino de Santiago, follow the link below to my post on the 11 key differences between these two European pilgrimage routes. To read more about my day-to-day experiences on Via Francigena, follow the link to my trail journal for my walk from Lucca to Rome.
