The first thing you might notice is how this particular packing list looks very different from my the ones I’ve created for my backcountry hiking trips. The reason for this shift is because I didn’t intend to camping a single night on the West Highland Way (WHW). Instead, I hiked this 96-mile trail in Scotland as an inn-to-inn trek.
When deciding what to pack and what gear to leave home, I initially tried to use last year’s Camino del Norte packing list as my template for the WHW. This seemed like a logical place to start, but it soon devolved for the following reasons:
- First, my WHW hike was bracketed by two other trips to Ireland and the UK. So I needed to pack for a 3-week long trip to Europe. And even though I planned to do some laundry along the way, I also needed to bring suitable clothing for a multiple activities, locations, and climates – not just an 8-day hike in Scotland.
- Second, I wouldn’t be carrying 100% of my gear on the WHW like I did on my two Camino treks, so I didn’t need to lighten my load as much as possible. Instead, I planned to use a daily baggage transfer service, which definitely led to more clothing and ‘luxury’ items ! (Though to be fair though, I did keep my total weight down to just under 12 kilos (~26 pounds) so I was nimble enough to carry everything on trains, on the Tube, etc.)
- Finally, I was hiking through the Scottish Highlands in early October. This is well into the WHW’s shoulder season – when the midges are long gone, but cooler days and rain are ever-present. Thus, I had to pack with lots of inclement weather in mind.
As you scroll down to the end of this packing list, I provide a discussion about what gear really worked for me on this hike (and what didn’t), as well as what I’d do differently if I were hiking the WHW all over again.
(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. )
Hiking items
- Daypack – Cotopaxi Batac 16 pack
- Pack’s Rain Protection – Sea to Summit dry bag (inside) + plastic rain poncho (worn over)
- Hydration– MiiR 850 ml metal water bottle
- First Aid Kit – Lamb’s wool, KT tape, compeed, bandaids, pain meds, allergy meds
- Headlamp – Nitecore NU25 headlamp (360 lumens)
- Water filter – Katadyn BeFree 1L filter/pouch
- Trail Hygiene – Kula cloth, TP, doggie poop bags
- Navigation – West Highland Way paper map (Footprint Maps) & FarOut App (digital guide)
HIKING CLOTHING
- Short Sleeve Tops – Patagonia capeline t-shirts (x2)
- Long Sleeve Layers – REI quarter-zip tech shirts (x2)
- Fleece – North Face microgrid fleece full-zip jacket
- Shorts – Patagonia baggies 5″ shorts
- Hiking Bottoms – Nike leggings (x 3)
- Underwear – REI Active Hipsters & Jockey bikini (x8)
- Bras – Patagonia Barely sports bras (x3)
Town Clothing
- Short Sleeve Tops – Icebreaker merino t-shirts (x3)
- Long Sleeve Top – REI half-zip 185 merino wool base layer
- Pants – OR Zendo hiking pants (x2)
- Lightweight Sweater – Eddie Bauer black cardigan sweater
- Scarf – Lightweight scarf purchased on Camino del Norte
- Sleep Clothes – Cotton t-shirt & plaid pajama pants
FOOTWEAR
- Hiking Socks – Injinji hiking socks (x1) + Smartwool hiking socks (x2)
- Shoes – Altra Lone Peak 5
- Gaiters – Dirty Girl gaiters
- Town Socks – Wool dress socks (x2) + Smartwool run socks (x2)
- Town shoes – Flip-flops and Rockport casual shoes
OUTERWEAR
- Puffy – Patagonia Nano Puff Jacket (without hood)
- Vest – Patagonia Nano Puff vest
- Wind jacket – Lightweight REI windjacket
- Rain Jacket – Patagonia Torrentshell 3L rain jacket
- Rain Pants – REI Junction cycling rain pants
- Hats – Headsweats Race hat (brimmed) & Kari Tara wool beanie
- Earband – Buff CoolNet UV+ multifunctional headband
- Gloves – Smartwool liner gloves
- Sunglasses – Tifosi sunglass
ELECTRONICS
- Phone/camera – iPhone XR (256GB)
- Earbuds – Apple Airpods
- Watch – Timex Ironman watch
- E-reader/Entertainment – iPad Mini
- Laptop – MacBook Air laptop with mouse
- External battery – Slim 5000 mAh external battery with UBS-C cable
- Power adapter – Saunorch Universal Travel Power Adapter with USB charging cables (x2)
- Electronics Storage – Sea to summit Ultra-Sil Dry Sack (size: XXS)
HYGIENE ITEMS
- Toiletry Storage – Eagle Creek Pack-It toiletry kit
- Towel – Microfiber PackTowel (size 10″x14″)
- Shower items – Travel shampoo, soap, razor
- Dental Care – Travel toothbrush/toothpaste + floss
- Vision – Disposable contacts (x14 day supply), monthly contacts (x1), saline & glasses
- Haircare – Comb & hair paste
- Make-up– Eyeliner, mascara, chapstick
- Other toiletries – Nail clippers, tweezers, deodorant
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS
- Wallet – WEBO wallet (with ziplock for change)
- Personal items – Passport & ID, ATM/Credit card, Cash (£)
- Journal – Leuchterm1917 A5 softcover notebook + pen
- Books – paperback books (x3)
- Shopping Bag/Purse – Eco-Chic nylon shopping bag
- Luggage – Patagonia Black Hole duffel (55L)
Post-Hike Thoughts
Much of my gear on the WHW served me quite well. Yet as I reviewed my packing list in the weeks after I returned home, I found it easiest to summarize the noteworthy items of my gear in four categories:
- GOOD = gear that really made a huge difference in my overall comfort
- BAD = items on my packing list that were a flop on the WHW
- EXPENDABLE = items I carried only because I had a baggage transfer available
- GEAR TO CONSIDER = additional thoughts I had what to bring on a future WHW hike
The Good
What gear would I recommend to anyone telling me they were hiking the WHW? Below are the top 6 categories that I felt scored top marks on my trip.
- Lots of layers. If there was one benefit to having a baggage transfer service on the WHW, it was being able to pack more layers than I normally would bring on a typical backcountry hike. Weight wan’t the key deciding factor, my comfort was. In terms of my hiking clothes, I packed short sleeve technical shirts, long sleeve technical shirts, a puffy vest, a fleece full-zip jacket, a lightweight windbreaker, a puffy coat, a heavy rain coat, hiking leggings, and rain pants. And let me tell you, I wore a combination of each and every item during my hike through Scotland to stay dry and comfortable.
- More socks than normal. In addition to lots of layers, I also splurged with the number of socks I brought for this trip. Normally, I just rotate between 2 pairs of hiking socks and have 1 pair of dedicated town/sleep socks. But, using a baggage transfer service on the WHW gave me the latitude to pack heavier. I didn’t go overboard and pack a fresh pair of socks for each day, but I did rotate between 3 pairs of hiking socks, and then had 4 pairs of town/sleep socks (2 long, 2 short). Having a total of 7 pairs of socks meant I was always able to have a pair of dry socks.
- Lambs Wool. On the recommendation of my podiatrist, I recently started carrying lambs wool in my first aid kit to help with blister prevention. This item was a total game-changer for me! I tend to get friction blisters between my toes (hence the reason I love Injinji socks) and on the insides of my heels. But adding lambs wools to those areas as soon as I started feeling discomfort all but eliminated blisters from my various hikes this year. Lambs wool (sometimes referred to as ‘hikers wool’ in New Zealand) is essentially a lanolin-rich, soft wool fleece from the wool fibers of very young lambs (<7 months old). It provides extra cushioning on tender spots and wicks away moisture, while the lanolin soothes the affected area. And it’s a very budget-friendly solution. If you want to know more about using lambs wool on your feet, here’s a helpful podiatry link.
- Trail runners. I went back and forth for several days on whether to bring boots or my trail runners on this notoriously wet hike through Scotland. I knew my boots would keep my feet warmer and drier, but once they became totally saturated, they would take eons to dry out. And so, I decided to roll the dice and stick with my Altra Lone Peak trail runners. This turned out to be right call. The daytime temperatures on the WHW were fairly mild (50-60°F) so my feet weren’t ever freezing cold. And I never had an issue with my trail runners drying out over night – even at inns that didn’t have a dedicated drying room. Plus, less weight on my feet during my hike meant easier movement and a lower likelihood of injury.
- Robust rain gear. I live in the Pacific Northwest, so I own a lot of rain gear. Nevertheless, I usually try to pack the lightest rain gear I can get away with on my long-distance hikes and augment it with an umbrella. The WHW wasn’t the place to skimp on rain gear though. Scotland typically averages 5 and 6 inches of rain in October, and I knew my ultralight hiking rain jacket just wasn’t going to keep me stay dry and warm for hours (or days) in those conditions. Instead, I relied upon my the more durable Patagonia Torrentshell 3L and REI Junction Cycling Rain Pants to protect me from the elements (and I lined my daypack with a Sea to Summit dry bag too). My decision to “dress for dryness” fared extremely well, and I’d strongly recommend carrying the best rain gear your budget will allow on the WHW.
- Town shoes. I packed real town shoes on this trip – mostly for the other non-hiking parts of my trip in Europe. Yet given the amount of rain I experienced on the WHW, I’m so happy I had a solid pair of real town shoes instead my typical slip-on sandals. Each afternoon when I got to my lodging, I’d place my hiking shoes near the radiator so they could dry out before the next day’s hike. Then I was free to head off to dinner in the evening wearing a pair closed-toed sturdy shoes that would keep my feet dry and warm even when it was raining. And thanks to my baggage transfer service, I didn’t need to worry about the weight of my town shoes either .
- Shopping bag. One of the lessons from my prior European hikes is to bring a small packable nylon bag for your time in town. It works well as a carryall (purse) when going to dinner or breakfast. And it did double duty as my grocery bag when I stocked up with snacks for the hike – since all the shops and markets in Europe charge for single-use shopping bags. This little nylon bag weighs a meager 1.5 ounces, but it was one of the most useful items ever.
THE BAD
Now it’s time to move on to the gear that I’d 100% reconsider packing on the WHW. All of these items me unnecessary frustration, though often for very different reasons.
- My Daypack. I love my lightweight Cotopaxi 16L pack. It’s been my carry-on item on more flights than I can count, and I’ve used it on a number of short day hikes back home too. Thus, it seemed like the perfect item to bring as my daypack for the WHW. There was just one problem…the rain. Once I got out in the really heavy rain and the pack got drenched, the bright red fabric on the shoulder straps stained my white rain jacket. I tried to remedy the problem with an inexpensive plastic rain poncho, but that was a mistake too! The poncho kept some of the persistent Scottish rain from saturating my pack/shoulder straps, but this external layer was made from yellow plastic, and transferred (a second) unwanted color to my formerly white jacket. I felt as if I just could not win. Lesson learned: use a daypack that can withstand lots of rain.
- Mini Swiss Army Knife. Immediately before heading off to Europe, I took a flight to Houston to link up with my sister. I didn’t intended to check my luggage for this short, domestic flight; yet as I was packing my duffel, I totally forgot about my beloved tiny Swiss Army knife sitting inside my first aid kit. TSA wasn’t amused by this oversight. They flagged the item and removed it, and I was given very few options to remedy the problem in the 45 minutes before my flight was due to depart. My ride to the airport was already gone. And the expense of either: (a) mailing the knife home from the airport gift shop; or (b) checking my bag were both higher than buying a replacement. So I had to forfeit my awesome limited edition honeybee Swiss Army knife. This oversight (and subsequent loss) was a serious packing regret.
- Pajamas. Normally, when I’m out hiking a long-distance trail, every item needs to pull its weight in order to justify being carried it for miles on end. But I didn’t follow that same packing strategy on the WHW because I was paying for a transfer service to drive my duffel bag from inn-to-inn. And so, I packed several extra “luxury items,” including a pair of plaid pajama bottoms to sleep in. Looking back now, I mostly regret bringing these PJ bottoms. Yes, they were comfortable in my bed at night, but they were also the only long layer (other than my rain pants) that I had leftover to wear while I was doing laundry. In hindsight, I wish I’d just brought my soft-shell windpants instead. They would have been just as warm as PJ bottoms, but also suitable for being in public.
- Liner Gloves. Gloves are a tricky item for me to dial in for my hiking needs. Most of the time, I want to just wear some sort of lightweight fabric glove like my Sporthill running gloves or my thicker Smartwool liner gloves. But fabric gloves just don’t cut it in hours of consistent rain. After a while, they just ended up a soggy mess. Moreover, the heavy wool fabric of my Smartwool liner gloves didn’t ever seem to fully dry out, even when placed on the radiator overnight. If I were hiking the WHW again, I’d choose something more waterproof.
- Laptop. Ok, there’s no reason to bring a laptop on a hiking trip. The only reason I did so for the WHW is because (1) I was in the middle of a personal project and hoped to make some progress on, and (2) the WHW was part of a longer 3-week trip. Did I much get work done? Not really. I preferred to use my time each evening to read or just relax. This is one item on my packing list that I wouldn’t actually recommend anyone pack for the WHW. It caused me far more stress than necessary as I debated whether to let the baggage service transport it (and risk theft or damage) or lug it in my daypack wrapped in layer upon waterproof layer to keep it safe and 100% dry in the rain.
EXPENDABLE
And now we’re on to the gear that that I thought I would need, but which brought very little value to my WHW hike. None of these items resulted in major headaches or problems (list the gear listed above). They just weren’t all that useful. So if I were doing this hike again, I’d probably think twice about whether to add them to my bag.
- Books. I’m a voracious reader, and I expected to get lots of reading done on this trip. After all, I had soooo much travel time between the flights to/from London and on all my train rides. But my ambitions didn’t exactly match reality. I did finish several books during my European trip (1 paperback, 1 ebook, and 1 audiobook), but the two additional paperbacks I packed just turned into dead weight that got shuffled from inn-to-inn. If I were doing this hike again, I’d limit myself to one tangible book, and rely on audiobooks and/or ebooks for any additional reading material I might want.
- Towel. My two prior European hiking trips were on the Camino Frances (2018) and Camino del Norte (2022). During those treks across Spain, I stayed in albergues (hostels for pilgrims on the Camino) with shared shower facilities where I needed to have all my own toiletries and a towel. Yet on the WHW, I was mostly in inns or B&Bs with towels provided. Kingshouse was the only location where I stayed in a shared bunkroom, and I was able to add a hotel towel to my reservation for an extra £2. Consequently, I never actually used my microfiber PackTowel and I probably could have safely left it at home.
- Headlamp. Given the relatively modest mileage I was hiking each day (~12-15 miles) and Scotland’s extreme northern latitude, I never once needed to begin/end my hike in darkness. There was nearly 12 hours of daylight each day of this early autumn thru-hike. Once I got into the small towns, everything was pretty much a stone’s throw away. So a headlamp was superfluous. If I’m being honest though, I’d probably still pack a headlamp anyway (just like I packed a water filter that I never needed). But it wasn’t a strictly necessary gear item on this inn-to-inn hike.
- Shorts. My Patagonia Baggies shorts were another wholly unnecessary item for my early autumn European trip. None of the days I was in Scotland, Ireland, or the UK was so warm that I needed to break them out. The only use they held was during my two day layover in Houston (on the front end of my trip) when it was still 90°F degrees there. Mostly though, these shorts were just dead weight in my bag.
- Lightweight Cardigan & Scarf. The Scottish countryside is a very casual place. There’s no need to pack anything dressy for your time in town. Almost everyone I encountered was wearing outdoor gear, and all my meals were in pubs or local restaurants catering to hikers on the WHW. The only reason I packed these two clothing items was for my time in London, so I had a couple of nicer looking pieces (read: non-hiking attire) when heading to museums, out to restaurant, and so on. Did I need these items for the WHW though? Absolutely NOT!
- Sunglasses. After accidentally forgetting to pack my sunglasses for my thru-hike on Arizona’s Highline Trail last April, I refused to make the same mistake twice. I knew the WHW trail traversed the very exposed Scottish Highlands, and I was certain I’d need something to block the sunshine. Sadly though, my sunglasses never left my daypack. October in Scotland seemed to be mostly gray skies and a lot of rain. Would I still bring them? Almost certainly. Were they useful? No.
- Sandals. I hate going barefoot in communal showers. I worry other people’s foot fungus will give me the cooties, so I always pack a pair of casual sandal to avoid this issue. Honestly though, I didn’t wear my sandals once on this trip. I wasn’t staying in hostels or albergues with shared accommodations, like on the Camino de Santiago. I always stayed in inns or B&Bs on the WHW. So, despite their slim proportions and weight, these shoes just weren’t necessary and they could have remained back at home.
GEAR TO CONSIDER
One final category that I feel compelled to add to this gear list includes items I didn’t take with me on my WHW, but would absolutely consider bringing if were hiking it in the future.
- Midge protection. My hike on the WHW took place in early October, so I was able to avoid the dreaded biting midges. If I were hiking this trail between May and early September though, I’d undoubtedly carry something to deal with this annoying insects – including a bug headnet and some sort of spray-on protection. Avon Skin So Soft with picaradin seemed to the one that most locals recommended.
- Boots. Ok, I know I said I was happy with my decision to hike with trail runners on the WHW. And I am. But I might change my mind if I was hiking a bit further into the off-season or during a particularly wet spring. There is no way around getting your feet wet on a lot of sections of trail where the water runs right across it. So, if the daytime temperatures are forecasted to be cooler than 50°F or you are hiking in the wake of an extra wet rainy season, boots might be worth it. And make sure you ask your evening accommodations about the availability of a drying room (a dedicated warm room with a commercial dehumidifier) to maximize your chance of your boots drying overnight.
Final Thoughts
There you have it! Everything you could want to know about my packing list for my 2023 autumn hike on the West Highland Way. Have you hiked the WHW too? If so, what gear did you love (or regret) on your trek? Leave me a comment and share your insights.
And if you’re interested in reading what my journey through the Scottish Highlands was really like (warts and all), check out my West Highland Way page or read my day-by-day trail journal.