PACKLIST
CHECKLIST
CLOTHES
3x T-shirts (preferably merino)
1x Fleece / Technical sweater
1x Down jacket (depending on the period/weather)
1x Technical rain jacket (Hardshell with a water resistance of at least 20,000 mm A raincoat will not be enough)
1x Walking pants and 1x shorts (quick drying)
1x Rain pants (with a water resistance of at least 20,000 mm A raincoat will not be enough)
Underwear (not cotton)
Hiking socks
1x Swimsuit (you can swim at the first (optional) and last hotel)
HYGIENE + FIRST AID
Toiletry bag (basic items as small and light as possible)
Lip balm
Hand sanitizer
Sunscreen 30+
Medication + manual
Toilet paper (1 roll)
First aid kit (with adhesive bandages, sports tape and emergency blanket)
Shampoo (small), toothbrush and toothpaste
max 100-150 ml
Plasters for blisters
Mosquito repellent spray
SHOES + BAG
High-top hiking shoes type A/B minimum
Flip-flops (for evening)
Large backpack 40 - 60L
Waterproof cover for the backpack
OTHER MATERIAL
Hat or cap for the sun Sunglasses (category 3 minimum)
Headlamp (crossing tunnels)
Camelbag/3L water bottle (or 3x 1L)
Walking poles (highly recommended!)
Waterproof bags to pack your belongings + 1
garbage bag for the day's waste
Adhesive tape for small repairs
Identity card/passport, health insurance card, bank card
Healthy snacks on the go, for example: Granola bars, dried fruits, nuts (rich in protein and carbohydrates)-> important
THE LITTLE EXTRAS (OPTIONAL)
Camera/camera/Gopro
Some cash
Chewable sugar (eg Dextro energy) and electrolyte for your water (optional, but recommended)
HADEX water purification drops or tablets, there is always clean water available at every accommodation
Thermos
Games for the evening
1 T-shirt or warm thermal sweater (If you are chilly for the refuge)
Mug or reusable cup
Portable battery, if your phone runs out quickly (you will have access to electricity every evening)
Microfiber towel for the day (you receive a towel every evening, except at the refuge)
*for more details on the material, read our advice on the following pages!
**for ecological reasons, print only this page if you want a paper format
SOME TIPS TO PREPARE YOURSELF WELL
PREPARE YOUR BACKPACK
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT
For this trek, here is what we recommend in terms of dimensions and weight for your bag:
Size: 40 - 60L Maximum weight: 12 kg with water and lunch of the day
As there is no luggage transport on this trek, remember to only take the essentials so as not to overload your back
ADDITIONAL TIPS
Not sure if you want to bring walking poles? Bring them or rent them through us, even if you are an experienced hiker, as it will help you greatly throughout the hike
TIPS FOR PREPARATION
Put on your heavy clothing and mountain shoes before setting off
Take as much as possible (in a small bag) on the plane including your jacket, rain pants, warm sweater and gloves If your backpack doesn't arrive, you will at least have the most important equipment with you!
Attach your hiking poles to the outside of your backpack, cover it with your rain cover and write your name on the outside of your backpack (cover) If there is no protection at the base of your hiking poles, we recommend wrapping them with adhesive tape This way, you will not damage other luggage during the flight
Leave unnecessary luxuries at home (books, hair dryers, fancy toiletries)
Do not wear jeans and as little cotton clothing as possible, as they stay damp for a long time and are heavy Place heavy items at the bottom of your backpack for more balance on your back
TAKE CARE OF YOUR FEET
You need waterproof mountain boots of type A/B or B/C You can find some with a waterproof membrane like "GoreTex" If the soles have a yellow Vibram logo, this is also a guarantee of quality
YOU
STILL HAVE
SHOES
OF ALMOST NEW HIKES IN YOUR CLOSET, BUT YOU'VE BARELY USED THEM?
Shoes often dry out when not used for a long time This can lead to the shoes becoming fragile Are you not sure whether your shoes are still suitable for a long hike? Have them checked in a specialist shop such as AS-Adventure, treat them with Nikwax beforehand and walk in them before setting off on the Madeira Trek
DO YOU HAVE OLD HIKING BOOTS?
Check if there is still enough profile under the shoe, treat them beforehand with a spray or wax
You need to have a space of +/- 05 cm at the front of the shoe in front of your toes: Your feet swell as you walk Make sure your shoes are not too big, your feet would slide too much and this would cause blisters
Leather walking shoes are not necessarily waterproof, especially if they have not been properly maintained If you have any doubts, check with an outdoor specialist
More information on how to choose your hiking shoes here
DID YOU KNOW?
With good hiking boots, you can walk up to 1500 km before needing to replace them Of course, it also depends on what you do with them and how you maintain them
6 TIPS TO AVOID BLISTERS
1 Walk in your hiking shoes several times before you set off
2 Two weeks before departure, use a special foot cream or spray to firm up the skin on your feet
3 Choose quality hiking socks that fit correctly
4 Use talcum powder before you start walking to keep your feet dry for as long as possible
5 Change socks along the way to keep your feet dry and reduce the risk of blisters You can use the talcum powder again
6 Protect sensitive areas with sports tape
Are you prone to blisters? Then don't forget to take "Skin-On-Skin Hydrogel" hydrogel treatments with you
GOOD WALKING SOCKS CAN KEEP YOU FROM GETTING BLISTERS!
Good hiking socks (ideally merino wool) with a seamless toe offer optimum comfort Socks should best meet the following requirements:
Keeps feet dry; heat and moisture dissipate easily Good shock absorption and good blood circulation in the calves
More information on choosing socks
ALSO BRING:
Flip-flops to air your feet in the evening
T-SHIRTS AND JACKETS
The warmest garment is the one in which air is retained, also called thermal insulation For example, a warm down coat is sometimes even made up of 80% air! It is important to work in layers, so that you can remove or put one back on if necessary It is very important here to properly evacuate sweat to the outside
Water forms a thermal bridge between the skin and the environment, as it is a good conductor of temperature Your body temperature will therefore drop very quickly if your bottom layer is wet from sweat Wet clothing also causes the perceived temperature to drop very quickly, as the perceived temperature is the actual temperature in combination with wind and sun (or lack of wind/sun)
DID YOU KNOW?
Soaked clothing in a 40 km/h wind has a 95% lower thermal capacity. It is therefore important to keep your underwear dry!
LAYER 1: THE UNDERLAYER
Don’t buy clothes that are too tight on the body, because you will probably wear layers underneath Good materials for your outer layer are for example jackets with a Gore-tex membrane, where water droplets cannot pass through, but your sweat in the form of vapor can You can also opt for jackets with a different membrane, the important thing is the size of the pores, which determines the waterproofness and breathability
PURPOSE: Thermal: Evacuate sweat and keep the body dry.
Thermal T-shirt (eg merino wool, polypropylene or polyester) Merino wool is as warm or warmer than regular wool, but much more comfortable AND you can wear it for a whole week without any unpleasant odor due to its antibacterial capabilities
LAYER 2: THE MIDDLE LAYER
PURPOSE: Drainage of perspiration + insulation and heat supply
Technical sweater / fleece vest (not cotton) Avoid something too warm that will make you sweat more
LAYER 3: THE TOP LAYER
PURPOSE: To wick moisture from perspiration into the external environment, to protect underlying layers from wind and rain.
Technical rain jacket, hard shell type (waterproof and windproof), preferably with a minimum water column of around 20,000 mm
If you are sensitive to the cold, you can also take a down or fleece jacket for the evening or during breaks
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