What does one bring for a self-powered journey across an entire country? One of the absolute best parts of Wainwright’s Coast to Coast Walk is the ever-changing landscapes it traverses. That type of variety can make packing a little tricky, though. What you might need during a rainstorm in the Lakes District is quite different from what you’ll require on a sunny day in the Yorkshire Dales.
However, before you go packing a rucksack bigger than you are, remember the golden rule of backpacking: keep it as light as possible! Carrying minimal weight is one of the best things you can do to ensure you enjoy your trip to the fullest.
So how does one strike that elusive balance between having all of the necessities without feeling like they have a baby elephant on their back? Read on for our best advice and detailed kit lists to learn everything you need (and everything you don’t) to have your best possible Coast to Coast Walk!
In this post:
- Coast to Coast Packing Basics
- Personal Gear
- Miscellaneous Gear
- Women’s Clothing
- Men’s Clothing
- Camping Gear
- Hostel/Bunkhouse Gear
Packing Basics for the Coast to Coast Walk
There are so many variables when it comes to packing for the Coast to Coast Walk, such as accommodation type, hiking style, trip length, baggage transfers, time of year, and many more. Every hiker will have a unique kit to best serve their individual needs. Even though you are a special, one-of-a-kind snowflake, there is some universal gear wisdom that applies to all Coast to Coast Walkers.
How Much Should My Pack Weigh?
This isn’t easy to answer, since there are a ton of factors that influence how much is too much for any individual hiker. Some things to think about…
- How fast are you hoping to hike? Generally speaking, lighter=faster
- Have you completed a multi-day through hike with this specific backpack and this amount of weight before?
- Are you injury-prone or do you have any chronic knee, hip, or back issues?
As a very general rule, campers should keep their pack weight below 13kg, including food and water. Those staying indoors should carry no more than 9kg. If having your luggage transferred along the trail, most transfer services will limit you to 20kg, and your daypack shouldn’t exceed 4kg. If you are backpacking for the first time or have a chronic injury, the weight of your pack should be significantly less than these guidelines.
Generally speaking, less is more. Here’s a few tips for lightening your load:
- You only need a couple of shirts. Same goes for underwear and socks. Bring quick-dry items that you can rinse out in the sink or shower.
- Plan out when/where you’ll restock food provisions and don’t carry more food than you need.
- Consider leaving your bulky camera equipment at home. Unless photography is your passion, most smartphones take great photos and save a ton of space and weight.
Choosing a backpack for the Coast to Coast
Just like with footwear, a properly fitting backpack is crucial on the Coast to Coast walk. Also similar to your boots, your pack needs to be broken in for optimal comfort. We recommend carrying a weighted pack on your training walks to get used to the extra weight and ensure it fits well.
If you plan on staying in B&B’s along the route, you won’t need a very large rucksack. A 25-liter pack should be enough to hold a few clothing items, food, water, and toiletries.
Those staying in dorms and bunkhouses will most likely need to carry a sleeping bag and towel. A 30-40L pack will be more than enough space for everything you need.
If you plan on camping, you’ll need a larger pack to fit your tent, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, and cooking equipment in addition to your basic supplies. A 45-60L pack will be suitable for most campers.
Last but not least, don’t forget to bring a pack cover to protect against rain! Many newer packs come with one built-in.
Footwear on the Coast to Coast
Taking care of your feet is of the utmost important on a long-distance walk like the C2C. Blisters, chafing, and other ailments can completely sabotage your experience, and the Coast to Coast’s wide range of underfoot conditions and wet environments can increase your risk of issues. The right shoes and socks can make all the difference.
Hiking boots, hiking shoes, and trail running shoes will all work for the Coast to Coast Walk, provided that they will work for your unique needs. The most important thing is that they’re adequately broken in and that you’ve tested them on multiple walks to ensure they are comfortable.
In terms of waterproofing, there are two opposing schools of thought about this. It is inevitable that your feet will get wet at multiple points along your walk, from driving rains, flooded paths, bogs, and so on. Many hikers prefer to use sturdy boots with a thick layer of waterproofing to keep the moisture out as much as possible. This is a good strategy, but keep in mind that when these heavier shoes get wet they can take a long time to dry. Other prefer to use breathable trail shoes. These will get wet right away, but they’ll also be dry again within a couple hours and allow your feet to get some air in the meantime. It’s totally a matter of personal preference, but it’s a good idea to try a few options out prior to setting off on your C2C journey.
Good socks are also a game-changer on the Coast to Coast. We love merino wool socks like these for their comfort, breathability, and anti-stink qualities.
If you’re blister-prone, consider trying toe socks, sock liners, and/or body glide.
Good Waterproofs
There’s no such thing as bad weather, just bad rain gear! You will undoubtedly face plenty of wet days on your Coast to Coast, so good waterproofs are an important investment.
At the very minimum, make sure you have a lightweight rain jacket, rain pants, and a pack cover. Some hikers pack their clothing and other items inside trash bags or waterproof packing cubes as an extra precaution. A hat can be nice to keep the rain out of your face. A waterproof carrying case for your map and/or phone isn’t a bad idea either. Finally, many walkers like to use gaiters for especially boggy or flooded areas.
Personal Gear
Whether you’re camping or staying indoors, these items are must-haves for your Coast to Coast Walk packing list. While we’ve included some toiletries that are absolutely essential for this trek, we’ve left it up to you to determine your own list of additional self-care items (comb, toothbrush, prescription medication, etc).
Most Valuable Personal Item: Sea to Summit Ultra-SIL Dry Sack
The Coast to Coast Walk passes through some of the rainiest parts of England, so it’s pretty much inevitable that you’ll do some wet walking at one point or another. Walking in a downpour? Kind of fun. Getting to your destination and not having dry clothes to change into? The worst. Even with a pack cover, sustained walking in drenching conditions can penetrate your bag. You’ll be glad you took the extra step to protect clothes, bedding, and electronics.
| Item | Our recommended gear | |
|---|---|---|
| Multi-tool | Gerber Suspension Multi-Plier | Perfect for cutting cheese and bread when you need some trail-side snacks! |
| First-aid kit | Adventure Medical Kits | A good backpacking first aid kit is essential. You hope to never have to use it, but will be glad you have it when you need it. |
| Hydration bladder | Platypus 3L Hydration Bladder | Way easier than a water bottle! We suggest carrying a 3 liter version. |
| Small day-pack | Cotopaxi Luzon 18L Daypack | Optional item that is great for walking around town. |
| Pack-cover | Sea to Summit Pack cover | This is a truly essential piece of gear given how hard it can rain on the Coast to Coast Walk! |
| Men's backpack | Osprey Atmos 65L | While backpacks are a very personal item, we find Osprey to make by far the most comfortable packs on the market. |
| Women's backpack | Osprey Aura 65L | One of our favorite features of Osprey packs is the 'anti-gravity' mesh. So comfortable! |
| Trekking poles | Black Diamond Trail Trekking Poles | These can help take the load off your knees and they're great on steep sections. |
| Travel towel | Sea to Summit Drylite Towel | Great to have in hostels and campsite showers. |
| Headlamp | Black Diamond Storm Headlamp | Great headlamp with long battery life and adjustable brightness. |
| Dry bags | Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil dry bags | Keeps your clothes and other items dry in a downpour! |
| Hiking gaiters | Outdoor Research Rocky Mountain High Gaiters | Optional. These will help keep your boots dry when walking on muddy or boggy trails. |
| Sunscreen | We recommend a waterproof sport version with SPF 30 or higher. | |
| Bug spray | Ben's Insect Repellent | You'll be glad you brought this when the midges come out. |
| Toilet paper | As any hiker will tell you, it's always better to be prepared! Plus, not all of the bathrooms you'll find along the C2C provide toilet paper. |
Miscellaneous Gear
These odds and ends are the unsung heroes of any Coast to Coast Walk packing list. From getting your stinky shirt clean to keeping your phone charged, these items help your trek run smoothly. Make sure to use this list in addition to the other categories to complete your Coast to Coast kit.
Most valuable miscellaneous gear: Anker Powercore 10000.
Chances are, you’re getting out on the trail to get a break from the constant demands of screens and technology and that’s wonderful. However, don’t underestimate the importance of having a charged cell phone on the Coast to Coast Walk. Your phone can be your navigational device, your camera, your guidebook, and your notepad all in one. Charging opportunities can be unreliable along the route, so a battery backup can be an absolute lifesaver. This one is dependable, relatively small, and can fully charge your phone 1.5-2 times between charges. Check it out here:
| Item | Our recommended gear | |
|---|---|---|
| Guidebook | Trailblazer or Ciccerone | We think Trailblazer's guide is better overall, but the Ciccerone book is available as an eBook, handy for lightweight packing. |
| Ear plugs | Mack's Earplugs | Essential for getting a good night's sleep! |
| Sleeping mask | Alaska Bear Sleeping Mask | Perfect to block out light while sleeping in hostels or campgrounds on the Coast to Coast Walk. |
| Travel adapter | All-in-one Travel Adapter | Great for all of your travels. |
| Digital watch | Casio digital watch | We recommend a simple digital watch to keep track of hiking times. |
| Camera | Sony a5100 mirrorless camera | Ian loves his Sony mirrorless camera! |
| Battery backup | Anker PowerCore 10000 | Great for charging electronics when you don't have access to an outlet. |
| Biodegradable soap | Sierra Dawn Campsuds Outdoor Soap | Perfect for doing the dishes or washing a few clothing items. |
| Plastic Bags- quart, gallon, and garbage bags. | We used these constantly for everything from storing trail mix to keeping our sleeping bags dry. A must-have for backpacking. |
Women’s Clothing
When you’re wearing the same clothes for two weeks in various weather conditions and while doing some serious walking, it is imperative that those clothes are comfortable and high quality. Although your individual preferences may look a little different, this list is an excellent starting point to ensure you’ve got all the essentials for your Coast to Coast Walk. Plus, if you’re anything like us, you have no idea how many pairs of socks to bring. This list is also a handy (and experience-backed) guideline for quantities of items such as shirts and socks.
Emily’s most valuable clothing item: Columbia Storm Surge Rain Pants
English weather is temperamental. You’ll get to experience a wide range of elements (rain, sun, wind, etc), often all in one day! For the times when the weather turns, you’ll want to be able to quickly and effortlessly adapt your clothing to stay dry and comfortable. These Columbia rain pants are simple, effective, comfortable, and easy to get on and off over boots. Check them out here:
| Item | Our recommended gear | |
|---|---|---|
| Underwear (2-3 pairs) | ExOfficio Women's Underwear | Very packable and easy to wash on the go! |
| Socks (2-3 pairs) | Darn Tough Micro Crew Socks | In our opinion, these are the best hiking socks available. Your feet will thank you! |
| Sports Bra | Brooks Women's Rebound Racer Sports Bra | This is the most versatile, comfortable, and high-quality sports bra that Emily has found on the market. |
| Long sleeve base layer (1) | Smartwool Women's NTS Mid 250 Crew | A great merino wool base layer for chilly mornings. |
| Short sleeve hiking shirt (3) | Smartwool Women's Merino Short Sleeve | Merino wool is perfect for backpacking. Lightweight, quick drying, and odor resistant. |
| Leggings or hiking pants | prAna - Women's Halle Roll-up | Stylish, lightweight, and great to hike in. |
| Running shorts (1 pair) | Lululemon Run Speed Shorts | These shorts are so comfortable, packable, and quick-drying, that Emily didn't even feel the need to buy hiking-specific shorts. |
| Down jacket | Patagonia Down Sweater | Lightweight, super warm, and packs down small. This jacket was perfect for this kind of trip! |
| Rain jacket | Outdoor Research Helium II Jacket | A high-quality all-weather jacket that packs up small. |
| Rain pants | Columbia Storm Surge pants | For those heavy English downpours! |
| Hiking boots | Keen Targhee II Mid Hiking Boot | Emily has had these boots for five years and hundreds of muddy, snowy hikes, and they are still going strong! |
| Sunglasses | Suncloud Loveseat Polarized Sunglasses | Good quality sunglasses are essential when you're outside all day. And these are stylish too! |
| Basic black dress | Columbia Women's PG Freezer III Dress | Very optional. For the nights we went out to dinner in town, it was nice to have one non-hiking outfit. This comfortable, versatile dress was easy to pack and worked great. |
| Underwire/standard bra | After a long day of hiking in a sweaty sports bra this can be a welcome relief to change into. | |
| Gloves | Smartwool Liner Gloves | Optional. Perfect for cold evenings, but not necessary in the summertime. |
| Hat | Headsweats Performance Trucker Hat | Helps keep both the sun and rain off your face. |
| Sandals/Camp shoes | Chaco Z1 | Great to change into after a long day of walking! |
| Bandana | I used this for everything from a towel to extra sun protection. |
Men’s Clothing
When you’re wearing the same clothes for two weeks in various weather conditions and while doing some serious trekking, it is imperative that those clothes are comfortable and high quality. Although your individual preferences may look a little different, this list is an excellent starting point to ensure you’ve got all the essentials.
Ian’s most valuable clothing item: Darn Tough Merino Wool Socks
The conditions on the Coast to Coast Walk are such that hikers are at a particularly high risk of getting blisters at some point on their walk. The wet environments, long mileage, and stony paths conspire to create the perfect environment for blisters to sabotage your walk. Fortunately, a good pair of socks can greatly reduce your chance of foot issues. This is one of those times where you really do get what you pay for. We love Darn Tough socks because they keep our feet dry and comfortable in a variety of conditions. They have just the right amount of cushion without being too bulky in boots. Plus, the Merino wool keeps them smelling fresh for days. Check them out here:
| Item | Our recommended gear | |
|---|---|---|
| Underwear (2-3 pairs) | ExOfficio Men's Give-N-Go Boxer Brief | Highly recommended! You can bring 2-3 pairs and wash them easily in sinks or showers. A must! |
| Socks (2-3 pairs) | Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew Cushion Socks | In our opinion, these are the best hiking socks available. Your feet will thank you! |
| Long sleeve base layer (1) | Smartwool Men's NTS Mid 250 Crew | Very versatile mid-weight base layer |
| Short sleeve hiking shirt (1) | SmartSmartwool Men's Merino Short Sleeve shirt | Merino wool is perfect for backpacking. Lightweight, quick drying, and odor resistant. |
| Hiking pants (1) | Prana Brion pants | These are great for hiking and also look great walking around town! |
| Hiking shorts (1) | Prana Brion Hiking Shorts | Awesome shorts that are great for hiking. |
| Down jacket | Patagonia Down Sweater Hoody | Super warm and super packable |
| Rain jacket | Outdoor Research Men's Helium II Jacket | A good rain jacket is a must for the Coast to Coast Walk! |
| Gloves | Smartwool Merino Wool Liner Gloves | Optional. Perfect for cold evenings, but not essential in the summer. |
| Rain pants | Marmot Precip Pants | For those heavy English downpours! |
| Hat | Headsweats Performance Trucker Hat | Helps keep both the sun and rain off your face. |
| Sandals/Camp shoes | Chaco Z1 sandals | Super comfortable to change into after walking in boots all day! |
| Hiking boots | Salomon Men's X Ultra 3 Mid GTX Hiking Boot | Very comfortable and super waterproof! |
| Sunglasses | Suncloud Mayor Polarized Sunglasses | Good quality sunglasses are essential when you're in outdoors all day. And these are stylish too! |
| Bandana | This can be used for everything from a towel to extra sun protection. |
Camping Gear
Camping on the Coast to Coast Walk is definitely worth carrying the bigger backpack. We loved the flexibility and independence it gave us. Plus, campgrounds along the trail are plentiful, convenient, and generally quite comfortable. With the right gear and a manageable pack size, you are guaranteed to have an amazing experience conquering the Coast to Coast Walk with your own tent.
Most valuable camping gear: MSR 2-Person Mess Kit
Many people choose to camp along the Coast to Coast Walk because of the tremendous money they can save on their accommodation. The budgetary benefits go beyond your sleeping arrangements, though. Camping allows you to self-cater your meals, saving you from spending tons on overpriced pub food every day. This MSR Kit is super lightweight, easy to pack, and convenient for all of those al fresco dinners and trailside coffee breaks.
| Item | Our recommended gear | |
|---|---|---|
| Tent | Sierra Designs - Clip Flashlight 2 or MSR Hubba Hubba Tent | The Sierra Designs Clip Flashlight 2 is the best budget tent on the market, while the MSR Hubba Hubba 2 is the best overall tent you can buy. |
| Sleeping bag | Marmot Trestle 30 | A 30° F or 0° C sleeping bag should keep you plenty warm on the Coast to Coast. |
| Sleeping pad | Nemo Astro Insulated Sleeping Pad | If you are a side sleeper this is a must! Even if you're not, this is one of the most lightweight and comfortable sleeping pads out there. |
| Pillow | Therm-a-Rest pillow | If you're camping more than a few nights you will be glad you packed this! |
| Stove | MSR Pocket Rocket Stove | Ian has used this stove for nearly a decade and highly recommends it! |
| Backpacking pot | GSI Halulite | |
| Utensils | Humangear Spork | Best $4 you will ever spend! |
| Plate/Bowl/Mug | MSR 2-person mess kit | We find this bowl and mug combo to be light, durable, and perfect for camp dinners. |
Hostel/Bunkhouse Gear
If you are sticking strictly to hotels, B&B’s, and guesthouses, you shouldn’t need to worry about the items on this list. However, for those staying in communal/dorm-style accommodations, there are some essential items you need to pack. Keep in mind that most hostels provide bedding, but you should check with individual places in advance to be sure. On the other hand, you will be responsible for providing your own towel (although some places will rent you one for an additional fee).
Most valuable item for bunkhouses & hostels: Mac’s Ear Plugs
Hiking is infinitely less fun when you haven’t had a good night’s sleep. There are many wonderful hostels along the Coast to Coast Walk, but Olympic-level snorers and other noisy neighbors seem to hang out in all of them. These earplugs do an excellent job of blocking out sleep-sabotaging sounds. We find that they work better, stay in longer, and are more comfortable than those cheap foam earplugs.
| Item | Our recommended gear | |
|---|---|---|
| Earplugs | Mack's Earplugs | The perfect defense for that snorer next door! |
| Sleeping mask | Alaska Bear Sleeping Mask | Perfect to block out light while sleeping in dormitories. |
| Sleep sheet | Vumos Sleep Sheet | A nice item to have for nights in bunkhouses and hostels. |
| Travel towel | Sea to Summit Drylite Towel | Many hostels and bunkhouses on the Coast to Coast do not provide towels. |
| Sandals/Slippers | Crocs | While not the most stylish, Crocs make the perfect bunkhouse/hostel shoes! |
What’s Next?
Check out our other great Coast to Coast Walk Resources:
- The Ultimate Guide to the Coast to Coast Walk
- Coast to Coast Walk: Maps and Routes
- GPS Digital Download for the Coast to Coast Walk
- Coast to Coast Walk Accommodation
