Equipment needed for the tour
Check here the list of mandatory or recommended equipment for any active tour, mountain, hill or bike tour.
You can download and print the PDF document to make it easier for you to tick everything you need when packing.
Download the list of equipment needed for the 1 day hike – PDF format.
Hiking equipment list
by Active Holidays Romania
Mandatory equipment
Mountain Boots and Raincoat
In order to enjoy a nature outing with other participants we need to make sure we have the minimum amount of equipment for our safety as well as the safety of the other people in the group. We are very keen to meet the minimum requirements for the 2 items of equipment, the rest in the list below are only recommended and many of them will bring added comfort to a wilderness traveller.
IMPORTANT: Pack your rucksack in advance, weigh it and take out things you don’t need. A lighter backpack will help you walk easier and enjoy your nature walk more.
What I wear:
– T-shirt/Bodyshirt – to keep your body warm; ideally avoid cotton, it will absorb sweat and dry very slowly; it will be wet and you will feel discomfort.
– Trekking trousers– a lightweight trouser made of durable, quick-drying material; thick enough to keep you warm. You can wear sweatpants or jeans but you will be exposed in bad weather and the trousers will get wet, be heavy, uncomfortable to walk in and keep you cold.
– Socks – longer, to exceed the height of the boot;
– Mountain Boots – to support the ankle; Ideally with vibram sole – stiff enough for rocky areas. On trails classified as easy, you can wear low hiking boots, which are more comfortable but won’t give you ankle support.
Boot details: boots should be worn (in the house and on a short walk around the house) before using them on a longer mountain tour; you will test if they are suitable for you, if they sit well on the foot and do not rub the skin, in which case blisters occur – very uncomfortable in the middle of a mountain tour without a spare shoe
– Fleece – we dress in layers/layers; synthetic fleece is very lightweight, retains warmth very well;
– Jacket/Windstopper– very useful in cooler periods or reaching higher altitudes; beware of the windstopper: you can overheat, sweat and get wet if you use it when you shouldn’t.
• Raincoat / rain pants – it can be just a poncho-type jacket, which covers you completely, some even cover your backpack, but don’t keep you warm; or you can use high quality technical equipment, a water membrane jacket with a 20,000 or more column (GoreTex or similar).
– Hat / Buff / Cap / Gloves – depending on temperature, altitude and personal comfort;
– Sunglasses – very useful for tours in high areas exposed to the sun;
Miscellaneous – What accessories do I take with me?
– Trekking poles – telescopic, they help you both on the ascent and descent, used correctly they will ease the strain on your knees; RECOMMENDED by us on all tours
– Head torch – wear it on your head to keep your hands free; useful for longer rides, or when it gets dark earlier in the year;
– Small pocket knife – you may only use it to open canned food 🙂
– Personal hygiene – dry/wet wipes, antibacterial gel, sun cream, lip balm;
– First aid kit / medicines – On guided tours, there will always be a first aid kit in the guide’s rucksack for the use of the participants, however, it is advisable to have in your rucksack a minimum for personal comfort – dressings/plasters, elastic bandage/typhoon, leucoplast – as well as a minimum of medication (aspirin, nurofen, smecta) in addition to the prescribed medication.
– Tourist map of the area – printed or electronic format, phone app – we recommend MuntiiNoștri, Guided Tours will always have a map available for the group to consult. During the tour you can learn how to use it if you have questions.
– PowerBank + cables – spare battery for your phone if you post on social, or use it for flashlight, camera, navigation.
– Camera – possibly tripod, for high quality photo enthusiasts
– Miscellaneous – Whistle, compass, bear/dog spray – we are not
How much food do I need?
– Water bottle – or several smaller bottles, carry 2-3 litres of water; you can also consider the springs or huts we pass, if available.
– Sandwiches– we estimate that we need 1 sandwich every ~3 hours, so for a 1 day tour, you can prepare 2 (max 3) sandwiches, just the way you like them.
– Fresh / dried fruit – as you like, we recommend a small bag of candied fruit, 1 apple or seasonal fruit, Be careful, use a hard box as packaging, do not crush the fruit (a banana can soften very quickly);
– Nut/seed/muesli bar– a small bag of a mix of seeds and nuts is a good source of energy; equally useful are ~2 granola bars:
– Chocolate / bar– bar- Făgăraș or Rom -autochthonous and delicious;
How do I transport them?
– Backpack – a backpack of approx. 22-30 litres is sufficient for 1-day tours. For a 1-day hike, any backpack is good enough, but you can enhance the experience if it’s a comfortable backpack with adjustable shoulder straps, back vent system and waist strap, side pockets, zippers for quick access, rain cover.
– Waterproof bags/plastic bags– to keep clothes dry in case of rain;
– Garbage bags – very useful in many situations.
See you on the trail!!
