When we’re getting ready to dress up for a long-distance walking thing, it’s not so much about feeling cool:

…or about looking sexy:

…it’s not about making a statement either:

…and it sure as hell isn’t about belonging to some kind of in-crowd:

Instead, it’s about putting on layers of clothing that will eventually help us survive (and maybe even stay comfortable in the process).

Here’s a list of my stuff:

- 1 pair of boots

- 2 pairs of orthopedic inlays (arch support)

- 1 pair of plastic slippers (for hotel use)

- 8 pairs of socks (change daily!!)

- 1 pair of gaiters

- 1 pair of long pants (make sure they don’t rub on the insides of your thighs, and you don’t want too many pockets in them either!)

- 1 pair of long thermo-underwair (i recommend merino wool)

- 2 pairs of underpants (again, smooth fit around the thighs is important, and merino is my material of choice)

- 1 pair of loose fit shorts (for hotels and summer use)

- 2 tank tops (slim fit)

- 1 t-shirt (merino slim fit)

- 1 thermo-longsleeve (merino slim fit)

- 1 fleece jacket (the thickest and most comfortable one you can find)

- 1 wind breaker jacket (the lightest you can find, and make sure it has high water resistance and zipper pockets)

- 1 wool hat

- 1 pair of thermo-gloves

- 1 clean shirt for special occasions (highly optional, but can come in handy sometimes)

- 1 belt bag (I found this uncomfortable for daily walking use, but it’s still good to have whenever you want to leave your luggage somewhere and take your most valuable belongings with you)

- 1 all-terrain money belt (it can be comforting to have a small money reserve in a fairly hidden spot)

I think it’s most important to be able to respond to a wide array of different climatic conditions. That’s why I like to use a thick fleece and a thin wind breaker jacket, because it might not always be cold when it’s raining.

All in all, make sure your clothes don’t make you feel uncomfortable:

Remember: walking is supposed to be fun after all:

…hail metal!

Soundtrack: Desolation – “Erntebringer”