My Backpack

Preparation for the walk is a key moment of the journey. This includes first the physical and mental organization: your body should be ready, and your soul focused, in order to have the strength and determination to make your walk. Second, you have to deal with the logistics: organize the travel and study the path. Finally, packing essentials for your hike.

I’m quite addicted to walking gears (maybe it is better to say that I’m addicted to gears in general), so I like to prepare very carefully my checklist.

Here are my essentials for a daily walk, with a description of all items I usually bring with me:

1. The backpack is the Patagonia Nine Trails W 26L, smolder blue; this model is specific for women, and for me it is the best compromise for a backpack that you can use both for a daily hike or a short trip (2/3 nights). It offers a good storage and I love the design.
2. My camera: Canon PowerShot G9 X Mark II. Few years ago I decided to sell my reflex and buy something lighter without loosing quality. This camera is incredibly compact and portable, with a high image quality and a great selection of controls if you want to work in “manual” mode. There are also a lot of nice features for instagram lovers, such as filters and wifi option to send easily pics to your phone. 
3. The Halifax (the James brand) is a minimal but multi-functional tool: bottle opener, screwdriver, pry-bar. It is machined from a single block of titanium, and it is therefore essential when I need to open a cold beer bottle after my walk.
4. Accessory Bag by Topo Designs (small size): perfect to carry my small gears and medicines; great quality (Cordura fabric) and I like the olive color.
5. Sling by Dango Products (charcoal color) is grip handle to keep gears (like my Halifax) connected and stable. It is made by Paracord lanyard, that can be useful if you need a small cord.
6. Patagonia Women’s Rainshadow Jacket (camp green color): waterproof, minimal design, and Patagonia quality. Nothing to add except that approaching perfection.
7. Ambrosiae Choco Goji Protein Bar: my favorite raw protein bar, enriched with superfoods like sprouted brown rice protein, goji berries and cocoa beans.
8. Medical kit, with ibuprofen, assorted bandages, antihistamine for allergic reactions.
9. A small Totoro towel.
10. Water bottle.
11. Insect repellent. 
12. Rechargeable USB torch.
13. Bellroy Wallet, with inside my passport, money, a small notebook and a pen.
14. iPhone 11 Pro, midnight green, with Gaia GPS app for maps & tracking paths.
15. A Kumano Kodo strap, bought along the Nakahechi route. It is my lucky charm when I walk in Japan.

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