After a few hundred guided days we have watched people carry far too much and occasionally far too little. This is the list we would pack.
The four things that matter
Water, a warm layer, sun protection and shoes with grip. Everything else is refinement.
Water
A litre and a half for a half-day, two for a full day. Altitude dries you out faster than you expect.
Layers
Ethiopian highland mornings are cold and the afternoons are not. A light fleece you can stuff in the pack beats a heavy jacket you have to carry.
Feet
Trail shoes are fine for everything except Simien. Road trainers are not — the tread fills and you will slide on the descents.
What to leave behind
- Jeans
- A second camera lens you will not change
- More food than you will actually eat
What people forget
Sun cream, a head torch for the early starts, and small notes for local crafts and tips.
#kit
#packing
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