Use this ultimate Lost Coast Trail Packing List as a guide for what to bring along while hiking California’s coastline! We’ve packed this Lost Coast Packing List with our trail tested favorites and recommendations, plus lots of useful info on the best gear for adventuring in all of The Lost Coast’s conditions.

Our biggest piece of advice is to pack light and smart because when it comes to backpacking every ounce counts. Be sure to bring durable, multi-use items that you can layer as temperatures and weather change (because they will)! Test and break in all your gear beforehand and use common sense and your own best judgement and discretion when choosing exactly what you pack. After all, no one knows you better than you! If you tend to run cold, pack an extra layer or two. If you have a finicky stomach, bring some of your go-to snacks.

We’re firm believers that there’s no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate gear. Stocking up on quality gear from brands who are doing it right will make all the difference for enjoying all your adventures in the great outdoors!

1 pair THERMAL BASE LAYERs

A thin, snug fitting top and bottom set that you can wear underneath everything. These will regulate your body temperature by wicking sweat away from your skin. We recommend a sport synthetic fabric like polyester or merino wool. We love these Smartwool tops and bottoms.

2 PAIRS HIKING SOCKS

Bring durable wool socks in a couple of different weights - lighter for the hotter days, and heavy ones the colder nights. A couple pairs of liner socks are great to help prevent blisters too! We love Darn Tough’s Hiker Boot Sock in Full Cushion.

2 SPORTS BRAS

Bring bras that provide support, feel comfortable against your skin, dry quickly and don't bind, smoosh or chafe.

UNDERWEAR

Bring as many pairs as you know you’ll want! Check out REI’s Merino Hipster Underwear which are comfy and great for adventuring!

*NOTE: 2 person tents, sleeping bags, sleeping pads, 60-65 L backpacks, and trekking poles are provided free of charge on all WHOA Lost Coast Hiking Adventures. (You’re also welcome and encouraged to bring your own if you have them)!

60 liter BackPACK*

You’ll be wearing this throughout the hike to carry all your personal belongings and gear (a sleeping bag, pad, tent and food). You can expect it to weigh 30-40 lbs when fully packed. Make sure your pack comes with a rain cover, or get a rain cover separately that will fit your pack. We also recommend bringing a heavy duty trash bag or XL dry sack to line the inside of your backpack and ensure all your gear stays dry. Backpack brands we love: Deuter, Osprey, Gregory.

Pro Tip: Bring a hip pack to keep snacks, phone, and sunscreen in for easy access.

TREKKING POLES*

These are MANDATORY, and a life (and knee) saver on tricky terrain. Make sure they are collapsible, for easy stashing, and simple to adjust for up and downhill. Check out our favs at Leki.

BONUS: You get 15% off Leki poles for being a part of the WHOA family! Just use this special link to see our fav poles and save!

TENT*

Purchasing a backpacking tent is tricky and expensive. If you’re new to backpacking, we encourage you to use the tents provided. Your wallet will thank you, and so will Mother Nature if you only plan on using it once! If you’ve fully committed to the backpacking lifestyle and you have your own tent, please ensure that it is as light as possible, as you’ll be carrying all your own gear during this adventure. (Please let us know if you’ll be bringing your own tent on this adventure so we can plan the gear accordingly.)

SLEEPING BAG + PAD*

We recommend a 30 degree sleeping bag to keep you warm in case the temperature drops. Check out this one by Sea to Summit. For both the sleeping bag and pad, the lighter the better! We encourage you to use the ones provided by our local partner if yours is over 3.5 pounds.

As for sleeping pads, we think Therm-a-rest makes the best ones on the market, so we’re a big fans of this one! If you bring your own, ensure it has an R-rating (which rates it’s thermal efficiency) of 3 or more.

WATER BLADDER or Water bottles

Staying hydrated is so important while hiking! You’ll need to carry up to 3 liters of water at a time, so we highly recommend getting a 3 L water bladder for easy hydration. It’s the easiest way to carry and drink water while trekking. BPA free plastic Nalgene water bottles are also an option.

SLEEPING BAG LINER

This will add an extra layer of warmth at night, and is especially nice when using a sleeping bag that’s not yours. We recommend this one from SeaToSummit!

BUFF OR BANDANA

An all around great item to always have with you. You can use it as a neck gaiter, head band, sweat rag, etc. Plus, there are so many different fun designs to choose from!

HEADLAMp

This is important for after the sun sets, and if we end up needing to hike in the dark. Be sure to start the trek with fresh batteries. We love Black Diamond for headlamps.

Kitchen Items

For meals, you’ll need a bowl, cup, and a spork. Make sure they’re lightweight and don’t take up a ton of space. This bowl and cup, from Sea to Summit are collapsible to make packing easier. We’re big fans of this spork from Toaks. It’s super light and they’re a women-owned company!

POLARIZED SUNGLASSES

You have to protect your eyes from the fierce California sun! Make sure they are UV-blocking and polarized. Goodr makes ones that are great (and cute) for hiking. 

CAMERa

There are so many amazing photo ops! We highly recommend bringing a camera that is compact and durable. Most smartphones have great cameras, and we’ve found DSLRs can be cumbersome while trekking, so think twice before bringing anything too fancy. Remember to always pack your electronics in waterproof bags or cases!

portable battery charger

Whatever electronics you choose to bring, make sure you have a way to recharge your batteries. We always have a portable battery charger on hand, so our camera is charged and ready to catch any spontaneous dance parties that may break out!

MEDS

Consult with your physician on any prescription medication you might need for this hike. Other common medications to consider bringing along are pain relievers, anti-histamines, antidiarrheals, and motion sickness tablets (the car ride to the trailhead is winding).

PASSPORT (if you’re coming from outside the US)

Make sure it’s valid for 6 months after your adventure dates. Bring a waterproof bag to keep it dry when it’s on the trail with you, and it’s always a good idea to travel with an extra photocopy of it.

FIRST AID KIT

We’ll have all this stuff on hand, but make sure you have a compact kit with Neosporin, bug spray, band-aids, eye drops, duct tape, anti-septic, etc. We like this one because it’s lightweight, waterproof, and has most everything you might need.

moleskin

No backpacking trip is complete without bringing some moleskin. It’ll help you care for your feet if a hot spot or blister starts to form.

Toilet Kit

Sometimes nature calls when we’re not near a bathroom, so having a toilet kit is necessary! This includes a Kula cloth, toilet paper, and compostable dog poop bags to pack out your toilet paper. You should keep this all in your daypack inside a small dry bag.

SUNSCREEN + LIPSCREEN

This is a must have for being in the sun all day! Bring a new, full tube with an SPF rating of 30+. We love Raw Elements Natural Sunscreen because it works great, is reef friendly, and plastic free!

BUG REPELLENT

Choose a serious one with DEET or a DEET alternative like Picaridin. We really like this Picaridin from Sawyer Products!

LUGGAGE LOCK

Always lock your things! Have one to lock the suitcase that will stay with our local partners while we’re backpacking.

TOILETRIES

Don’t forget the travel essentials like hair ties, wipes, tampons, toothbrush, toothpaste, hand sanitizer, and ear plugs etc. Toiletries tend to weigh the most, so pair down what you bring as much as possible because in backpacking every ounce counts!

WET WIPES

Who needs running water and a shower?! Don't forget about the environment and make sure your wet wipes are biodegradable.

DRY BAGS

When preparing your gear, pack everything in dry bags (or silicone bags for smaller items), we’ll be in the elements so we want to make sure our gear is always protected! We recommend bringing along different shapes and sizes of these to help organize and separate dirty clothing and gear.

For waterproofing your phone/passport/money, we recommend using a dry pouch.

PAPER/Biodegradable BAGS

Having a stash of brown paper lunch bags, sanitary bags, or any form of biodegradable bag is great for collecting and carrying out trash on the trails and when we’re on the go.

SNACKS

There’s plenty of hearty food provided at meals but bring some extra snacks. The days can be long and you need to keep your energy up! Make sure to grab some comfort foods! Your favorite snacks will give you that extra morale boost to finish each day strong. Some of our favorites are Cheez-Its and gummy worms.