I loved hiking Hadrian’s Wall! It was my first long-distance hike, and one of my biggest accomplishments to date. There are a lot of things I wish I had known before I went, including what to pack – and more importantly, what not to pack. If you’re thinking about doing Hadrian’s Wall, here’s my packing list on what to bring!

I hiked Hadrian’s Wall in July 2021, hiking for 6 days, and staying in accommodation each night. I didn’t use a baggage transfer service, although there are plenty of options if you’d like to have your bags moved for you each day. If you are doing this in colder months, or if you are planning on camping, you will need different gear! Wondering how much it costs to hike Hadrian’s Wall? Check out my budget guide on doing the walk!

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Packing For Hadrian’s Wall: Gear

Trailblazers Hadrian’s Wall Guidebook

This is by far the best resource available for hiking Hadrian’s Wall. It should be the first thing you buy when you start planning your adventure. Not only does it give excellent recommendations for accommodation and places to eat and drink, there are also hand-drawn maps of the entire trail. If you’re thinking about this walk, buy this now! I also recommend having OS Maps to navigate the route. I used the OS Maps app which I love so much – it shows you exactly where you are, so it makes navigation extraordinarily easy. The app costs £29/year for an annual subscription, but you can get a free 7-day trial too. I think it’s easier to have the app on my phone than carry multiple OS maps across the country.

Buy the guidebook on Amazon.

National Trail Passport

Available from the National Trails website, or at the beginning (or end) of the walk, I think everyone should get the National Trail Passport for Hadrian’s Wall. There are 7 spots along the walk where you can stamp your passport, and it’s a fun way to keep track of your progress. It costs £5 (plus shipping), and all costs go to National Trails, who work tirelessly to maintain this trail and make it accessible for hikers like us.

Buy a National Trail Passport here.

Sturdy, waterproof hiking boots (with ankle support)

I absolutely love my Scarpa Mistral hiking boots, and these are what I used for Hadrian’s Wall. Make sure you have waterproof footwear for the walk, preferably with ankle support. Whatever kind of hiking boots you choose, make sure they are worn in. Do not (DO NOT) set off for an 84-mile hike with new boots. I managed this entire hike without a single blister (!) and a huge part of this is that I have good, worn in hiking boots.

Buy Scarpa Mistral boots on Amazon.

Hiking Poles

I love hiking poles – they have completely changed my life. I used to think they were only for old people, but ever since I started using them I haven’t looked back. They are great for stability and take so much pressure off your knees. While there aren’t a lot of elevation changes on Hadrian’s Wall (compared to other long-distance hikes), there are quite a lot of ups and downs, especially on Day 3. So I recommend getting a set of hiking poles.

Buy hiking poles on Amazon.

Backpack (and rain cover)

My Osprey Aura 65L backpack has been my best friend since 2013. I love this backpack. It has been all over the world with me, and despite all the crap I’ve put it through over the years it’s held up incredibly well. I comfortably fit all my gear in this backpack with plenty of room to spare. If you were more of a minimalist than me, you could probably get away with a smaller backpack (like a 45L backpack). You will also need a rain cover for your bag – I have an Osprey one which is great. My backpack never got wet despite the rain, and all of my stuff stayed safe and dry.

Buy the backpack on Amazon, and the rain cover.

Packing for Hadrian’s Wall: Clothing

What types of clothes you bring will be dependent on the time of year you’re doing the hike. I did Hadrian’s Wall in July 2021 in summer – and I probably could have gotten away with not bringing quite a few of my warmer clothes thanks to a UK heatwave!

Rain jacket/rain pants

You will need waterproof layers, regardless of what time of year you hike Hadrian’s Wall. While my light Peter Storm rain jacket and rain pants have served me well, I’ve since upgraded to better-quality rain gear. I love my Rab Downpour Eco rain jacket!

Buy the rain jacket on Amazon, and rain pants.

Buff, hat, and gloves

Despite doing this hike in summer, I still brought a hat and gloves. I didn’t need to use them, but if the weather had been a bit cooler I most likely would have wanted to use my gloves in the early mornings. I repped my Minnesota Twins baseball team with my hat most days – there were a few days of hot sunshine and I’m glad I could protect my face and scalp from getting burned! The singlemost important piece of outdoor gear I recommend for hikers – my buff! I used it every single day.

Buy a buff // hat // gloves on Amazon.

Layers of clothing

I packed the following clothes for my Hadrian’s Wall hike. I brought an extra pair of leggings, which I never actually hiked in – thankfully I didn’t have much rain and my capris were always dry. Plus, I also packed an extra t-shirt which I didn’t need – I had 3 in total, which was unnecessary. I also brought a pair of pajamas (t-shirt and shorts), which in the end I wouldn’t need the other pair of shorts I brought. So this is what I would recommend bringing in terms of clothing!

• 2 base t-shirts
• 1 tank top
• 1 half-zip top
• 1 fleece (or down jacket)
• 1 pair shorts
• 1 pair leggings/capris
• 2 pairs good hiking socks
• 1-2 pairs of regular socks (for the evenings)
• Enough underwear to last you

Swimsuit and flip-flops

I never ended up going swimming on the trail unfortunately, but I did bring my swimsuit just in case! I also brought my flip-flops, which were nice for wearing in the evenings to let my feet air out.

Buy flip-flops on Amazon.

Packing for Hadrian’s Wall: Miscellaneous

First Aid Kit

A first aid kit is a must on any outdoor adventure you take, but you should never ever set out for a long-distance walk without one! You can buy a first aid kit, or you can put one together yourself. Make sure you have lots of band-aids, blister packs, moleskin, bandages, ibuprofen/paracetamol, antiseptic cream, and hydrocortisone cream.

Buy it on Amazon.

 

Travel towel

Depending on the accommodation you’re staying in, you might want to bring a travel towel for showers. Most of my accommodation had towels, but two places did not so I needed to bring my own. I recommend one of these light microfiber towels!

Buy it on Amazon.

Camera, phone, chargers, portable charger

Of course you’ll want a camera and your phone, as well as chargers to go along with them. I also recommend bringing a portable charger with you, to make sure your devices have battery life to last you. I have two portable chargers, this one from Anker which is excellent, and this one from Zippo that doubles as a handwarmer. I prefer the Anker one as it’s more powerful!

Buy the Anker portable charger on Amazon.

Dry bag

I really lucked out on my Hadrian’s Wall hike, as I had very little rain throughout my 6 days of hiking. However, I did pack a dry bag in case of bad rain and if I needed to keep my camera and electronics gear safe and dry. I have this Osprey dry bag which has worked well for me.

Buy it on Amazon.

Waterproof phone case

I definitely made use of my waterproof phone case during the walk! As I used the OS Maps app on my phone, I needed access to my phone throughout the day. Thankfully, this inexpensive waterproof phone case was excellent. It kept my phone dry and I was still able to use my phone and take photos with it protected inside.

Buy it on Amazon.

Water bottle(s)

I traveled with 3 water bottles each day, but this was excessive and probably added on unnecessary weight. There are stops along the way, and most businesses (pubs, cafes, etc.) are used to hikers and would be willing to refill your water bottle for you. I have this Camelback type by OEX, but I also love this Chilly’s bottle – it keeps drinks cold for up to 24 hours or hot for up to 12 hours. As an emergency, I brought chlorine tablets in case I couldn’t get water – but this was totally unnecessary, so I don’t recommend this.

Buy the Chilly’s bottle on Amazon.

Sunscreen and hand sanitizer

Hopefully you’ll have good weather on your Hadrian’s Wall adventure, but you should make sure to pack sunscreen to protect yourself. It’s easy to get sunburned when you’re outside all day walking! Regardless of pandemics, you should also always bring hand sanitizer. It’s nice to be able to keep your hands clean when you’re walking outdoors all day.

Snacks

I packed my own snacks for hiking Hadrian’s Wall, and while I wouldn’t say it’s necessary, I’m glad I did. This included flapjack, packs of chips, and lots of granola bars. I also brought two things of pot noodles (just need to add boiling water), which was nice for the evenings when I was too tired to go out and get food, or not hungry enough to order something big.

If you’re planning on camping along Hadrian’s Wall, I’d recommend checking out my outdoor gear guide for hiking and camping in the UK! You’ll need a lot more stuff and it’s always best to be prepared. But whether you’re camping or staying in accommodation, I hope this packing list helps you pack and prepare for hiking Hadrian’s Wall!

Have you done a long-distance hike before? What were your packing must-haves?!

You might also like my other posts:

What You Need to Know About Hiking Hadrian’s Wall

A 6-Day Itinerary For Hiking Hadrian’s Wall

How Much Does it Cost to Hike Hadrian’s Wall?

Exploring Northumberland: A Coastal Road Trip Itinerary

Why You Should Visit Alnwick, Northumberland

My Outdoor Gear Guide For Hiking and Camping in the UK

What to Pack For the North Coast 500 in Scotland

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