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Our Backpacks

​These are the items that we brought with us that best served us. We started walking in November, so the heaviest focus is on our winter backpack. Whatever you decide to bring, make sure it's light-weight. Although it won't seem like it in the beginning, you will feel every extra gram on your back. Also make sure it's made of high-quality materials because you'll be putting everything, especially your backpack and clothing, through a lot of wear and tear. You can find most of these items in hiking or outdoors stores. We hope you find this list helpful!

Winter Contents

Mony's Backpack 

  • Down-feather sleeping bag

  • Light foam mat

  • One-man light-weight tent - I eventually sent it back home. We kept Alberto's two-man tent as our backup in case we couldn't find shelter. We eventually sent it back too.

  • 2 pairs thick wool socks

  • 2 pairs of underwear, 1 sports bra and 1 normal bra

  • Hiking pants

  • Winter running tights - this was my change of clothing, pajama and long-johns on extra cold days

  • Thin ski undershirt - on cold days, I wore this under my warm walking shirt

  • Warm walking shirt

  • Thin fleece shirt - for change of clothing. Purchased at a running store.

  • Thick fleece sweater

  • Ski jacket, preferably with reflective material so you can be seen in case you ever find yourself walking at night

  • Warm hat, gloves and neck cowl

  • Leather hiking boots

  • Beach sandals - to use in shower and when resting

  • Rain slicker long enough to cover the backpack

  • Fast-drying towel

  • Fork, spoon, small drinking cup and Swiss Army Knife. I would now recommend one sharp small knife since I didn't use most of the items in my Swiss Army Knife.

  • Wrist watch with alarm

  • Compass - in case you're walking off the main road and get lost

  • 750-ml water flask - I eventually sent this back and used disposable mineral-water bottles

  • Roll of toilet paper - ESSENTIAL!

  • Wet wipes - for the many days when you won't have a shower

  • Clothesline, clothespins and safety pins to hang wet clothes

  • Plastic bags to put wet clothes in

  • Small hand-held flashlight and one headlamp

  • Candle, lighter and matches

  • Basic toiletries - toothpaste, toothbrush, dental floss, stick deodorant, lip balm, cotton swabs, shampoo, comb, small mirror and nail clippers

  • First-aid kit - band-aids, gauze, good small scissors, iodine, small sewing kit (for treating blisters), tensor bandages, tweezers, medicated ointment for bites and rashes, anti-diarrhea medicine and an analgesic (I prefer ibuprophen because it also reduces swelling but choose whatever works best for you)

  • Combination mobile phone and mini-PC - the word-processor was my diary. Don't forget the charger.

  • Money belt to carry essential documents

  • Inspirational pocketbook. I initially carried Neale Donald Walsch's "Conversations with God Book 1" but it was too heavy. I kept a booklet called "Steps Towards Inner Peace" by Peace Pilgrim, a woman who walked over 40,000 kilometers across North America during the 1960s for peace, with nothing more in her pockets than a toothbrush.

Alberto's Backpack 

Alberto carried almost the same items as Mony with the exception of the bras! ;) He also carried the following items:

  • Hiking pants with zip-off legs

  • Two-man tent and camping supplies, which we eventually abandoned because of their weight and lack of use

  • Small writing blocks with pen for diary (instead of the mobile phone). Pencils for sketching.

  • Shaving supplies

  • Inflatable sleeping pillow

  • Extra pair of boot laces which also served as a small clothesline

  • Pocketbook version of "Conversations with God Book 3" by Neale Donald Walsch

Backpack - Summer Contents

We bought our summer clothing along the way, and shipped our winter items back home by mail. Alberto also shipped his backpack and we shared carrying Mony's backpack. She carried the fanny pack portion, while Alberto carried the main pack.

Mony's Clothing

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  • New light-weight leather boots purchased in Turkey - the winter boots had walked almost 3000 kilometres

  • 2 pairs of light-weight wool socks

  • 3 pairs of underwear

  • Long-sleeve light-weight shirt

  • Light-weight pants

  • Bikini, Beach wrap/skirt, sleeveless shirt for change of clothes


Alberto's Clothing

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  • High-cut running shoes purchased in Turkey

  • Long-sleeve light-weight shirt with zip-off sleeves

  • 1 pair of light-weight pants

  • 1 pair of shorts

  • 3 pairs of socks

  • 4 pairs of underwear

  • 3 t-shirts

  • Bathing trunks

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Essential for Both

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  • Sunscreen and lip balm

  • Hat

  • Plug-in mosquito killer

  • Treatment for mosquito bites (such as After-Bite)

  • Thick plastic sheet to break the dampness when we slept outdoors

  • Thin bed sheet for warmth

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