Packing light enough for a long distance walk is a challenge but I’M IN! Seeing my pack weight today, I would say I am off to good start, given that I had to get all this together in only 2 weeks. I selected my items carefully and packed tiny amounts of toiletries, such as only 1 oz of shampoo. I packed it all today and weighed the pack and I’m in at an acceptable weight on the first try 
I have a Golite pack which is light weight, not super small but not large either. The pack, with my stuff in it, weighs 19 pounds but that’s without water, so add a few more pounds for water. A rule of thumb for an appropriate pack weight is that a fourth of your body weights is cumbersome. From one fifth and down, you should be able to hike comfortably. A fifth of my body weight is about 26 pounds.
Here is what my pack contains:
Clothes:
1 Golite synthetic long sleeve layering shirt
1 poly coolmax sports bra-top
2 lightweight coolmax hiking t-shirts
1 pair hiking pants that zip off into shorts
1 pair REI nylon shorts
1 pair Prana capri lightweight pants for evening
1 cotton t-shirt for evening and sleeping
1 light rain shell pants
1 light rain jacket
1 bandana
1 sunhat & sunglasses
1 pair light weight Solomon trail shoes
1 pair Keens
5 pair REI hiking socks
4 pair quick drying women’s hiking underwear
Miscellaneous & gadgets:
1 pair hiking poles
2 small notebooks for journaling + 3 pens
passport
print outs about route and accommodation
1 lightweight sleeping bag
pack cover in case of rain
headlamp + extra AAA batteries
digital camera + charger & adapter
ipod with Sacred Contracts book by C. Myss on it
emergenC packs
protein powder (because Italians don’t eat breakfast)
camelback bladder + one Nalgene bottle
potable aqua tablets
Nuva Ring prescription
Synthroid prescription
Toiletries/First Aid:
1 travel towel
4 sheets moleskin & 4 blister pads
bandaides
Newskin liquid bandage .3oz
Ibuprophen
Tiger balm pain relief patches
hand sanitizer 2 oz
bug spray 2 oz
small army knife
toothbrush & 2.7 oz toothpaste
hand lotion 1 oz
face cream 1 oz
sun block 3 oz
Dr. Bronner’s soap 4 oz
shampoo 1 oz
deodorant .5 oz
diva cup
hair ties
1 Golite synthetic long sleeve layering shirt
1 poly coolmax sports bra-top
2 lightweight coolmax hiking t-shirts
1 pair hiking pants that zip off into shorts
1 pair REI nylon shorts
1 pair Prana capri lightweight pants for evening
1 cotton t-shirt for evening and sleeping
1 light rain shell pants
1 light rain jacket
1 bandana
1 sunhat & sunglasses
1 pair light weight Solomon trail shoes
1 pair Keens
5 pair REI hiking socks
4 pair quick drying women’s hiking underwear
1 pair hiking poles
2 small notebooks for journaling + 3 pens
passport
print outs about route and accommodation
1 lightweight sleeping bag
pack cover in case of rain
headlamp + extra AAA batteries
digital camera + charger & adapter
ipod with Sacred Contracts book by C. Myss on it
emergenC packs
protein powder (because Italians don’t eat breakfast)
camelback bladder + one Nalgene bottle
potable aqua tablets
Nuva Ring prescription
Synthroid prescription
1 travel towel
4 sheets moleskin & 4 blister pads
bandaides
Newskin liquid bandage .3oz
Ibuprophen
Tiger balm pain relief patches
hand sanitizer 2 oz
bug spray 2 oz
small army knife
toothbrush & 2.7 oz toothpaste
hand lotion 1 oz
face cream 1 oz
sun block 3 oz
Dr. Bronner’s soap 4 oz
shampoo 1 oz
deodorant .5 oz
diva cup
hair ties
May 25, 2009 at 1:17 pm
Good Going- sounds great and very limited! YEA!
May 26, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Don’t see a cellphone on your list… Definitely gotta have one!
Kyle
May 26, 2009 at 12:23 pm
Ciao Kyle
Thanks for your visits to my blog. I will obtain an Italian cell phone when I get over there. I have an old one which may still work… for a new SIM card. Or I may be told I need to purchase a new phone. We’ll see.
May 26, 2009 at 7:40 pm
Hey Girl…you go!
What an awesome experience you have ahead of you. I have a friend who is over there right now walking um…I’m not sure where this is actually…here’s a quote from her e-mail…”I will be spending the first 2 weeks walking the last 100 miles of the El Camino de Santiago, and then my 15 year old daughter, Alea, arrives and together we visit 7 sacred sites that are located starting in Santiago (the end of El Camino) and go up through France to Scotland…” Sounds like an incredible adventure for her too. I support all the women of the world walking to find their dreams, their life, their passion,…their happiness and, for you, my dear… may all of your dreams come true on this adventure and may you find you have dreams much larger than any your dared to dream before. Be careful, but mostly, trust yourself and have fun! You so deserve it!
Much love,
Kathryn
May 27, 2009 at 2:56 am
So very excited for you Chandi. I know you dreams and desires will find YOU on your journey. Be open to all the possibilities!
June 6, 2009 at 3:10 pm
I agree with the cell phone. My son is walking Spain, Southern France and Italy as we speak. But not all at once! Love your site and your story.
June 8, 2009 at 6:35 pm
Blessings to you! I will be there on the 3rd of July in Pisa, then onto Forte De Marmi on the Coast til the 11.
Can’t wait to hear how you are doing and what adventures you are having.
You are terrific!
June 22, 2009 at 3:55 am
Hi Chandi,
I love your love for Italy! Thanks a lot!!
I am from Verona, close to Venice, now I live in Barcelona (Spain) and run http://www.italianfeelings.com, a sustainable tourism project which offers Venice and the North of Italy, unveiling charming and picturesque places of interest away from the crowds of classical mass tourism.
We also have a blog, http://www.italianfeelingsen.blogspot.com, where we like to write useful articles for people who are visiting Venice and north Italy.
Hope you will go again to Italy, please don’t hesitate to contact me for any info you need!
Ciao!!!
Sergio
July 8, 2009 at 1:07 pm
Thanks! This is sure a handy list that I’ll keep around for this very purpose. Someday I do hope to do a walk like this one!