We had temperatures ranging from 18 degrees Celsius to 40 degrees Celsius; blazing hot sun, strong wind, rain and everything in between. And I wore the same 8 items over and over again (don’t forget to bring detergent and a washing line!).
It turns out you don’t need much:
1. Winter running tights: running tights are ideal for any holiday because they are so light to pack. When you pack a pair of winter tights you know you’ll survive any colder unforeseen temperatures as well (love these from Nike, now in sale).
2. Denim shorts: I brought two pair of denim shorts with me that I wouldn’t mind getting ripped or dirty and was practically living in them because we mostly experienced high temperatures (just take any old pair you already own).
3. Hiking boots: not very glamorous, but you need a good pair of boots!! I bought mine five years ago and they’re still going strong, so take your time choosing one and go to a good store (for the dutchies: this outdoor shop for example).
4. Cotton/linnen shirt: a shirt made out of natural fibers is a must, oversized of course to avoid looking like a hiker too much. And do wear a shirt that covers shoulders and back, I got sunburned pretty much the first hiking day because I was wearing what you see above… (steal from the boys if you need some new shirts).
5. Cotton/linnen long sleeve: same goes for the long sleeve. Super easy to layer and perfect for those in between weather days (H&M has enough (sale) options).
6. Wool sweater: brought two woolen sweaters with me and wore them a lot during the nights and early mornings (Uniqlo is a good place to start looking).
7. Hat: the key to wearing a hat is that you have to find a hat that will have a good fit. Mine was a little expensive (from Rag & Bone) but since my head is relatively small I’m happy I took the plunge. Only super strong winds can blow this baby of my head.
8. Sunglasses: this goes without saying. Avoid wrinkles and just-awake-not-wearing-makeup awkwardness (I bring super cheap ones with me, I lost too many sunglasses when hiking…).