“What should I bring?”
“What do you pack?”
These are questions I get quite often before a workshop or any photo tour. And it is a valid question. I guess everyone knows the stressful moments right before any vacation when you stand in front of your suitcase and wonder: “so what did I forget?”.
My partner might be laughing if she knew I am writing this blog article, because I am surely no authority packing light. But my “better to have than to need” approach has served me well, so far. And I better return with some stuff not used during a trip than frantically looking for where that one specific piece of gear or clothes hides from me (at home in my wardrobe, probably).
So here is what I like to hand out to my workshop participants as a suggested pack list.
…when you read my blog, you are probably a photo enthusiast and you would like me to start with gear, rather than clothes. “Better to forget my underwear than my sd cards on a photo tour”. Well, this could be argued, but here we go.
(Disclaimer: I give links to some gear, just because I will be asked for recommendations anyways. And those links are to provide you with more info. I only hint at gear I use and like. I am not sponsored by those companies nor an affiliate. But note: some links are Amazon 'affiliate links'. Meaning, if you use these links to purchase any items from there, Amazon will give me a small commission. Full disclosure: they have never paid me anything because I am way under their payment limit. Which tells how great of an influencer I am… Anyways, I want to be transparent here.)
Photo gear:
camera body - If you have the space for, bring a back-up body, too. Side fact: for years I have travelled with just one camera. I am using the Sony a7rv as my main cam and the Sony a7riii as my backup.
tripod - Stable and lightweight, I just changed from my almost 6 years old, trusted Sirui W2204 to the Benro tortoise CLV34. Some detail: I always bring an extra spike for the tripod, ever since one came off on location and I struggled afterwards.
lenses - the choice is up to what will be photographed, but I usually try to cover a wide focal range.
16-35 mm - I usually go with my Sony 16-35 2.8. If wide angle images are a priority on the tour, I take my Sony 12-24 2.8 instead (which I cannot use my filters with, so the 16-35 is preferred).
24-70 or 24-105 - the latter is always with me. The Sony 24-105 4.0 is not my best lens, but the quality is good and the versatility awesome. Therefore I never leave without.
100-400 - this lens is heavier, but I cannot go without a tele. And it is most fun to photograph with my Sony Sony 100-400 4.5-5.6.
batteries - bring one more than you usually do, when you travel to cold places and plan on staying outdoors shooting for extended periods of time. I usually take 2-3 Sony NPFZ100 and am fine.
battery charger - obvious, but hey, these are the things we tend to forget the most.
sd-cards - together with batteries it is the most annoying thing to forget. Bring enough, especially if you do video. I use SanDisk sd-cards. Since I don’t do video I am fine with 128GB. I rather take 6 to 8 ‘smaller’ cards with me (don’t weigh anything and don’t take away space), than have one large cards with 256GB or more fail on me.
filters - polariser is most important, other than that one or two ND filters. Pick a ND3.0 if you want to bring just one. If you want to bring more, bring a ND1.8 and you should be good. If you are keen on long exposures and very playful, of course there are more options.
dust blower - now we are talking about the stuff that is really necessary. Because dirty lenses can ruin your images. I have been using this one for 6 years now, but any similar will do.
lens cloths - bring more than just one if you expect bad weather or spray from the sea or waterfalls. I always bring a bunch of these bamboo cloths.
lens wipes - I don’t use them often, because I always try to protect my lenses. But if the blower or lens cloth fails, I go with these Zeiss wipes.
camera bag - might also be obvious. I always pack my ICU of my f-stop Ajna bag, so that I can take it out and store it underneath the seat in a plane and have the rest of the bag go up into the overhead locker or even check in.
rain cover - yes, I know camera bags come advertised as waterproof. But I once had water leaking after hiking through a monsoon for a long period of time. It only ruined a cereal bar and no gear. But better safe than sorry. Any cheap cover (this one I haven’t tried, personally!) should do and is easy to be stored inside one of the bag’s pockets.
optional but highly recommended:
L-bracket - these I always recommend for any camera, because it helps switching from horizontal to vertical fast without having to re-adjust your tripod. Hard to give recommendations here, because they differ from brand to brand. I use this one from Small rig for my Sony a7rv and it works fine.
camera clip - this Peak Design clip is great to clip your camera on to your shoulder strap and have it available fast while hiking. Mine has taken some beating over time and now gets jammed here and there. But I really like the concept and will get me another one.
camera strap - another helper and it is pretty much on all of the time on my camera. I have been using mine from Peak Design and it has done its job nicely.
cable release or remote - I put this one on the list because your camera might need that for shutter speeds of 31 seconds and longer. If so, do not forget it. With my camera I can just hook it up with an app on my phone, or even better set a given time (a feature that I indeed very much like with the Sony a7rv). This makes cable releases or remotes dispensable.
if you are into drone photography and own one, bring it also (accompanied with extra batteries and charger). Given it is allowed to fly the drone at your destination!
Alright, with that, let us consider your camera bag and photo gear packed. Add your laptop, tablet and a back up solution (I use an external hard drive) - again: do not forget charger, necessary cables or adapters - and you should be set. Well, I guess I needn’t remind you of your phone and charger, right?
If you have packed this much, you have only come so far, because now let us move on to clothes and what else:
underwear - you will see me repeat one thing over and over: merino! Also bring long underwear in Winter. I remember as a kid I hated long underwear. I can literally still feel the itching and scratching from back then, and in the end rather froze than wore that. Things have certainly changed. Nowadays I wear these and feel fine on winter locations when it’s freezing and don’t feel uncomfortably warm when stopping for a snack at a cafe with them still on.
socks - I prefer hiking socks out of merino. Everyone has a different preferred style, brand and such. I love hiking socks from Ortovox. They are costly, but I also love wearing them at home. In summer I go with those lighter ones, in Winter I like to wear them, too (if I am not out in the cold for too long). But I also add warmer ones to my luggage in case temperatures drop significantly (also good for night shoots of aurora).
tshirts - take whatever you like for travel and leisure time, of course. But once you head out hiking and photographing I, again, recommend going with merino as a base layer. Light and breathable ones in summer and thicker ones in winter. Cotton just won’t do the job, because they get wet from sweat easily and don’t dry up as fast. Also merino is lighter on the nose ;)
midlayer - again I prefer going with merino. Fleece and wool is fine, too. I got several hooded jackets in different weight and thickness for different temperatures. Yes, they are always pricey but I mainly go with Arcteryx or Ortovox here, too. I hate sweating because of clothes and I want to feel well in what I wear while in action.
top layer - I take a light down jacket that can be stored in my camera bag while out (for nights, for example). My Arcteryx is about 6 years old. There are follow up models available, unfortunately with much increased price.
pants/shorts - take anything that’s light, yet, durable and feels good to wear while moving. The colder and more wet the weather the more you need insulation and water proof material. Make sure it is breathable though. I sweat easily which is why outside of winter I like pants that have zip legs or zip openings on the sides to enable ventilation. For me it is painful having to wear pants in 40+ degrees C temperatures in the summer. But walking off road comes with scratches and pesky ticks. Shorts are not a good option then.
hiking boots / shoes - this could be an article in itself. For some people it is almost a religion picking their appropriate shoes. I recommend going into a local store and have some assistance. The more rugged the terrain you will be in and the heavier the load you carry, the more your feet and legs, and therefore boots, need to endure. Get proper boots! For almost all of my hiking my current Lowa boots are fine. For short, less demanding tours I go with some Arcteryx shoes.
wellies - in winter and in special when planning to photograph standing inside water, I cannot recommend the use of rubber boots enough. I have been fine with my Muck Boots and have used them extensively for almost 6 years. Update: I just ordered new ones (in high) for the upcoming Iceland workshop. And truth is: in Winter Iceland I wear those wellies pretty much all of the time when on location. I look like a dork with them, but if that is the price for warm and dry feet, I take it.
crampons - if you go on tours where there is potential for ice (Norway, Iceland etc.) these are a must. I repeat: you must bring them! I had workshop participants slip and break their gear, after telling me “no, I am good, I don’t need crampons!”. Get something like this. I had some fail on me during a workshop, so I got new ones at a gas station in Iceland (EXPENSIVE!). So I expect to get new ones after a season or two.
headlamp - speaking of safety: a light is necessary to be safe when daylight fades. I like that mine from Black Diamond has also a red light mode which is less disturbing to other people or animals around, if I need to fiddle with my gear at night.
rain pants - in heavy rainfall you need a rain pant as shell. On very cold and windy days it's also a good protection to just wear it as a wind protecting outer layer and keep your legs warm and dry.
rain jacket - the same applies for a rain jacket. Mine from Arcteryx is maybe a bit of an overkill, but I wanted to buy once and just be good and also wanted zippers underneath the armpits for ventilation. It is still fine after almost 6 years. …and now that I look up the link, I notice that back then it cost me half of today´s price (which is insane, honestly).
a loop scarf - in every day life in the city I prefer regular scarfs. But those long things are always in the way when in action with my camera. So I went for a merino loop scarf in winter instead and am fine.
gloves - also for cold temperatures (don’t forget them when high up in the mountains even in summer!). The Heat Company sponsors me with their gear, which I am very thankful for. Gloves and heat pads (see below) included. You can save 10% off your purchase there by using the code “kaihornung24” (which is not an affiliate link/code btw. I don’t earn anything there.)
heat pads - I add insole foot warmers and keep them sealed in my camera bag. They are a safe haven, when my feet start getting really cold. I also pack a few heat wraps. They have already saved a trip for me, when I had serious back problems. The aforementioned code works on the entire Heat Company purchase.
a hat or beanie - to shield from the sun in summer, keep warm in the winter and not look like junk with wild, greasy hair after days in the wild.
sleeping bag - absolutely depends on your booked accomodations, of course. On camper tours or in a tent my Mountain Equipment sleeping bag has been a trusted partner. But check for your needs as preferences and needs differ widely.
tracking poles - depending on the terrain you plan to hike, I highly recommend using some for demanding routes which are very uneven and/or steep. It provides balance and is a blessing for your knees especially on the way down from mountains. I use a pair from Leki.
Well, and to make this halfway complete. Don’t forget to bring your other necessities of course, medicine, bathing trunk, flip flops, sunglasses, headphones, passport, id, money, credit card etc.. But well, I bet you have travelled before and don’t need me to tell you that part.
I discovered that some lotion for hands and also a ChapStick are helpful because sub zero degrees really make your skin brittle. Oh, and aside from winter and depending on the area you go to, some mosquito repellent or even a netting to protect from those nasty mosquitos is advised.
A good thing is to download google maps of the area you go to in advance, so that you can use them offline when in the field and out of signal. Check for updates of your favorite apps and consider bringing old-school maps (yes, in paper).
There are quite some logistics behind being well prepared. But the great thing is, you can do all of that several days ahead of departure and do it with the happy excitement and anticipation of a great trip ahead.
I hope this list is of any help for you. Let me know if you feel like I need to add something else which is important also.
Now plan your next trips and safe travels!