Canal du Midi - Gear List
The following is the gear list for this trip.
The gear I selected for the trip was based on the tried and tested principle that my pack would be my aircraft 10kg carry-on and that what I carried would provide the vast majority of kit needed for the entire trip.
The pack is the Raidlight Ultra Legend 20. This is simply the best medium capacity running pack that I have come across. My kit overall would significantly stretch the capacity of the backpack alone, so I repeated what I did on the GR70 fastpack back in 2024 and strapped a long drybag to the bottom of the backpack. This works really well, especially if the drybag is used for light items, clothing in particular. This is the exact same set-up I had planned to use on the Highland Ultra next month so no harm in being thoroughly acquainted with it beforehand.
I went light and compact on the sleeping system, taking the Thermarest Hyperion 32 sleeping bag which compresses to a ridiculously small size considering it is a genuine zero-degree bag. It would be more than adequate for the few nights I might bivy.
I took a range of clothing layers for a wide variation in temperatures, from single figures at night to as high as low twenties. The prior weather forecasts were mixed and there was a high chance of rain throughout the week, so a decent waterproof jacket was essential as well as good drybags and a pack cover to keep everything as dry as possible. I would be able to launder clothing etc on the nights I had accommodation.
In terms of food, I would be able to supplement the calories I was carrying with meals, snacks etc from shops and cafes/restaurants I would come across every day. Thus, I only carried running calories to ensure I had plenty to ration out over the days.
- Raidlight Ultra Legend 20L pack
- 2 x 500ml soft flasks with 1 x Salomon XA filter
- UD waistbelt pouch
- Dyneema groundsheet
- Thermarest Hyperion 32 sleeping bag
- Sleeping bag liner
- Dyneema drybag for sleeping bag, mat, liner and pillow
- Nemo Tensor Elite Ultralight sleeping mat
- Inflatable pillow
- Samaya Nano bivy bag
- Dyneema drybag containing Montane Ultra Pull-On, Craft thermal tights, OMM Core Beanie, OMM Core socks, buff, 1 x long sleeve top, spare short sleeve top(s), 1 x spare socks, 1 x spare shorts, 1 x spare underwear,
- Personal hygiene kit
- 20L Drybag
- Compressport 75/25 waterproof jacket
- Montbell Ultralight wind jacket
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Waterproof pouch containing passport, cash, bank cards and insurance cover card
- Plastic tripod
- 5,000 mah power bank with 3-in-1 cable and Garmin charging adaptor
- Flextail Zero Air Pump
- Petzl Bindi head torch
- Euro adapter plug with USB ports
- Exped clear cube to contain all electronics
- Food bag, contents listed separately
- Titanium cutlery set
- Wipes
- Mobile Phone
I would travel in a set of running clothing which would be supplemental to the items listed above.
Food, as pictured separately below.
Total Pack Weight, with flasks but excluding water – 5.2 kg
