It can feel a little overwhelming when it comes to thinking about what gear you will need for the O Circuit or the W Trek. You may already have some of the equipment, others will require a little shopping and some, most probably the camping equipment, you may decide to hire in Puerto Natales before your trek.
This is a list of all the items we took on our 8 day O Circuit hike. We found we had everything we needed so if you follow our guide you are not going to go wrong.
Although the W Trek is 2-3 days shorter you will still need all the same items listed below, but you can get away with slightly less clothes.
Within the guide below we have added hire costs for the equipment we hired (or bits we priced up but didn't hire - prices correct as of December 2022), therefore you can look at the price of hiring & weigh up whether it is better for you to hire or purchase before you go. For a lot of the more expensive items which you may not use in your daily life, you will probably find it's best to just hire. The quality of the gear in Puerto Natales is extremely good.
Table of contents
4. What clothes to pack for the O Circuit & W Trek
* smaller number in brackets is for W Trek
5. What toiletries to pack for the O Circuit & W Trek
6. Tech items & things you may forget for O Circuit & W Trek
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1. What backpack you need for hiking in the Torres del Paine
You obviously need a decent, comfortable backpack to carry all this gear in & if you are taking all your own food, you'll need to allow room for that too. You don't want an unnecessarily large bag, partly because you'll be tempted to fill it, and then it will be too heavy to hike easily with, but also the bag itself has a weight, so the bigger the bag the more weight. However, if you already own a backpack that you are happy with and you know fits you comfortably, even if it is a little large I would use this over buying a new one, and definitely better than hiring one you have never used before!
Having the right backpack is the bread and butter when it comes to hiking. This is not an area to scrimp and save on or your will have an awful time! We are no strangers when it comes to wearing different types of backpack and I assure you when I say we have never experienced any better bag than a Osprey. Yes, they are expensive, but believe me your back will thank you for it!
We love our Osprey backpacks that we've use for travelling for the past 12 years and so we used those. We shoved everything we had with us that we didn't need for the trek in our day packs & stored them at our hostel.
This article from Osprey goes through the steps you must go through to make sure a backpack fits you properly. The main 2 things to measure when picking your backpack size are your torso length & iliac crest (just above your waist) circumference;
Measure your torso length (the right back pack is not based on your height, but the size of your back). To do this you will need some help from a friend. Put your chip on your chest & measure from the large protruding part of your spine (the C7 vertebra) to the top of your iliac crest (the point just above your hips, which sticks out where you would put your hands on when you say you've got your hands on your hips.
Measure the circumference at you iliac crest, not your waist as you want your hip belt to rest on top of your hips to take its weight.
When it comes to backpacks, we would always steer towards framed, yes they do have a little extra weight but the frame will help distribute the weight so much better! Here are our recommendations for packs.
Recommended backpack for the O Circuit & W Trek
Osprey - Renn 65 - Women
The Rook & Renn series backpacks are ideal hiking packs. For the O Circuit and the W Trek the 65 litre is perfect, especially if you are carrying all of your own food & camp gear.
Realistically the size of your pack between the O & the W isn't that much difference, unless you are going for a full set of clean clothes everyday (which I would not recommend!). If you are, this is not big enough, you will need a 70L+ pack.
If you opt to use some of the food options in the Refugios or opt for pre erected tents at camp, you could go for the smaller 50 litre versions. Osprey have the Rook 50 for men & the Renn 50 for women which will be plenty big enough, specially if you are doing the W Trek.
The Rook & the Renn are effectively the same bag for men & women, therefore the features of both bags are the same.
The ventilated back panel to keep your back as dry as possible is a must!
Both have adjustable torso harness helps you fit it perfectly to your spine.
Really comfortable hip belt which allows you to switch the weight to where you need it to be for the hike (around 80% should be on your hips).
It has a separate bottom compartment, officially for sleeping bags but we use for putting in dirty gear.
Sounds like a little thing but I need my hip belt pockets for the snacks, tissues & lip salve to be at hand.
Another amazing feature is having the slot for a 3 litre hydration reservoir pocket. We didn't use on this trek as we were using our LifeStraw Go which fits in the side pocket. However, if you are using for other treks when drinking water isn't readily available they are great!! We used them El Chalten 3D/2N Mount Fitzroy hike as our bags weren't quite so full.
Recommended daypacks for Torres del Paine day hikes
If you are just going on a day hike in the park, rather than a multi-day.
Osprey - Talon 33 - Men
Osprey - Tempest 30 - Women (women's packs are particularly important for shorter ladies as they offer smaller torso sizes)
We are mentioning these more because we love these day sacks, they have both been to the top of Kilimanjaro with us. However, they sadly stayed behind on our O Trek, you don't want a day pack on your front & a backpack on your back for this hike!
This sacks hip belt is uber comfy & the little pockets there seem to hold an endless supply of snacks. The ventilation plate on the back is great for keeping your back dry, even on a sticky day. It has a great slot for a hydration bag holding it off your back but also out of your main bag to avoid punctures. As mentioned above we didn't take these on our O Trek but they are currently travelling around South & Central America with us & go on every day hike.
Ordinarily, we would use a waterproof bag cover to keep our backpack & its contents dry in the rain ,but due to common high winds in Torres del Paine we decided against this option and instead used a waterproof bag liner. We put all our clothes in the waterproof bag liner to keep dry should the heavens open. We also used decent plastic bags to keep our food items, sleeping bags and roll mats dry. You will still see a lot of people with bag covers in the Torres del Paine so you won't be alone if you opt for a bag cover, however we have history with a bag cover blowing away in high winds. As the saying goes, "once bitten, twice shy" we decided against them. If you do go for the cover, maybe take a liner too in case you are unfortunate too!
Water from the rivers and lakes in the park is reported to be perfectly safe for drinking & is extremely accessible each day as you walk. We had already bought a Lifestraw Go Filter water bottle for our trip around South America so we used that. We opted for the stainless steel bottle which is a little more expensive as we were worried about the plastic one breaking, but we did see lots of other people getting along fine with the plastic version.
If you are happy to drink the water unfiltered (lots of people were) we find this Osprey 3 litre hydration bladder perfect as you can sip while you walk. We always keep better hydrated when using a hydration bladder rather than a water bottle. As mentioned above we used in El Chalten but opted for our Lifestraw in Torres del Paine as our bags were so packed full.
2. What camping equipment you need for the O Circuit & W Trek
There is no compromise when it comes to tents, you specifically want a hiking tent, not a pop up play/beach tent, so that it is fully waterproof and sturdy to be able to stand up to the wind. You'll hear it time & time again in the Torres del Paine articles that Patagonia is windy, they are not joking!! In the summer it has been know for wind to reach speeds of 180km (112mph)! Not only the wind though, you will hear, Patagonia will throw 4 seasons in a day at you, this is totally true, so you need a tent that is tried & tested against all conditions.
There was two of us but we opted to hire a three-man tent. We had hired a two-man tent in El Chalten to do the 3D2N Fitz Roy hike, it was fine, but Dave who is 6’2”/185cm found it a bit cramped and his head and feet touched the canvas. A three-man tent allowed Dave to sleep a bit more at an angle and not be touching the sides of the tent!
The tent which we used in the park was the Marmot Catalyst pictured in the Amazon link above, the tent was great for us & lightweight & is a great budget option. If you want to go for the creme de la creme then the MSR Elixir is for you! This tent that you will see all over the Torres del Paine & the one our friends used. Realistically it is much sturdier that the Marmot, but you will pay more for it!
Rental price in Puerto Natales
MSR Elixir (2 person) - 2.27kg - $10,000 (£10.50/$12.40) per day from Day Zero
MSR Elixir (3 person) - 2.66kg - $12,000 (£12.60/$14.90) per day from Day Zero
Marmot Catalyst (3 person) - 2.51kg - $8,000 (£8.40$9.90) per day from Yagan House
Tip – Whilst comfort is important, be sure to check the size and weight of the tent. Hostal Lili-Patagonicos, where we were staying in Puerto Natales, had some three-man tents but they weighed 4.2kg, which is much heavier than a two-man tent. The one we found at another hostel down the road, Yagan House, weighed only 2.51kg, only about 0.3kg more than a two-man.
A warm sleeping bag is essential camping equipment for Torres del Paine as it can get pretty cold at night in the park and you need to be able to get a good night’s sleep. The one’s we hired were amazingly cosy & we wouldn't hesitate to but them!
Marmot Tresles 15oF (-9oC). Again you need a proper hiking sleeping bag, and should check the weight and size. The Marmot Tresles 15 weighed 1,535g but were a little bulky and so we had to strap them to the outside of our bags rather than fitting them inside. Even in the summer you will want a sub zero sleeping bag, as although it gets warm in the daytime, it's always cold over night.
Having a mummy sleeping bag is essential as it doesn't let your body heat escape. The 3D hood featured on this bag is so padded you could potentially get away without a pillow, we shoved our down jackets in the hood for a little extra comfort. A couple of nice benefits to point out with this bag are, firstly there is a double zip system. You can pretty much fully open it to get in rather than the normal wriggle down & the zip is easily accessible from the inside to get yourself as snug as a bug in a rug! The second is the handy pocket, at night in the Torres del Paine there is no light, if you wake up in the dark you want your head torch within reach!
Hire cost in Puerto Natales - $4,000 (£4/$4.70) per day - Yagan House.
Tip – If you do strap your sleeping bag to the outside, make sure it is wrapped in a waterproof bag to keep it dry. High winds are common in the national park so you need something secure, bag covers can often blow off.
I'm absolutely astounded that the sleeping bag liner isn't on more peoples essential packing lists for Torres del Paine. We have our own cotton Trespass sleeping bag liners that we carry with us everywhere when travelling, we've had them for 10-15 years, they last! Even if you have your own sleeping bag it is so much more hygienic to use a liner as they are so much easier to wash! If you are spending an extended period of time in Patagonia you are likely doing at least 1 multi day hike. Washing your liner is super easy, finding somewhere to clean your sleeping bag, not so much!
multi-dayIf you are renting a sleeping bag, I’m not convinced the sleeping bags are washed after each hire, so having your own liner means you don’t need to worry about this as much.
Unfortunately, Trespass doesn't seem to exist in the States but this sleeping bag liner is the same thing & rated really well. Get one, you won't regret it!
Not available to hire in Puerto Natales.
A roll mat is an absolute essential piece of kit when it comes to comfort in the Torres del Paine. Some people say they are more important than a sleeping bag. I'm not totally convinced, but they are just as important. In a sleeping bag on its own, you will be cold. Not just helping with the temperature, they also even out a few of the lumps & bumps on the floor. A foam mat without a doubt will take up a bit more space in your bag in comparison to the inflatable alternative, however in my opinion they offer better comfort. Most are very light and can be strapped to the outside of your bag. As with the sleeping bag you may want to wrap them in a waterproof bag to keep them dry.
Hire cost in Puerto Natales - $1,000 (£1.00,$1.20) per day - Yagan House
3. What cooking equipment you need for the O Circuit & W Trek
We hired a tiny little camp stove that attached to the top of a gas bottle and balanced a pan on the top, exactly like this one to the right, on Amazon. It worked perfectly although you have to be careful to stand on a flat surface and not knock it over! The camp stove we use in the UK is much bigger so it was brilliant to have something so small and light. The only downside is that you have to be a little creative when it comes to wind protection.
Tip – Don’t forget a lighter or matches, not all the stoves have a spark.
Hire cost in Puerto Natales - $1,500 (£1.50/$1.80) per day - Erratic Rock
This included a pan for cooking & cutlery if you needed it.
To cook/boil water in – You will obviously need a pan to cook in. We hired one like this.
The stove and pan set up we hired worked fine but we did see lots of other people using jet boils which were perfect in windy weather, as the flame is protected & brought the water to the boil much faster. We didn't see anywhere in Puerto Natales to hire these but if you are bringing your own gear it could be worth splashing out.
We actually didn’t bother with plates or bowls as all our meals could be eaten either out of a mug or from the packet they came in but you may want to consider a plastic, metal or enamel bowl depending on what food you opt for. Bowls are generally easier to eat out of in the wind than a plate.
We had two plastic mugs to eat rice, cuppa soup and drink tea out of but if we had been bringing our gear from home I would have brought thermal mugs.
We always carry cutlery whenever we travel as find it really useful for picnicking/making lunch on the go so had a metal knife, fork and spoon set with us. The set pictured has a handy travel case and even a reusable straw.
If you travel with a pen knife this will be really useful to take along on the trek. As we don’t, we actually managed to find a small kitchen knife in a plastic cover, in one of those bargain shops that sell everything, that we could take on the trek and use for cutting chorizo and cheese for our lunch wraps.
Gas
You will need to buy a gas canister. Some hire places & hostels sell gas, as do hardware shops (ferreterias). There are two sizes of gas canisters; if you are doing the O Circuit I would go for the larger one but for the W you will be find with the smaller. Also keep you eyes open in the hostels for half used gas canisters people have left. As long as it feels around half full or more you could probably get away with taking this. Additionally you sometimes find half used canisters at the refugios, and on the W side you can buy new ones in the shops.
The self ignition spark doesn't always work, especially if it gets wet.
Washing up liquid & sponge or cloth to wash your dishes
All the camp grounds have sinks to do your washing up. Sometimes you find sponges and washing up liquid there too but it's not a guarantee so best to bring your own. Unfortunately, there is only cold water in the sinks so try to avoid burning your dinner as it's a bugger to clean.
It's best for the environment to use biodegradable washing up liquid, we couldn't find any in Puerto Natales & wished we had brought some with us.
We bought two cheap Tupperware boxes to put our wraps and rice in for lunches. If you are going down this route, they could double up as plates too 😉
All rubbish needs to be carried out of the park with you so make sure to take a few bin bags with you.
These are an absolute must if you are portioning out food for your trek. Unless you are planning to buy individual bags of nuts for each day & hoping for the best with pasta portions, zip-locks are the way to go.
4. What clothes to pack for the O Circuit & W Trek
This is what we took for 8 days for the O Circuit. You will need all items for the W Trek as well, but I have noted where you can can possibly reduce the quantity of some.
Waterproof, Gore-tex is advisable, but the most important thing is that they are comfortable and well-worn in (I would suggest walking at least 100km in your boots before attempting a hike like the W Trek or O Circuit), supportive around your ankle and have decent grip.
The question often comes up leather or synthetic, we have always sided with leather as they seem to last longer (as long as you look after them**), mould better around your feet & offer better waterproof protection.
**It's important to maintain leather boots waterproofing, dubbin is perfect for the job. Follow the product instructions but you basically just apply to clean boots.
These Berghaus Men's Hillmaster II Gore-Tex have got Dave up Kilimanjaro, up to Machu Picchu via the Salkantay, around the O Circuit & thousands of miles of other hikes without a single blister.
For ladies, these Colombia Newton Ridge are currently serving me well. I can't claim to have had a blister-free time but I have weird feet. These boots are the best I've ever had & would strongly advise them to anyone thinking of taking on a big hike!
Tip – wear your boots on flights out. If the dreaded happens and your backpack doesn’t arrive with you, all the other kit, including clothes, can be hired but your trusty, well-fitting walking boots cannot!
You could argue hiking poles are not clothes but I couldn't decide where else to add them.
It took us a little while to get on board with the idea of trekking poles but now we have used them on some major hikes we think they are fantastic! The majority of people walking in the park had them and the few we saw without looked like they wished they had; one girl even fashioned herself some out of tree branches! Not quite as comfy to hold!
These are great for helping you uphill, steadying you on uneven ground and also saving your knees on downhill sections too. The pictured Black Diamond poles are the exact ones Dave had & he says they are the best poles he's used for comfort on his hands.
Black diamond are a really reliable make for poles, but if you are hiring them you may not have that choice. However, I would recommend looking for poles with clips controlling the extension, rather than the poles that screw to tighten. Whilst the screw one are okay, they do gradually loosen and the pole will shorten whilst you are walking. The clips stay solid and once you've set your height will probably stay that way for the whole hike.
Tip for using poles - For most of your trek the poles should be set to about elbow height, so that when you hold them your arms form a right angle. However, going downhill you may want to extend their length slightly. The strap is designed to go round your wrist.
With a little airing over night you’ll be fine to wear socks a few times. You are not going to have room to carry 8 pairs of walking socks.
Good quality walking socks are nearly as important as your boots. You need well made moisture wicking socks to pull the moisture off your feet, as moisture can cause friction. Also, if you have ill-fitting socks without the correct cushioning it can have the same effect. All the above can lead to dreaded blisters. Getting blisters on day 1 could lead to a miserable time!
When it comes to hiking trousers you are looking for a few things, water resistant, breathable, moisture wicking & comfortable!
Zip offs are good idea too if it is hot, sunny weather. It is imperative you take hiking trousers not joggers, you may be comfortable playing football in joggers but they do not have the same quality in moisture wicking & definitely not quick drying! Moisture wicking & comfort is everything when it comes to a decent pair of hiking trousers.
Dave has had both these Columbia men's hiking trousers were perfect for the job.
So far as hiking trousers for the ladies these Little Donkey Andy zip offs will tick every box for you!
You'll be seeming a theme here. Your walking t-shirt is likely to be your base layer, the item of clothing closest to your skin needs to be moisture wicking & comfortable on the skin, you do not want chafing. When it comes to walking t-shirts you need to avoid cotton! You want either merino wool or polyester as both are quick drying & excellent for moisture wicking. Merino will set you back a little more but generally better in my opinion.
When it comes to men's walking t-shirts Dave likes both the Icebraker Merino shortsleve t-shirt but it is a bit pricy his Columbia t-shirt also does the job and is much cheaper!
As for the ladies I love this Under Armous Tech t-shirt, it ticks all the boxes, moisture wicking, quick drying & comfy!
Like the socks we wore these for a few days at a time, keeping the cleanest to wear in the evenings. Don’t worry, after it has aired overnight and you’ve had a wash and a new application of deodorant, no-one will tell the difference 😉
We had a zip-up, quick drying, soft shell jacket, it's important to be wind & water resistant. You can opt for a fleece for warmth but you will find that it won't have the same level of wind & rain resistance. If the weather turns and you have a fleece on you will need to put your waterproof on to protect it and you!
If you are looking to save some money on a layer this is a good one to do it. The rule of thumb when it comes to layers is spend money on your outer & inner layer first.
Dave loved his men's Rab Nexus lightweight soft shell and said it was perfect for the hike & the best he's owned.
Becca also loves this Rab lightweight soft shell is ideal for the ladies.
These are great for an extra layer if it is cold and lovely wear at camp in the evenings. Also, you will note from the camping gear that you don't have a pillow, these are absolutely perfect for getting your head down on!!
This is another layer that you could choose to save some money on if you are looking to cut some cost on hiking gear as your base layer & outer layers are the most important.
The heat to bulk ratio on the Columbia Men's Lake 22 Down Jacket and the Women's Columbia Lake 22 Down Jacket are both awesome. You can spend more money on a down jackets but we have never felt the need. Realistically although the Torres del Paine gets cold you aren't summiting Everest or going to the Arctic. This is a great budget down jacket, it has a 650 down fill and importantly is water resistant!
In Patagonia wind and rain are always possible, if not likely on most days. As mentioned earlier the important layers to spend money on when it comes to hiking is base layer & outer layer. When it comes to waterproof coats Gore-tex is best, if not the only choice you should make. Your outer layer needs to be both waterproof & windproof!
The jackets we have are both Berghaus, you will notice with a few of our earlier recommendations we do have a few his & hers of the same thing. That's because if we find something that works we will stick with it & these absolutely nail it when it comes to waterproof jackets. We have had them years and they can be easily washed in the washing machine & we use Nitwax to keep them waterproof.
Berghaus Women's Gore-tex
Berghaus Men's Gore-tex
Dave always splashes out on walking underwear buying Icebreaker Merino boxers at c£25 a pair, depending on offers at the time. He insists they protected his package, keeping him chaff free and dry – sorry too much information! Merino is the best material when it comes to moisture wicking!
I however, go for a slightly cheaper option; I stumbled across these moisture wicking sports knickers and found them to be really comfy.
Ladies you are going to want something reasonably supportive & comfy. I took two sports bras, this Puma sports bra will do the trick but even something cheaper will be fine. Hiking isn't the place for sexy lingerie, you will be doing a fair few miles in the Torres del Paine so you need to be comfy!
Try to get a fleece lined hat with a tight knit on the outside to protect against the wind. Dave needs a decent one being follically challenged! Dave loves his unisex IceBreaker (one pictured), it is ideal as it's Morino wool so moisture wicking & has great insulations qualities. Most of your heat is lost through your head so it's an important part to protect it when the weather isn't favourable.
I, however, having a full head of hair don't spend as much on hats, this Unisex Columbia Whirlibird is absolutely fine for me.
It doesn't have to be anything too pretty, we normally just wear baseball caps but if you want a bit of neck protection against the UV you couldn't go far wrong with a wide-brimmed hat.
Everyone needs some type of sun hat for the Torres del Paine, even if you are not there in the summer & it's overcast, due to the hole in the Arctic Ozone layer the UV is high in the Torres del Paine!
Unfortunately it's time to leave your RayBan's at home as most only go up to a category 3 for UV protection (see below for the category guidelines). You will want a sunglasses with a category 4 lens as the UV is very high in Torres del Paine.
Category 0 — clear or very light lenses for fashion and indoor use
Category 1 — pale lenses for overcast days
Category 2 — moderate lenses for protection against glare
Category 3 — dark lenses for bright days (the most common category)
Category 4 — very dark lenses for intense sunshine (i.e. on mountains and glaciers)
Source: Specsavers UK
When looking for gloves you don't want some traditional woolly mitts, if they get wet on day 1 they are going to be wet for your whole trek which will well & truly make it miserable!
Your base layer gloves want to be wind & water resistant, but also quick drying. Polyester fleece is the material you want for the job. If you don't get cold hands, you may be able to get away with just these Northface gloves (be aware though they are only water resistant not waterproof).They are great for warmth but still allow you to use your hands, due to having Etip they even allow you to use touchscreen on your phone so you can take pics without taking them off! If it is windy your hands can get pretty cold holding onto trek poles, these are perfect as they do offer some wind resistance.
If you get cold hands you are going to want a second pair of thicker gloves, we initially bought these Sealskinz waterproof Dragon Eye gloves, for our Kilimanjaro hike & loved them! You're outer gloves need to be much thicker fleece lined, which will make them restrictive the use of your hands. However, they are much warmer and ideal for sub zero temperatures or in the rain as they are 100% waterproof.
Yes, we both have the same gloves !
These are a great multifunctional item to have in your pack and great as they are absolutely tiny and weigh next to nothing! You can wear a buff over your head when it is too windy to wear a sun hat, if it is dusty they can be used to shield your face, or around your neck like a scarf when it's cold. A buff is the Swiss army knife of trek clothing!
We each took a pair of flip flops for use at camp. It's nice to get your feet out of your walking boots in the evening and flip flops are great for using in the showers and easy to slip on in the night to nip to the toilets.
5. What toiletries to pack for the O Circuit & W Trek
Obviously in the summer months, when the sun is at its strongest, a good factor (SPF 50+) sun cream is necessary to protect your skin. However, due to the hole in the ozone layer over Antarctica, sun cream is advised all year round due to high UV when hiking in the Torres del Paine.
Mosquitos and other bugs that bite can be present year round in Torres del Paine. We hiked in December and didn't come across many but we always carry repellent just in case. Something containing deet is best & you can normally find the brand 'Off deep woods is 25% deet' in most countries.
There are no facilities in between camps so at least you can clean up before eating your lunch. These hand sanitisers with carabiners are ideal as they can be quick access as you can attach them to your bag straps.
Pretty self explanatory! I always seem to get a runny nose when hiking, regardless of the weather! I'd recommend taking more than you think you need as we always seem to go through loads!
We found all camps provided toilet rolls except the free camp check points so one roll for emergencies should be fine. Realistically it is very unlikely you are going to bring a toilet roll from home, but I didn't want to miss an opportunity to plug these eco friendly ones as we love them & always have them at home. They are called Who Gives a Crap (what a great name!) & are made from 100% recycled paper & have no plastic in the packaging. If you do decide to get them they are singularly wrapped.
They don't seem to be available in the States but these Betterway Bamboo Toilet Rolls seem to have a good ethos & climate pledge.
There are hot showers at all camps except Los Perros (which does have cold ones), so you will be able to have a nice shower each night.
Hair + wind = knots!
If you normally have a electric toothbrush, it is time to leave it behind. Not only do they weigh more, you don't want something else to remember to charge or take spare batteries for!
What good is a toothbrush without paste?!
We always carry a first aid kit, even on day hikes. For multi day hikes I would add a couple of extra items just in case. You can buy some pretty extensive ready made kits but I would normally gather the items myself. I would usually include the following:
o Plasters
o Blister plasters
o Pain killers
o Bite cream
o Bandages & tape
o Sterile wipes
o Imodium
o Antihistamines
Don't forget any personal medication.
6. Tech items & things you may forget for the O Circuit & W Trek
Useful for in your tent at night or when navigating your way to the toilet. You can use your phone torch of course but head torches allow you to use your hands. The charge on these should easily last your whole trip, but in case you accidently leave it on a few times & it runs out, the great news is that it is rechargeable so no need to bring batteries (but don't forget the cable!).
All campsites have some type of charging facilities in the kitchen or shop, however these are normally in high demand so a power bank makes you a little more flexible & ensures you get those amazing shots! We used the power bank pictured which had a solar panel so we could strap it to the outside of our bag to recharge whilst we walked.
Tip - As Power banks contain lithium batteries they must be carried in your hand luggage on flights and cannot go in the hold. There is also a maximum size allowed on planes, up to 27,000mAh or 100Wh.
You will have a fair bit of free time in the evenings so you may want something to entertain you. I was a bit of a late convert as I love a physical book, but now my Kindle Paperwhite is my most prized item! It is so light, I never run out of reading & it's even water resistant! I also have Kindle Unlimited, which for a small monthly subscription allows me to read an unlimited number of books from a huge library. Amazon Kindle Unlimited have a free 30 day trial (plenty long enough for your hike!) with easy cancellation, although I think you'll be tempted to keep it! Games are great for making friends, whether it be a standard pack of cards, Yahtzee, or Uno.
We unfortunately only had our phones but would advise taking a camera for even better images. The people we were walking with had this Nikon Coolpix B500 (which is the same one we bough a few years ago for safari) & their images & much better than ours.
The only consideration you have to make is do you want the added weight?
In all honesty these are God awful things, it's like drying yourself with a shammy leather! However, they are extremely practical as they are small and compact & dry incredibly quickly. They are all the same so no need to spend money on a fancy make.
We always take one with us travelling as many budget accommodations don't offer towels but also exactly want you want for the Torres del Paine trek.
These are great for emergency repairs to camping equipment and even walking boots!
Tip - If you are taking your own walking poles & not hiring, wrap a meters worth round the poles to save carrying the whole roll.
Hopefully this article helps you prepare for what is going to be the best adventure!
Happy travels, happy hiking & happy camping folks!
Wow what a great blog, everything anyone would need to know when planning a visit. You two have put so much work into making this an essential tool for anyone doing this trek …thanks