6 Days Until Ireland - Preparing

When we flew to Ireland for the first time 2 years ago to hike the Dingleway, we extensively researched every little detail. That was good and I recommend it to anyone planning a hiking vacation. Of course, we had too much stuff! It is said that you should take about 10% of your body weight in luggage. At that time, I must have weighed over 80 kg and I was delighted that I could take more than my friend! Oh yes, quite naive! In the end, I carried 11 kilos on my back and my friend almost 13.

This time we are leaving behind the large towels. We are walking from B&B to B&B. There were towels in each one. I bought microfiber towels in size M at Globetrotter, one for each of us. That is the size of a regular towel that is used for drying hands or simply put, for drying hair. Us girls understand that ;-) Okay, guys with long hair might as well.

Generally, I really recommend wearing functional shirts and socks. We each have 2 pairs from Falke. We only have 2 pairs because these socks are relatively expensive. We paid about 20 to 27 euros per pair. At the same time, I must mention that a pair consists to a large extent of merino wool. Hikers swear by it! We haven't tried it yet, let's see what the name has in store. It is said that you can wear them for a few days without washing them and they won't smell. I'm not convinced yet, but I will be surprised! Now you might say that you can simply buy a different brand. Yes, you can. However, we have found that Falke socks are actually the most comfortable to wear. Not that you think we only have 2 pairs of socks for a total of 3 weeks - no no, we also pack regular socks. A total of 5 pairs for hiking and I also pack short socks for my regular shoes. Here's a tip: Socks without patterns and as few seams on the foot as possible. They shouldn't be too big, otherwise they will slide! I have had good experiences with 'nur die' socks. For my friend, I simply bought 'nur der'... I still don't know what he thought of it ;-D

When packing the backpack, it is important to ensure that the weight is not on the shoulders, but on the hips, which is where the hip belt comes in handy! In easy terrain, you can also loosen the shoulder straps a bit to relieve them, so that the weight of the backpack is mainly on the hips. In principle, it is recommended to have the center of gravity close to the back. You can find a more detailed description under this link: https://www.deuter.com/DE/de/rucksacktipps.html.

I bought all creams and sprays in small sizes to save space. You can find them in almost any drugstore. It is also good to pack your things in small zip-lock bags. You have a better overview of your things and they are protected from moisture if you don't manage to put the rain cover on your backpack in time ;-)

And here's a tip for women: A halterneck sports bra is recommended. If you carry a fully packed backpack for 10 hours a day, the straps of a regular bra may be annoying and/or cut into your skin.

That's it for today!