Nomad Travel Founder Paul Goodyer Recommends...

We’ve asked the experts at Nomad Travel & Outdoor to give us some suggestions on the essential kit to take with you when trekking the Inca Trail. All the items can be ordered from Nomad Travel & Outdoor’s website or you can visit one of their seven travel stores. Don’t forget, if you are an Exodus client, Nomad Travel will give you a 15% discount off all their equipment and a 10% discount on vaccinations.

1) Trekking poles – We recommend the Exped Quad Trekking Poles for any far-flung walking. Their small pack down size (52cm long) makes them ideal for packing inside your bag. Whichever one you choose, be sure to have Rubber Tips as these are required by law on the trail.

Exped Quad Trekking Poles	Rubber Tips

 2)  Water bottle - It’s important to drink plenty of water and you should always carry at least 2 litres. The best for continued walking is a water bladder and hose to fit in your daypack. The Travelproof Water Chamber is a great value option while the Camelback Un-bottled will allow you hang it on the outside of your bag if you need more room.

Travelproof Water Chamber	Camelback Un-bottled

 3)  Daypack - This has got to be good quality, as you’ll be carrying  your daily essentials in it all the time (e.g. water bottle, camera, first aid kit, spare clothing). One with an Airflow Backsystem will give weight support and keep your back cool too. The Lowe Alpine Centro 45 is the best of the best and you can even adjust the back size for “just right” comfort! A very close second is the superb and super light Osprey Atmos 35

Lowe Alpine Centro 45	Osprey Atmos 35

 4) Insulation – It’s a good idea to keep your daypack as lightweight as possible so the Berghaus Ignite jacket is really worth considering. Made from fantastic Primaloft, its small pack-down size offers unparalleled warmth when you need it. It will also hold off a light shower of rain. For women, if your pack will only fit one clothing layer for warmth, then the Berghaus Chyachu Light Jacket is perfect for you. The Chyachu is a superlight jacket that offers an unbelievable weight-to-warmth ratio, making it one of the most versatile jackets available.

Berghaus Ignite jacket (Mens)	Berghaus Chyachu Light Jacket (Womens)

5) Walking Boots - your walking boots have got to be rugged, supporting and very well worn in, so don’t leave it to the last minute to buy them. Everyone's feet are different so it's always a good idea to try on several different types of boot (while wearing walking socks) to see which feel best to you. Get some advice from the staff instore if you are in any doubt of which sort of boot you should go for. These two boots - the Scarpa ZG 65 (mens) and the Meindl Atlanta (ladies) – are perfectly up to the rigours of the Inca Trail and are a good place to start your search for the perfect walking boot.

Scarpa ZG 65	Meindl Atlanta

For a comprehensive list of everything you may need for all kinds of trekking trip, check out Nomad Travel and Outdoor’s interactive Mountain Kit List