My Microadventure kit list

Over the past nine months Lee (@1MansAdventures) and I have been undertaking a monthly 

Forgot a spoon.... Doohhh

#microadventure. Although we missed one together in August (I was busy with DIY, kids school holidays and had been out for several separate trips) we plan to make up for it in the next few months. Our next trip will be an bike trip down the Shipwrights way to Hayling Island. I thought I would take the time to go through my kit list. The below list is divided up as a base list on which I then add more personal item or weather/distance specific items. As the majority of our adventures have been bike related I’ve added a bike specific section.  I do like to mix up my kit, so sometimes I take different kit like a gas stove or sometimes a wood burning stove just to try new things and to test out new ideas. You can get away with less, but this is what has kept me comfortable on my trips.

Basic Kit

Rucksack – depending on extras, either Osprey Talon 22, Camelback Hawg or Berghaus 35+ (ideally as light as possible)

Sleeping bag (Mountain equipment down bag)

Bivi Bag (Alpkit hunka XL)

Roll mat (Thermarest) 

Stove and lighter – Gas bottle, lighter, burner and support feet all fit inside the mug
Mug (titanium) – ohhh shiny
Pot (MSR stowaway 775ml)
Thermal shield - helps shield the stove also nice to sit on

Food – Snacks in the side pockets, evening meal (packet sauces and rice work well and squash into the cooking pot. Breakfast is normally porridge).

Water – Currently a camelback and a water bottle but once the frame bag arrives I’ll drop the water bottle.

Head Torch (Alpkit manta)

Waterproof (Rab) - although not bike specific it’s easier to have one with a hood if it’s raining in the evening

Toilet paper – enough said

Travel spade - as above

Plastic bin bag – For keeping your bag, shoes and goods dry overnight

Tooth brush and paste

Spork – Forgot this once and had to fashion something out of an egg custard tart wrapper and a tent peg.

Basic First Aid Kit

Buff – versatile headwear at its best

Portable power pack – keep the phone topped up overnight.

Hip flask – Relax, drink, sleep well

Phone / camera

Money

Hat – keeps your warm in the evening and overnight

Bike Kit

Bike – Obvious really

Helmet

Dry bag (Alpkit dual 20L) - on handlebars with sleeping bag and bivi bag stuffed in

Seat bag (Topeak Aero) – Multi tool, puncture kit, tyre levers spare tubes, spare mech hanger / split links

Bike Shorts/ jersey/ socks

Bike Shoes

Bike Lights

Nice extras

Sleeping Stuff – Clean/ dry stuff to sleep in

Sunscreen – I’m ginger, I can burn next to a candle

Sunglasses – Like vampires, bright light kills gingers

Drybag  - Keeps the rucksack dry and items organised

Fleece jumper - toasty warm

Spare socks / gloves – feels like heaven when everything else is wet.

Tarp

Paracord – for rigging the tarp

Pegs – As above

Down Jacket – keeps you warm in the cold months and packs down small

Waterproof trousers

Maps/GPS – Lost? No this is just a detour

Map case

Leggings/ fleece/socks/ arm warmers – mainly in the colder months

Fire lighting kit

Dry bags are really useful, not only for keeping out the rain but also for keeping stuff organised. I find it better to have several small ones and keep similar items together. It makes it much easier to grab one bag with all your fresh clothes in than trying to find a dry t shirt at the bottom of your bag while everything else spills everywhere.