Hiking in Norway - equipment list

Summer hikes in Norway can be compared to spring hikes in the Carpathians. With equal probability you can end up in a sunny paradise and in a snow storm. But in both cases there will be a lot of water - on the ground, in the air, on clothes. In such conditions, you need to approach the choice of equipment with special attention. If you have any doubts about what to take on a hike, just take a photo of the things you have and send them to us. Feel free to ask questions.

In this list, items of equipment marked in green are optional but recommended. Whether to take them or not is a matter of taste and personal preference.

Equipment

• Tent - Norway often experiences strong winds and rain. Therefore, you cannot take tents with plastic poles, as well as single-layer tents without a reliable awning.
• Sleeping bag - temperatures from +5 to +10 degrees are expected at night, so the recommended comfort temperature for a sleeping bag is -5 (minus five) degrees. This is approximately 1700 grams for a synthetic sleeping bag and 1000 grams for a down one.
• Rug - we won’t have to sleep on the snow (most likely), so there are no special requirements for the mat.
• Backpack - on this trip we carry all the food and a full set of camping gear equipment with you. Therefore, I advise you to take full-size backpacks, i.e. about 80 liters for men, and 60 for women. Be prepared to “take on board” 5-6 kilograms of food. In addition, men will receive a bottle of gasoline (1-1.5 liters) for transportation.
• Trekking poles - on the hike in Norway you will find sections with kurumniks, crossing streams, and just heavy backpacks. In such conditions, trekking poles are quite useful (especially for the knees).
• Raincoat - a raincoat or poncho that covers you along with your backpack. A raincoat is a must, even if you have a good waterproof jacket with a membrane.

Cloth

• Boots - to walk on loose rocks, snow, swampy tundra and wet grass you need boots. Preferably all-leather, with a minimum of fabric, lined with GoreTex.
• Shoe covers - or gaiters to protect the junction of the boot and trousers from dirt and rain.
• Replaceable shoes - light sneakers or sandals. We will wear them in cities (Oslo, Bergen) and in parking lots to give our feet a break from heavy boots.
• Jacket - waterproof and breathable windbreaker. Be sure to have a hood, preferably with a good GoreTex-type membrane. .
• Waterproof pants - made of membrane fabric (can be inexpensive, like Marmot Precip), preferably self-resetting - i.e. with a zipper along the entire length of the leg, so that you can take off/put on pants with shoes.
• Thermal underwear - the most common, medium thickness.
• Fleece - or a warm sweater.
• Warm vest - fleece alone may not be enough for insulation. Therefore, it makes sense to take an additional warm thing - a vest or a second fleece (provided that you can wear them at the same time).
• Pants - ordinary thin hiking pants. Do not take warm models with fleece. Thermal underwear is enough for insulation.
• Thermal T-shirt or shirt - there is a high probability that, in addition to cold and rain, we will encounter warm sunny weather.
• Knee pads- or elastic bandages are a must for anyone who has knee problems. The rest can use them in advance - to prevent knee problems.
• Warm hat - fleece or knitted cap.
• Cap or buff - for sun protection.
• Gloves - fleece or knitted.
• Socks - at least 3 pairs running socks.
• Warm socks - fleece or knitted “granny” socks. Needed for sleeping and relaxing in camp.

Other

• Dishes - plate, spoon, mug, folding knife (optional). The instructor will have boilers and other “kitchen”
• Water bottle - a simple plastic bottle, flask or drinking system. The volume is not important (let it be 1.5 liters per person) - Norway has many streams, springs and other sources of water.
• Flashlight - diode headlamp with fresh batteries.
• Hygienic set - microfiber towel, soap, toothbrush, toilet paper, wet wipes. In the Oslo and Odda campsites there will be a paid shower and a place for washing.
• Personal first aid kit - bandage, antiseptic, favorite cold remedy and specific medications. The instructor will have a basic first aid kit with a slightly larger assortment of medications.
• Sunglasses - there is a possibility that we will have to walk in the snow in sunny weather. Therefore, it is better to play it safe and take glasses with protection category 3 or 4.
• Heat bags - both the sleeping bag and your clothes must be additionally protected when carried in a backpack (in addition to a cover for the backpack or poncho). Of course you can pack them in trash bags. But hermetic bags are much more reliable and durable..

Documents

• International passport - with a valid Schengen visa.
• Health insurance - required. Check for the "active recreation" mark. It is also advisable that your insurance covers evacuation by helicopter.
• Tickets - print out your tickets just in case. By the way, AirBaltic requires an additional payment if you have not checked in for the flight online and have not printed out your boarding pass yourself.
• Money - cash currency or a credit card with a chip.
• Cheat Sheet - write down the instructor’s phone numbers, the coordinates of the hostel in Oslo, the phone number of the embassy and the insurance company.

Public equipment

This is a list of equipment that the instructor will bring with him. We are publishing it here just for your reference. Although on some points your help may be needed, so read on just in case.

• Group tent - size 3*4 meters. Needed to cook food and set up a camp in the rain
• Boilers - two boilers (usually 5 and 7 liters, anodized aluminum) for cooking.
• Tablecloth and board - for lunch.
• Gas burner - when hiking in Norway we do without fires - they are prohibited, and there is almost no firewood. The instructor will bring 1-2 gas burners with him, depending on the size of the group. If you also have a torch and want to take it, please inform the instructor.
• Wind protection - fiberglass and foil to protect the torch from the wind.
• Talkie - the instructor will bring from 2 to 4 walkie-talkies (depending on the size of the group), operating in the LPD and PMR bands. If you have your own walkie-talkie, please provide the model name to the organizer.
• Group first aid kit - antibiotics, diclofenac, smecta, etc. Overall, nothing special. In case of serious health problems, we will call the insurance company.
• Map - paper map of the Jotunheimen Nature Reserve at a scale of 1:50000 (500 meters).
• GPS navigator - with a loaded map of Norway and the track of our hike. If you also have a navigator, ask your instructor for a link to the map.