Pieterpad Gear List: 501 km Pieterburen to Sint-Pietersberg, Camping

The Pieterpad runs 501 km down the length of the Netherlands, from Pieterburen on the Wadden coast to the Sint-Pietersberg just past Maastricht. This is the self-supported camping version of the list, built for spring or autumn, the seasons when the trail is at its best and the campsites still have room.

Be honest with yourself about which hike you're doing. Most Pieterpad hikers walk sections inn to inn, sleeping in B&Bs and trekkershutten booked a few days out; do that and you can drop the shelter, sleep system and cooking kit from this list, and the base weight nearly halves to about 3.6 kg. The full camping setup here strings together mini-campsites and trekkershut fields instead, which works but takes planning: a few stretches in the north have thin coverage and force longer days.

Nothing about the terrain is hard, and that's the trap. Half the distance is pavement, brick and farm track, and flat hard surface punishes feet worse than mountain trail does. So the most considered pick in this list is a cushioned road shoe instead of a lugged hiking shoe, backed by a blister kit you should use preventively from day one. No trekking poles either; there's nothing to lean on them for.

The other constant is water from the sky rather than any lack of it underfoot. Rain gear goes in the pack every month of the year, here as a poncho plus rain pants, and taps are everywhere daily, so there's no filter. Dutch hikers will recognize the cemetery tap trick.

Nights in March, April and October regularly touch frost, hence a real 0 °C bag rather than a summer quilt.

Base weight: 6.2 kg (13.7 lb). Copy this list, cut what your own section doesn't need, and check the trekkershut map before you commit to a stage.