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On 8 June 2013 I will be leaving Eindhoven en route to the North Cape. Below is a list of items I plan to take, put together with advice from lots of people and my own experience over the last trips I have been on. This trip will be my longest trip by far (8 weeks beating my record of 2.5 weeks). All suggestions are welcome.

A lot of things to take

Bike and accessories

• Bike: Koga Signature
• Bike Panniers: Ortlieb. (2 front and 2 back).
  • Over the years I have used Jack Wolfskin and Agu panniers. All have not been entirely waterproof. I have not yet ridden in the rain with the Ortlieb panniers, but, from what I have heard, they truly are waterproof.
• Two water bottles (bidons)
• 1 bike pump
• 1 heavy duty bike lock
• Bike repair kit (for punctures, replace inner tube, repair broken spoke, oil, multitool kit)
• 5 spare spokes
• 1 replacement inner tube
• 1 replacement tyre
• 1 spanner – to remove the pedals

Electrical accessories

• Smart phone: Samsung Galaxy S3.
  • Used to track my trip with EveryTrail, and to write this blog en route. 🙂 I have switched from an iPhone as Apple Maps (which EveryTrail is forced to use on the iPhone) do not display many of the roads I wish to cycle along.
• Smart phone charger and battery packs: 3 spare batteries, and 2x Lenmar PowerPort Wave5000.
  • Being away from civilization for several days at a time means I need extra power for the smart phone to be able to keep on using it.. Another advantage of the Samsung over the iPhone is that the batteries can be swapped.
• Smart phone battery charger
• Smart phone battery pack charger
• Mini tripod for camera
• Cable for camera-pc connection
• Smart phone waterproof holder for bike
• Ear phones for smart phone
• Webcam: Ion Air Pro
• Camera
  • In the past I have taken an SLR camera. This year I am saving space with this, and taking a small camera that has all the functionality of an SLR camera. A Canon S100.
• Camera charger

Camping Equipment

• 2 heat pads (it can get cold up north)
• 1 bowl
• 1 pot set (2 pots and lid/pan)
• MSR Whisperlite international cooker
• lighter/waterproof matches
• 1 plastic cutlery set
• 1 swiss army knife
• Tent + plastic sheet for under the tent
  • Super light and compact tent. Nordisk Telemark 2
• Sleeping bag
• Thermarest
• Thermarest repair kit
• Tent repair kit

Clothes

• Trekking pants: (light, fast dry, zipper to turn them into shorts if the weather is right)
• Fleece
• Rain coat (Gortex)
• Down jacket
• 2 cycling shorts
• Lycra long running pants (wear over the cycling shorts in cold weather)
• Cycling gloves (for stopping blisters on the hands)
• Warm waterproof gloves
• Buff
• Waterproof gaiters (to stop the shoes from getting wet)
• Cycling tricot (1x short sleeve, 1x long sleeve)
• Helmet
• 3 underpants
• 3 t-shirts
• singlet
• Teva Sandals
• Warm, waterproof, hard soled, light weight hiking shoes (can cycle in them, can be evening shoes, and can do short several hour hikes with them on the cycle trip)
• Socks (2x warm wool, 1x cooler)
• Towel (small flannel towel – super compact)
• 1 cap
• 1 pair of sunglasses
• Small, compactable pack to be used as rucksack for short hikes are errands to the shop etc.
• Long sleeve inner layer for upper body
• Paper thin rain coat layer (for warm rain)
• Bathers
• Mosquito face net

Food

• Muesli bars
• Bananas
• Apples
• Dried apricots
• Dried pasta/sauce mix
• Müsli
• Powdered milk

Miscellaneous

• Maps (for when the smart phone doesn’t work)
• Tissues
• Toilet paper + alcohol hand wash
• Ear plugs
• Sun screen
• Pen
• Torch
• Medical kit
• Needle and thread
• Cable ties
• Duct tape
• Super glue
• DEET insect repellant
• String
• Passport
• Plane tickets
• Money
• Credit cards

Things not to take

• Poncho: I took a poncho to Norway in 2012 and it was utterly useless. It was so windy (headwind), the poncho just meant that it was like sailing into the wind. Much better to take a proper Gortex raincoat and a paper thin rain shield for when it is warmer.