Only a couple of days left until we head off to the start of the Irish 3 Peaks Ride! Packing is one of my least favourite pre-adventure activities. Mostly because it takes me so long and takes up so much thought that by the end of it I just want to leave. Maybe that’s a good thing.

To save you from the drama, if you’re thinking of recreating a cycling/walking journey like this, here’s our complete packing list. For an alternative cycling-only list, check out what we took for cycling to Switzerland and back.

In fact, check it out anyway to compare – it’s a surprisingly similar list for 2 weeks vs 3 months!

Bags

• Back Panniers x 2 (Black) – Ortlieb Back Roller Plus 40L RRP £127
• Front Panniers x 2 (Orange) – Ortlieb Front Roller 25L RRP £81
• Rack Pack (Yellow) – Ortlieb 31L Rackpack RRP £59
• Saddle Pack (Containing repair kit, see below)
• Bungee cord

Camping

• Tent – Wildcountry Helm 2
• Tarp (including guy lines, pole and pegs) – Homemade £40
• Emily’s Sleeping Bag – Mountain Equipment Helium 400 (in generic stuff sack)
• Joe’s Sleeping Bag – Alpkit PipeDream 200 RRP £120
• Emily’s Sleeping Mat – Alpkit Numo RRP £45
• Joe’s Sleeping Mat – Thermarest NeoAir XLite RRP £130
• Emily’s Liner – Cotton, Cocoon
• Joe’s Liner – Silk, Mountain Warehouse

Cooking

• Stove – Primus EtaPower (including improvised chopping board) RRP £100
• Sponge
• Cooking oil
• Lighter
• Washing up liquid
• Cutlery – spork, plastic cutlery and wooden spoon
• Gas bottle

Cycling Clothing

Emily:

• Socks x 3 pairs (Primal, Rivelo & Tesco)
• Buff
• Jersey x 2 – Rivelo
• Bib shorts – Rivelo
• Leggings – Endura
• Cycling finger-less gloves – Rivelo
• Arm warmers – Primal

Joe:

• Socks x 2 or 3 pairs
• Buff
• Jersey x 2 – Castelli
• Bib shorts
• Baggy shorts
• Shimano XM7 SPD Shoes

Walking Clothing

Emily:

• Trousers – Kilpi
• Fleece – Berghaus
• Belay Jacket – Rab Photon
• Waterproof – Mountain Equipment
• Waterproof Trousers – Berghaus Deluge
• Gloves – Rab Latok
• Baselayer – Helly Hansen Merino

Joe:

• Trousers – Rab
• Fleece – Mountain Hardwear
• Belay jacket – Rab Generator Smock RRP £80
• Waterproof – Mountain Equipment Ogre
• Waterproof Trousers – Rab
• Baselayer

Multipurpose Clothing

Emily:

• Flipflops
• Underwear x 3 – Tesco
• Sports bra – Odlo
• Hat – Rab
• Sunglasses
• Normal t-shirt
• Shorts – Karimor Run
• Swimming Costume
• Trainers – (Multiport Shoe) Hagloffs

Joe:

• Flipflops
• Underwear x3
• Hat – Mountain Equipment
• Sunglasses
• Gloves x 2 – Extremities & Ayacucho
• Baselayers x 2 – Rab
• Swimming Shorts

Bike Specific Kit

• Map case – Ortlieb
• Maps – road map of Ireland
• yHelmets x 2
• Bike Oil (in Eau de Cologne bottle!)
• Multi Tool
• Repair kit including patches and glue
• Tenacious tape
• Quick links
• Spare inner tube
• Eccentric Bottom Bracket tool
• Spare rear mech hanger
• Locks x 2 – Oxford cable lock ~£20, Abus Granit XPlus 540 RRP £85
• Rear light

Walking Specific Kit

• Walking Bag x 2 – Montane Featherlight
• Map – 1:50k Kilarney etc
• Compass
• Whistle

Washing and Hygiene

• Shampoo (2 in1) – mini from hotel
• Laundry soap – decanted into small bottle
• Suncream (50+ water resistant and sensitive) – Soltan Once for Kids
• Shower Gel – mini from hotel
• Hand sanitiser
• Tissues – for the awkward moment when the campsite doesn’t have loo roll…
• Travel towel x 2 – Lifeadventure and Gelert
• Toothbrush x 2
• Joe’s travel shaver
• Toothpaste
• Anti Histamine tablets
• Sewing Kit – pinched from a 4* hotel in the Dolomites…
• First Aid Kit – Lifesystems Trek
• Emily’s hair brush (with 4 hair ties)

Electronics and Miscellaneous

• Wallet x 2 (inc. money in several currencies and card)
• Watch x 2 – Seconda & Argos (Umbro) RRP £10
• Pen knife x 2
• Notebook (plus pencil or pen)
• Passport x 2
• Joe’s Kindle – £80
• Phone + charger (Nokia small-pin)
• Headtorch x 2 – Petzl Tikka XP and Petzl Tikka
• GPS Tracker
• Camera/Camcorder + charger?
• Camera mount for bike (on bike)
• Wooden Pegs x 10
• Keys
• Dry bags/plastic bags (Not pictured)
• Water bottle x2 – SIS

What do you think? Will we have enough? Will it all fit in our panniers?

P.S. Did you spot the odd item out in each of the pictures? Inspired by the local carnival, implemented gleefully by Joe.