Leave better prepared / Equipment guides
A practical way to organise a day pack, without buying equipment you do not need.
Base Camp editorial guide · Reviewed 20 September 2026
Plan the local part
Choose your start and finish before choosing your pack. Use the official section map to check access points, then calculate the distance for your own route. A section between towns is not a suggested day walk.
The trip before the kit
A good day walk starts with a clear way home. Choose your exact access point and return plan before deciding how far to go.
Decide whether you are walking out and back or arranging a lift. Count the return distance, not just the distance to a hut or landmark. Use the Foundation’s designated access points; a road on a map does not mean you can drive along it.
Allow for the slowest walker, breaks and changing conditions. Choose a shorter outing if the route, daylight or return transport is uncertain. Fitness alone does not replace navigation experience.
Carry water for your actual route and conditions, with a reserve. Treat tank water; do not assume a refill will be available. Download your map before leaving reception and carry a backup you can use.
Only if you have planned that return. An out-and-back retraces your route; a one-way section needs transport at the far end. Check the complete distance in the official planner before leaving.
Check the service for your travel date, the connection from the stop to a designated trail access point, and the journey home. A bus to a nearby town does not necessarily get you to the trail.
The Bibbulmun Track Foundation advises treating tank water. Plan your supply for the weather, effort and time between reliable sources rather than copying another walker’s daily amount.
Source-checked 20 September 2026. Check current notices before travelling; this is planning advice, not a surveyed route.
Pack, check, go
Adapt this to your route, group and conditions. Ticks stay on this page until you leave or refresh.
0 of 9 checked
A day out or a night away?
Plan the route, legal access and turnaround time first. Carry water and food for the day with a reserve, weather protection, navigation, lighting, first aid and your personal essentials. Keep the things you need often within reach.
Keep the day-walk essentials, then add a suitable shelter, sleeping mat, sleeping insulation, dry camp clothing and meals for the full trip. Check water arrangements, campsite guidance and current cooking restrictions before packing.
An overnight trip changes the volume and weight of your load. Lay everything out before choosing a bigger pack; test the harness with the actual load.
Use your own measurements
Weigh each group in grams. Count each item once; leave out clothing you are wearing. These figures stay on this page until you leave or refresh.
Add your weights to see a total.
This totals only what you enter. It does not judge whether your kit is complete or a load is suitable for you.
Your route, expected duration, conditions and group determine the equipment you need. Check the Foundation's trip-planning information before deciding on pack capacity. Do not use a short equipment list as a substitute for a suitable route, current conditions or an emergency plan.
Try a pack with the water, food and layers you expect to carry. Check strap adjustment, movement and access to pockets. A comfortable empty pack may feel different once loaded; capacity alone does not tell you whether it fits.
Bottles make remaining water easy to see and can be simple to clean. A reservoir offers drinking access through a hose, but requires compatible space and drying after use. Choose around your pack and habits, and plan water quantity and sources for your actual walk.
Think about clothing for walking, warmth when stopped and protection from weather. Keep the layer you may need first within reach. Check that a shell fits over the layers beneath it rather than buying each piece in isolation.
Keep snacks, navigation and essential personal items accessible, with sensitive equipment protected from water. Review lighting, first aid and emergency arrangements for your walk. Use the official trip planner for a fuller preparation process and current track information.
Choose coverage for your entire route, including your access and exit points. Use the Foundation’s section guide and paper-map catalogue together: a town-to-town section is not a day-walk recommendation. Check the distance calculator before committing to a walk.
Lay out lunch and snacks for the time you expect to be out, then add a reserve for delays. Choose food you already tolerate and can eat on the move. Check packaging, rubbish storage and any water needed for preparation. Longer or harder trips need a more detailed plan; use the Foundation’s food guidance.
Lay out the actual water, food, layers and essentials first. Test that load in the pack before choosing capacity. Check torso fit, shoulder movement and access to the items you use most; spare litres do not fix an uncomfortable harness.
Explore our brands and shop selected equipment online. Check product pages for current options and availability. Our physical store at 2 Marinup Street is opening soon.
Shop selected gear online. Our physical store in Dwellingup is opening soon; contact us before travelling for a specific item. Tell us what you already own, what you plan to do and what is not working for you.
Ask about your equipment
Explore the range / Day hiking
Start with a comfortable pack, accessible water and layers that suit the forecast.
Useful gear for this trip
Check each product page for current options and availability. The physical store is opening soon; contact us before travelling.