Posted on March 14, 2017
There’s nothing worse that embarking on a riding holiday only to find you’ve forgotten to pack an essential piece of kit. In this feature we ask the In The Saddle team to share some of their top packing tips.
Chris won’t leave home without packing a pair of boot laces. They have a myriad of uses, but are especially useful on expeditions like our Gobi Steppe Ride in Mongolia. You can use them to tie your jacket to the saddle, they are good for creating a loop on your camera so you don’t drop it and they can be used to secure bandages in the event of an accident. You can even play cat’s cradle with them around the fire in the evening!
Olwen says her must have items include a lightweight hard hat such as a Troxel and her hat bag, which also doubles as hand luggage. She also always packs a bum-bag to keep essential items like sunscreen and a camera readily to hand. Re-hydration sachets are always on the packing list too, especially when visiting somewhere warm and sunny.
Lightweight hats like Troxels are perfect for riding holidays
Lucy always packs wet wipes, which are ideal for washing the dust away after a long day in the saddle when you are in the middle of nowhere. Make sure you ask your guide how best to dispose of them; it might be on the fire if you’re on a camping trip.
Hannah’s top packing tip is to take a portable charger if you’re going on a safari like the Tuli Trail or heading somewhere off the beaten track. This means if you’re careful, you can keep your phone or camera charged for the duration of your trip. Resist the temptation to look through your pictures in the evening so that you maximise the juice left in your device.
Take a portable charger for your phone or camera
Sarah always takes a tube of lip balm with her. It is worth its weight in gold, whether you are going to warmer climes or might encounter cold and windy weather. Make sure it has SPF in it!
Becky’s favourite piece of kit is her handy buff, which helps keeps the dust off your face. If you’re going to a hot climate, they can be dipped in cold water which helps keep you cool as you ride. A fleece buff, such as those made by Musto are perfect if you are travelling to colder places.
A cotton buff is great for dry, dusty conditions
Abbie says comfortable breeches are vital. Make sure you pack some appropriate to the weather you’re likely to encounter. A pair of thermal soft-shell breeches are ideal for somewhere like Torres del Paine in Chile. They’ll keep you toasty warm and dry throughout the day. If you’re riding across the Namib Desert or going to be doing lots of hours in the saddle in warm temperatures, a pair of riding tights are well worth investing in. We love the ‘Kerrits Flow Rise Performance Riding Tights‘ by Irideon.
A pair of riding tights are worth investing in
Claire says a lightweight travel shirt is a must-have for warmer weather. If you’re going somewhere tropical then the long-sleeved version is good because you can roll the sleeves up when it is warm, but you can also cover up your arms when the sun is at its strongest or if you encounter any biting insects. The shirt’s lightweight design means you can rinse them out, hang them up and they’ll be dry by the morning. Make sure you go for muted colours like green, brown or beige if you are going on safari. We love these ‘Craghoppers NosiLife‘ shirts from Cotswold Outdoor.
Lightweight travel shirts are great to ride in
Imogen never leaves for a trip without her trusty Telluride boots by Ariat. She says they are super comfy for long days in the saddle, last well and sturdy enough to double up as walking boots. You might need to go up a size with your half chaps to fit over these boots as they are quite chunky, but they are ideal for many different types of riding holiday from safaris to expeditions.
When we send out your booking confirmation pack, there is a detailed packing list towards the end of your personalised itinerary. This has been added to and evolved over many years and should have everything you might need on that particular trip.
We hope you’ve found our essential items useful. If you’ve got any ‘must-have’ packing tips then we’d love to hear your ideas.
