Before you set off
GR20 Checklist: the complete list before you set off
This checklist gathers everything I would check before heading back out on the GR20 Nord-Sud, drawing on my own 12-day experience.
Logistics
To check before you leave
- Refuge or tent bookings
- Transport tickets
- Mountain weather
- GPX tracks downloaded offline
- Power bank charged
- Bank card + a little cash
- ID document
- Insurance / assistance
- Emergency contact
- Loaded-pack test
Pack
The gear to check
Pack and carrying
- A suitable backpack
- Rain cover
- Dry bags or zip pouches
- Bottles or flasks
- Hydration bladder if used
- Poles
- Sunglasses
- Neck gaiter / buff
- Cap or sun protection
Clothing
- Technical t-shirts
- Fleece or warm layer
- Waterproof jacket
- Hiking trousers or shorts
- Underwear
- Hiking socks
- Clean outfit for the evening
- Light down jacket if needed
- Thin gloves depending on the season
Footwear
- Already broken-in shoes
- Spare laces
- Blister plasters
- Sandals or light shoes for the evening if you like
Sleep
- A suitable sleeping bag
- Sleeping-bag liner
- Mattress if needed
- Earplugs
- Headlamp
Health and hygiene
- First-aid kit
- Blister plasters
- Sunscreen
- Lip balm
- A suitable painkiller
- Antiseptic
- Toilet paper
- Biodegradable soap
- Microfibre towel
Electronics
- Phone
- GPS watch if used
- Power bank
- Short cables
- Wall charger
- Offline GPX tracks
- Airplane mode to save battery
Food
- Snacks
- Bars
- Dried fruit
- Backup meal
- Electrolytes if needed
- Don't overload your pack needlessly
My personal advice
Test it before you set off
The best gear is the gear you've already tested. Before the GR20, you need to walk with your pack loaded, check for chafing, test your shoes, test how you pack your bag, and accept leaving behind whatever doesn't really earn its place.