The Way of the Lutherans
Der Weg der Lutheraner
Clothing, Equipment & What to Pack
Preparing for the Journey
The Way of the Lutherans is a seven-day, 150km walking pilgrimage, with daily distances ranging from 11km to 27km across diverse terrain and weather conditions. Being well-prepared with the right clothing and gear is essential to ensuring comfort, safety, and enjoyment throughout the journey.
Choosing the Right Hiking Gear
Because every pilgrim’s body, experience, and preferences are different, we strongly recommend seeking professional advice at a specialist hiking or outdoor store when selecting gear. While high-quality hiking gear can be an investment, it is purpose-built, lightweight, and quick-drying — all crucial for this kind of multi-day walk.
In particular, it is advisable to seek professional advice on:
- Shirts (moisture-wicking and breathable)
- Pants and shorts
- Underwear (consider anti-chafing fabrics)
- Hiking socks
- Hiking shoes or boots (well broken-in)
- Hat (wide-brimmed or cap for sun protection)
- Lightweight rain jacket with hood
- Walking poles (optional, but helpful for stability)
- Backpack (20–40L with hip straps to distribute weight)
- Camelbak-style water bladder or refillable water bottles (3L capacity recommended)
Additional Recommended Items to Pack
- Spare walking shoes and socks (in case of wet weather or damage)
- Credit card
- Mobile phone, earbuds, wall charger, power bank
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- Lightweight jumper or pullover for cooler mornings and evenings
- Casual clothes and comfortable footwear for evenings (e.g. sandals, thongs, Crocs)
- Dinner-appropriate casual wear for restaurants
- Garbage bags (for lining your backpack or storing wet gear)
- Basic first aid items: ibuprofen or Panadol, pawpaw cream or similar for cuts/blisters
- Beanie and gloves (for cooler weather)
- Toiletries and toilet paper
- Any personal medications
- Insect repellent
- Optional: bum bag for essentials like phone, wallet, camera
What to Carry Each Day in Your Day Pack
Each day you’ll carry a small selection of essential items in your day pack. These should include:
- Foot strapping tape
- Blister patches/plasters (variety of sizes and types)
- Anti-blister stick
- Sterile needle (for blister drainage)
- Antiseptic
- Band-Aids and gauze
- Electrolyte tablets
- 3L of water (in bottles or Camelbak bladder)
- Credit card
- Mobile phone, earbuds, power bank
- Sunglasses and sunscreen
- Hat
- Snacks (protein bars, fruit, etc.)
Training & Preparation
To ensure you’re fully prepared, we strongly recommend completing a 6-hour walk (with short breaks) while wearing your full hiking gear and carrying your day pack, fully loaded with the items listed above. Doing this at least a couple of times in the lead-up to the pilgrimage will help you test your equipment, build endurance, and identify any adjustments needed before beginning The Way of the Lutherans.