The 14 Items You Need for Any Active Trip, From Someone Who Hiked, Biked, and Kayaked for a Week in Sri Lanka

As an avid traveler and outdoor enthusiast, I’m always looking for destinations that have a lot of opportunities to be active. Hiking, biking, kayaking, rafting, scuba diving — I do it all and I love it all. So, when I heard that Intrepid Travel was offering a hiking, biking, kayaking Sri Lanka trip, I signed up immediately, and quickly started putting together a packing list. 

Since each activity required its own gear, I had to put a lot of thought into what I brought on the three-week-long adventure. And, because I’d prefer to not be hauling around multiple massive suitcases, I always travel light with items that work well across multiple activities — say, leggings that are great for both hiking and biking, a poolside cover-up that doubles as an everyday shirt or dress, and hiking sneakers that could be worn from the trail to the city streets. I also had to take Sri Lanka’s wonderfully warm climate into account (luckily, I was visiting during the dry season, but I knew rain was still possible); this meant that I’d need clothing that was moisture-wicking, cooling, and quick-drying. 

Whether you’re heading to Mexico, Morocco, or Machu Picchu (or you’re lucky enough to visit Sri Lanka), here’s what you’ll need for your next active trip this spring or summer. This foolproof packing list will keep you comfortable, dry, and safe on the trails, roads, and rivers so you can focus on having fun. 

Arc’Teryx Women’s Beta LT Jacket

I will be the first to admit that this is one crazy expensive jacket, but having worn it on hundreds of miles of hikes over the past year, I’ll add that it is 100 percent worth the price. The beauty of this jacket is that it is ultralight and breathable, so you can wear it during hot and humid hikes in Sri Lanka (which I did). But, it comes equally in handy for cold-weather hikes and snowshoe treks in Yellowstone (which I also did) when layered over fleece. Instead of stuffing your closets with multiple jackets to wear at different times of year, you just need this one awesome jacket. 

Typically, the more waterproof a jacket is, the heavier and less breathable it is, but Arc’Teryx has managed to make this insanely lightweight jacket 100 percent waterproof, which is why the price is higher than lesser-quality jackets. This way, you stay dry without totally overheating and sweating. Water-resistant is not the same as waterproof, and I was very grateful that this jacket is fully waterproof, as it got me through several rainy days in Sri Lanka in February and also a wet and wild 96-mile hike in the Scottish Highlands last summer. I also used it for biking, kayaking, rafting, and walking around town. It might not ever need to buy another jacket again — it’s that good.

Matador Beast 18 Technical Pack

Though the pack is called “technical” — and this definitely is a technical pack — don’t let the name fool you; you don’t have to be a super technical hiker trekking through the backwoods to appreciate this pack. Yes, it has all of the convenient features that you need for a hiking pack, such as plenty of pockets, water bottle sleeves, and straps to attach your hiking poles, but this also shines as a good everyday pack. I do use it for hiking, but I’ve also used it for biking since it also doubles as an excellent day bag. I wore it nearly every single day during my three weeks in Sri Lanka while touring cities and hauling my stuff to the beaches along the southern coast. 

What’s more, the bag has a waterproof coating, it’s super light, and it folds down when it’s not in use, so you can seamlessly fit it into your luggage and then whip it out when you arrive (I also sometimes use it as my carry-on bag to save even more suitcase space).

Smartwool Classic All-season Merino T-shirt

Merino wool is great because it is soft, durable, comfortable and it can be worn in any temperature or season. It wicks away moisture and dries quickly, which keeps you dry and cool in the summer and dry and warm in the winter. I’ve worn this shirt on hot and sweaty hikes in Tucson and Mesa, Arizona, and through chilly fall hikes in New York’s Adirondacks. This shirt was easy to wash in a hotel sink and it dried super fast, so I was able to wash and re-wear it several times in Sri Lanka.

Not all wool is ethically or sustainably sourced, so I appreciate that Smartwool uses ZQ-certified wool to ensure responsible sourcing. I also love that Smartwool is one of few outdoor brands that has truly inclusive sizing, with many of their tops and bottoms going up to a 4XL.

Smartwool Active Women’s Leggings

The name of this product perfectly describes it, as these are leggings made of wool and intended for active women. Hello, that’s me! I’ve been wearing these leggings for about a year and a half and they’ve gone all over the world with me while hiking, biking, kayaking, dancing, relaxing, and even lounging on river cruises. Like the previously mentioned Smartwool T-shirt, these leggings are also made from high-tech wool to keep you cool, wick away moisture, and dry quickly. They can also be worn year-round, regardless of the weather or temperature. 

The side drop-in pockets are perfect for holding your phone or hotel key card, and there’s also a hidden interior waist pocket where you can hide money and credit cards. Though these are designed for “active” activities, because they are slim-fitted, pretty, and available in solid colors (I have the all-black pair), they can easily be worn with a cute top for going out to dinner or walking around town. This way, I can get multiple uses out of a single pair of pants, which is also easy to rewash in the sink and hang dry overnight to rewear the next day.

Outdoor Vitals Altitude Sun Hoodie

I got this lightweight, long-sleeve “sun hoodie” two years ago for a two-week-long summer rafting trip in the Grand Canyon, and it’s still one of my favorite tops for all sorts of adventure travel. Not only is the sweatshirt rated to protect your skin against high-altitude sun, but thanks to the hood, it provides protection for your ears and neck — two areas that often get a ton of sun exposure but less attention when it comes to sunscreen application. The shirt is so light that it almost feels like wearing nothing and it dries super quickly, so it was my go-to for kayaking in Sri Lanka. I also wore it for a 25-mile bike ride through tea plantations and as a cover-up while reading at the beach.

OtterBox Symmetry Series Phone Case

When you’re always on the move, you need to make sure that every part of your travel repertoire is durable — even your phone case. I prefer sleek, thin cases that offer an extra layer of defense should my phone fall out of my pocket while I’m hiking or biking, which is why I’m a fan of OtterBox’s stylishly protective Symmetry cases. They provide excellent drop protection, are compatible with MagSafe charging pads, and come in a ton of fun colors and prints. 

The cases have raised edges to help protect the camera, but I also use this OtterBox antimicrobial screen protector for even more coverage. This combo worked well for me on the Sri Lanka trip (and for everyday life in New York City) because the case is thin enough to fit in my hip pouch and prevents scratches, cracks, and other drop-related damage. If you need even more protection, opt for the OtterBox Defender case, which is a bit thicker and even more rugged.

Darn Tough Lightweight Hiking Socks

Even in the best hiking shoes or boots, your feet can get sweaty and prone to blisters if you’re not wearing good socks. While you certainly can hike in the everyday cotton socks that many of us wear at home, they don’t breathe or have grip, so your feet may sweat and slide around in your shoes. Darn Tough socks are super comfortable, ultra-lightweight, made in the USA. and they come in various weights, colors, prints, and styles (no-show, ankle, crew, and knee-high). For this trip, I wore the low-cut version for cycling and walking around town, and the crew version when hiking to offer a bit more protection from plants and bugs.

Sawyer Stay-Put Sunscreen and Insect Repellent

Speaking of bugs, this two-for-one deal ensures that your insect repellent and SPF needs are covered. It’s important to wear sunscreen on vacation regardless of where you go and what you do, but it’s especially important when you’ll be active outside in the sun for many hours. Even some of the best everyday sunscreens don’t cut it when you’re hiking, biking, and kayaking because they might sweat off before you’ve even gotten started. I love the Sawyer Stay-Put Sunscreen because it does just that — it stays put. 

I have sensitive skin, so I always apply a fancy-pants facial sunscreen from my aesthetician in the morning. But when I’m traveling, I often wind up re-applying later in the day with Sawyer’s Stay-Put formula so I’m not carrying around multiple types of sunscreen during the day. I’m happy to report that I’ve never had issues with my skin breaking out as a result. This combo bundle also includes their picaridin insect repellent, which I also love because it is safer and more effective than the gross-smelling DEET sprays and lotions a lot of us grew up with. I didn’t actually encounter many mosquitos in Sri Lanka, but I was still glad to have repellent with me.

Altra Lone Peak 8 Trail Running Shoes

Hands down, these are my favorite shoes in the world. Technically, they are trail running shoes, but I never run; I only use them for walking and hiking. This is the newest version of the shoe, which I started wearing a few months ago, but I’ve worn an earlier version of this shoe nearly every day for the last two years. The extra-wide toe boxes and sticky soles make them super comfy and provide a non-slip grip that was perfect for the dry, wet, and rocky trails in Sri Lanka. I also wore them for walking around the streets of capital city Colombo and while visiting tea plantations and spice gardens. Depending on the trip, these could easily be the only shoes that you’ll need to pack. 

Keen Rose Active Sandals

Even though this was an active trip, I didn’t want my feet to be stuck in hiking shoes every day, so I also brought my trusty Keen hiking sandals. Keen is known for making really rugged hiking boots, shoes, and sandals that offer great grip, comfort, and support, and I love these sandals because they’re a bit softer, lighter, and prettier than traditional hiking sandals. While I do wear them for light hiking, I especially love them on multi-activity trips because they’re cute enough to be worn with dresses, skirts, or leggings and blouses. In Sri Lanka, I wore them to hike up Mini Adam’s Peak in the tea town of Ella, to visit Buddhist temples in Kandy, and during my tuk tuk tour in Colombo.

Hydro Flask Lightweight Trail Series Water Bottle

This has been my main go-to water bottle for the last two years because it’s ultra-rugged and insulated, but also impressively lightweight. While an insulated water bottle wasn’t completely necessary for this trip, I loved carrying it with me because it was more refreshing to drink cool water during a 90-degree bike ride than it was to drink stale water that had been heating up in plastic all day. I usually stuff the bottle into the side pocket of my daypack, but because it has a sturdy handle, I used a carabiner to clip it onto my kayak or raft. And while I mostly filled this bottle with cool water for hiking, biking, kayaking, beach-going, and walking tours in Sri Lanka, I filled it with hot tea for my long-haul flights to-from the country. This bottle is not cheap, but it lasts forever (I’ve literally taken it on hundreds of miles of hikes).

Grayl GeoPress Water Filter Bottle

I refuse to buy bottled water anywhere in the world because the discarded bottles are devastating to the environment, particularly in countries that lack adequate recycling facilities. I haven’t bought bottled water in over six years, and that’s precisely because I always carry this Grayl GeoPress Water Filter Bottle with me. I’ve used it to filter and drink water from rivers, streams, lakes, and waterfalls around the world, and I also used it to filter the water in my hotels in Sri Lanka. There are newer models of the Grayl filter available, but this is the one that I use; it’s fantastic with its convenient drinking spout. I usually use it to filter the water and then pour it into my insulated canteen to carry during the day.

Bajío Eldora Sunglasses

I have a few pairs of sunglasses on rotation, but for active trips, I always opt for higher-end polarized frames like these sunnies from Bajío. Why? Because they are more comfortable, they block out more sun, and they stay put on my face without adding a ton of extra weight or making me overheat. Polarized glasses are designed for people who spend a lot of time outside, especially doing activities around water and snow, which produce a lot of glare. While I’ve worn these glasses on plenty of snow hikes in Wyoming, Wisconsin, and upstate New York, they also worked beautifully for hiking, biking, and kayaking in Sri Lanka. 

They were especially important for the kayaking trip and a separate whale watching boat tour that I did because the sun’s glare off the water was so intense. I’m also a big fan of Bajío sunglasses because there are hundreds of combinations of frames and lenses. The brand also offers unique frame shapes and pretty frame and lens colors — like these stylish hot pink frames with bright blue, pink, or purple polarized lenses. 

Catherine Dress Mini Cover-up

Even though the focus of my trip to Sri Lanka was hiking, biking, and kayaking, I also spent a couple of nights at the beach and there were great pools at a lot of the hotels. Swimsuit cover-ups are handy anywhere in the world, but they are especially important in more conservative countries like Sri Lanka, where it’s not exactly polite to run around with your butt hanging out. Do some travelers do it? Yes. Do the locals appreciate it? No. I love this cover-up dress by Catherine because it works as a swimsuit cover-up at the pool and beach, but it also doubles as a cute top when paired with jeans (or my aforementioned Smartwool leggings).   

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