Hi, I'm Tim 👋.
I’ve spent the last 30 years working as a walking and mountain guide and 12 of those leading Vagabond hikes across Ireland.
In that time, I’ve learned one very important thing: the right hike wear can make or break your day on the trail.
A little preparation goes a long way.
Pack smart and you’ll stay safe, comfortable, and smiling, no matter what the Irish weather (or terrain) throws at us.
Before we dive into what to wear hiking in Ireland , here’s what a typical Vagabond hike actually looks like.
What Is a Typical Vagabond Hike?
Vagabond walks generally last between 1–2 hours, though they can occasionally run a little longer.
Especially when the views are spectacular and you and your fellow tour buddies are having the time of your lives!
Expect a mix of terrain from rocky coastal paths to wet or muddy trail sections with the odd steep climb or downhill thrown in for good measure.
And the weather? Well, this is Ireland. It could be warm sunshine one moment and strong, cold, rain drenched winds the next.
We walk at a steady pace of around 3mph (4.83km/h), allowing plenty of time to enjoy the scenery and catch your breath. While you’ll have room to find your rhythm, we follow one important rule:
We start together, and we finish together.
Teamwork and camaraderie are central to the Vagabond wilderness experience.
Our routes pass through areas considered adventurous, wilderness environments. Although your qualified walking guide carries a full set of emergency group equipment, each guest should bring their own personal essentials.
🥾 Footwear: The Most Important Piece of Gear
Ireland’s trails can be uneven, wet and slippery, so proper footwear is essential.
We recommend:
- 🥾 Walking shoes or hiking boots with a fairly stiff sole
- 💧 Waterproofing, or at least strong water resistance
- 👣 Good grip and ankle stability
Flexible sandals, soft runners or fashion trainers with little traction are not suitable for many of the surfaces and weather conditions we encounter.
If your boots are new, take time to break them in before your tour.
👕 Clothing: Dress in Layers
Irish weather is famously unpredictable, which is why light, flexible layers work best.
A few clothing tips:
- 👖 Avoid jeans. When wet, they become heavy, cold and restrict movement.
- 🌬 Choose quick-drying walking trousers or lightweight hiking pants.
- 🧶 Bring a warm mid-layer such as fleece or wool.
- 🧥 Pack a proper waterproof jacket (and waterproof trousers if possible).
- 🌦️ Even on a “summer” holiday, a light hat and gloves can make all the difference, especially in the early or late season.
🦯 Walking Poles: Helpful for Many Hikers
Walking poles are becoming increasingly common on Irish trails.
They can be extremely helpful if you have knee issues, hip discomfort or balance concerns.
If you plan to bring your own, please check with your airline beforehand, rules on transporting poles vary.
🤝 Wildlife & Safety on the Trail
One of the perks of hiking in Ireland is the absence of dangerous wildlife:
- 🐍 No snakes
- 🕷️ No poisonous spiders
- 🦂 No scorpions
However, deer ticks are present in some wilderness areas and can occasionally carry Lyme disease. Simple precautions are usually enough to avoid them:
- 🧦 Tuck trousers into socks
- 🐜 Use a strong insect repellent
- 🪰 Check for ticks at the end of the day
Your guide will let you know if your tour is in an area where insects may be present.
😎 My Recommended Packing List
At Vagabond, we love getting off the beaten track.
To make sure you’re comfortable on our trail walks and ready for Ireland’s famously changeable weather, please pack the following:
ESSENTIAL GEAR 🎒
Please bring these items on tour – they’ll keep you safe, dry and comfortable.
- Waterproof or water-resistant walking shoes/boots with a firm sole
- Quick-drying walking pants
- Light, thin upper-body layers for easy temperature control
- Warm mid-layer (fleece or light insulated jacket)
- Hat and gloves (especially early & late season)
- Rainproof jacket
- Small daypack/backpack
- Personal medication in a waterproof container
- Sunscreen
- Basic personal first aid (plasters, blister care, pain relief)
- Sturdy trail-walking socks
- Water
- Snacks
This keeps you prepared for changing weather and ensures you have what you need at hand.
DESIRABLE / NICE TO HAVE 👚
These items help keep things comfortable on wetter, windier, or longer trail days.
-
Reusable water bottle (1–2L recommended)
- Waterproof trousers / rain pants
- Room in your backpack for snacks
- Lightweight dry bag for electronics/valuables
- Small towel or neck buff
- Insect repellent for ticks (DEET recommended)
PERSONAL CHOICE EXTRAS 👟
Optional but great for enhancing your experience.
In Summary..
At Vagabond, we pride ourselves on our strong safety culture and the extensive wilderness training our guides receive.
Our goal is always to provide you with a memorable, scenic, safe and enjoyable walking experience.
With the right hike wear packed, you’ll be ready to embrace Ireland’s landscapes: rain, shine or somewhere in between.
Happy hiking!
Packing FAQs 🧳
What Size Luggage Should I Bring?
To make everyone's tour run smoothly, we operate strict limits on baggage size. Plan to bring 1x compact suitcase as well as 1x daypack or backpack, per guest booking.
Your single large piece of luggage should weigh no more than 51lb (23kg) and measure no longer than 31” (79cm) along its longest side. This 31 inch (79cm) limit includes any wheels that may protrude from the suitcase or bag.
When full, your daypack or backpack should be light enough to easily carry on your back. It should be compact enough to fit into the space at your feet and measure no larger than the following:
- ↕️ Height: 18.5" (48cm)
- ↔️ Width: 13" (33cm)
- 🎒 Depth: 8" (20cm)
Because your tour with us will be small-group, your tour vehicle will be compact in nature and have limited space for luggage.
Travelling as a couple? You can bring along one larger suitcase instead of two compact suitcases. This single piece of luggage should weigh no more than 51lb (23kg).
Soft-sided bags work better than hard shell luggage.
🎒 Day Pack
Besides your larger bag, we recommend bringing a small day pack or backpack with you.
This allows you easy access to essentials such as your wallet or purse, your phone, a reusable drinks bottle, snacks and any medications you might need throughout the day.
Larger luggage is difficult for your VagaGuide to access between hotels. On a Driftwood Journey of Discovery, it's stacked in the trunk. On Vagabond Cultural Adventures, large luggage is towed behind the tour vehicle in a locked trailer.
A fannypack or bumbag can also come in handy for smaller items, but is non-essential.
🧳 Left Luggage
Most Dublin hotels offer a left luggage service.
You can leave luggage at the hotel while you tour and return to it when your tour is complete.
🧺 Laundry
Will you need to do laundry while on tour?
Your hotel can organise laundry facilities on tour if your tour stays for 2 nights in any of the following towns:
- Dingle
- Clifden
- Kinsale
- Westport
Just ask your VagaGuide tour guide in advance.
Where Can I Do Laundry On Tour?
Serviced laundry facilities are available on tours that stay 2 nights in the following towns:
- 🧺 Dingle - Check which tours visit Dingle
- 🧺 Kinsale - 7 Day Driftwood Castles & Kingdoms Tour & 12 Day Driftwood Wild Coasts & Clover Tour
- 🧺 Westport - 15 Day Driftwood All Ireland Tour & 12 Day Driftwood Wild Coasts & Clover Tour
- 🧺 Waterford - 6 Day Great Southern Ireland Tour
- 🧺 Clifden - 11 Day Driftwood Discover Ireland Tour
- 🧺 Lahinch - 12 Day Driftwood Wild Coasts & Clover Tour
- 🧺 Parknasilla - 12 Day Driftwood Wild Coasts & Clover Tour
If your Vagabond or Driftwood tour does not visit one of these towns, your VagaGuide will advise you on where best to access laundry facilities.
Can I Access My Bag While On Tour?
It's difficult to access your main luggage or suitcase while on tour. Luggage is securely packed in our tour vehicles. As a result, it's not easy for your driver guide to access individual items of baggage during the day.
However, you can easily access your luggage at each hotel. So that you have your travel essentials close at hand, we recommend bringing a daypack, or backpack, that you can keep beside you in the tour vehicle.
Where Is Luggage Stored?
All luggage/baggage is stored either:
A) Inside your tour vehicle. On Driftwood Journeys of Discovery, all of your luggage/baggage travels in the trunk/boot of your Drifter tour vehicle. It is not accessible from the passenger area.
B) In a secure trailer. On Vagabond Cultural Adventures, your main luggage/baggage travels in a securely locked and weatherproof trailer, pulled behind the tour vehicle.
Bring The Essentials In A Backpack
A backpack helps you store the essentials you'll need quick access to during each day on tour.
These essentials might include:
- 💶 Wallet - Cards, to pay for souvenirs and lunch, and cash, as required for activities on the day (your tour guide will advise daily)
- 🤳 Electronic Devices - Smartphone, camera, tablet or other devices
- 🍪 Refreshments - Such as water, gum, snacks etc.
- 🥪 Lunch - Your VagaGuide may plan a picnic and advise you where to pick up supplies in a deli/supermarket
- 💊 Medication - If required.
- 🧥 Lightweight Clothing - A warm hat and lightweight layers of clothing such as a waterproof rain jacket and sweater
Find out more about our tour vehicles
Got Questions? Get in touch!
Please get in touch with me via enquiries@vagabond.ie with any further queries you have about packing for Ireland
