What to pack for a hike on Elba Island

The three-litre rule

Summer Elba is hot, dry, windy. The basic rule: at least half a litre of water for every hour of walking, and up to a litre an hour when you are climbing in the sun during the hottest hours. For a full hiking day always bring at least 3 litres, even if you start at 7 am.

Always needed (even 1 hour)

• Water: 0.5-1 litre
• Charged phone with offline app downloaded
• Sunscreen and hat: Tuscan sun hits hard even in March
• An energy bar or dried fruit

Add for 3-4 hours

• Hiking boots: not flip-flops, not city sneakers. Elba's rocks are sharp granite.
• Light windbreaker: wind on ridges above 500 m drops 5-10 degrees
• Technical t-shirt: sweaty cotton then chills you at the top
• Spare socks
• Power bank: GPS eats battery

Add for a full day

• 3 litres of water at the very least, with electrolyte salts if it is very hot
• Packed lunch: sandwich, fruit, bars
• Fleece or hoodie: winter needs it even sunny
• Rain poncho: summer storms are brief but intense
• First-aid kit: plasters, disinfectant, antihistamine (wasps)
• Swiss-style knife
• Paper map alongside the phone

What NOT to bring

Shoulder bags (they jam the shoulder), 60-litre packs (multi-day only), sugary drinks (they dehydrate), perfumes (attract wasps).

For families with children

Add: nappies if needed, extra wet wipe, juice boxes, disinfectant wipes. Low expectations on km: 1 km/h with a small child is already good.