Please bring all Required Clothing & Gear

You are welcome to bring extras of the items marked with a plus (+) sign. Where a range of quantities is indicated, e.g., “1-2” bring the smaller quantity if you are on a one-week course, and the larger quantity if your course is 10 days or longer. There are multiple brand name options available at varying prices. The clothing and equipment on this list is widely available in many places. Specialty outdoor stores like  L.L.Bean, REI, Campmorand  Eastern Mountain Sportswill have a range of appropriate items to choose from. Discount retailers, like Sierra Trading Postand the REI Garage often have good prices on name-brand gear and clothing. You may also locate many first- quality clothing and equipment items at military surplus stores and area consignment stores and thrift stores, such as Goodwilland The Salvation Army. 

The HIOBS website has some great items. A complete collection of HIOBS-recommended-for-course items can be found HERE. Please contact your course advisor for suggestions.

Sizing & Layering

Packing several light layers rather than fewer heavier layers allows you more flexibility as the weather and workloads change. Inner layers should fit closely, middle layers should fit loosely and outer layers should be just a little bit baggy. When shopping or packing, it is a good idea to try on your layers together.

Packing

Before your expedition, your instructors will check your gear; they will assess your clothing with the actual route and the anticipated weather in mind. Items you don’t take on expedition will be stored safely at base. We suggest leaving the tags on any items you purchase in case you don’t actually pack them for expedition, but please note that you should check with each store to see what their return policies are.  If there are items that you would like to bring but which are not mentioned on this list, feel free to call and ask your course advisor at 855-802-0307.

Tick- and Mosquito-Borne (Arboviral) Diseases

Tick- and mosquito-borne diseases are an increasing risk of traveling in the wild regions of the Americas, including our course areas in Maine, New Hampshire, Florida, the Bahamas, and Costa Rica. Fortunately, there are prevention steps that are very effective and, in most cases, treatment is relatively simple and recovery complete, so long as the diagnosis is made early. Students and their families should educate themselves on the risks, prevention measures, and signs and symptoms of tick-borne illnesses. 

Since prevention is always better than treatment, we STRONGLY recommend pre-treating your footwear, long pants, long-sleeve shirts, jackets and hats with a chemical barrier containing permethrin, at least two days before traveling to your course. Applied correctly and allowed to dry before wearing, the treatment remains effective for up to a month. For even longer-lasting protection, you can either purchase clothing with permethrin embedded within it, or send your clothes to Insect Shield®, who will treat them and ship them back to you, ready for your course. Use the Coupon Code “HIOBS” to receive a 15% discount on both clothing and treatment services at this website (please note that you need to use the coupon separately for products/ service).

Permethrin spray is readily available at many retailers, including Dick's Sporting Goods, Campmor, and Walgreen's.

For more information, please download our Vector-Borne Disease General Fact Sheet.

Costa Rica & Panama are located very close to the equator, but at elevation at our rainforest base. That means that temperatures will vary from the 50's to 90's farhrenheit. During the day it will be hot, sunny, buggy, with a rain shower or two. Once night falls, temperatures will drop and you WILL get chilly.

In both Costa Rica & Panama you will experience rain. The areas that you will visit are near or on water, which can be warm, wet, a little buggy, yet extremely beautiful.

The "summer" (aka dry season) goes from December to April, and "winter" (aka the rainy season) goes from May to November.

Bringing the required clothing on your course is crucial to being prepared for ALL the weather conditions you may encounter. On expedition, you carry a lot less than when you travel in the regular world. The clothing on this list is designed to keep you warm if it is cold or wet and be flexible enough to allow you to pack away items if it is hot.

It is important that you bring everything on the required list. We do NOT have extra items at the base for you to borrow if you forget something!

Tops

• 3-5 Comfortable Sports Bras
• 4 Non-Cotton T-Shirts/Tank Tops: non cotton and fast-drying fabric highly preferable
• 3 Cotton T-Shirts/Tank Tops: Comfortable for dry days and sleepwear. Be sure to bring shirts you don’t mind getting dirty
• 1-2 Long Sleeve Shirts: lightweight, non-cotton (for mosquito protection)
• 1 Rain Jacket and Poncho: lightweight, waterproof/breathable with a hood. You will get rained on. Rain gear can make or break your trip.

Bottoms

• 7 pairs Underwear: synthetic, non-cotton preferred
• 1 pair Lightweight Lounge Pant: lightweight and loose lounge pants. These are not for hiking, they are for mosquito protection
• 3-4 pairs Shorts: lightweight, fast drying and/or non-cotton is preferable
• 2 pairs Hiking Pants: lightweight, non-cotton
• 1 pair Rain Pants: lightweight, waterproof/breathable.

Head, Hands, Feet

• 1 pair Hiking Boots: medium-weight, high-top hiking boots – make sure these boots are comfortable and come up above your ankle for good support.
• 1 pair Adventure Strap Sandals: brands like Chacos, Tevas, or Keens are great for water exposure and must have a secure strap on the back.
• 1 pair Running or Tennis Shoes
• 3-4 pairs Hiking Socks: wool or synthetic, such as Smartwool
• 2 pairs Liner Socks
• 1-2 pairs Regular Socks
• 1 Baseball Cap or Wide-Brimmed Hat: for sun protection

Additional Clothing

• 1-2 sets Travel & Base Clothes: Clean clothes for traveling and time spent on base (will not be worn on expedition)
• 2-3 sets Pajamas: one set of warm weather pajamas (i.e. t-shirt and shorts); and one set of cold weather pajamas (i.e. long underwear top and bottom)
• 1 VERY COZY Outfit: Cozy and comfortable clothes are NECESSARY at our cool base in the evenings. We recommend a warm fleece jacket, fleece pants, and fuzzy socks. Jacket and pants can also be another warm synthetic fabric.
• 1-2 Swimsuits: At least one swimsuit should be a sports style suit. Either one or two piece suits work. 

Personal Items

• 3 N95 or KN95 Masks: to wear in the airport and airplane as it provides the most protection to you and your group
• Antibacterial Hand Sanitizer
• Toothbrush & Toothpaste
• Brush/Comb & Extra Hair Ties
• Soap, Shampoo/Conditioner: it is preferable for these products to be biodegradable, but not required
• Deodorant & Shaving Razor(s)
• 1-2 bottles Waterproof Sunscreen: 1 bottle Reef Safe, other can be regular. SPF 30 or higher – sports SPF 50 stays best during water activities and/or Zinc oxide sun protection.
• 2 bottles Insect Repellent: at least one with DEET and one without
• Menstrual Products: disposable or reusable products. Bring a good supply even if you do not expect to need them.
• Chapstick or Lip Balm
• Aloe Vera Gel
• Baby Wipes: 1 small ziplock bag full
• Waterproof/Resistant Watch with an Alarm
• 80L Waterproof Backpack Cover: to fit an 80-liter backpack - or you may bring/use a few large plastic garbage bags instead
• Compact Travel Pillow
• 1-2 Bandanas
• 2 Water Bottles (1-liter): wide-mouth and plastic, like Nalgene, Camelback, Contigo, etc.
• 1 Water Bladder with hose: just the plastic bag and hose; a backpack is not needed
• 1 Small Carabiner: for securing your water bottle to your pack
• 1 Whistle: Micro Fox 40, non-cork ball. In case you need to call for help in emergency situations
• Journal/Notebook and Extra Pens
• 2 Dry Bags: one 6-8 liter and one small size
• Book Bag or Day Pack: we will provide a hiking backpack to carry all your belongings, but for short day trips you will want a small day bag. This can also be used as your carry-on during flights
• 1 pair Sunglasses
• 1 Headlamp with Red Light Setting: flashlights are not acceptable. You will use your “hands-free” headlamp every night.
• Batteries for Headlamp: 1 set per week of course, plus one extra set.
• 1 Quick-Dry Pack Towel: full sized
• 5 Ziplock Bags
• 1 Lifestraw Personal Water Filter: water is safe to drink at your course locations. However, we recommend a Lifestraw filter as an extra layer of protection.
• Anti-Itch Cream: for relief against bug bites
• Ear Plugs: to help sleep soundly. Bring extras; they are easy to lose
• 2 sets Prescription Medications (if needed): MUST be in original containers. BRING TWO SETS. The extra set is just in case the medication gets lost or damaged. You must inform Admissions before course of all prescription medication you plan to bring on course.
• Glasses/Contacts (if needed): make sure to have a hard case for your glasses, and enough contacts for the course plus extras
• Passport + photocopy of passport *Important Note: your passport needs to have an expiration date that is at least 6 months after your course ends
• Copy of your Return Flight Itinerary: you will need to show proof of exit within 90 days of entering Costa Rica
• Paperwork: Bring insurance documents and any important emergency phone numbers
• Money: it is highly recommended to bring at least $200 USD (in bills smaller and/or equal to $20 that are NOT ripped) for luggage cost and personal purchases. It is also highly recommended (but not required) to bring a credit card in case of medical emergencies. You will not need to carry money with you on expedition, but you will have access to it at our merch store and at the BIG airport souvenir shop.

Optional Clothing & Gear

These are NOT required items. Please only buy them if you plan to use them outside of your course.

• 1 pair Flip Flops
• Moleskin/Molefoam: for blister protection (strongly recommended)
• Camera: Due to the risk of damage from weather and the expedition, we suggest that if you bring a camera it should be waterproof and durable. A disposable camera is a great choice - just make sure to read the directions so you know how to use it on course! GoPro cameras are allowed. You will only be able to film or take photos with the instructors’ and other students’ permission.
• Solar Charger: for camera
• Biodegradable soap: If you choose to pack lighter this is a great item to have for giving your dirty clothes a quick wash and hanging them on our course clothes line to dry
• Inflatable Sleeping Pad: twin-sized
• Secure Straps (“Croakies”): to not lose your sunglasses or glasses
• Compact Umbrella
• Compact Hammock with straps
• Moisturizing Lotion
• Long Underwear Layer
• Deck of Cards / UNO
• Spanish-English Dictionary
• Gaiters: to keep water, mud, and other debris out of your hiking boots
• Lightweight Trekking Poles
• Plenty of Snacks: We HIGHLY RECOMMEND bringing plenty of extra dry snacks from home that you love. For those with several food allergies/dietary restrictions or who are picky eaters, this is STRONGLY recommended. Even though we have snacks, participants have always loved having dry food comforts from home.

Footwear Suggestions for Hiking

There are many extended periods on the course that will be very wet and muddy. It is not a question of if, but when your feet are going to get soaked. In such conditions, a thin sock liner combined with gaiters is important.

PLEASE NOTE: Heavy weight leather boots become extremely heavy when saturated and dry painfully slow. We recommend you have a medium-weight variety of hiking boot on this course.

HIKING SOCKS

Thinner hiking socks made of synthetic or synthetic wool blend materials are breathable, wick moisture away from the skin and are quick drying. Wool socks work well, but are a little more expensive. Do NOT bring cotton socks – they retain water and will make you miserable.

GAITERS

Gaiters are garments worn over the shoe and lower leg to protect from water, dirt, and rocks. Some students and staff choose to embrace the mud, but if you do opt to bring gaiters we suggest ones that come up to the knee. They should be snug around your boot and leg, but not restricting.

Purchasing Shoes – We Recommend

MIDWEIGHT BOOTS

• Preferable non leather boots with a high cut for ankle protection
• A happy medium for those traditionalists who want the durability and protection of a heavy boot, but in a lighter, softer and more flexible package
• Often made from a fusion of synthetic materials, suede and occasionally split-grain leather
• Weigh between 1 and 5kg
• More comfortable, breathe better and dry quicker than their heavier equivalents.
• Waterproof-breathable linings

SIZING

Over the course of a long hike your feet WILL swell. This is especially true when hiking in hot conditions. Shoes that feel nice and snug in the store will probably feel tight and uncomfortable after a few days on the trail. Buying a size or two up is a great idea! If possible, try the shoes on with the same socks you will be wearing on the trail.

Breaking In

No matter what your choice in footwear, go for at least a few hikes before coming on course. Students have had to leave the hike because of bad blisters caused by not breaking in their new boots! The more you wear your boots before you arrive the less chance you’ll have of getting bad blisters.

Please note that Outward Bound provides all other equipment, including (but not limited to):

• sleeping bags & pads
• backpacks or duffel bags
• dry bags
• lifejacket (Personal Flotation Device)
• food (meals + snacks)

HIOBS Instructors will carry a fully stocked First Aid kit. You do not need to bring your own first aid kit or "just in case" OTC medications that you do not regularly take if they are listed below. 

This kit includes, but is not limited to:

• Ibuprofen
• Acetaminophen (non-aspirin)
• Aspirin
• Laxatives
• Anti-diarrheal
• Antacids
• Decongestant
• Antihistamine (Benadryl or similar)
• Sea-sickness medication
• Band-Aids/Bandages