The best gear for the Jordan Trail in 2026 prioritises water capacity and sun protection over insulation: a supportive 50–65 litre pack able to carry 4–5 litres of water, a wide-brim hat and sun hoody, sturdy trail shoes, and a sleeping bag rated to around 5 degrees Celsius for cool desert nights. The 675 km route crosses terrain from green highlands to bone-dry desert.
What gear do you need for the Jordan Trail?
Gear for the Jordan Trail answers a different question than alpine kit does. Here the enemy is sun, heat and distance between water, not cold and altitude. The right kit lets you carry several litres comfortably, stay covered from intense sun, and sleep warm on nights that dip toward 10 degrees Celsius. The backpack is the single most important purchase, because it must haul heavy water loads in heat without crushing your hips. The sections below cover the gear categories that make or break a Jordan Trail trip.
Which backpack is best for the Jordan Trail?
A supportive 50–65 litre pack with a genuine load-transferring hip belt is the foundation of a Jordan Trail kit. Water is heavy — 5 litres adds 5 kg — so ventilation and suspension matter more than minimal weight. The Osprey Aether 65 is a proven heavy-load carrier with an anti-gravity back panel that keeps your spine cooler in desert heat. For hikers who want expandable capacity between resupplies, the Deuter Aircontact Core 50+10 flexes from a 50-litre base to 60 litres for the longest waterless legs, while its lighter sibling the Deuter Aircontact Lite 45+10 trims weight for fast section hikers. Ultralight devotees can run a frameless Hyperlite Mountain Gear 3400 Windrider, accepting less hip padding under full water loads.
| Pack | Capacity | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Osprey Aether 65 | 65 L | Heavy water carries, comfort |
| Deuter Aircontact Core 50+10 | 50–60 L | Expandable thru-hike |
| Deuter Aircontact Lite 45+10 | 45–55 L | Lighter section hikes |
| Hyperlite 3400 Windrider | 55 L | Ultralight fast hiking |
How do you handle water carrying?
Water carrying defines the gear setup. On the driest desert legs you need capacity for 4–5 litres, split between bottles and a bladder so a single failure does not leave you dry. A filter or purification tablets handle the variable quality of village taps and rare springs, and a collapsible reservoir lets you tank up before a long carry. The weight of that water is exactly why pack suspension matters so much — a poorly supported load turns 5 litres into shoulder agony within an hour. Plan carries around the section water notes published by the Jordan Trail Association, which are updated as springs change year to year.
What sun and clothing gear matters most?
Sun protection is gear, not an afterthought, on the Jordan Trail. A wide-brim hat, a long-sleeved sun hoody, lightweight long trousers and SPF 50 sunscreen form the core, supplemented by a buff or shemagh that can be soaked for evaporative cooling. UV-rated sunglasses protect against the glare off pale limestone and sand. For footwear, sturdy trail shoes with reinforced toes handle sharp rock far better than minimalist designs, and low gaiters keep sand out. The Bedouin model of loose, full-coverage clothing genuinely outperforms shorts and a t-shirt by reducing both sunburn and sweat-driven water loss.
What sleeping and night gear do you need?
Desert nights are colder than newcomers expect, so night kit completes the list. A sleeping bag rated to around 5 degrees Celsius covers spring and autumn camps, paired with an insulated pad that blocks the cold ground. In the dry climate many hikers skip a full tent for a lightweight tarp or bivy, saving weight and packing into a smaller load that an expandable pack like the Deuter Aircontact Lite 45+10 swallows easily. Add a headlamp for pre-dawn starts, a power bank to keep your GPS alive across multi-day legs, and a satellite messenger for the long stretches without signal. Confirm entry and guide requirements through the national tourism board at Visit Jordan before finalising your kit. The same desert-focused principles apply to other arid treks, making this setup a useful template beyond the Jordan Trail itself.
What gear can you safely leave at home?
Knowing what to omit saves weight and money. Heavy insulation belongs at home — there is no need for a sub-zero sleeping bag, a down parka or four-season boots on a trail whose nights rarely fall below 8 degrees Celsius in the hiking seasons. A bulky four-season tent is overkill in the dry desert climate, where a lightweight tarp or single-wall shelter handles the rare spring shower. Traction devices like microspikes and any glacier or alpine hardware are equally pointless on this terrain.
Some swaps simply make sense. Trade a heavy hardshell rain jacket for a light wind shell that doubles as sun and dust protection, since sustained rain is rare outside winter. Skip the camp chair and other comfort luxuries that add weight you will resent under a 5-litre water load. Many hikers also drop the stove on shorter sections, eating cold to save fuel weight and cooking complexity in the heat. What you must never trim is water capacity, sun protection or navigation backup — those three are the non-negotiable core of a safe desert kit, and everything else flexes around them in a sensibly sized pack like the Deuter Aircontact Core 50+10.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size backpack do you need for the Jordan Trail?
A 50 to 65 litre backpack is the right size for the Jordan Trail, large enough to carry 4 to 5 litres of water plus food, a sleep system and sun gear. Day-only section hikers with vehicle support can go smaller, but anyone camping on the Dana to Petra trek or the desert south needs the full capacity and a supportive hip belt.
Do you need a sleeping bag for the Jordan Trail?
Yes, a sleeping bag rated to around 5 degrees Celsius is recommended for spring and autumn camps, because desert nights can fall toward 10 degrees Celsius after hot days. In organised Wadi Rum Bedouin camps bedding is often provided, but independent campers on sections like Dana to Petra must carry their own bag and insulated pad.
Is an ultralight pack suitable for the Jordan Trail?
An ultralight frameless pack like the Hyperlite 3400 Windrider works for experienced hikers who keep base weight low, but it offers less hip padding under heavy water loads of 4 to 5 litres. Most hikers prefer a framed 50 to 65 litre pack with a robust suspension to carry desert water weight comfortably.
What shoes are best for the Jordan Trail?
Sturdy trail shoes or lightweight boots with reinforced toes are best, because the route crosses sharp limestone, scree and soft sand. Add low gaiters to keep grit out. Worn-out or minimalist footwear risks bruised feet over the rocky canyon terrain of the Dana to Petra section, so prioritise protection and a grippy sole.
Do you need a tent for the Jordan Trail?
A shelter is needed for independent camping sections, but the dry desert climate means many hikers use a lightweight tarp or bivy instead of a full tent. In Wadi Rum, organised Bedouin camps supply tents, so a tent is only essential if you plan to camp independently away from established camps.
