We’re back for PART 2 of the must-have items to pack in your 3-Day waist pack! In Part 1, we explored blister prep and snacks. Today, we’ll check out functional items like gear and tools and special items that remind us why we walk.

Gear, Tools, and More

• Stephen K. Y.: Hand sanitizer, sunscreen, Band-Aids, Ibuprofen, sunglasses, inhaler
• Jennifer S.: First aid kit in an Altoids tin
• Sarah H.: Shoelaces
• Malagni M. M.: Safety pins and ribbon
• Emily W.: A permanent marker!
• Donna M.: Small dry erase sheet and marker.
• Lucy M.: Scissors
• Sandi L. R.: Panties! I hate sweaty ones!!!
• Erin S.: Tiny first aid kit. BioFreeze. Shower caps to cover your feet in case it rains…keep them tootsies dry.
• Lisa D.: A sharpie!
• Betsy P.: Duct tape!
• Jennifer H. P.: Duct tape!
• Beth W. N.: Clothespins! Great for securing your rain poncho hood to the bill of your hat if it’s raining.
  • Jen C.: Good add! I use binder clips LOL
• Lola L.: Extra contact lenses & solution! Just in case. In 13 walks, I’ve never had to use them but the one time I leave them behind, I’ll need them. 🙂 My go-to survival in my bag annually is moleskin pieces to battle blisters! Maybe the “Blister Fairies” will return this year to ward what ails some of us. 🥰
• Diane S.: Chapstick. And a backup Chapstick in case I lose the first one.
• Lynda D. C.: I have a pack of Cottonelle wipes. I get the 14-wipe slim pack in the travel mini section. They are great for trips to the porta-potty, and I also use as a washcloth for a quick clean up. Gold Bond powder, a sandwich bag with cash, and my medical card with contact info. I use a small crossbody purse instead of a fanny pack, which is less strain on my hips and back.
• Melissa K. W.: Binder clip to hold a rain poncho to my hat!
• Roxanne L-V.: Kleenex. You never know when you will need them! And, extra cash. There are always things to get along the way!
• Pam B.: Clean undies…yep! Pink!
• Nancy M.: You would be surprised what I stuff in a fanny pack… credit card, cash, charger, Tylenol, poncho screen, mints, Moleskin, scissors, Vaseline and gloves to apply, a piece of plastic shower curtain to sit on, phone, disposable toothbrush, and ribbon tattoos.
• Lola H.: Tush wipes and hemorrhoid cream
• Rachel B.: Toilet seat cover 😂. I bought it at Buy Buy Baby seven years ago when my nephew was born. 😂😂 This makes me laugh. Hairbrush and shower cap, too. Yes, a lipstick with a mirror, too. No wonder it weighs so much. Not sure why I only have one shower cap since I would need one for each shoe. Something else to add. 🤣

Other Special Notes

• Tracey C. A.: Tiny teddy bear. It was given to me many years ago to keep me safe on a trip I was going on. It even has tiny angel wings. 💕
• Julie J.: A small stone that says “breathe”.
• Sandy K.: A last stash of my famous pink 🎀 🎀🎀🎀! I sprinkle them at pit stops, at the opening ceremony, wherever an opportunity presents itself!
• Beverly W.: Ribbons with the names of survivors or people living with or passed away from breast cancer.
• Carolyn S. P.: A light stick to help the team find each other before the opening ceremony.

• Alisen D.: My mom’s mini urn of ashes. She is always on event as I participate. It even has a breast cancer ribbon etched into it.
• Sally P.: A note my husband wrote me on the eve of my mastectomy surgery.
• Kristian K.: Maybe a surprise to a non-3-Dayer, but I have 2 TuTu Angels on the front of my handlebar bag. MaMa and PaPa TuTu have led me down the right path since the day I was born. When on event, they do so as well. The TuTu angels look rough, but they’ve seen a lot of miles since 2011 when MaMa TuTu and 2012 when PaPa TuTu first adorned my handlebar bag.

• Jamie W.: Art to abandon on route, 💖 abandoned original photographs in Seattle as well as handmade friendship bracelets.
• Jeryl V.: Essential oils!!
• Peggy S.: My book
• Jacki P.: 3-Day business cards
• Barbara B.: The traveling angel my daughter gave me to watch over me.

3-Day family, we’re feeling very prepared (and like it is time to place an order to stock up our waist packs). What else do we need to bring? Share your tips in the comments!

Experienced 3-Day walkers are ALWAYS prepared. Once we learned some of our expert tips for 3-Day newbies from these seasoned walkers, we just had to ask…what is in your 3-Day waist pack? Many 3-Day walkers rock waist packs or hip packs with must-have items for use out on the route. While there will be snacks and drinks and medical supplies every few miles along the route, many 3-Day walkers like to bring their own personal stash of things that make them feel good.

From functional to fun, from sentimental to silly, we’re excited to share a comprehensive list of waist pack must-haves collected from the Pink Bubble community. We always recommend training with the gear you’ll wear during the walk. So as you start to build up your mileage, it may be time to stock up on items for blister prep, snacks, gear, tools, and items to make your heart happy.

What do experienced 3-Dayers recommend?

Blister Prep and More

• Jennifer S.: Small container with Hike Goo, Advil, sunscreen, and lip balm.
  • Melissa P. L.: YES also to a small container of Hike Goo! Best product around!
• Elvia M.: 2nd Skin Squares—though they’re (awesomely) available at 3-Day pit stops, you just never know when you’ll need one. Oh, and Starbursts. Always.
• Anne K.: Band-Aids, lip balm, $ 😊
• Paige K.: Gold bond no friction
• Janna F.: I always carry peppermint foot lotion. Massaging it in at lunch before changing socks just seems to give a little extra pep in my step.
• Doris K.: Dry socks
• Kim T.-N.: Body Glide—no chafing!
• Kathy P.: Rain poncho, metallic warming blanket, two pairs of socks, Body Glide, two water bottles, Tylenol, Band-Aids, Bacitracin, scissors, Rock tape, Benadryl, epidural pen, needle and thread, paper and pen, ID, cash, credit card, nail clippers and file, and collected doodads from my 19 past events.
• Leilani C-K.: Aquaphor and Advil
• Jen C.: Body Glide! After darting across the street to Just Run in La Jolla because it was hotter than I expected, I carry it with me at all times now.
• Nataly T. P.: Vaseline for foot lube
• Julie L.: Duct tape! Why? Because duct tape is slippery, it works well for covering up points of friction, especially on the inside of my sneakers. A piece stuck on the rough spot inside my sneaker keeps socks from bunching up and causing blisters. And I occasionally use it on my feet…soles and heels.
• Sara F. L.: Moleskin and scissors, HikeGoo, Chapstick, Kleenex, and chewing gum just to name a few
• Kathy M. S.: Vaseline for my feet! It may not be for everyone, but it is a must for me! I end every 3-Day with happy feet!
  • Marcia S. M.: I learned the Vaseline tip from Kathy! Now the hubby buys me a big jar for Christmas!! 🤣🤣

Snacks and More

• Melissa P. L.: Banana Laffy Taffy—a few DFW walkers will know this is true.
• Kris E. D.: Cash for ice cream!
• June M. L.: Beef jerky, Slim Jim’s and maybe a protein bar just in case I don’t want to stop at a pit stop.
• Nicki: Skittles
• Jody G.: Lip balm, deodorant, Body Glide, Band-Aids, gum, and cash to get a drink or snack along the way. 💕
• Gretchen E. B.: Antacids. Something about walking that far gives me reflux.
• Liz C.: Candy, always candy!
• Jay F.: Maple syrup. Yes, really. Why? Vermont maple syrup is a great pick-me-up and is full of healthy antioxidants. It’s useful when a 3-Day lunch lacks flavor. Also, I used to be part of the Vermont Maple Sugar Makers Association marketing committee. 🙂 Many Vermont maple producers are now producing single-serve pouches to carry along on hikes and rides and such.
• Teresa O’N. H.: Atomic fireball candy—keeps us moving!!
• Steph S. G.: Mio water enhancer, nail clippers (they come in handy for a lot of things!) and sunscreen

Check back on June 30 for PART 2!