Minimum and maximum checklist for those who want to travel light but prepared.

Less is more. After dozens of guided tours, we’ve settled on an almost surgical list of what you truly need.

Clothing: 3 technical t-shirts, 2 pairs of trousers (one for riding, one for dinner), 4 pairs of socks, 4 sets of underwear, a light fleece, a thin windbreaker. A separate Gore-Tex jacket, always at hand.

Riding gear: full-face helmet with sun visor, CE-protected jacket, reinforced trousers, tall boots, summer gloves and mid-weight gloves. A buff is your best friend.

Electronics: dual USB charger, long USB-C cable, 10,000 mAh power bank, plug adapter, GPS or phone mount. Don’t forget a small head torch.

Health: basic first-aid kit, SPF 50 sunscreen, lip balm, personal medication and electrolyte tablets for long days.

Paperwork: licence, registration, insurance, European health card, digital copies of everything on your phone.

The final test: if the bag closes without a fight, you’ve cut well. If it’s bursting, remove three items of clothing. You’ll need the space for the cheese, the wine and the souvenir from every estate.