PackingGear
The Ultimate Mentawai Surf Trip Packing Checklist
· 5 min read
Forget something important in the Mentawais and you're stuck — the nearest town is hours away. This list covers everything you need, organized by category.
Tip: save this page or screenshot each section before you pack.
🏄 Surf Gear
- Surfboards (minimum 2) — Bring a backup — reef dings happen. A shortboard + fish/fun shape is a solid quiver.
- Board bags with padding — Airlines damage boards. Padded triple bags are worth it.
- Spare fins (multiple sets) — Fin boxes take hits on reef. Bring FCS2/Futures spares to match your boards.
- Fin key + ding repair kit — Solarez UV resin or similar for quick fixes between sessions.
- Reef booties (soft sole) — Optional but recommended for beginners. Thicker than surf socks.
- Leashes (2 per board) — Leashes snap. Always have a spare.
- Traction pads / wax + comb — Bring enough wax. Tropical water = Warm/Tropical formula.
- Rashguard (long sleeve) — Sun protection is more important than insulation out here.
- Boardshorts (3–4 pairs) — They stay wet all day. Bring enough to rotate.
🩺 Health & Medical
- Travel insurance documents — Must cover emergency evacuation. Non-negotiable in the Mentawais.
- Malaria prophylaxis — Doxycycline is most common. Consult your GP 4+ weeks before departure.
- Antiseptic cream (eg. Betadine) — Reef cuts in tropical humidity get infected fast. Use generously.
- Non-stick wound dressings + bandages — For reef cuts — regular bandaids don't work on wet reef cuts.
- Steri-Strips / wound closure strips — Deeper cuts that don't need stitches but need closing.
- Ibuprofen / pain relief — For sore muscles and minor injuries.
- Antihistamine tablets — Insect bites, allergic reactions.
- Electrolyte sachets — You sweat a lot in tropical heat + surfing. Stay hydrated.
- Diarrhea medication (eg. Imodium) — Stomach bugs happen. Be prepared.
- Sea sickness tablets — If you take boat transfers, especially on rough crossing days.
- Personal prescription medications (extra supply) — Bring more than you need. No pharmacy nearby.
☀️ Sun & Skin
- Reef-safe sunscreen (SPF 50+) — Standard sunscreen damages coral. Mineral-based zinc oxide is best.
- SPF lip balm — Your lips get cooked. Bring multiple.
- Aftersun lotion / aloe vera gel — You will get burnt the first few days.
- Insect repellent (DEET-based) — Mosquitoes are active at dawn and dusk near the camp.
👕 Clothes & Personal
- Lightweight t-shirts (5–7) — Pack light. You're in the tropics — less is more.
- Lightweight long pants (1–2) — For mosquito protection at night and village visits.
- Light waterproof jacket / poncho — For rain on boat transfers and wet evenings.
- Sandals / flip flops — For walking around camp.
- Lightweight towel (quick-dry) — Microfiber. Regular towels never dry here.
- Headlamp / torch — Power outages happen. Useful for evening walks too.
- Waterproof dry bags — For your phone, wallet, passport on boat transfers.
📱 Electronics
- Universal travel adapter — Indonesia uses Type C/F sockets (European).
- Power bank (20,000+ mAh) — Power supply can be limited at remote camps.
- Waterproof phone case — On the speedboat, everything gets wet.
- Action camera (GoPro etc.) + mounts — You'll want footage of your waves.
- Laptop / tablet (optional) — If you need to work. Wi-Fi is limited but available at camp.
📋 Documents & Money
- Passport (valid 6+ months) — Indonesian immigration requires 6 months validity.
- Travel insurance certificate — Carry a printed copy and a digital copy.
- USD cash (backup) — Padang has ATMs, but out in Mentawai you'll need cash.
- Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) — Small denominations for tips, local food, and transport.
- Emergency contact list — Camp number, your insurer's emergency line, nearest embassy.
What NOT to bring
- Heavy clothing — you won't need it
- Regular sunscreen with oxybenzone / octinoxate (reef-damaging)
- Multiple pairs of shoes — sandals + one pair of trainers max
- Valuables you can't afford to lose — leave jewellery at home
- Plastic bags — Mentawai communities are working to reduce plastic waste