The Mentawais are remote. There is no surf shop, no chemist and no replacing what you forgot. Pack for self-sufficiency and you will barely think about kit again once you are there.
Boards
Bring more than you think you need. Three is a sensible minimum for a two-week trip, and plenty of people bring four. Boards break out here, and a snapped board on day two with nothing to replace it is the single most avoidable way to ruin a trip.
- Your everyday shortboard, or something close to it. This will be your most-used board by a distance.
- A step-up, a few inches longer with a bit more foam under the chest. For the bigger, faster reefs when the swell fills in. If you only bring one extra board, make it this.
- A groveller or fish, for smaller days and the mellower reefs. More useful in the shoulder season than people expect.
- Something with volume if you are an improving surfer. Waves you can actually catch beat waves you admire.
Strong board bags matter as much as the boards. Indonesian domestic flights and small boats are hard on luggage, so pad the noses and tails properly and use a double or triple bag if you have one.
Fins, leashes and repairs
- Spare fins, more than one set. Fins snap on reef and boxes get damaged.
- Spare leashes. Bring at least two, and go heavier than your home break setup. A leash failure on a shallow reef is a serious problem.
- A fin key, and a spare. They vanish.
- A ding repair kit, the solar-cure type. You will use it, and so will someone who did not bring one.
- Wax for tropical water, more than you would take anywhere else. It runs out and nobody has spare.
Reef kit and first aid
This is the section people skip and then regret. Everything out here breaks over coral, and even a minor cut goes bad quickly in warm salt water.
- Booties. Reef booties for shallow entries and exits. Not glamorous, very useful.
- A proper first aid kit with antiseptic, saline for flushing cuts, waterproof dressings and antibiotic ointment. Treat every reef cut immediately rather than at the end of the session.
- Any prescription medication you take, in original packaging, with enough for the whole trip plus a buffer.
- Seasickness tablets if you are on a charter and even slightly unsure. Take them before you feel it, not after.
Sun
You are close to the equator, on the water, all day, every day. Sunburn on day one costs you sessions on days two and three.
- High-factor reef-safe sunscreen, and more than you think. Zinc for your face.
- A long-sleeve rash vest or two. The single best sun decision you can make.
- A wide-brim hat and decent sunglasses for boat time.
- Lip balm with sun protection.
Clothing and everyday
- Boardshorts and rash vests, several of each. Things do not dry quickly in the tropics.
- A light long-sleeve layer and long trousers for evenings and mosquitoes.
- A light rain jacket. It is the tropics.
- Flip flops and one pair of shoes you do not mind soaking.
- A quick-dry towel.
- Insect repellent, and consider a mosquito net if you are staying on land.
Electronics and money
- A dry bag. Non-negotiable for tender rides and scooters.
- A power bank, and a universal adapter. Charging on a boat is shared and intermittent.
- Cash in rupiah. Take enough for the whole trip, including the surf tax and anything you plan to buy locally. There are no ATMs where you are going, and cards are of limited use once you leave the mainland.
- Waterproof phone case or an action camera if you want to film. Do not count on connectivity.
What you can leave behind
Wetsuits. The water is warm all year and a rash vest is all the coverage you need. Heavy hiking boots, formal clothes and most of the "just in case" pile can stay home too. Luggage allowance on the domestic legs is limited, so spend it on boards rather than clothes.
Before you fly
Check that your travel insurance genuinely covers surfing, and read the wording rather than the marketing. Then have a look at our travel basics guide for flights, transfers and entry requirements, and our season guide if you are still choosing dates. If you are unsure what quiver suits your dates and your level, ask us. We would rather tell you before you pack than after.