This section is a tutorial for preparation of mountain Backpacking. You’ll find an Hiking Packing List for your trekking in the Alps and not only. In order to prepare a trekking trip in the mountain it is fundamental to bring the right gears. To have a heavy backpack can be an horrible experience but at the same time if you miss some hiking items or clothes it is even worst. After many years of hiking and trekking experience I did find an excellent balance and I here describe the perfect Hiking Packing List for me. Of course everyone has his/her own preferences and gears. First of all I explain few concepts about the backpack preparation and than I will put on the hiking packing list in the different season and for different style of hiking trips. In particular you will find suggestion for you hiking packing list in a summer trekking, a winter trekking and in a day hikes. There is always a small difference of what I bring according to the weather and to the specific hike I’ll do; in any case with this tutorial you should have a much better idea of what to bring in your hike with Trekking Alps. Most of the gears described here come from AKU and Ferrino, our technical sponsor.
Backpack preparation: Layers
The best option in my opinion is to wear many layers. Means many different hiking gears with different features that you wear according to the weather and temperature situation. Of course to choose the layers depends on the season when you go trekking. Generally I use 4 Layers:
T-shirt/long sleeves
Vest/Fleece
Sweather/Warm jacket
Shield jacket
The specific gear will be choosed depending on the season and weather forecast. In winter I may consider bringing both the warm jacket and the sweater.
Backpack preparation: Extra Hiking Gears
There are some hiking gears that you can decide bringing or not. In case you know that during the hike there will be a lot of rain you may consider bringing an extra rain coat poncho.
They are perfect for heavy rain and if you’ll know that steady rain will be part of the hike it can really be a nice idea to bring it. Also the hat and gloves type will depends on the season for the preparation of your trekking backpacking list. If it is winter you’ll need to bring warm hat and gloves while in summer you’ll probably need to bring both hat and cap and light gloves. Also another thing that you could consider to bring is a small towel and even a swimming suit for the mountain lake swimming.
Hiking Backpacking List: Wild or Comfort?
If you go wild or you are using shelter and bed and breakfast is also a very important variable. It will depends the sleeping bag warmth, the stove you need to bring and eventually the tents and consequently the backpack capacity. Hiking Packing list is a sort of an art. As a mountain hiking guide I provide you all the stove so you don’t need to think about it in coming with Trekking Alps.
Hiking Packing List: Always to bring
There are few things that stay in my backpack all the time, no matter which season, what hike.
- Hiking Poles
- Multipurpose Knife
- First AID Kit
- Tooth brush and tooth paste
- Sun Glasses
- Suncream
- Head Lamp
- Water bottle
- Mobile phone
- Rain Poncho(if necessary)
SUMMER
WINTER
Backpack
The backpack depends a bit on the number of days and the kind of accomodation in the Alps you will choose. Generally a 40 liters backpack is enough and good for most of the purpose. I reccomend to buy a backpack between 35 and 50 liters.In case you do not bring a poncho be aware that the backpack will have a rain cover.
Backpack
The backpack is a bit bigger compared with the summer backpack due to to more heavy clothes. On the other hand in winter the hikes are shorter or with more facilities. Everything depends on the sleeping bag. If you have a small and warm sleeping bag than the rule is the same with an ideal of a 40 liters backpack. If your sleeping bag is big than you’ll need at least a 50 liters backpack. Also be aware that in your backpack there is the possibility to hang on snowshoes. I reccomend to buy a backpack between 35 and 60 liters. In case you do not bring a poncho be aware that the backpack will have a rain/snow cover.
Sleeping Bag
The Sleeping bag is an important choice for your trekking and in summer, in the Alps can be either a light sleeping bag or a sleeping sheets, called also liner. If you sleep in unguarded huts or tents a sleeping bag is required. If you only sleep in mountain shelter than a liner is enough.
Sleeping Bag
The Sleeping bag is a key in your winter nights. You need something warm but not so heavy is possible. As already explained in case you have a bigger sleeping bag you’ll also need a bigger backpack.
T-shirts
at least 1 t-shirt per day and eventually a long sleeves shirt for the nights or if the weather turns particularly bad
T-shirts
In your trekking packing list there must be at least 1 t-shirt per day, better if with long sleeves.
Fleece/vest
The second layer must be something you can wear during the hiking at lower altitude. In summer you can consider not bringing a fleece but only a vest.
Fleece/sweater
The second layer must be something you can wear during the hiking at lower altitude. This layer depends a bit on the weather forecast as in case of very cold weather you can bring a warmer sweater.
Jacket
The jacket is of course fundamental in any mountain hiking trip. The jacket will be warmer than the summer one.
Jacket
The jacket is of course fundamental in any mountain hiking trip. The jacket will be warmer than the summer one.
Shield
The shield will repair you from wind and light rain. In case of heavy rain is always good to bring a poncho. In case you do not bring a poncho be aware that the backpack will have a rain cover. The winter Shield is usually heavyer than the summer one.
Shield
The shield will repair you from wind and light rain. In case of heavy rain is always good to bring a poncho. In case you do not bring a poncho be aware that the backpack will have a rain cover. The winter Shield is usually heavyer than the summer one.
Pants
I personally like very much zip pants were is possible to make them shorts. Like this you don’t need to bring an extra pants.
Pants
Pants in winter must be water repellent and fast in getting dry.
Underpants or shorts
If you will go at high altitude and/or you will sleep in unguarded huts during your mountain hiking trip you should bring them and eventually wear it below your pants during the cold mornings and during the nigths.
Underpants
It is definitively a good idea to bring a pair of underpants in your hiking packing list in a winter hike!
Underwear and socks
A couple of extra socks and underwear are always a good idea to bring in your hiking packing list.
Underwear and socks
Two couple of extra socks and underwear are mandatory. Specially if you’ll do a mountain hiking in snow.
Hats and Gloves
I personally like very much zip pants were is possible to make them shorts. Like this you don’t need to bring an extra pants.
Hats and Gloves
In winter you’ll need to a good winter hat a neck warmer or a scarf and a pair of warm gloves.