On hut-to-hut hikes, we strive for a balance in our packing. We want pack light enough that we have energy for side trips and explorations; I (Sean) made this mistake when we walked the Rota Vicentina. We also want to carry enough that we aren’t committed to washing clothes every day and so that we sleep well.
This packing list is for hut-to-hut walks where we are staying in a combination of staffed, half-board mountain refuges (i.e., breakfast and dinner are included) and hotels.
For us, our ideal balance in hut-to-hut packing is to carrying enough clothes that we wash them every 3-5 days, usually upon reaching a hotel in a town. The packing list below is for 10-day trips, such as the Tour du Mont Blanc and the Tour of the Bernina. It also works for village-to-villages walks like the Rota Vicentina.
For shorter visits to refuges–like our three-day route in the Picos de Europa or our single night stay at Rifugio Lagazuoi in the Dolomites–cut back on clothing
If you are planning a visit to self-catered huts, consider checking out our Milford and Routeburn Tracks packing list.
An advantage of being a pair is that we can share some gear. I tend to carry the “information” (guidebook, map, Garmin) while Kyle carries some of the other resources (e.g., sunscreen, water filter).
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Last updated: November 2024.
Sean on the Tour du Mont Blanc
at Pas de la Cavale in the Ecrins
Kyle at Refuge de la Dent Parrachée, the Vanoise, France. Snow falls outside.
Sean’s packing list
For my bag, I use an Osprey Kestrel 48 (Amazon) for hut-to-hut walks. It’s a great size for hikes where I don’t need a full sleeping bag, tent, or stove: enough room to store everything and to get stuff in and out, without being too big. After I bought and used one for the Tour du Mont Blanc, Kyle bought one for New Zealand.
For stuff sacks, I like Sea to Summit’s ultra sil bags (Amazon) for their weight, but ALPS Mountaineering’s product (Amazon) feels sturdier and its straps are easier to work with.
- Passport (if international), wallet, and cash in a small SealLine waterproof case (Amazon)
- Guidebook, if any, and printed copies of reservations in a large SealLine waterproof case (Amazon).
- Kindle Paperwhite (Amazon). I’m using a four-year old one, but the new version is zippier, has USB-C, and adaptive lighting. This is so much better than carrying physical books, and if I read a lot (e.g., on a rainy trip), I can tether to my phone when we have signal and check out more books from my library. I carry this and any paper map in an XL SealLine waterproof case (Amazon).
- Black Diamond Pursuit collapsible poles (Amazon). I have generally preferred the flick lock over the folding poles, but Black Diamond makes a folding variation as well
- (Sometimes) iPad mini (Amazon). For my vacations, I prefer to leave as much technology behind has possible. However, for longer trips (10+ days), there is a chance of needing to significantly adjust our plans, and so I sometimes decide the weight of an iPad is worth it for the larger screen. It’s been useful for dealing with flight changes, finding alternate routes for new trail closures, and researching public transit when the weather is bad. When we reach towns, I also can offload photos from my camera to it have them start to sync. For better or for worse, it’s also been useful for managing an urgent work situation.
- Garmin inReach Explorer+ satellite communication device (Amazon). I bought it as a device I hoped to never use. Now, I like running in the background as a navigation aide and to use the GPS traces to help tag my photos. See our notes on why we bought the inReach after the first year of use.
- Clothes
- Clothing in a stuff sack.
- Smartwool – Merino 150 short sleeve shirts (Amazon). Smartwool resists odors better than the polypro shirts I used to carry. On hut-to-hut hikes I max out at carrying 4-5 shirts, with a goal of being able to at least lightly wash shirts between wearing them.
- Long sleeve shirts: I typically carry 1 long sleeve wicking shirt and 1 Smartwool quarter zip (Amazon)
- 1-2 pairs of Prana Zion convertible pants (Amazon). If we’re hiking through brush or bugs, I tend to prefer pants to keep things off my legs, and I’ll deal with the added discomfort and weight of zippers to have the option of switching to shorts. For trips more than three days, I usually bring two pairs. This is a bit excessive, but I’ve appreciated the option of putting on a dry pair of pants if the previous day’s did not dry well.
- 1 pair of Outdoor Research Ferrosi pants (Amazon). These are my backups for hiking and my morning/evening wear. They are light and comfortable, but I worry that if I wore them as my primary hiking pants, they would rip easily on rocks. They’re nice enough to wear to dinner when we stay in town.
- Leggings.
- 1 half-zip fleece (Amazon). This was part of my layering strategy for the trail and for evenings/mornings in camp.
- Patagonia Nano Puff Hoodie. It collapses small and has a hood to keep me warm (or to keep bugs off!). It sheds down less than the Eddie Bauer puffy I had before this.
- Sun Hoodie. My most recent addition, as I was finding that I often don’t want to wear my hat in camp but do want a lightweight layer for sun and bug protection. I bought a Patagonia Capilene Cool Daily Hooded Shirt; it’s light, soft, and super comfortable.
- Sleep stuff in a zip loc bag
- A cotton t-shirt
- Gym shorts
- Earplugs (Amazon). Snorers are unavoidable. I carry spares too, because they inevitably fall out.
- A Sea to Summit Traveler liner (Amazon). Sleep liners are mandatory in most refuges and hostels. The traveler version of the liner is a bit bigger than their mummy liner, but it has the benefit of having a pillow pocket. This is useful since most refuges and gites provide pillows. I would have been too hot even in my summer sleeping bag, which also would have been heavier and bulkier to carry.
- Socks and underwear in a stuff sack.
- Hiking socks. I’ve used various brands throughout the years, including Wigwam, REI, and Smartwool. My go to brand these days is Darn Tough, with a mix of “Boot Cushion” (Amazon) and “Hiker Micro Crew Cushion” (Amazon). On hut-to-hut hikes, I carry enough pairs that I can wash them in a hotel sink before I have to re-wear them.
- Liners. I currently prefer the FoxRiver liners (Amazon) since they are light and their seams are minimal.
- Underwear. My current preference is Smartwool (Amazon), though I don’t think the knit they use for underwear holds up as well as their shirts or the Icebreaker underwear Kyle has been buying.
- Buff (Amazon): Good for when I don’t want to wear a hat, as a backup if my hat ever blows away, to keep my neck warm, and to keep bugs off.
- Sun hat: I like the Outdoor Research Transit (Amazon); it offers reasonable coverage and breathability.
- Cap: Okay, it is ridiculous that I carry a sun hat, buff, and cap, but there are times when I really prefer the standard baseball hat, and so I also often carry an Outdoor Research Swift cap (Amazon). It’s great for wearing under a hood on rainy days or under the hood of my sun hat.
- Gloves. I am currently using Outdoor Research’s Versaliner gloves (Amazon), which combine a glove plus liner. They kept my hands dry and warm on a rainy day on the Haute Route, and I appreciated this change from my previous (non-waterproof) gloves.
- Beanie
- Rain coat: I use an Arc’teryx Beta LT Hybrid Jacket (Amazon). It’s pricey but lightweight and effective. My previous one–a staple on hikes and my day-to-day life during winter in Seattle–lasted nine years before needing replacement.
- Rain paints. One downside of my go-to hiking pants, the Prana Zions, is that if they soak through, they can take a long time to dry. For trips when heavy rain is a strong possibility, I’ve added Mountain Hardware Ozonic pants (Amazon). They’ve kept me dry through long hikes on some very wet days.
- As needed:
- Gaiters. For heavier gaiters, I’ve been very happy with the Outdoor Research Crocodiles (Amazon). We first bought these for our trip to Scotland, and they’ll come with me if I expect a lot of walking in unpacked snow or a particularly wet hike. I recently added Outdoor Helium gaiters (Amazon) as a lighter option, when my primary concern is rain.
- Traction devices: We use Hillsound Trail Crampons (Amazon). They have a bit more bite than micro spikes but are still pretty light.
- Standard trail stuff, in a mesh sack:
- First aid kit
- Headlamp. Kyle grew tired me not having a red light and variable brightness, and so he upgraded me to the Black Diamond Spot 400 (Amazon). They also make a rechargeable version (Amazon), but, as of 2023, it still uses Micro-USB, a connector I am trying to phase out of my gear.
- Fire starter
- Trowel
- Toilet paper / zip lock bags
- Knife / multitool. I use a Leatherman Wave (Amazon)
- Utility cord, which we used as an ad-hoc clothes line.
- Water bladder. In 2022, I switched my primary bladder from Platypus to an Osprey 2.5L reservoir (Amazon), which I found easier to fill and load into my pack than the Platypus. For Swiss huts, where it is common to give marching tea (think something between tea and fruit punch) in lieu of potable water, a second bladder or other supplementary container is particularly valuable.
- Snack / energy bars: One to three per day, as a supplement to lunch stops. For routes with fewer opportunities to stop–either no refuges or long days that mean we can’t afford the time–I’ll carry three per day. If we plan to stop more often, I’ll carry one to two per day.
- Electronics pouch: battery (Amazon), charging cables. If we anticipate outlets, I’ll carry a multiport USB charger (Amazon) and any necessary adapters.
- Toiletries: deodorant, nail trimmers, hand sanitizer, toothbrush, toothpaste, backup sunscreen, ear plugs.
- Towel: I use an REI Large pack towel.
- Sandals: Teva Hurricane 4s (Amazon). I use these as shoes for the refuges and hotels in the evening. Most refuges provide crocs for use inside; most hotels do not. The Tevas also double as my plan for fording any rocky streams.
- Camera. I normally carry an Olympus OMD EM-1 Mark III (Amazon) with a 12-100mm (24-200 equivalent) lens (Amazon), which I carry on a Peak Design Capture Clip (Amazon). For 2024, I’ve added a Panasonic 9mm (18mm equivalent) lens for wide angle landscape and astrophotography (Amazon). I also carry two spare batteries.
- Trekking Poles. Black Diamond Pursuit collapsible poles (Amazon). I have generally preferred the flick lock over the folding poles, but Black Diamond makes a folding variation as well. I used my previous pair for nine years before one finally snapped in Iceland.
- Sunglasses
- Clothing in a stuff sack.
Reading and beer at Rifugio Elisabetta, Tour du Mont Blanc
snack at Refuge du Fond des Fours, the Vanoise, France
Getting ready to set out on a rainy day on the Haute Route
Kyle’s packing list
My backpack of choice for hut trips is also the Osprey Kestrel 48 (Amazon). I switched to this for our 2019 New Zealand (South Island) trip, and have used it many times in Europe since.
- Passport (as needed), wallet, cash
- Kindle Paperwhite (Amazon) in a SealLine waterproof e-case (M) (Amazon)
- Clothes
- Clothing in 2 stuff sacks:
- 1-2 Smartwool NTS Micro 150 combo short sleeve shirts (Amazon). These resist odor far better than any synthetic shirt and dry quickly.
- 1-2 Icebreaker Tech Lite short sleeve crew shirts (Amazon). These resist odor far better than any synthetic shirt and dry quickly.
- 1 half-zip fleece (Amazon). This is part of my layering strategy for the trail. On warm days, I generally wear this as a cozy layer at night and in the morning.
- 1-2 long sleeve wicking shirts. The Smartwool PhD Ultra Light LS (Amazon) and Smartwool Classic All-Season Merino Base Layer (Amazon) are my favorites. These resist odor far longer than my previous synthetic pick, the Mountain Hardwear Butterman Crew (Amazon).
- 1-2 pair of hiking shorts. My current pick is the Patagonia Quandary Shorts 8-in Inseam for their rugged versatility, style, comfort, and practical pockets.
- 1 pair of Arc’teryx Lefroy Pants (Amazon) as a backup for cold days. I love these pants for their durability, stain and water resistance, and comfort while wearing a pack, due to the integrated belt. The newer version is the Arc’teryx Gamma Lightweight Pant (Amazon).
- Icebreaker Oasis Leggings (Amazon) in case of cold weather, and for layering while at lounging at the hut.
- A comfortable t-shirt for evenings/sleeping: the Patagonia S/S Nine Trails Shirt
- Sleep shorts
- Underwear: A mix of Icebreaker Anatomica merino wool boxer briefs (Amazon) and Smartwool Merino Sport 150 boxer briefs (Amazon). I prefer the benefits of merino wool when hiking.
- Hiking socks. I love socks from Darn Tough for their comfort and durability. I pack a mix of the “Light Hiker Micro Crew Light Cushion” (Amazon) and “Hiker Micro Crew Cushion” (Amazon) and tend to keep at least one pair clean and dry each day.
- Liners. I wear liner socks less frequently these days. When needed, I prefer the lightweight FoxRiver X-Static liners (Amazon), as they have minimal seams and produce minimal friction with merino wool socks.
- Buff (Amazon): I occasionally use this to keep my neck warm on cool/rainy days, or when I don’t want to wear a hat (or as a backup if my hat ever blows away).
- Outdoor Research Swift Cap (Amazon)
- Sunglasses + cleaning cloth
- Outdoor Research Commuter Windstopper Gloves (Amazon)
- Fjallraven Merino Lite Hat – a beanie (Amazon)
- Patagonia Nano Puff Hoodie – I tend to use this more than my fleece, so I sometimes omit the fleece and just pack the Nano Puff
- Icebreaker Merino 260 Quantum IV Long Sleeve Zip Hoodie – a versatile layer that is warm when you need it to be, and sun-protection otherwise. I particularly love the thumb holes on the sleeves and the large hood (great for buggy locations). The merino wool construction means you won’t have to wash it or worry about it smelling by the end of your trip.
- Rain coat: I use an Arc’teryx Alpha FL Jacket (Amazon), which is expensive but incredibly lightweight, effective, and long-lasting (mine is 9 years old).
- Clothing in 2 stuff sacks:
- As needed:
- Standard trail stuff, in one of my pack pockets:
- Water bladder – I usually carry a 2L Platypus (Amazon) in the water pouch of my Kestrel pack
- Snack / energy bars: Three per day. I snack frequently and usually have a mix of Nature Valley, Cliff Energy, Cliff Builder, Lärabar, and Kind bars.
- Electronics pouch: USB charging adapter, battery, 1-2 charging cables (lightning and USB-C), headphones
- Toiletries: body powder (for foot emergencies), deodorant, face wipes, laundry detergent sheets, nail trimmers, hand sanitizer, shampoo, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, earplugs
- Towel: Packtowl Ultralight large (Amazon), now 5 years old but still going strong
- Sun protection: 1 large Sawyer Stay-Put SPF50 sunscreen (shared; Amazon) and 1 chapstick. Over a two-week trip, the two of us will use at least 75% of the 8-ounce bottle. This sunscreen goes on thick but, as advertised, seems to last longer than other suncreens we have used.
- Sandals: Teva Hurricane XLT2 (Amazon) for evenings and mornings at refuges and hotels.
- Trekking Poles. Black Diamond collapsible poles (Amazon)
- Sea to Summit Silk Blend Rectangular liner (Amazon). Sleep liners are mandatory in most huts, gites, and refuges. I prefer this rectangular shape to fully cover refuge pillows (of questionable cleanness). This liner is very lightweight, packs small into the included pouch, and dries quickly thanks to the silk blend material.
