Clothing and Gear for a Hut-to-Hut Hiking Trip

A multi-day hiking tour requires proper gear and clothing, but you should aim at packing only the essentials as you will not have a possibility to send excessive load down to the valley in the middle of the hike. Our packing lists include gear and clothing for hiking from June to mid-October at altitudes primarily between 2000 and 3000 meters without crossing of glaciers and with overnight stays at manned mountain huts.

Please, review carefully the packing list we provided upon confirmation of your hiking tour. Lack of any of the required items will most likely result in at least a lack of comfort on the trail or in the huts, and may even compromise your safety. The packing list should be your main reference, while this article provides additional information and explanations of why we recommend bringing certain items with you.

Hiking Boots

Appropriate for the given terrain, reliable and comfortable hiking boots are absolutely necessary on a hut-to-hut hike in the Alps. Your hiking boots must fit well, provide good traction, protect your feet and be durable.

Hiking footwear is available in high-, mid- and low-cut designs. We strongly recommend high hiking boots even on our easier hut-to-hut routes. Most importantly, a high ankle collar adds to the ankle stability and support primarily defined by the stiffness of the sole. It holds your ankle tightly in check thus working together with the sole to protect the joints of your ankle from dislocation. When you are hiking through bushy or rocky terrains, a high ankle collar protects your ankle from scratches and painful impacts. Finally, high-cut hiking boots are practical as you can use them on a wider range of terrains.

While all good hiking boots feature a durable sole, you need to pay extra attention to the outsole. Boots designed for fast hiking with lightweight backpacks along well-trodden woodland and meadow trails often feature a dual or triple density outsole. This type of outsole combines two or three materials of different hardness and makes the boots more comfortable. Such hiking boots are robust enough for the itineraries that just occasionally ascend to the higher terrain, such as Alta Via 1 North or Alpe di Siusi, and are not at all suitable for paths over loose talus. More demanding rocky terrain requires hiking boots with a stronger outsole. They typically feature a thicker single density outsole - less elastic but stiffer. You need such hiking boots on our hut-to-hut itineraries with more challenging terrain, such as Friuli Dolomites, Ortler and Pale di San Martino.

Other elements of good hiking boots normally match the boots primary purpose and thus their sole and ankle collar. For example, stiffer boots for higher terrain normally feature a solid protected nose. The material of the upper part of the boots can be leather or mesh fabric and is normally selected in accordance with the purpose of the boots. We favor hiking boots with a breathable waterproof membrane such as Gore-Tex and its alternatives. They keep the feet dry.

Trail-runners and light hiking shoes are not a good choice for hut-to-hut itineraries for a number of factors described above.

If you buy new hiking boots, it is very important to first wear them on at least a couple of day hikes before using them on a multi-day trek.

Clothing

On a hut-to-hut trek, you will spend evenings in the comfort of the huts and sleep in warm rooms or dormitories. It will be possible to wash and dry your smaller clothes, such as T-shirts and socks. Unlike on a backpacking trip, you do not need to pack very warm clothes, a backup jacket or too many shirts and socks when hiking hut-to-hut.

Waterproof and Windproof Jacket

A waterproof and windproof jacket is a mandatory item on a hut-to-hut hike even in the middle of the summer. Higher mountains are characterized by a wide range of amplitudes of temperature, not comparable with the valleys. Intraday fluctuations can reach 20 degrees C at altitudes of 2000 meters. You don’t need a down jacket at altitudes up to 3000 meters in the Alps during the summer. A waterproof summer jacket with a breathable membrane in combination with a removable inner layer, such as a fleece jacket, is a more practical solution.

Fleece Jacket

A fleece jacket will be useful every evening when the temperatures drop but you’d like to spend some time in the fresh air of the hut's terrace or enjoy the sunset. Fleece fabric has properties similar to those of the wool. It traps the air and thus keeps the body warm and dry. A warm sweater made of synthetic materials is an equally functional alternative to a fleece jacket - it is a matter of individual preference. Fleece jackets with both full and half zip allow for temperature regulation, but full-zips are more practical especially when the changes in temperature are significant as they provide better ventilation when they are fully unzipped.

T-shirts or Shirts

You need a couple T-shirts on a multi-day trek. At a minimum, we recommend that you have 3 T-shirts: one to wear today during your hike, a clean one to wear at the hut tonight, and a backup T-shirt to wear tomorrow in case you cannot wash your used T-shirt tonight or if it doesn't dry out overnight. T-shirts or shirts, long sleeve or short sleeve - it is a matter of individual preference. Long sleeves protect your arms from UV. We favor synthetic fabrics as they are lightweight and dry quickly.

Hiking Pants

Besides being comfortable and functional, hiking pants should preferably be quick to dry and resistant to abrasion. There are many additional features such as zip-off or roll-up legs, reinforced knees and seat, articulated knees, waist adjusters. Hiking pants are typically made of polyester with an addition of elastane. Normally, you do not need softshell pants on our hut-to-hut treks in summer. They are designed for cooler weather conditions than what you can expect at the altitude of the hut-to-hut itineraries from June to October. It is more practical to pack thermal underwear in addition to lightweight summer hiking pants in September and October.

Thermal Underwear

We recommend bringing lightweight thermal underwear if you are coming in September or October. At the altitude of the hut-to-hut hiking routes, it rarely gets so cold that you need to put on thermal underwear, but if it does, you will be prepared. In the Dolomites, the first snow is probable from the last week of August. You can read more about the seasonal factors in the Dolomites at Best Time to Hike in the Dolomites. On higher routes, such as High Ortler Traverse and Alta Via 1 of Aosta, cyclones can cause snowfalls even in mid-summer.

Socks

Good socks make walking more comfortable and prevent chafing and blistering. Socks designed specifically for hiking feature fast drying and high cushioning and are definitely worth paying extra for. We recommend taking 3 pairs of socks with you on our hut-to-hut treks so that you always have one or two clean spare pairs.

Gloves, Cap and Bandana

You may need gloves and a cap especially if you go hiking early in June or in September-October. We recommend taking a bandana in any period of the season for UV protection.

Rainwear

Rainwear is a must have on hut-to-hut treks, even in the middle of the summer, and even if the weather forecast shows blue skies for the week ahead. In the Alps, the warmest months of July and August are characterized by scattered thunderstorms in afternoons and evenings. You must avoid walking during a thunderstorm, but you may need to start walking as soon as it is over although it may still rain for another half an hour. At the beginning of June and in September-October prolonged rains are more probable.

There are rain jackets, pants, cloaks and ponchos to choose from. We think the most practical solution is a poncho shaped to cover the backpack. It must be with a hood and preferably with a full-length zipper or buttons. Poncho can be combined with rain pants, useful if you need to walk under a very strong rain.

Backpack

To enjoy a multi-day hike, you need a very good backpack. Depending on the difficulty of the itinerary, its length and your personal preferences, you need a 35 to 50 liter backpack. On a hut-to-hut trek, you do not need to carry excessive amounts of food or clothing. Huts provide you with accommodation in warm rooms and with meals. You can buy water or refill bottles at huts. They sell snacks to take away and can prepare packed lunches. To learn more about what to expect at huts, please read What Services Huts in the Alps Provide.

It is a common mistake to overload the backpack with unnecessary things. Experienced hikers and backpackers assume the backpack must not exceed 15% to 25% of the weight of the person carrying it depending on the level of fitness and regardless of the volume of the backpack. On a hut-to-hut trek, your backpack will rather be closer to the lower limit of this range, typically, 8 to 12 kilograms.

Backpacks feature numerous characteristics. The ergonomic backrest must adapt to your posture and ensure balance while walking. Goog backpacks feature a backpanel with suspended mesh, which allows your back to breathe even with a heavy load. We strongly recommend that you see your potential new backpack live, inspect it, and put it on and compare with the available alternatives before buying it rather than ordering a backpack purely based on its technical description.

We recommend using your backpack on a couple of day hikes before going on a multiple day trek with it.

Trekking Poles

We strongly recommend using trekking poles or at least having them with you on any of our hut-to-hut itineraries even though we understand that many hikers are used to walking without poles. Trekking poles used correctly redistribute some of the load off your knees to your hands and help you maintain balance on the trail.

Trekking poles is a must have on the following Level 4 hut-to-hut treks: Friuli Dolomites Wilderness Trek, Brenta Dolomites, Alta Via No 2 of the Dolomites and Alta Via No 1 of Aosta.

Sleeping Bag Liner

Use of a sleeping bag liner is compulsory in mountain huts unless you are provided with bed linen. Mattresses, blankets and pillows are provided at huts regardless of whether you stay in a shared dormitory or a private room. It is not cold at huts. You do not need to have a proper sleeping bag to keep warm. A liner is sufficient. Bed linen is usually, but not always, provided in private rooms for 2, 3 and 4 guests. In dormitories, bed linen is almost never provided, and thus you need to use a liner. To know whether your huts provide bed linen or you need to bring a liner, please consult the Reservation document you received form us upon a confirmation of your hut-to-hut trek.

Light Shoes

You need to have clean shoes for use in huts. The most practical solution is classic slides with a toe strap made of a quick-drying synthetic material. We do not recommend slides with textile parts and flip-flops with a Y-shaped strap - they are less practical for wearing in huts.

Toiletries and Towel

All huts provide the basic hygiene items. This is strictly required by the regulation. You need to bring your personal hygiene items such as: toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, wet wipes and some toilet paper. Wet wipes are useful when the shower is not available at a hut. Such situations may occur due to a shortage of water in dry periods and in the locations poor with water.

We recommend bringing a towel regardless of the type of arrangements you have at huts. Microfiber towels are currently the best solution - they are lightweight, compact and dry quickly.

Other Accessories

• Bottle for water (we recommend 2 one-liter bottles)

• Sunglasses

• Sunscreen with appropriate UV protection level

• Lip balm with UV protection

• First aid kit including medical plasters

• Mobile phone and charger

• Power bank

• Camera

• Torch headband (useful in huts)

• Whistle for emergency

• Multi-purpose knife

In addition, we recommend having light snacks with you on the route. You can buy snacks in huts, such as chocolate, dried fruits, nuts and energy bars, but huts have a limited supply and may not have the snacks you prefer.

Thermos is very useful in the mountains. You can fill it with hot tea or water in mountain huts where you stop for the night.