Our tips on what clothing and equipment to bring for a mountaineering tour or excursion.
The following list is the result of years of experience from our team in practicing the activities we offer. We hope it can help you pack your backpack and make any necessary purchases before departure, and also serve as a checklist of clothing, equipment, and gear required to participate in our tours.
If you don’t have everything listed, please inform the guide accompanying you or our office: we’ll work together to find a solution before departure so you can enjoy your mountaineering experience worry-free!
Basic Clothing and Equipment for 1-Day Excursions
- 30-liter backpack (with rain cover)
- Mountain boots with good sole, high collar, and waterproof
- Rain jacket with hood and wind stopper (shell)
- Compressible down jacket
- Water-repellent long pants (even better if they have integrated gaiters)
- Short or long tights (if cold temperatures and/or wind are expected)
- Fleece or softshell as an intermediate warm layer
- Breathable T-shirt (and a spare one to avoid being wet from sweat during the climb)
- Long-sleeve thermal T-shirt
- Warm socks
- Neck gaiter or buff
- Warm hat/cap and a cap/bandana
- Sunglasses with polarized lenses and UV protection
- Light and heavy gloves (ski type)
- 1-liter water bottle
- Snacks (we recommend dried fruit, dried fruit, chocolate, bars, and high-calorie gels)
- Trekking poles with small tips and washers (mandatory for glaciers but also very useful on scree or uneven trails)
- First aid kit (not necessary but can support your guide’s kit – with gauze, band-aids, tape, disinfectant, latex gloves, emergency blanket) and personal medications
- Gaiters (if snow crossings are expected and not integrated into pants)
- Rain pants cover if bad weather is expected
- Sunscreen (recommended full protection)
- Multi-tool knife and duct tape (not mandatory but can be useful for emergency repairs on clothing and equipment)
- Trash bag (to avoid leaving any residue in the mountains)
Extras or variants for multi-day hikes
- 35-40 liter backpack (with rain cover)
- Extra breathable T-shirts
- Extra underwear
- Extra intermediate layer (fleece or softshell, if necessary)
- Extra socks (warm and/or light)
- Headlamp (with charged and/or spare batteries)
- Extra snacks
- Waterproof bags for clothes
- Comfortable long pants for the evening
- Cotton T-shirt for the evening
- Towel (recommended microfiber)
- Toothpaste and toothbrush
- Toilet paper
- Identity document
Plus various other items such as:
- Charger for phone and/or camera
- A good book (if you have an ebook reader, it saves weight)
- Compressible daypack
For overnight stays in a mountain hut
- Sleeping bag liner (mandatory, usually available for purchase at the hut)
- Earplugs/eye mask for sleeping
- Extra cash for payments at the hut
Please note: the technical equipment necessary for the activity you are enrolled in (e.g., harness, ice axe, crampons, climbing gear, etc.) is specified in the detailed program.
It will be confirmed by the Alpine Guide accompanying you according to mountain conditions.
