Anyone planning a crossing of the Alps on foot will sooner or later face the question: what comes along, and what stays at home? By stage 4, the answer will determine whether you still have reserves or whether your knees start to protest on the descents. A well-thought-out packing list for an Alpine crossing is not a matter of comfort, but of safety and enjoyment.
I have gone through this question several times: in 2014 on the Munich-Venice Dream Way (550 km), in 2017 with my girlfriend on the Vienna-Nice Alpine crossing (1,900 km in 107 days), plus numerous shorter tours on the E5, GTA and in the Swiss Alps. On the first tour in 2014, I started with a 10 kg rucksack (without tent, sleeping bag, sleeping mat and cooking set). Today, my base weight for the same tour is around 3.6 kg. The difference is not the brand of the equipment, but the willingness to honestly examine every single item.
This trans-alpine packing list combines the standard recommendations from major outdoor magazines with what is genuinely necessary, covers both hut-to-hut and camping tours, and gives the actual weight for every piece of equipment. You can also Download as PDF and tick them off while packing.
How heavy should the backpack be on an Alpine crossing?
Most outdoor magazines give 8 to 10 kilograms as a guideline for crossing the Alps. That is achievable, but not optimal. One rule of thumb is: your fully packed rucksack should weigh no more than 1/5 of your body weight, preferably 1/6. For a 70-kilo person, that means 11 to 14 kilograms as an absolute upper limit, 8 to 10 kilograms as a realistic tour weight, and 6 to 8 kilograms as an ultralight option.
With the packing list described here, you'll land a basis weight of about 3.6 to 5.5 kilograms (everything excluding food, water and the clothes you are wearing). Including water for one day and food for two to three days, you will reach a total weight of 5.5 to 8 kilograms. That is well below the mainstream level and makes all the difference on the ascents.
Hut or tent: the fundamental decision
Before you start weighing individual items, a fundamental question needs to be answered: are you sleeping in serviced huts or with your own tent? Both have advantages and disadvantages, and both options can be brought down to a base weight of 3.6 to 6 kg. The packing list for crossing the Alps differs mainly in the sleep system; the rest remains almost identical.
| Criterion | hut tour | Camping trip |
|---|---|---|
| Luggage weight | A bit lighter, no tent and no sleeping mat | More equipment, but a smaller set of spare clothing |
| Daily schedule | Tied to alpine hut locations, reservation important | Freely selectable, flexible in timing |
| Catering | Evening meal and breakfast at the hut | Use your own food or mountain huts as supply points |
| Costs | 50 to 80 euros per night with half board | 10 to 20 euros subsistence allowance per day |
| weather window | Warm and dry even in the rain | Tiring in gales and persistent rain |
| experience | Social atmosphere, mountaineering culture | More peace and quiet, more personal responsibility |
For E5, the Heilbronner Höhenweg, the Tour de Mont Blanc and most classic Alpine crossings, the hut-to-hut option is the obvious choice. The network of huts is dense, and the stages are designed for hut-to-hut distances. For longer and more remote tours such as Vienna-Nice, the full GTA or custom routes outside of signposted paths, the camping option becomes interesting. In the following list, we cover both options in parallel.
Rucksack and carrying system
Mainstream recommendation: 30 to 40 litres volume, often with a classic carrying system and 1.5 to 2 kg empty weight. That works, but every kilo of the rucksack's empty weight is a kilo that you carry additionally on the trip. With reduced ultralight gear, a Volume of 35 to 50 litres with an unladen weight of 500 to 800 grams. For hut-to-hut tours, 35 to 40 litres are ideal; for camping trips with longer intervals between resupplies, 45 to 54 litres.
| Item | Number | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ultralight rucksack | 1 | 35 to 50 litres, depending on the route variant |
| Rucksack liners or dry bags | 1 to 3 | More reliable than a rain cover |
Clothing worn and in the backpack
Most hikers make the biggest mistake here. Twice as many spare clothes as necessary, cotton T-shirts, heavy trekking trousers. On a hut-to-hut tour, the Three-layer rule with merino Brilliant: three shirts, three sets of underwear, three pairs of socks. You wear one set, one is a spare, and one is clean for the hut. With merino, you can wear them for 5 to 7 days straight without them getting unpleasant.
| Item | Number | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Hiking boots | 1 pair | For alpine trail runners with a tread for sporty hikers, mid-height mountain boots category A or B for beginners |
| Merino walking socks | 1 pair | Worn on the go |
| thermal underwear | 1 suit | Merino preferred |
| Wanderhose | 1 | Long or zip-off, lightweight material |
| Technical T-shirt or walking shirt | 1 | Merino or synthetic |
| Cap, hat or headband | 1 | Sun protection and sweatband |
| Item | Number | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Merino walking socks | 2 pairs | One as a spare, one for the cabin |
| thermal underwear | 2 sets | One as a spare, one for the cabin |
| Technical T-shirt or merino shirt | 1 to 2 | For a hut-to-hut tour one is enough, for a camping tour two is better |
| Full-length thermal leggings | 1 | For cold cabins and cold nights |
| Fleece or jumper mid-layer | 1 | Light, approx. 200 to 300 g |
| Sandals or hut slippers | 1 pair | Available in most huts, otherwise a lightweight Birkenstock variant |
Weatherproof and protective clothing
In the Alps, the weather can change within hours. At 2,500 m it can snow in August, while down in the valley it can still be 30 degrees. Layering is a must. The outer shell must be waterproof and windproof, and the insulation layer needs to fit into the rucksack and be quickly retrievable.
| Item | Number | Note |
|---|---|---|
| hardshell or waterproof jacket | 1 | Waterproof and breathable, with hood |
| Rain trousers | 1 | A light version is enough, from 150 g upwards |
| down or synthetic-fibre insulation jacket | 1 | For breaks and cold mountain hut evenings, approx. 250 to 400 g |
| Lightweight beanie | 1 | Fleece or merino |
| Lightweight gloves | 1 pair | For tours over 2,500 m |
| Sunglasses | 1 | With UV protection, from category 3 |
Sleeping system
This is where the second biggest weight lever lies after clothing. On a hut-to-hut tour, a thin silk or microfiber liner is enough. On a camping trip, you need a tent, sleeping mat and sleeping bag, and this is where ultralight gear makes all the difference.
| Item | Number | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Sleeping bag liner | 1 | Silk approx. 110 g, microfiber approx. 200 g |
| Alpenverein pass | 1 | Significantly reduces the accommodation fee |
| Earplugs | 1 pair | Indispensable in multi-bed rooms |
| Plastic bag for clothing | 1 | bed bug protection, securely sealable |
| Item | Number | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Ultralight tent or tarp | 1 | 1-person from 700 g, 2-person from 1,000 g |
| Sleeping bag or quilt | 1 | Summer down from 350 g, comfort temperature suited to the season |
| Insulated mat | 1 | Inflatable from 350 g, closed-cell from 200 g |
| Sleeping bag liner | 1 | Extends the comfort zone, hygienic |
Hygiene, first aid and safety
Too much is often packed here. Mini quantities are almost always enough for a tour. What you don't need in the first three days, you probably won't need at all. First aid is not the area to skimp on, but a compact set is enough here too.
| Item | Number | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Microfibre towel | 1 | Small, approx. 50 g |
| toothbrush with shortened handle | 1 | Save a few grams, but every detail counts |
| Mini toothpaste or DentTabs | 1 | DentTabs are lighter and last longer |
| Liquid soap | 1 | Dr. Bronner's, very concentrated, biodegradable |
| Sun protection | 1 | mini-tube with SPF 30 or higher |
| Lip balm with SPF | 1 | A must at 2,500 m |
| Toilet paper | 1 | A few leaves per day in a plastic bag |
| Item | Number | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Bandages and plasters | 1 Set | Various sizes |
| Compeed blister plasters | 1 | Compeed or similar, apply early |
| Painkillers | 4 to 6 | Ibuprofen 400 mg |
| Wound disinfection | 1 | Mini spray bottle |
| Tick remover | 1 | Also useful at higher altitudes |
| Tape and cable ties | 1 | For repairs to shoes or equipment |
| Emergency bivouac bag | 1 | Compulsory for tours above 2,500 m |
| emergency blanket | 1 | Life-saving in an emergency, approx. 50 g |
Navigation, electronics and provisions
Smartphone with offline maps replaces almost everything today, but map and compass as a backup belong there. On a hut-to-hut tour the power supply is no problem, on a camping tour a power bank is a must.
| Item | Number | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Smartphone | 1 | With offline maps (e.g. Outdooractive, Komoot, alpenvereinaktiv) |
| hiking map | 1 | Paper, as a backup |
| Compass | 1 | Small and lightweight, approx. 30 g |
| Headlamp | 1 | For mountain hut evenings and early ascents |
| Power bank | 1 | 5,000 to 10,000 mAh, depending on the length of the tour |
| Charging cable | 1 | USB-C or Lightning, short version |
| Water bottle or hydration bladder | 1 to 2 | 1 to 2 litres capacity |
| Trekking poles | 1 pair | Foldable or telescopic, protect knees on descents |
| Food | Note |
|---|---|
| Cereal bar or energy bar | 2 to 3 per day |
| trail mix or dried fruit | 50 to 100 g per day |
| snack | Available as a packed lunch at most mountain huts |
| Electrolyte tablets | Useful during hot weather or high exertion |
Example packing list for crossing the Alps with weights
This is what a concrete packing list for a trans-Alpine crossing for a 7-day mountain hut tour looks like, with real weights:
| Category | Weight |
|---|---|
| rucksack with liner | ~620 g |
| Spare clothes in the backpack | ~750g |
| Protective clothing (hardshell, waterproof trousers, down jacket, beanie) | ~750g |
| sleep system (liner, earplugs) | 150g |
| Hygiene and First Aid | ~350 g |
| Navigation and electronics (without poles) | ~500 g |
| Trekking poles | ~400 g |
| Water bottles empty | Approximately 80g |
| TOTAL BASE WEIGHT | ~3,600 g |
Plus 1 to 2 kg of water and 500 g to 1 kg of food per day. That results in a tour weight of 5 to 7 kilograms. If doing the tent option, a tent (700 to 1,000 g), sleeping bag (350 to 500 g) and sleeping mat (300 to 400 g) are added, meaning roughly 1.5 kg more base weight.
7 tips for light packing for an Alpine crossing
Weigh absolutely everything
A kitchen scales (available from 8 euros) is the most important tool when preparing. Only when you know that your mid-layer weighs 380 g instead of the guessed 200 g can you make an informed decision. Containers on their own often weigh 200 to 700 g too much.
Back merino
Performance clothing made of merino wool hardly smells even after 5 to 7 days, keeps you warm when damp and dries quickly. This means 2 sets of underwear instead of 3 and 1 fewer shirt are needed in the rucksack.
Plan the water supplies in stages
In the Alps there is a refuge or a fountain every 2 to 4 hours. Carrying more than 1 to 1.5 litres of water at a time is usually unnecessary. Each litre weighs 1 kg.
Dispense with original packaging
Sun cream in a 30 ml bottle instead of a 200 ml tube, toothpaste in the mini version, liquid soap in a 50 ml dropper bottle. Often saves a total of 300 to 500 g.
Rucksack liner instead of rain cover
An internal drybag or rucksack liner protects your luggage significantly better against rain than an outer cover. Otherwise, the water runs down the back area into the interior.
Multifunctional packing
A buff replaces a headband, scarf and hat. A down jacket replaces an extra jumper. Trekking poles replace tent poles in many UL tents. Every item that fulfils multiple functions completely saves another.
Trial packing run before the tour
Before the actual crossing of the Alps, do at least a 2-day tour with your planned gear. What you haven't touched stays at home on the real tour.
What can stay at home on the crossing of the Alps?
These classics appear on many mainstream packing lists, but are usually redundant on an Alpine crossing:
- Large travel first-aid kit: The mini set above is enough for 95 percent of all cases. There are larger supplies for emergencies at every cabin.
- Heavy down gilet in addition to the down jacket: One insulation layer is enough. If you get cold, put the spare shirt on under your jacket.
- Complete everyday laundry set: With merino, 2 to 3 sets are enough for 7 to 14 days. The rule of 3 is standard.
- Classic cotton hut sleeping bag (450 to 600 g): Silk variant weighs 110 g and packs down to the size of an apple.
- Spare batteries for head torch: A modern lithium headtorch lasts 8 to 12 hours, which is enough for 7 days of evening hut stays. On camping trips lasting over 2 weeks, spares are worthwhile.
- Water filter: In the Alps, the water at most huts and fountains is of drinking water quality. Water filters are more for longer self-sufficiency treks without huts.
- Cooking set with pot and gas: Completely redundant on a mountain hut tour. Useful on a camping trip depending on the concept (eating in huts or self-catering).
- Book or Kindle: After 8 hours of hiking you won't be reading for long at the hut. A smartphone is enough.
Frequently asked questions about the Alpine crossing packing list
A tried-and-tested rule of thumb is that your rucksack should not weigh more than 1/5 of your body weight weigh, better 1/6. For a 70-kilogram person, that is 11 to 14 kilograms as an absolute upper limit. Realistic and comfortable are 8 to 10 kilograms with traditional gear, 6 to 8 kilograms with an UL setup. With the Alpine crossing packing list in this article you will achieve a base weight of 4.5 to 5.5 kg, which makes all the difference on ascents and descents.
Will do for a hut-to-hut tour 30 to 40 litres, for a camping trip with longer resupply intervals 40 to 54 litres. The lighter and more minimalist the packing list for a trans-Alpine crossing is, the smaller the rucksack can be. A volume of more than 50 litres on a multi-day tour in the Alps is in most cases an indication of too much luggage. You can find more about the right rucksack size in the Guide to ultralight backpacks.
That depends on the tour and personal experience. On well-marked trails like the E5, TMB or Heilbronner Höhenweg, it works Trail running shoes with a good grip excellent, provided you are sure-footed. For beginners and on tours with snowfields, scree or via ferrata sections mid-height hiking boots of category A or B Safer. Important in both cases: break in the shoes before the trip, not just on stage 1.
For classic routes like the E5, TMB or Heilbronner Höhenweg, the hut-to-hut option is the obvious choice. The network of huts is dense, the stages are designed for hut distances, and food and accommodation are guaranteed. For longer and more solitary treks like Vienna-Nice or the entire GTA, the tent option offers more flexibility. Both options can be achieved with a base weight of 4.5 to 6 kg. More on this in the Review article on crossing the Alps on foot.
With the rule of three Do you get on well with: 3 technical T-shirts, 3 sets of underwear, 3 pairs of socks. You wear one set, one is a spare, one is clean for the hut. With Merino clothing this rule is easy to follow because merino barely develops any unpleasant odours even after 5 to 7 days. Especially on a hut tour, you can also easily wash your clothes and dry them overnight.
A compact first-aid kit for crossing the Alps contains: Bandages and plasters in various sizes, blister plaster (Compeed or similar), Painkillers (Ibuprofen 400 mg), Wound disinfection, Tick remover, Tape and cable ties for repairs, a Emergency bivouac bag and a emergency blanket. For tours over 2,500 m, a bivouac sack and emergency blanket are compulsory. A large travel first-aid kit is unnecessary; every refuge has additional supplies for emergencies.
In the Alps, mountain huts and drinking water fountains are usually spaced every 2 to 4 hours apart. 1 to 1.5 litres water capacity are therefore sufficient in most cases. On hot days or on stages without supplies, 2 litres can be sensible. Every litre of water weighs 1 kg, so it is worth planning the stages carefully and not carrying more water than necessary.
Further articles on crossing the Alps
To help you prepare further for your Alpine crossing, you’ll find these in-depth guides in WeitLäufer magazine and on BergReif:
- Alpine crossing on foot, overview of all major routes and preparation
- Guide to ultralight backpacks, Materials, carrying system, volume
- Lightweight packing list, the systematic introduction to ultralight trekking with all categories beyond crossing the Alps
- Hiking equipment packing list, Basic packing list for day trips and shorter multi-day trips
- Ultralight sleeping bag review, 12 models ranging from 340 g to 1,500 g
- Ultralight tent comparison, 12 featherlight models for 1 or 2 people
- Walking boots review, 15 models also for ultralight hiking
- Walking poles review, folding versus telescopic, carbon versus aluminium
