12-25L is the ideal size depending on how dialed your packing is. Opt for features like an aerobic-oriented harness with flask / snack pockets and a minimalist design to streamline use.

This can also be used as a carry-on during both international and domestic air travel.

Consider these models:
—Pingora Lucid 25
—Ultimate Direction Fastpack 2020
—Black Diamond Distance 22
—HMG Elevate 22

Excellent piece of kit for adding quick-access storage while hiking and traveling—think phone, passport, wallet, hand sani, sunglasses, dignity… Are we missing anything?

Consider these models:
—Cotopaxi Kapai 3L
—Cotopaxi Coso 2L
—Hyperlite Mountain Gear Versa

Blankets for sleeping are provided at the rifugios. A sleeping bag liner will keep it hygienic.

Silk liners are the lightest and most compact, but they’re a bit more expensive. Worth it though, IMO.

Consider these models:

—WM Tioga Silk Liner
—Big Agnes Sleeping Bag Liner

A medium sized duffel (70-100L) can be used as a checked bag during international travel, and will also be used to store personal items at your hotel during your trek.

Consider these models:
—MHW Expedition Duffel 75L
—Patagonia Black Hole Duffel 70L

The easiest way to keep the sun off of your face is with a hat. A lightweight, compressible, running-style cap or visor is a great option because it doesn’t take up much space, and also fits well under a climbing helmet.

Consider these models:
—Buff Pack Run Hat
—Your favorite trucker or 5-panel

40% of our bodies’ heat loss occurs through the head. Keep it in with a beanie. Ensure that it will fit underneath a climbing helmet.

A Buff is a super versatile neck gaiter that can keep your face warm, and help regulate the temperature of the air that you breathe by allowing it a chance to warm before going into your lungs. These are lightweight, durable, and an absolute necessity.

This is a lightweight insulated layer, perhaps breathable, that can be worn for extra warmth while hanging out on summits, at the rifugios, or during cold alpine starts.

Consider these models:
—The North Face 50/50 Men’s
—Patagonia Nano-Air Men’s / Women’s
—Backcountry Wolverine Men’s / Women’s

This is a weatherproof layer, with an alpine fit. Priorities should be low weight, breathability, and a helmet compatible hood.

GoreTex Pro is likely overkill (and very heavy. ) A lightweight, waterproof-breathable softshell is the perfect option.

Consider these models:
—Rab Kinetic Alpine Men’s / Women’s
—TNF FUTURELIGHT Men’s / Women’s
—MHW Exposure 2 Men’s / Women’s

A windbreaker is incredibly versatile and lightweight; often provides just enough weather protection to take the bite off.

This will probably be the most-used piece of outerwear on the entire trip.

Consider these models:
—Cotopaxi Teca Half-zip
—Patagonia Houdini Men’s / Women’s

Lightweight, extremely breathable active insulated mid-layer for all-day wear, in-between your base layer and shell jacket.

The more breathable, the better. Like a fleece or a minimalist synthetic vest.

Consider these models:
—TNF FutureFleece Men’s / Women’s
—Rab Alpha Flash Men’s / Women’s

A sun shirt functions to keep sun and UV off the skin in warm weather. Should be loose-fitting and have a hood. Sun shirts are typically synthetic, lightweight, and breathable.

Consider these models:
—Rab Force Hoody Men’s / Women’s
—Backcountry Tahoe 2 Men’s / Women’s
—Smartwool Merino Sport 150
—Give’r Solstice Hoody

Lightweight, breathable base layers. The purpose of these is to wick moisture away from the body, and begin to move it through the apparel system in order to effectively regulate temperature.

Synthetics breathe and wick better than Merino wool, but need to be washed more frequently.

Consider these models:
—TNF DotKnit Crew
—Patagonia Capilene Air Men’s / Women’s

A lightweight, breathable t-shirt will be perfect for hotter days in the shade or to wear while handwashing other clothes. A merino option will stink less than synthetic, but synthetic is more effective at moving moisture.

—Patagonia Capilene Cool Men’s / Women’s
—Icebreaker Tech Lite II Men’s / Women’s

These hiking pants can be lighter duty, more comfortable soft shells compared to the climbing pants.

Look for a pair with good stretch, wind resistance, and comfortable everyday features like hand and thigh pockets.

If you run warm, you could skip out on pants and opt for running shorts instead.

Consider these models:
—Outdoor Research Ferrosi Men’s / Women’s
—MHW Chockstone Men’s / Women’s
—Fjallraven Abisko Trekking Tights Men’s / Women’s

Here’s the deal: a lot of companies will try to sell you on super expensive, extremely “waterproof” GoreTex “technical shell” pants for mountaineering and hiking. Unless you’re climbing in a notoriously wet range like the North Cascades, you probably don’t need them.

Soft shell pants are way more durable, breathable, comfortable, and less expensive.

But, it can be good to have a pair of rain pants, just in case. Buy the cheapest, lightest pair that you can find. Just make sure that they have full-zip sides, so they’re easy to put on and take off.

Or, even better, if you can find wind pants, get those—they offer a great balance of protection and mobility.

Consider these models:
—Outdoor Research Deviator Wind Pant
—Marmot PreCip Eco Full Zip Men’s / Women’s

A pair of lightweight running shorts are great to have for trekking at lower elevations where it can be quite a bit warmer; and for wearing around the huts, swimming in streams and hot springs, or while washing laundry.

Consider these models:
—Patagonia Endless Run Men’s / Women’s
—TNF Sunriser Men’s / Women’s

Bring two to three (2-3) pairs, depending on how frequently you want to hand wash.

No cotton! Merino or synthetic are fine. Pairs with antimicrobial treatments are great.

Consider these models:
—Icebreaker Anatomica Men’s / Women’s
—ExOfficio Give-N-Go Men’s / Women’s

Bring 2-3 pairs pairs. Handwash when one pair feels too stiff to wear.

No cotton! Merino, synthetic, or blended is fine. Bring whatever combination that you’ve been training in and using with the footwear for this trip.

Consider these options:
—Darn Tough Light Hiker Men’s / Women’s
—FITS Light Hiker Crew

Thick, cozy socks, just for sleeping or wearing around the hut with a pair of slides.

These are dexterous gloves with durable palms for use with trekking poles and while climbing via feratta—and to take the weather’s edge off. Possibly lined, but not insulated. WindStopper on the backs.

Use whatever footwear you typically / are comfortable hiking or backpacking in.

80% of the hiking portion of the trip will take place on well-groomed trails while carrying light packs—so big, heavy hiking boots aren’t really needed.

Salewa are designed and tested in the Dolomites—always a great option.

Consider these models:
—Salewa Pedroc Pro Mid
—Altra Lone Peak All-Weather Mid 2
—Salomon Cross Hike Mid GTX

Sometimes, even light hikers are overkill. If you want to move fast and light, lightening footwear is oftentimes key.

I personally, typically opt for the lighter of the two. Choose a pair of trail runners if that’s you.

Via feratta routes can be subject to rockfall. Wear a climbing-specific helmet while on route.

—Salewa Piuma 3.0
—Black Diamond Vapor
—Petzl Sirocco

There won’t be any hanging belays on the via ferrata routes. Opt for the lightest, most compact alpine climbing harness you can find.

—Blue Ice Choucas
—Petzl Fly
—Black Diamond Couloir

These lanyards, when properly attached to your harness, will act as an interface between you and the via ferrata routes.

—Petzl Scorpio

Trekking poles add stability and power when traveling up and down hill.

Look for a pair that collapses in length, with three sections for compactness.

Carbon poles are the lightest and most durable, but are more expensive than aluminum.

Consider these models:

—Black Diamond Distance Carbon Z
—LEKI Cross Trail FX 1 SL

A bright (300+ lumens) USB rechargeable headlamp is ideal. IPX weatherproofing is a bonus.

Consider these models:
—BioLite HeadLamp 425
—LEDLENSER NEO9R

Adequate eye protection is an absolute must while moving through the mountains, particularly at high altitudes.

Glacier glasses with removable side shields are great; as are full-wrap sport performance sunglasses. Whatever you wear, ensure that the lenses have full UV protection and are dark enough to handle bright sun.

Consider these models:
—Revo Traverse
—Smith Bobcat
—Ombraz

Flasks are great for hydrating while moving fast, particularly when paired with an aerobic-oriented pack with flask holsters on the straps, like the options listed above.

Bring two, one for each side. I like to have one with electrolyte mix; and one that’s straight water.

There’s no potable water available while trekking; many huts and shops sell plastic bottled water. Don’t buy those. They end up on the side of the trail and in landfills and oceans—and they’re expensive.

Carry a personal water filter instead and use it to filter at huts and from streams.

Consider these models:
—Katadyn Be Free Tactical
—LifeStraw Peak Squeeze

A small pocketknife is useful for cutting moleskin, tape, and packaging.

Consider these models:
—Opinel No.8 Outdoor
—Leatherman Skeletool

A watch isn’t totally necessary for a guided program, but they are incredibly useful, particularly if using one with GPS and altimeter features.

Follow along with altitude gain during the acclimatization program, keep track of daily distances, sunrise/sunset, and more.

Consider these models:
—Garmin Fenix 7 Sapphire Solar
—Garmin Instinct 2 Solar

Modern mobile phones take pretty damn great pictures these days… But it is the trip of a lifetime?

Action cameras are great for going hands-free while hiking and for selfies. Mirrorless cameras capture incredible images from a pretty compact package. Film cameras never go out of style. 360 cameras are out of this world. You get the picture.

Consider these options:
—GoPro Hero11
—GoPro Hero MAX (360)

There will inevitably be some down time during the trek, particularly in the evenings. If you like to read, it’s worth bringing an eReader loaded up with books that you’ve been wanting to dive into.

eReader batteries last a lot longer than phone batteries; and their screens are much easier on the eyes.

Some of the huts have paperback collections that you can trade titles from, but those could be a hit or miss.

Self-explanatory. But an active-proof pair, resistant to sweat and elements is great.

—Jaybird Vista 2

Bring a power bank for charging electronics. Rifugios have electricity and will usually allow free device charging, but if you’re taking lots of photos and videos, a battery bank can help you make it through the day.

Don’t forget to pack:
—Cables
—Charging Block

Also very important. A mineral sunscreen that uses zinc oxide will provide a physical block, which is more predictable than chemical blocks used in many lotions. A stick will keep the mess off your hands, too.

Consider these models:
—Badger Balm Zinc Oxide Sport Stick
—Salt & Stone Tinted Sunscreen Stick

Our guides carry comprehensive medical kits, so keep yours light and compact. Here are some things to consider packing:

—Band-Aids
—Antibiotic ointment
—Moleskin and blister care
—Medical tape and/or duct tape
—Cough drops
—Basic painkillers
—Antacid
—Anti-diarrheal
—Personal medications

Re-usable, anti-microbial pee cloth. Less waste than TP, and easier to carry, too.

For the ladies.

Lightweight, quick-drying, microfiber is the best bet. Go full size for convenience, or washcloth sized if you’re a masochist.

A quart-sized Ziploc freezer bag will work, or get fancy with a dedicated toiletry case. Chris loves this one: