With this packing list I’ll help you to pack for a multi-day hike in the mountains where you plan to camp. Even if your backpack will be substantially larger while camping compared to when sleeping in refuges, you have to stick to the same principles:
- Pack light
- Functional wins over fashionable
- Go for lightweight gear
Keep in mind you have to carry everything yourself, so you better pack light.
When making your packing list for a multi day hike with camping in the mountains, you can use the same packing list as when sleeping in refuges, but you will have to add your camping gear.
Essential sleeping gear for camping
If you chose to camp instead of staying overnight in a mountain hut, add these items to your sleeping gear.
- Lightweight tent. We have a 3-seasons tent, as we have never been on winter camping.
- Sleeping mat. I have a Thermarest Prolite, Benjamin a NeoAir. The NeoAir is lighter & more compact, but you have to fully inflate it yourself. If it ever gets punctured during a hike, Benjamin is in trouble. And I’m probably too, as we will have to fit both on my Thermarest ?.
- Sleeping bag. It’s one of the more bulkier items you will carry. Ideally you adapt it to the season & conditions in which you will be hiking. We like that our sleeping bags zip together, it’s so much warmer when you can snuggle up!
- Sleeping bag liner. It’s advisable to limit the number of times you wash your sleeping bag. A liner protects your sleeping bag and is easy to wash between trips.
- We recently discovered the emergency blanket in our first aid kit serves perfectly as a ground layer in the tent, before we put our sleeping pads. Not scientifically tested, but I would guess it saves a few degrees.
What’s cooking?
You can make your cooking set as fancy as you like but considering that you have to carry everything yourself, here are the essentials to add to your packing list.
- Camping stove
- Gas canisters
- Cooking pot
- Lighter
- Cutlery
- Plate/bowl
- Camping mug
Food supplies
A multi-day hike in the mountains requires a good planning. Understanding your itinerary and knowing where you can stock up has two purposes: saving your life and saving your back. Balance is key!
I will not go into too much detail as every trip is different and everybody’s craving is different, but here are some general guidelines.
- Snacks like energy bars and nuts that you can easily eat on the go
- Stick to foods that are lightweight and not too bulky, and require short cooking time
- Sketch out a meal plan taking into account the length of your itinerary and where you can resupply. Make sure you have enough food to cover all your meals, plus a little extra to prepare for unforeseen events (or to help out someone else).
- I prefer to include some fresh foods, even if that involves a little extra weight. Sticking to only dehydrated meals will just not keep my mood up.
- Spices: quintessential!
- Make sure you do not run out of water. Check where you can fill up and bring purifying tablets or a Lifestraw if you have to rely on rivers and streams.
Understanding your itinerary and knowing where you can stock up has two purposes: saving your life and saving your back.
Please let me know in the comments if you would like to add something to the list, but don’t forget to look at the base packing list first. This will have you started for both camping trips and trips where you are based in mountain huts.
Do not hesitate to reach out to me if you have any advice to reduce my packing list!
For the Belgian readers: if you’re not sure if a multi-day hike is something for you, why not try out this 2-day hike in the Semois Valley in the Ardennes. It’s not the Dolomites or the Pyrenees, but you will get rewarded with some stunning viewpoints.