Complete Alta Via packing list: what to pack for hut-to-hut hikes in the Dolomites

sports bra + underwear

For hot summer hiking in the Dolomites, I just wear a rotating series of Lululemon sports bras as a shirt— super compact, comfortable, sweat-friendly, and vibrant! 

I’m not going to tell you what undergarments to pack, but just consider it’s very nice to have clean underwear every day!

hiking shirt: Arc’teryx Taema Crew Shirt (women’s) / Cormac Crew Shirt (men’s)

I’d suggest bringing just one shirt and washing it in a hut bathroom partway through your hike.

wool base layer: Smartwool Classic Thermal Base Layer Top (women’s) / (men’s)

A long sleeve wool shirt is great for layering on chilly mornings or keeping cozy at the huts, and merino wool offers an amazing warmth to weight ratio. I primarily used mine for sleeping and tried to keep it mostly sweat-free by using the lightweight hoody below as my hiking base layer.

lightweight fleece mid-layer: Arc’teryx Rho LT Hoody (women’s) / (men’s)

You’ll want a lightweight wool or brushed fleece layer that provides some warmth without considerable bulk for those chilly mornings and shaded via ferrata climbs. I particularly like having a hood that can be worn (even under my helmet) for added warmth and/or sun protection.

synthetic insulation: Arc’teryx Atom Hoody (women’s) / (men’s)

Unlike down jackets that do not perform well once wet (either from rain or sweat), a synthetic jacket is perfect for layering on the hiking trail and offers great warmth for very little weight. The Atom jacket in particular is super stretchy, which makes it great to climb in!

mid-weight down jacket: Arc’teryx Cerium Hoody (women’s) / (men’s)

For windy summits and cold evenings at the hut, a down jacket is the best way to stay warm. I often wore mine over all of the layers mentioned previously, so make sure it’s large enough to wear as an outer layer over several other hoodies and jackets in the case of very cold weather.

shell jacket: Arc’teryx Beta SL Jacket (women’s) / (men’s)

You’re likely to experience rain at some point in the Dolomites, so a GoreTex shell is absolutely essential!

hiking shorts: Lululemon Align shorts

My favourite stretchy and super compact hiking shorts, perfect for the trail and for via ferrata! Plan to pack 1-2 pairs of whatever shorts you prefer, depending on the length of your hike. Again, men are on their own here for recommendations…

fleece mid-layer bottoms: Arc’teryx Kyanite Base Layer Bottoms (women’s) / (men’s)

For both sleep and general lounging around the hut in the evenings, there’s nothing better than pulling on a clean pair of fleece tights or pants. Pack something comfortable and warm, the temps do drop at night.

soft shell pants: Arc’teryx Gamma Pants (women’s) / (men’s)

A pair of lightweight soft shell hiking pants are great for cold, wet days (they’ll wick a lot of moisture, and even if they do get super wet, they dry super quick!). I’ve rarely worn pants in the Dolomites, but depending on your preference and the season of your trip, you may end up wearing these a lot more than your shorts.

sun hat: Arc’teryx Gamma 5-Panel Cap

Worn daily on the trail, even under my helmet when scrambling.

glacier glasses: Julbo Vermont

From glacier to via ferrata, these are my favourite outdoor sunglasses.

neck gaiter: Buff Original

Lightweight and versatile, a Buff is essential for protecting against daily sun, sweat, dust, and wind.

beanie: Arc’teryx Mallow Toque

For chilly evenings at the hut, a warm beanie is a great addition.

lightweight hiking gloves: Outdoor Research Trail Mix Gloves (women’s) / (men’s)

Nice to have for chilly mornings or breezy ridgelines. These are thin, breathable, and just warm enough without overheating my hands during movement.

2x liner socks: Injinji Liner Crew

I swear by these toe socks as the ultimate blister prevention, worn under my wool socks as a sweat-wicking liner!

3x boot socks: Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew Cushion Socks (women’s) / (men’s)

The length of your trip will likely dictate how many socks you’ll need, but my rule of thumb is to pack about 1 pair of socks for every three days. These are my personal favourite hiking socks— comfortable and super durable without being overly bulky.

mountaineering boots: La Sportiva Trango Tech Leather GTX Boots (women’s) / (men’s)

I saw hikers on the Alta Via wearing everything from lightweight runners to mountaineering boots, so footwear choice is incredibly varied and there’s no one “right” shoe for everyone. Personally, I loved the stiff soles of my boots for via ferrata and rough terrain/scree; the trade-off is that they are heavier and not quite as comfortable for long kilometres on a flat trail, but I was very happy with my decision and have worn these on every single trip to the Dolomites.

👉🏼 Need more advice on choosing the right boot? Read my outdoor footwear guide

daypack (25–35L): Osprey Tempest 30 (women’s) / Osprey Talon 33 (men’s)

I’d recommend something in the 25-35L range with sturdy hip belts, a good suspension system, and some back venting for hut-to-hut hiking in the Dolomites. I love my 33L Osprey Talon— it’s lightweight, easy to climb with, yet still very comfortable for long days on the trail!

helmet: Black Diamond Half Dome Helmet (women’s) / (men’s)

For via ferrata routes, a light climbing helmet is essential to protect against rockfall, which might come from other climbers above or even unstable areas of the mountain. And for routes that wind through dark tunnels, it can also be handy for protecting your head against bumps.

climbing harness: Black Diamond Momentum (women’s) / (men’s)

Many Alta Via routes (including AV2 and AV4) feature via ferrata, so you’ll need to pack safety gear for these sections of protected climbing, including a harness. I love the fit and comfort of this crag climbing harness and have used it on countless adventures!

via ferrata lanyard: Petzel Scorpio Vertigo Lanyard

A via ferrata lanyard connects to your climbing harness and is then used to clip into the cable for continuous protection along exposed or challenging routes; the shock absorber helps distribute force in the event of a fall. After trying several different styles, I personally prefer these flick-lock carabiners for ease of use and this bungee-style lanyard for improved mobility on the rock.

climbing gloves: Metolius Half Finger Climbing Gloves

Although not technically required, you’ll enjoy via ferrata a lot more with climbing gloves to protect your hands from cable-burn, particularly when down-climbing. I like these half-finger gloves, which maximise dexterity for climbing— plus, I can still operate my camera/phone with them on!

trekking poles: Black Diamond Trail Trekking Poles

For all the rough terrain you’ll encounter in the Dolomites, trekking poles are incredibly helpful and a lightweight addition to your kit.

PLB/SOS: Garmin InReach Mini 2

A Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) is your lifeline in the outdoors and I NEVER go hiking without my Garmin InReach Mini 2, which allows me to send messages, get weather updates, track location, and place an SOS call in an emergency, even without phone service.

It does require a subscription (starting at $12/month), but it’s worth every cent and has literally saved both of my parents’ lives in the backcountry!

GPS: CalTopo app on mobile

The absolute best GPS resource is the smartphone you already own, paired with a reliable, low-cost GPS mapping app that allows you to access detailed offline Topo maps and navigate via GPS satellites, even without mobile service.

My go-to is CalTopo, which costs just $20/year and is by far the most feature-rich, affordable, and accurate mapping tool out there.

🗺️ I built custom Alta Via 2 & Alta Via 4 GPS maps for my adventure itineraries with daily tracks, hundreds of waypoints + via ferrata, and heaps of essential navigational information to help you stay on track. Download here.

First Aid Kit: Adventure Medical Kits Backpacker

All the usual essentials:
• a mix of NSAIDs (ibuprofen, naproxen)
• antihistamines (Claritin for allergies, Benadryl for bites/stings)
• a small selection of stomach meds (like Imodium or Pepto tabs)
• a roll of KT tape (insanely versatile for everything from blisters to rolled ankles)
• alcohol wipes, antiseptic, a few large gauze pads, and blister plasters like Compeed

headlamp: Black Diamond Spot 400-R

Some via ferrata routes in the Dolomites pass through dark WWI tunnels, necessitating a headlamp for safety. Equally, if you need to get up and use the bathroom down the hall after “lights out”, a headlamp will be super handy. I love this rechargeable headlamp so you don’t have to carry batteries!

powerbank: VRURC Portable Charger with Built-in Cables, 10000mAh

Although it’s possible to charge electronic devices at pretty much every single hut in the Dolomites, hikers are always competing for limited power points, so you’re not guaranteed to get a full charge every day. Try to keep a topped-up powerbank in your pack for emergency power to your phone GPS, Garmin InReach, and headlamp.

sleep sack: Sea to Summit Silk + Cotton Liner

Mountain huts provide mattresses, blankets, and pillows for sleeping (leave your sleeping bag & pad at home!), but since the beds don’t have sheets, you are required to bring your own sleep sack.

camp pillow: Sea to Summit Aeros Premium

A camp pillow is a small, lightweight addition to your sleep system that is guaranteed to improve your sleep compared to stuffing clothes in a pillow.

hut shoes: Teva Original

All huts require that you leave your hiking shoes in the boot room upon arrival, so you’ll need to bring hut shoes to wear while inside. I’d recommend a lightweight slip-on sandal or shoe and I personally love Tevas, since you can wear them comfortably over socks for a super stylish look.

charger for the hut: Type-C USB fast charger

Italy uses Type C two-prong plugs, and this USB/USB-C combo is the most convenient way to keep all your electronics charged in the huts.

Hikers are always competing for limited power points, so instead of jostling to plug everything in at once, I’d recommend charging a powerbank and then using this to recharge all of your electronic devices over the next few days.

toiletries

Toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, deodorant, medications, contact solution… whatever you need to stay clean and comfortable for multiple days on the trail!

travel towel: Dry Fox Co. Pack Towel M

Most huts have (paid) options for a hot shower, so be sure to bring a compact travel towel. I have multiple sizes of this Dry Fox Co towel (an amazing female-owned small business!) and I take them everywhere; the medium is perfect for backpacking.

water filter: Katadyn BeFree 1.oL Water Filter

Huts don’t have potable water, so even though you’re sleeping indoors and filling up your bottles from a tap, a compact water filter is absolutely essential.

water bottle: Nalgene Wide Mouth

For ease of filtering and filling up water on multi-day treks, I find wide-mouth water bottles much easier to use than hydration bladders, though this is very much a matter of personal preference.

electrolytes

Altitude, sun exposure, and sweat can lead to dehydration fast, so add electrolytes to at least 1 bottle of water per day to stay on top of your hydration.

Best overall: Liquid IV

snacks

Breakfast and dinner are readily available from mountain huts along the trail, but I’d recommend bringing a selection of snack food for lunch and nibbles throughout the day.

👉🏼 For more information about hut food in the Dolomites, check out this post

camera: Canon R6 Mark 2 + 24-105mm lens

👉🏼 For a complete run-down of ALL the camera gear we are currently loving, check out: Camera gear for travel photography: what we use as full-time travellers