Complete Fitz Roy Trek packing list: what to pack for hiking in El Chaltén, Patagonia

backpack (50-75L): Osprey Aura AG 50 (women’s) / Atmos AG 65 (men’s)

This is my absolute favourite backpack and I recommend it to everyone— 50L is great for 3 days!

👉🏼 Need more advice on choosing a backpack? Check out this post: How to choose the best hiking backpack for every outdoor adventure

raincover: REI Co-op Duck’s Back Pack Rain Cover

Protects your gear from sudden downpours— some packs come with one built-in, but if not, make sure to pack a lightweight rain cover that fits over your bag (REI’s size medium or large should work best, depending on your pack capacity).

summit pack: REI Co-op Flash 18

For the hike to Laguna Torre, Laguna de los Tres, and Laguna Pollone on each day of the loop, you can drop your big pack at camp and carry just a small summit pack! Make sure it’s large enough to fit water, snacks, an extra layer, and your camera— this is the exact pack we always use for side-trips and it’s perfect.

hiking boots: adidas Terrex Free Hiker 2 GTX (women’s) / (men’s)

I’ve used a wide range of boots on this trail over the years, including the Salomon Quest 4 GTX boots (comfortable, robust backpacking boots) and my La Sportiva Trango Tech (overkill mountaineering boots because it’s what I had with me at the time). If I were to repeat the Fitz Roy Trek again, I’d try out my current favourite trail boots, the adidas Terrex Free Hiker 2 GTX (lightweight, comfortable, and supportive for on-trail hiking).

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

trekking poles: Black Diamond Trail Trekking Poles

Patagonia’s wind and steep climbs make trekking poles non-negotiable. I love Black Diamond Trail Poles, and they were key for staying upright in strong gusts and easing the load on downhill sections.

backpacking tent: Nemo Dragonfly OSMO 3P (for 2 sharing)

The first two times I did Fitz Roy, I was not happy with my tent choice— my ultralight backpacking tent collapsed in the night during wild Patagonian wind gusts, but not before filling with several inches of dirt. My most recent trip to Argentinian Patagonia with my new Nemo Dragonfly OSMO 3P went infinitely better and I was so impressed with how this lightweight free-standing backpacking tent held up! If you’re camping solo, the 2P version would also work great without too much added weight.

sleeping bag: Feathered Friends Murre EX 0 (comfort rated: -18°C) or Sea to Summit Spark 0

Temps can swing wildly, and having a 0°F (-18°C) bag meant I never worried about being underprepared when the wind howled all night.

sleeping pad: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT Sleeping Pad

My favourite ultra-lightweight pad that’s still comfortable enough for a full 8hr sleep on the trail!

camp pillow: Sea to Summit Aeros Premium

A luxury I’ll never hike without! Lightweight, compact, and so worth the space for better sleep in the mountains.

camp stove (+ fuel): Jetboil Zip

A compact canister stove is ideal for making simple meals in Patagonia— crazy fast, fuel-efficient, and effective in heavy wind.

A conservative estimate for fuel is one 230g canister per 3 days per person, but I find this is way more than I use. Two people could easily share 1 canister on the Fitz Roy Loop!

mess kit + cutlery: Sea to Summit Frontier Ultralight Collapsible 4-Piece Dinnerware Set

At the very minimum, your mess kit should contain a spoon and cup; at most, it might extend to a bowl and fork.

water filter: Katadyn BeFree 1.oL Water Filter

Water sources in Patagonia are almost exclusively glacier-fed, so you can get away with drinking right from chilly streams along the trail. For the extra-cautious among us (which I’ve become after getting Giardia), a compact squeeze filter is the easiest way to guarantee clean water from the many streams and lakes you’ll pass on the trail.

2x water bottles: Nalgene Wide Mouth

I personally don’t like bladders on overnight trips since they can be especially challenging to re-fill (and the consequences of leakage can be catastrophic if it soaks your sleeping bag), so instead I pack 1-2 standard Nalgene bottles. As you like it!

electrolytes: Liquid IV

I’d recommend drinking a minimum of 1 bottle of electrolyte-enriched water per day!

freeze-dried meals + snacks

Pack whatever you need for 3 days on the trail without any restocks.

👉🏼 Stuck on what to food to bring? Check out this post for a breakdown on how I pack backcountry food for multi-day backpacking trips

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 a custom Fitz Roy Loop GPS map with daily tracks based on my custom adventure itinerary, hundreds of waypoints, and other essential navigational information to help you stay on track. For solo trips, this is essential!

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

A bright, rechargeable headlamp is essential for evenings around camp and the sunrise hike up to Laguna de los Tres. Lightweight and easy to stash in a top pocket for quick access!

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

I used my phone constantly for navigation and photos, plus needed power for my inReach and headlamp. I carried a 10,000mAh powerbank, which was just enough to stay topped up for 3 days.

sports bras/shirts + underwear

I’m not going to tell you what undergarments to pack, but just consider you’ll have 3-4 days on the trail and 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 1 shirt for the 3-4 days.

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

I used this as a camp base-layer (and didn’t wear it for any hiking) in an attempt to keep it as clean as possible. Warm, breathable, and perfect for multi-day wear without smelling awful.

heavyweight fleece mid-layer: Arc’teryx Kyanite Zip Neck Top (women’s) / Rho Heavyweight Zip Neck Top (men’s)

I almost never took this layer off in Patagonia— I wore it over my shirt and layered other jackets over the top as needed. Lightweight, stretchy, and just the right amount of warmth as a daily base layer.

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

The perfect warmer hiking layer when the fleece alone won’t cut it— which was about 75% of the time. This jacket packs down light and tight, but offers serious warmth and handled sweat well, so it’s perfect for cold-weather exertion.

heavyweight down jacket: Arc’teryx Thorium Hoody (women’s) / (men’s)

At camp, you’ll be so happy to have a thick down jacket that offers warmth throughout camp set-up and dinner. This jacket is crazy warm and so comfortable, my go-to for cold weather backpacking trips!

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

You’ll use this as much for wind protection as for actual rain in Patagonia.

fleece tights: Arc’teryx Rho Base Layer Bottoms (women’s) / (men’s)

I wore these lightly insulated hiking tights every day in Argentinian Patagonia!

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

The perfect lightweight yet super warm sleep tights— great for hanging out around camp and staying cozy in your sleeping bag!

sunglasses: Julbo Vermont

From glacier travel to rocky scrambles, 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

A small beanie is an easy add to your camp outfit to stay warm as nighttime temps approach freezing.

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

Nice to have for daily use in windy Los Glaciares. These are light, comfortable, and just warm enough to protect your hands from freezing wind without overheating too much.

waterproof shell mittens: Black Diamond Waterproof Overmitts

There’s always a chance of rain or snow flurries in Patagonia (especially later in the season), so bring a lightweight pair of waterproof shell mittens to layer over your fleece gloves for extra warmth and full weather protection.

2x liner socks: Injinji Liner Crew + REI Co-op Silk Liner Crew Socks

I wore my favourite toe-sock liners under my boot socks to reduce friction and prevent blisters throughout the trail.

2x boot socks: Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew Cushion Socks (women’s) / (men’s)

My go-to socks for backpacking— durable, padded, and still comfy after multiple days of trail grime. I’d recommend 2 pairs of socks for the Fitz Roy Trek.

camp shoes: Teva Original

Easy to slip on after hiking boots, great for giving feet a breather, and worked well for setting up camp and short bathroom walks.

toiletries + bathroom bits

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

All the campsites have toilet facilities, but they are seriously rustic. For the wilderness bathroom along the trail, pack toilet paper, hand sanitiser, and a ziplock bag to pack out used items if needed.

Kula Cloth (for women)

This reusable antimicrobial pee cloth is designed specifically for backcountry female hygiene— it’s absorbent on one side, waterproof on the other, and treated with silver ions to resist bacteria growth and odour.

It’s easy to wash, dries fast, snaps shut for discretion, and clips onto the outside of your pack so it’s always accessible. Not only is it way more hygienic than carrying used toilet paper in a ziplock, but it also seriously reduces your trail waste, making it a no-brainer for sustainable hiking and women’s health on the go.

sun safety

Sun exposure builds quickly when you’re spending hours outside every day, even in cold, cloudy weather. Pack SPF 50+ sunscreen, SPF lip balm, and whatever else you need to stay sun-safe on the trail!

camera: Fujifilm x100vi

You are absolutely going to want a camera on this one!!

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