Complete Mt Triglav via ferrata packing list

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

A 30L daypack is perfect for carrying via ferrata gear, layers, water, and a small overnight kit to the hut. Make sure it’s close-fitting for scrambling sections!

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

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

I wore the La Sportiva Trango Tech Leather GTX Boots— they’re ideal for Triglav’s mix of rocky trails, scree slopes, and metal rungs. Lightweight, waterproof, and stiff enough for scrambling while still comfy enough for hiking.

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

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.

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

A climbing harness is how you’ll connect your via ferrata lanyard to yourself for protection on exposed routes. This is essential safety equipment and you should not do Triglav without it! 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 on the approach to Mt Triglav, trekking poles are incredibly helpful and a lightweight addition to your kit.

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

Slovenia 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 hut.

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 the huts, but I’d recommend bringing a selection of snack food for lunch and nibbles throughout climb day.

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 Mt Triglav GPS map for my 2-day itinerary with dozens of waypoints + detailed via ferrata notes 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

A bright, rechargeable headlamp is essential for after-dark in the hut. Lightweight and easy to stash in a top pocket for quick access!

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

Although it’s possible to charge electronic devices at the hut, hikers are always competing for limited power points, so I’d recommend carrying a powerbank in your pack in case you need emergency power to your phone GPS, Garmin InReach, and headlamp.

sports bra + underwear

For hot summer hiking, 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!

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

One shirt is plenty for this overnight adventure!

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

A long sleeve wool shirt is the best cozy hut/sleep shirt.

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 an early start on the via ferrata. 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 trail and offers great warmth for very little weight. The Atom jacket in particular is super stretchy, which makes it great to climb in!

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. It was really cold the day I climbed Mt Triglav, so I ended up wearing this under my shell and over all my other layers for extra warmth.

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

I wore my shell throughout the entire climb for wind and light rain protection. In nicer weather, this can hopefully stay in your pack, but it’s still essential to bring!

hiking shorts: Lululemon Align shorts

My favourite stretchy and super compact hiking shorts, perfect for the trail and for via ferrata!

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 evening, 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.

sun hat: Arc’teryx Gamma 5-Panel Cap

Worn constantly 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)

These are thin, breathable, and just warm enough without overheating my hands during movement. I wore these for much of the climb since it was so cold in late June!

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.

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

These are my personal favourite hiking socks— comfortable and super durable without being overly bulky.

toiletries + bathroom bits

Toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, deodorant, medications, contact solution… whatever you need to stay clean and comfortable overnight!

For the wilderness bathroom, 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

I always bring a proper camera on overnight trips, even if it’s just a compact model, so I can capture golden hour at camp, that misty morning glow, or the summit scramble in full detail.

👉🏼 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