
The ultimate hut-to-hut packing list (for multi-day hikes without camping gear)
Multi-day hiking doesn’t always mean carrying a tent, stove, and 20kg pack— hut-to-hut hikes are the perfect middle ground between rugged backcountry and lightweight adventure. Whether you’re trekking through the Italian Dolomites, staying in alpine huts in New Zealand, or hiking between mountain refuges in South America, this style of hiking is all about efficiency: carrying just the essentials and staying light.
This packing list is exactly what I’ve carried on countless multi-day hut hikes around the world. Some gear will depend on location and weather, but most of these items are compact, lightweight, and versatile enough for any hut-to-hut route!
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What to pack for a multi-day hut-to-hut hike
This list is tailored for multi-day hikes where you’ll be staying in huts or refuges— meaning you don’t need to carry a tent, full sleep system, or cook set. This lightens your pack significantly compared to other multi-day backpacking trips, but you still need to be well-prepared for changing conditions and multi-day wear.
Use your judgement to adapt this list for the terrain, remoteness, and whatever weather you’re expecting. Personally, I always prefer to see an item on my list and choose not to pack it than to forget something that turns out to be essential. Everything here has been tested across hut hikes in the Alps, the Andes, the Southern Alps of NZ, and beyond!
🥾 brookebeyond hut-to-hut hiking checklist
BACKPACK
⭐️ daypack (25-35L)
⭐️ raincover
⭐️ summit pack
BOOTS & POLES
⭐️ hiking boots
⭐️ boot socks
⭐️ liner socks
⭐️ trekking poles
SAFETY & NAVIGATION
⭐️ PLB/SOS
⭐️ GPS
⭐️ First Aid Kit
⭐️ headlamp
⭐️ powerbank
HUT GEAR
⭐️ sleep sack
⭐️ camp pillow
⭐️ comfortable hut clothes
⭐️ hut shoes
WATER STORAGE & FOOD
⭐️ water filter
⭐️ water bottle OR bladder
⭐️ electrolytes
⭐️ snacks (as needed)
EXTRA LAYERS
⭐️ long-sleeve layer
⭐️ synthetic or down insulation layer
⭐️ GoreTex rain shell layer
⭐️ lightweight hiking gloves
⭐️ waterproof exterior mittens
⭐️ Buff
⭐️ beanie
PERSONAL ITEMS
⭐️ toiletries, bathroom bits
⭐️ Kula Cloth (for women)
⭐️ sun safety
⭐️ camera

Best hut-to-hut backpack
Hut-to-hut hiking is the ultimate minimalist adventure— you still need to be self-sufficient, but without the burden of carrying a full tent and camp kitchen. A well-fitted day-hiking pack is usually perfect for carrying your layers, sleep gear, snacks, and personal items!
👉🏼 Check out our complete guide for specific advice on daypacks (which work great for hut-to-hut): How to choose the best hiking backpack for every outdoor adventure

Daypack (25–35L)
A 25–35L daypack is perfect for carrying hut essentials, layers, water, snacks, and emergency gear for just about every multi-day hut hike. Look for a supportive hipbelt, a ventilated back panel, and quick-access storage for sunnies, snacks & safety gear.
Best overall: Osprey Tempest 30 (women’s) / Osprey Talon 33 (men’s)
Best for upgraded support: Osprey Sirrus 36 (Women’s) / Stratos 36 (Men’s)

Raincover
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 small works for 25-35L dayhiking packs).
Best overall: REI Co-op Duck’s Back Pack Rain Cover

Summit pack
If your hike includes side-trips or optional summits, a lightweight summit pack is a great addition to avoid carrying your full pack everywhere.
Best overall: REI Co-op Flash 18

Best boots for hut-to-hut hiking
Your feet are putting in serious kilometres on a hut-to-hut trek, so footwear matters more here than it does on a short day-hike. In all cases, you’ll want a supportive, waterproof boot (or shoe!) with good tread, plus proper socks to avoid blisters and fatigue.
👉🏼 For a deep dive into boots, check out my full guide: How to choose the best trail shoes, hiking boots & mountaineering boots for every outdoor adventure

Hiking boots
If you’re scrambling or otherwise heading off-trail, I’d recommend a lightweight mountaineering boot with a stiff sole & shaft; if you’re mostly on a maintained trail, lightweight hiking boots will definitely be more comfortable.
Best boots for trail: adidas Terrex Free Hiker 2.0 GTX Hiking Boots (women’s) / (men’s)
Best boots for terrain: La Sportiva Trango Tech GTX Mountaineering Boots (women’s) / (men’s)
If you’re running parts of the trail or looking to go ultra-light, we’d recommend swapping your boots for a robust trail runner (James loves his!)
Best trail shoe: La Sportiva Prodigio (women’s) / (men’s)

Boot socks
Proper hiking socks are nearly as important as your boots. Choose moisture-wicking merino wool to prevent blisters, manage sweat, and keep your feet warm even if they get damp.
Best overall: Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew Cushion Socks (women’s) / (men’s)

Liner socks
Thin liner socks help prevent friction and can be layered under hiking socks for longer multi-day hikes. I discovered these toe-sock liners about 8 years ago and I’ve been evangelising ever since— if you struggle with blisters, this should be your first line of defence!
Best overall: Injinji Liner Crew

Trekking poles
Trekking poles become even more important on long hut trips— they help manage fatigue on big days, improve balance when your legs are tired, and reduce wear-and-tear on your joints, especially on descents with a loaded pack.
Best overall: Black Diamond Trail Trekking Poles

Safety & navigation
Even when staying in huts, you’re still in remote mountain terrain much of the day, often far from help. We always carry a GPS navigation app, a fully charged PLB, and a headlamp for early starts or late arrivals. Multi-day trips also mean more time on trail, and more chance of weather, illness, or injury, so a powerbank and upgraded first aid kit are additional must-haves.
👉🏼 I build custom GPS tracks for challenging, convoluted, backcountry routes (everything from an Aconcagua expedition to my custom 10-day Huayhuash Circuit route), check them out on my new shopfront: brookebeyond Custom GPS Maps

PLB/SOS
A Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) is your lifeline in the outdoors and we NEVER go hiking without our Garmin InReach Mini 2, which allows us 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!
Best overall: Garmin InReach Mini 2

GPS
Gone are the days where you have to purchase an expensive, clunky GPS device to access maps in the backcountry— the absolute best GPS resource is the smartphone you already own, paired with a reliable, a low-cast GPS mapping app that allows you to access detailed offline Topo maps and navigate via GPS satellites, even without mobile service
Our go-to is CalTopo, which costs just $20/year and is by far the most feature-rich, affordable, and accurate mapping tool out there.
As a supplement, we also use James’ Garmin Fenix 7X Pro, which is great for on-trail wrist navigation and turn-by-turn cues. But I still wouldn’t rely on it as our only GPS source.
Best GPS app: CalTopo (mobile app)
Best GPS watch: Garmin Fenix 7X Pro

First Aid Kit
For multiple days on the trail, it’s recommended to carry a larger med kit than you might on a dayhike. Pre-assembled kits from Adventure Medical are a great place to start, but as you get more trail time under your belt, you’ll want to customise it based on your needs and preferences.
We always include:
• 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
Best pre-packaged First Aid Kit: Adventure Medical Kits Backpacker

Headlamp
Essential for alpine starts, late arrivals, or simply walking around the hut at night. Choose something lightweight, rechargeable, and reliable!
Best overall: Black Diamond Spot 400-R

Powerbank
Between GPS, your phone, camera, and headlamp, something is going to need a charge. We carry a compact powerbank with built-in cables to keep everything topped up for the entire trek. This is especially nice on a hut-to-hut trek where you have some power access— leave your power bank charging in the common area instead of your phone!
Best overall: VRURC Portable Charger with Built-in Cables, 10000mAh

Hut gear
Even though you’re not camping, hut hiking still calls for a few comfort items— most huts provide a mattress and blanket, but you’ll usually need to bring your own sleep sack and pillow. It’s also worth packing hut shoes for comfort and cleanliness inside the hut, and a dry change of clothes so you’re not sitting around in your sweaty trail gear each evening.

Sleep sack
Most European and NZ huts require you to bring a sleep sack or sleeping bag liner for hygiene. Even when it’s not mandatory, it adds a layer of warmth and keeps you from sleeping directly on shared bedding, plus it packs to the size of an avocado!
Best overall: Sea to Summit Silk + Cotton Liner

Camp pillow
After a big hiking day, it’s worth having a small pillow for a better night’s sleep. Inflatable models pack down tiny and weigh next to nothing, but make a huge difference.
Best overall: Sea to Summit Aeros Premium

Comfortable hut clothes
There’s nothing better than pulling on a clean, dry outfit after hiking all day. We each pack a soft pair of leggings or joggers and a Merino base layer— comfy enough to wear to dinner in the hut (usually under another jacket), warm enough to sleep in.
Best overall: Arc’teryx Rho Baselayer (women’s) / (men’s)

Hut shoes
Most huts ask you to remove your hiking boots indoors, so bring a pair of lightweight shoes or sandals to wear around the hut— think Crocs, slides, or down booties, depending on the temps you’re expecting.
Best for moderate weather: Teva Original
Best for extreme cold: Mountain Hardwear Down Bootie

Water storage & food
Just because you’re not camping doesn’t mean you don’t need to plan your hydration and fuelling carefully! Note: this packing list is written for catered hut-to-hut hikes (where you’re not cooking your own food), but many hut-to-hut routes in Scandinavia and New Zealand are unserviced, so you’ll have to bring a stove + cookware on top of what’s listed here.
👉🏼 Take a look at my overnight backpacking list for details on our recommended camp kitchen: the ultimate OVERNIGHT BACKPACKING packing list

Water filter
Huts typically don’t have potable water, so even though you’re sleeping indoors, a compact water filter is absolutely essential. This also allows you to refill from lakes and streams during the daytime.
Best overall: Katadyn BeFree 1.oL Water Filter

Water bottle or bladder
I don’t use bladders on overnight trips since they can be so annoying to fill, so I always pack a standard Nalgene bottles for hut-to-hut hikes.
Best water bottle: Nalgene Wide Mouth
Best water bladder: Osprey Hydraulics Reservoir 2L

Electrolytes
If you’re sweating a lot and/or gaining serious elevation, drinking plain water simply isn’t enough to replenish the salts your body is losing. I recommend adding electrolyte tablets to every litre of water during hard hikes to help with performance and hydration!
Best overall: Liquid IV

Snacks (as needed)
You don’t need to go too overboard on snacks for most hut-to-hut routes, as there may be occasional access to food. For true backcountry routes, high-protein, high-calorie, and high-glucose foods keep energy up and moods high.
👉🏼 Confused about what food to pack?! How to pack food for multi-day backcountry adventures: our tips for maximising calories & minimising weight

Extra layers
This section isn’t about what clothes you should wear every day of your hike—it’s about what layers you should be carrying in your pack as minimum safety gear in the event that conditions change on the trail. Weather in the mountains can shift quickly, and summit passes can get windy even in good weather, so most routes will benefit from a long-sleeve layer, synthetic insulation, GoreTex rain shell, and gloves/Buff. Add or subtract at your own discretion.
👉🏼 For more guidance on what to wear, check out my outdoor layering guide: How to build an outdoor layering system for backcountry hiking & extreme alpine conditions

Long-sleeve layer
This is your first layer of real warmth and protection if conditions start to shift— in summer, it might be as simple as a lightweight Merino wool top that keeps the sun off and regulates body temp; in cooler weather, opt for something heavier like a fleece quarter-zip.
Best for warmer weather: Arc’teryx Rho LT Zip Neck (women’s) / (men’s)
Best for colder weather: Arc’teryx Kyanite Zip Neck Base Layer Top (women’s) / Rho Heavyweight Zip Neck (men’s)

Synthetic insulation layer
For summer hut-to-huts, synthetic insulation is usually a smarter choice than down— it’ll still keep you warm if it gets wet and it’s totally fine to sweat in it (unlike down, which you really shouldn’t hike in).
If you’re doing a high-altitude hike or expect very cold nighttime conditions in the hut, you might consider also packing a down jacket, but for most trips, one synthetic insulation layer is plenty.
Best overall: Arc’teryx Atom Insulated Hoody (women’s) / (men’s)
Best down layer: Arc’teryx Cerium Hoody (women’s) / (men’s)

GoreTex rain shell layer
A rain jacket is your lightweight shield against wind, storms, and unexpected mountain weather. Even if you don’t wear it every day, this should always be in your pack.
Best overall: Arc’teryx Beta SL (women’s) / (men’s)

Lightweight hiking gloves
Gloves can make a huge difference in your overall comfort if the weather turns! A light fleece or wool pair will keep your fingers warm on exposed ridgelines or breezy mornings, and they weigh basically nothing.
Best overall: Outdoor Research Trail Mix Gloves (women’s) / (men’s)

Waterproof exterior mittens
If there’s any chance of rain or snow on the route, bring a lightweight pair of waterproof shell mittens to layer over your gloves for extra warmth and full weather protection. I’ve used the Outdoor Research Revel Shell Mitts for years, but they appear to’ve been discontinued, so this is a great alternative.
Best overall: Black Diamond Waterproof Overmitts

Buff
This super compact, multi-functional neck tube is an outdoor staple on every trip— use it as a scarf, headband, to block sun and wind, to wipe sweat off your face, to blow your nose… the list is endless and we never go hiking without one!
Best overall: Buff Original
Best for extreme cold: Buff Polar

Beanie
For early starts, breezy passes, or chilly nights in the hut, a warm beanie is an easy add!
Best overall: Arc’teryx Mallow Toque

Personal items
Even though you’ll be staying in a hut, you’re still in the backcountry— which means staying clean, protected, and prepared takes just a little extra thought. Bring what you need to feel comfortable at night, manage your bathroom needs on trail, and stay protected from the elements during long days of hiking. These bits might feel small, but they make a big difference over multiple days.

Toiletries
Toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, deodorant, medications, contact solution… whatever you need to stay clean and comfortable for multiple days on the trail!
Some huts offer showers (especially in the Alps), but we like to carry a few wipes to freshen up at the end of the day, just in case.

Bathroom bits
Even though you’ll have access to hut bathrooms in the mornings and evenings, you’ll be on your own throughout the day. Grab a small pouch or ZipLock and pack toilet paper, hand sanitiser, and a spare 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.
Best overall: Kula Cloth

Sun safety
Sun exposure builds quickly on alpine ridgelines or snowy traverses, so make sure to pack SPF 50+ sunscreen, SPF lip balm, polarised sunglasses, and a wide-brimmed hat or technical cap. On snow, we both wear glacier glasses to protect against UV reflection, and James loves a lightweight SPF sunshirt for extra coverage.
Best glacier glasses: Julbo Vermont
Best sun hat: Arc’teryx Gamma 5-Panel Cap

Camera (optional!)
One woman’s extra is another woman’s essential, and we wouldn’t leave home without a camera! This is what we personally shoot all our mountain photos with:
Best overall: Canon R6 Mark II + 24-105mm lens
Best compact: Fujifilm x100vi
*Overview of our favourite hut-to-hut hiking gear
BACKPACK
⭐️ daypack (25-35L): Osprey Tempest 30 (women’s) / Osprey Talon 33 (men’s)
⭐️ raincover: REI Co-op Duck’s Back Pack Rain Cover
⭐️ summit pack: REI Co-op Flash 18
BOOTS & POLES
⭐️ hiking boots: adidas Terrex Free Hiker 2.0 GTX Hiking Boots (women’s) / (men’s)
⭐️ boot socks: Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew Cushion Socks (women’s) / (men’s)
⭐️ liner socks: Injinji Liner Crew
⭐️ trekking poles: Black Diamond Trail Trekking Poles
SAFETY & NAVIGATION
⭐️ PLB/SOS: Garmin InReach Mini 2
⭐️ GPS: CalTopo app on mobile & Garmin fenix 7X Pro Watch
⭐️ First Aid Kit: Adventure Medical Kits Backpacker
⭐️ headlamp: Black Diamond Spot 400-R
⭐️ powerbank: VRURC Portable Charger with Built-in Cables, 10000mAh
HUT GEAR
⭐️ sleep sack: Sea to Summit Silk + Cotton Liner
⭐️ camp pillow: Sea to Summit Aeros Premium
⭐️ comfortable hut clothes
⭐️ hut shoes: Teva Original
WATER STORAGE & FOOD
⭐️ water filter: Katadyn BeFree 1.0L Water Filter
⭐️ water bottle OR bladder: Nalgene Wide Mouth / Osprey Hydraulics Reservoir 2L
⭐️ electrolytes: Liquid IV
⭐️ snacks (as needed): see my complete guide to backcountry food
EXTRA LAYERS
⭐️ long-sleeve layer: Arc’teryx Rho LT Zip Neck (women’s) / (men’s)
⭐️ synthetic insulation layer: Arc’teryx Atom Insulated Hoody (women’s) / (men’s)
⭐️ GoreTex rain shell layer: Arc’teryx Beta SL (women’s) / (men’s)
⭐️ lightweight hiking gloves: Outdoor Research Trail Mix Gloves (women’s) / (men’s)
⭐️ waterproof exterior mittens: Black Diamond Waterproof Overmitts
⭐️ Buff: Buff Original
⭐️ beanie: Arc’teryx Mallow Toque
PERSONAL ITEMS
⭐️ toiletries
⭐️ bathroom bits
⭐️ Kula Cloth (for women)
⭐️ sun safety: sunscreen, sunnies, sun hat, sun shirt
⭐️ camera: Fujifilm x100vi
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