Know Your Gear
“There's no such thing as bad weather, only unsuitable clothing” -Alfred Wainwright
Athara Adventures loves being in the mountains all year long and in all conditions. Choosing the right gear makes this possible.
We’ve created this list as a starting point for your own packing and preparation based on what has worked well for us. You may already have clothing and items that work well for you on your hikes. If you do and you are comfortable with your gear, stick with it!
Not all hikes require everything itemized below, so when you book with Athara Adventures, we provide a packing list specific to your tour, detailing the required items.
Hiking Packing List
Shoes
Hiking Boots
Your hiking footwear must be waterproof, have a sturdy base with good treads, and provide support to your foot and ankle. In our experience Hoka and Saloman brands fit this description. Hokas tend to have a wider toe box and Salomons tend to have a narrower toe box, although most brands have a variety of options. Make sure that you break in your boots prior to the trip to avoid problems with blisters once the trip begins. This article from Outdoor Gear Lab explains the various factors to consider when buying hiking boots.
Hoka Speed Goat GTX (for those with narrow feet)
Hiking Sandal
Hiking sandals are great for extended treks. They can be used in the event of a river crossing, to give your feet a break from your regular boots, or for hanging around at the end of the evening.
Backpacks
For day hikes we find that Osprey and Fjallraven make excellent smaller packs and we suggest a 20-to-28-liter pack. For the Level 3 section hikes, a 38-to-48-liter pack will hold the extra gear. Make sure that your pack is comfortable and fits you properly by putting weight inside when trying it on. This packfinder tool from Osprey may help you narrow down what works for you.
Day Pack
Multi-day Pack
Trekking Poles
We recommend using trekking poles because they take pressure off your knees when going downhill and they help with stability on broken ground. Here is an excellent article about using trekking poles. Make sure the poles you choose collapse small enough to fit in your suitcase.
Outerwear
The below pieces protect you against the changing elements on the mountain. Even if the weather looks fair, these items should always be in your pack.
Waterproofs
You will need a breathable waterproof mountain jacket with vents or armpit zips made of Gortex or similar. We also suggest waterproof outer pants, especially during the shoulder seasons. Waterproofs not only protect against wet weather, but the mountains are prone to high winds, and wind chill can make the temperature feel colder.
Zpacks Vertice Pant (for warmer weather)
Mid-weight Insulation Layer
Mid-weight insulation layers are designed to provide warmth without being excessively heavy or bulky. They strike a balance between insulation and breathability, allowing you to stay comfortable across a wide range of temperatures. The mid-weight insulation layer is typically worn over a base layer and beneath an outer shell or waterproof layer. This layering system allows you to adjust your clothing to match the temperature and activity level.
Hats
The weather can change quickly in the mountains and temperatures can vary widely, even in the summer. Most heat is lost from the head, then the hands and feet, so keeping those areas warm will keep the core warm as well.
In the summer, it’s important to have a sun hat – on the trails, there are areas with unrelenting sun. Serious sunburn can ruin a trip.
Scarf or Buff
These protect your neck from the sun or bugs. A buff (also known as a neck gaiter) can double as a hat on cool summer mornings in the mountain.
Gloves
Gloves vary in weight and purpose. We look for ones made specifically for hiking and warmth on cool mornings.
Gaiters
Gaiters protect your lower legs and feet by shielding against moisture and stopping mud and debris, such as stones, thorns, or branches from entering your boots.
Hiking Clothes
The temperature in the mountains is highly variable, therefore layering is strongly recommended. Here is a great article on dressing for the mountains. Do not to wear cotton when hiking.
If you are building up your hiking equipment, it is helpful to have some economical options. Keeping an eye on the sales will help keep costs down, and REI has great options for used clothing. We do not recommend purchasing used boots or rain layers as these items are required for your safety on the mountains.
Base Layer
Base layers made from moisture-wicking materials help pull sweat away from your body, allowing it to evaporate, preventing you from getting chilled due to damp clothing. We find merino or similar wool to be the best option unless you find it scratchy. Synthetics also work great for most people. You will likely want to bring both a long- and short-sleeved top.
Icebreaker has different weights depending on the season (100s for warm weather, 200s for shoulder seasons, and 300/400 for colder weather)
Hiking Pants or Shorts
There are a variety of styles for a variety of body types. A good pant or short will be quick-drying, not bulky, and have storage pockets. Depending on the intended season of use, the pants will be lightweight and have moisture-wicking properties.
Fjallraven Abisko Lite Trekking Trousers (warm weather)
Fjallraven Curved Trekking Trousers (for women)
Mountain Hardware Shorts (We also like OR and Patagonia)
Hiking Socks
We recommend wearing medium weight hiking socks. Those prone to blisters may be intersted in Injinji sock liners. Be sure to pack extra socks in a Ziploc or dry sac for your day pack.
Underwear
It is just as important to make sure this layer is moisture-wicking. Merino wool can be a great option for breathable underwear and sports bras. Synthetic undergarments made for sports can also work well. Here’s a helpful article about choosing underwear.
Sleepwear
You may wish to bring an extra baselayer top (and bottom if you sleep cold) that you save only for sleep wear and emergencies. Separate lightweight sleep wear of your choice also works!
Emergency Preparedness
First Aid Kit
A standard outdoor adventure first aid kit is usually sufficient but please ensure it has the following: blister dressings, Hypafix or Leukotape, band-aids, antiseptic wipes, an Ace bandage, Neosporin, tweezers, gauze dressing pads, ibuprofen (or other anti-inflammatory), acetaminophen (or other fever reducer), and first-aid scissors. You can also create your own and carry it in a Ziploc bag, which makes the items easy to find.
Sit Pad
A sit pad is an insulated piece of foam that serves a few purposes. We require this inexpensive piece of equipment for our longer hikes because if a situation arises where you must sit and wait for a pickup, it’s beneficial to keep your clothing as warm and dry as possible. Significant amounts of body heat can be lost through the ground. Sit pads provide a nice place to rest during non-emergencies as well, and we like to use them inside our pack to give the bag structure.
Bivy Sack
Although bivy sacks are often thought of as gear for serious climbers and mountaineers, they are an important addition to your pack, even for day hikes. Bivy bags are part of your emergency kit and are useful if there is an injury on the mountain that requires rescue. This article provides additional information about bivy bags and how to use them.
Food and Hydration
Food
Breakfast, lunch and dinner are provided unless specifically noted on your tour’s itinerary, but please pack trail snacks of your choice.
Hydration
We carry 2 water bottles that hold between 550 and 750 ml each. In warmer weather and on long hikes we suggest bringing electrolytes.
Water Filtration System
There are times in the backcountry where refilling your water bottle from a natural water source is the only option, so it's important to be prepared with a filtration system. There are many different hiking and backpacking water bottles and filtration systems available. No matter which one you choose, make sure you are comfortable with it before bringing it on a tour.
Additional Gear
Bag Liners and Dry Sacks
Inclement weather can make your reserve layers and electronics wet. To keep everything dry we line the inside of our pack with a plastic bag and put our extra layers and electronics in Ziploc bags or dry sacks.
Headlamp
Check out this article on the best headlamps and this one on how to choose. We find that Black Diamond and Petzl make quality headlamps. When purchasing your headlamp, be sure to buy extra batteries (if not rechargeable). The Petzl Iko Core is a favorite for its light weight and ability to be a mini lantern.
Pocket Knife
A Swiss Army Knife or decent equivalent works well on trail. You don’t need a lot of bells and whistles, just the basics.
Hiking Towel
Made of absorbent microfiber fabric, hiking towels soak up 4 times its weight in water, which can be wrung out easily to dry fast. In certain remote locations towels are not provided, so an ultra-light, quick drying hiking towel is suggested.
Sleeping Bag Liner
This optional piece of equipment is based on personal preference. It’s common in some parts of Europe to sleep with only a comforter or top blanket and not a sheet. A light weight sleeping bag liner is a nice option for people who prefer to sleep with a sheet. It can also increase the insulation inside a bivy bag in the event of an emergency.
Leave No Trace
Athara Adventures follows the principles of Leave No Trace. Simply put, we aim to leave a minimum impact on our environment. A lightweight trowel can help meet LNT standards when nature calls out on the trail. Carrying a small Ziplock bag for other waste allows each person to pack out what they pack in.
Quart-sized Ziplock bag (for miscellaneous trash)
Personal Items
Toiletries
You may choose to pack the following items for your comfort:
Hydrocortisone cream
SPF lipbalm
Insect repellent
Sunscreen
Shampoo / conditioner
Soap or bodywash
Eco friendly soap for washing clothes on-trail (for section hike tours)
Travel Plug Adapter
International electrical outlets have different shapes than plugs in North America, so bring a travel plug adapter. Most electronics such as phones have a voltage converter built in to keep it from blowing a fuse or frying your device, but we suggest not bringing small appliances such as a hairdryer or curling/flat iron because the voltage in Europe is not the same as in North America.
Photo by Ravindra Rawat