The essential Items for a Hike

Starting something new can always be a bit challenging and overwhelming at first. Probably the same with some “more demanding” alpine hiking. As you are exposed to the elements and sometimes far away from civilization it is wise to take some preparation. Nothing too fancy, don’t get scared - but some rudimentary things. We get you started

What should you always bring to a hike in the mountains?

A short overview of the most essential items:

• Base Clothing: Clothing would be an entire series of blog posts, there are so many interesting aspects. In general, aim for multiple layers that have specific use such as insulation or protection. Do not go for cotton as it does not dry fast and is quite “cold” when wet. Merino wool is excellent, so are some synthetic materials. I personally prefer merino wool, especially for multi-day outings as the material has a tendency to not develop a stink (at least as fast as synthetic materials). You get great clothing from numerous players, I personally often go with Ortovox, Mammut, Odlo, Icebreaker, Fjällräven and RAB.

• Shoes: Definitively the most essential and important item for pleasant hikes. The most important aspect: fit. Brand and looks are secondary to a great fit. Nowadays good boots are readily available and comfortable with (almost) no break-in period. The type of shoes you need heavily depends on the type of hikes, terrain and season you would like to use them. A good starting point are usually some lighter weight boots (category A or B) that are similar to your trail running shoes. You might even consider trail runners, especially if you stick mainly to trails. I personally love Scarpa shoes for the mountains but also have models from Mammut, La Sportiva and Altra.

• Backpack: A good and comfortable backpack is very important. Try to aim for “as small as possible”, with larger packs you tend to bring to much. For a day hike something between 20-28l is usually sufficient. Look for something with easy access to your liquids. This can be an integrated drink system or easy access to your water bottle (e.g. external pocket or fast access by zipper). Aim for simplicity and low weight. You do not need 10 pockets and fancy features - simplicity is king. I would recommend packs by Ortovox and Mammut.

• Rain Jacket: A must item I always carry on every outing. A rain jacket is very light today and doesn’t add bulk to your pack but it can be of tremendous help and safety. In the mountains you are exposed to the elements and weather can change very fast - be that rain, wind or simply a drop in temperature. Always also consider being stuck or simply requiring substantially more time to return to civilization.
  I would always recommend to get a very high quality rain jacket. There are many models and brands out there producing very good jackets. Aim for something lightweight but still robust. I personally love jackets by Mammut, Arcteryx and RAB offering some excellent choices.

• Sun Protection: The sun is pretty strong these days up high. Definitively bring sun protection in the form of sun glasses, ideally a hat of some form and sun cream with a high protection factor (30 or ideally 50).

• Poles: Poles are optional but can add quite a bit of support and ease the demand on your joints especially on the downhill.

These items should get you started pretty well for your next adventure in the mountains. Ideally you pack some additional items in your backpack to boost the outdoor enjoyment.

What I always bring in my backpack

You should bring the following items in addition to your trips in the outdoors:

• Liquids: Water or some sports drink. Bring enough to drink as it is essential while hiking.

• Snacks: Some snacks should not be missed. Depending on your taste and hunger there are plenty options. I would recommend you start with something easy such as some power bars, nuts or chocolate. Depending on the duration of the hike pack more. Always bring a bit of extra food in case it takes longer than expected.

• First Aid Kit: A simple first aid kit is always important to have (at least one) in the group. Nothing fancy for day hikes but something to take care of blisters, an insect bite or some bruises can never hurt.

• Additional clothing (mainly for warmth): Simple gloves, a beanie and a puffy vest can do wonders if you should witness a sudden temperature drop or intense rain shower (which often brings substantially lower temperatures). These items are not heavy but add a lot of comfort (and safety) should you need them.

• Navigation and Emergency Device: Bring your smartphone (and be aware that you will not always have reception while in the outdoors in Switzerland). Also check our recommendations of some of the best apps for hiking.

Recommendations

To make the start even easier I compiled a list of gear options for your first outdoor adventures (day trips). There are usually multiple items (also in different budget ranges).

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Clothing

• Underwear

  • Odlo “Odlo SUW Boxer“ (Bergzeit CH / Bergzeit EU)

  • Ortovox “120 Comp Light Boxer“ (Bergzeit CH / Bergzeit EU)

• Base Layer (T-Shirt)

  • Ortovox “120 Tec Mountain T-shirt“: Merino-based shirt that is nice to wear next to the skin. (Bergzeit CH / Bergzeit EU)

  • RAB “Pulse“: A synthetic shirt which dries extremly fast (Bergzeit CH / Bergzeit EU).

• Longsleeve

  • RAB “Pulse Hoodie“ (RAB): Great long sleve that is not only very comfortable to wear but also dries quickly and protects you from the sun. The hoodie is a nice “addon”.

  • Ortovox “150 Cool Logo Longsleeve“: Merino-based longsleve in great colors (Bergzeit CH / Bergzeit EU).

• Socks by XSocks

• Long Trousers

  • Ortovox: If you are into more colorful pants check out the Ortovox offerings. High quality pants that are made for the hike (Bergzeit CH / Bergzeit EU).

  • Fjällräven: The nordic-based company offers interesting trousers with some great features. I am a huge fan of the Abisko Midsummer pants, but they also have other options (Bergzeit CH / Bergzeit EU).

• Rain Jacket

  • RAB: RAB is an UK-based outdoor company offering some great appareil for reasonable prices. The jackets offer some excellent protection (Bergzeit CH / Bergzeit EU).

  • Mammut: Several great jackets by Mammut. Usually you pay what you get. To start with you can go with something “on the lower end” knoing that Mammut is never cheap (Bergzeit CH / Bergzeit EU).

Shoes

Recommending shoes is always difficult as fit is key and something very personal. Try the following brands:

• Altra: Trail running shoes but very capabale for day hikes on trails. Extremly comfortable with a wide toe box for maximum freedom (Bergzeit CH / Bergzeit EU).

• Scarpa: Italian built hiking shoes with long tradition. High quality shoes offering some of the best shoes on the market (Bergzeit CH / Bergzeit EU).

• Mammut: Mammut offers very interesting hiking boots with some of the latest technology and manufactoring techniques. Well worth a try. They usually fit a bit wider than the Italian manufacturers. (Bergzeit CH / Bergzeit EU).

Backpack

For day hikes I would recommend something light and simple. I personally would recommend one of the following packs for hkiking in the alps:

• Ortovox “Traverse 30“ (Bergzeit CH / Bergzeit EU): Great daypack with three external pockets and a large main compartement that can not only be accessed via the top but also via a large zipper.

• Mammut “Ducan Spine 28-35“ (): Probably a bit on the larger side for day tours but a very innovative pack from Mammut (Bergzeit CH / Bergzeit EU).

Do you have open questions or gear you think is missing? Let us know in the comments.

Enjoy your next hike.