Trail tested
photography
DJI Mini 4 Pro
Compact drone I carried on Alta Via 1 — useful for trail photography when you accept the weight and battery trade-offs.
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Gear
Gear for real hikes
Practical reviews, buying guides, packing advice, and kit from real trips — labelled Used by Lee, Trail tested, or Researched so you can tell which is which.
- Trail testedLee used it on real hikes — not just spec sheets.
- Clearly labelledUsed by Lee, Trail tested, or Researched.
- Always updatedRefreshed when products or routes change.
What do you need help with?
Start from the job — not a giant gear catalogue.
Pack for a trekBuild a complete list for hut-to-hut or camping days.Choose a backpackCapacity, fit and load for multi-day hiking.Stay warm & dryLayers, rain shells and insulation systems.Choose footwearBoots, trail shoes and hiking socks.Food & hydrationWater treatment, electrolytes and trail fuel.First aid & foot careBlister care, sun protection and emergency kit.Power & navigationWatches, maps, power banks and charging.Camping & sleepShelter and sleep systems when you camp.
Browse gear
The complete hiking system — packs, wear, food, safety and tech.
Pack & carryBackpacks, daypacks, dry bags and packing accessories.Shelter & sleepTents, bags, pads and sleep system essentials.ClothingLayers, rainwear, underwear, gloves and headwear.FootwearBoots, trail shoes, socks, gaiters and traction.Trail equipmentTrekking poles, headlamps and walking accessories.Food & hydrationWater systems, electrolytes, trail nutrition and camp cooking.Safety & healthFirst aid, blister care, sun/insect protection and hygiene packing.Navigation & electronicsGPS, maps, power banks, phones and charging.Photography & videoCameras, drones and content kit for the trail.Small essentialsOrganisation, repair, travel and packing items — including documents guidance.
Explore categories
Published category hubs with guides and products.
Backpacks & carry
Choosing, fitting and packing your hiking backpack.
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Shelter & camping
Tents, tarps and camp shelter systems.
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Sleep systems
Sleeping bags, quilts and pads for nights outside.
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Footwear
Boots, trail shoes and socks for the miles ahead.
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Clothing & layers
Base layers, insulation, pants and gloves.
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Hiking equipment
Poles, headlamps and trail accessories.
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Camp kitchen
Stoves, cookware and food storage.
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Food & hydration
Trail food, electrolytes, snacks and water systems — editorial, not grocery shopping.
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Navigation & electronics
GPS, satellite comms and power on the trail.
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Safety & health
First aid, blister care, sunscreen, insect protection and hygiene essentials.
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Accessories
Organisation, dry bags and small essentials.
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Photography & video
Cameras, drones and content gear on trail.
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Food & hydration
Fuel and water for long days — editorial packing guidance, not a supermarket.
Safety & small essentials
First aid, foot care, sun protection and the small items easy to forget — packing-first, not marketing-first.
Start here
Educational guides before you compare products.
35+ Hiking Essentials Checklist: Your Ultimate GuideDiscover hiking essentials for all types of hikes. Get tailored tips for women and men. Ensure safety, comfort, and unforgettable memories.
Best Hiking Gloves: Lightweight Waterproof by RoleBest hiking gloves: picks tested on trail. Sealskinz for wet EU days, liners for cool mornings, winter shells — researched waterproof roles.
Trail-tested gear
Products I have personally carried, worn or tested on trail.
Trail tested
nutrition
Katadyn BeFree
Soft-bottle filter I carry when refills between huts or camps are limited on the trail.
Trail tested
backpacks
Decathlon MT500 Air 50+10 L
The pack I actually carried on Alta Via 1. Ventilated back panel and expandable capacity for a week of hut food and layers.
Trail tested
footwear
La Sportiva TXS GTX
My trail footwear on Alta Via 1. GTX membrane for wet Dolomite mornings without the bulk of a full boot.
Trail tested
clothing
Rab Microlight Down
Packable down jacket I carried on Alta Via 1 for hut evenings and exposed cols.
Trail tested
trekking poles
NatureHike Carbon Trekking Poles
Lightweight carbon trekking poles I used on Alta Via 1 — worth the weight on long Dolomite days.
Trail tested
accessories
Sea to Summit Airlite Towel
Ultralight pack towel I carried on Alta Via 1 for hut showers and quick dry-offs.
Trail tested
clothing
Jack Wolfskin Glastal Zip-Off Pants
Zip-off hiking pants I wore on Alta Via 1. Versatile for changing temperatures between cols and valleys.
Latest reviews
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DJI Mini 4 ProCompact drone I carried on Alta Via 1 — useful for trail photography when you accept the weight and battery trade-offs.
Katadyn BeFreeSoft-bottle filter I carry when refills between huts or camps are limited on the trail.
Decathlon MT500 Air 50+10 LThe pack I actually carried on Alta Via 1. Ventilated back panel and expandable capacity for a week of hut food and layers.
Popular buying guides
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Best Hiking Gloves: Lightweight Waterproof by Role
Best Hiking Rain Jacket: Shells by Role & Weather
Best Hiking Daypacks: 18–30L Roles & Picks
Best Hiking Watch: GPS for Maps, Battery & Trail Days
Best Hiking & Trekking Backpacks: Hut-to-Hut & Multi-Day Picks
Best Hiking Tents | Solo, Value, Storm & Ultralight
My gear
The kit I actually hike with
First-hand product notes, trek packing lists and setups from real adventures.
See my gearTrek packing lists
What I packed on specific hikes — with links to full guides.
Packing list
Alta Via 1
Hut-to-hut Dolomites kit for an 8-day / 7-night solo hike — no tent or stove, liner required in rifugi.
Backpack & organization
Decathlon MT500 Air 50+10 LMain pack — ventilation and adjustable fit- Pack rain cover
- Packing cubes & dry bags (clothes, tech, food, laundry)
- Clothesline & pegs
Clothing
- Breathable hiking shirt (worn + spare)
Jack Wolfskin Glastal zip-off pants- Merino socks (2–3 pairs)
- Merino long-sleeve base layer
- Fleece / midlayer
Rab Microlight Down jacket- Lightweight rain jacket
- Rain pants (optional — check forecast)
- Hut loungewear (shorts or joggers + sleep tee)
- Buff, beanie & light gloves
Footwear
La Sportiva TXS GTX hiking shoesWaterproof, broken in — worn on trail- Flip-flops or camp shoes for huts
Trail essentials
- Sleeping bag liner (required in most huts)
- Earplugs & sleep mask
NatureHike carbon trekking poles
Petzl Actik Core headlamp
Sea to Summit Airlite towel- Sunglasses & protective case
- First-aid kit (blister care, ibuprofen, electrolytes)
- Sunscreen & lip balm with SPF
- Trail map / offline maps backup
Water & food
- 2 L hydration bladder
Katadyn BeFree 1 L soft bottle + filter- Trail mix, protein bars & electrolyte tablets
- Emergency snacks between huts
Camera & tech
iPhone 15 (main camera)
DJI Mini 4 Pro2 spare drone batteries
DJI Mini 4 Pro ND filters- Lightweight tripod / selfie stick
Garmin Fenix 6X ProRoute tracking on trail- Power bank (10–20K mAh) + EU multi-port charger
Kindle e-reader
Jabra earbuds (hut evenings)
Toiletries & documents
- Travel toothbrush, toothpaste, deodorant, soap
- Wet wipes & hand sanitizer
- Cash (€50–100 for huts)
- ID / passport & insurance details
Packing list
Tour du Mont Blanc
11-day self-guided TMB hut kit — liner, layers, and navigation for France, Italy, and Switzerland.
Backpack & organization
Osprey Exos 5835–45 L effective load for hut TMB- Pack rain cover
- Packing cubes & dry bags
- Dirty-laundry sack
Clothing
- Moisture-wicking tees (2–3)
- Fleece or light insulated layer
- Trekking trousers / zip-off pants
Arc'teryx Beta AR shell- Waterproof over-trousers
- Merino socks (3–4 pairs)
- Warm hat, thin gloves, buff
Footwear
- Broken-in hiking shoes or boots
- Camp sandals for refuges
- Blister kit
Trail essentials
- Sleeping bag liner (required in refuges)
- Earplugs & eye mask
Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Z poles- Petzl Actik Core headlamp
- First-aid kit
- Sunscreen & sunglasses
Water & food
- 2 L water capacity
- Katadyn BeFree filter
- Trail lunch & snacks between refuges
Camera & tech
Garmin Fenix 7Offline maps for variants — 6X Pro also works- Phone with offline GPX/maps
- Power bank & EU charger
Toiletries & documents
- Microfibre towel
- Cash (EUR/CHF) for refuges
- Passport / ID & insurance
Packing list
Laugavegur
FI hut trek kit — sleeping bag, river-crossing shoes, and full food carry for 55 km in Iceland.
Backpack & organization
- Osprey Exos 5840–60 L with food for 4 days
- Pack rain cover & dry bags
Clothing
- Merino base layers — no cotton
- Fleece or light down mid-layer
- Arc'teryx Beta AR shell & rain pants
- Gloves and beanie — even in July
- Quick-dry hiking pants and shirts
Footwear
Waterproof hiking bootsSupportive mid for wet hut stages- Sandals / neoprene shoes for river crossings
- Gaiters (optional)
Trail essentials
- Sleeping bag — huts provide bunks only
- Sleeping bag liner
- Earplugs
- Petzl Actik Core headlampRequired — no hut electricity
- Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Z poles
Water & food
- Katadyn BeFree filter1 L soft-bottle filter for topping up between highland huts.
- Freeze-dried meals + snacks for 4 days
- Stove and fuel for hut kitchens
Camera & tech
- Garmin Fenix 7
- Power bank — no hut charging
- Phone with offline maps
Toiletries & documents
- Cash (ISK) for showers and snacks
- Toiletries & wet wipes
Packing list
Fimmvörðuháls
Volcanic pass kit — waterproof layers, poles, and a compact overnight pack if you split Skógar–Þórsmörk with a hut.
Backpack & organization
- Osprey Exos 5830–45 L for a long day or one hut night
- Pack rain cover & dry bags
Clothing
- Merino base layers — no cotton
- Fleece or light down mid-layer
- Arc'teryx Beta AR shell & rain pantsPass weather turns fast — full waterproofs
- Gloves and beanie — even in July
- Quick-dry hiking pants and shirts
Footwear
- Waterproof hiking bootsSupportive mid for wet volcanic sections
- Gaiters (optional) for ash and mud
Trail essentials
- Sleeping bag — hut bunks only if overnighting
- Sleeping bag liner
- Petzl Actik Core headlamp
- Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Z polesSteep ascents/descents and loose volcanic grit
Water & food
- Katadyn BeFree filter
- Day food + snacks (or one hut night of meals)
Camera & tech
- Garmin Fenix 7
- Power bank
- Phone with offline maps
Packing list
Otter Trail
Five-day coastal hut trek — stove, sleeping bag, dry bags, and river-crossing kit.
Backpack & organization
- Osprey Exos 5840–55 L with rain cover
- Dry bags for river crossings
Clothing
- Moisture-wicking base layers
- Light fleece or puffy
- Arc'teryx Beta AR rain shell
- Hat, sunscreen, sunglasses
Footwear
- Waterproof trail bootsRiver mouths and mud — Moab 3 for new buyers; keep Moab 2 if already broken in
- Camp sandals for wet river mouths
- Extra socks
Trail essentials
- Sleeping bag — mattresses only in huts
- Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Z poles
- Petzl Actik Core headlamp
- Stove, fuel, cook set
- First-aid kit with rehydration salts
Water & food
- Katadyn BeFree filter
- All meals for 5 days — huts have no meals
- 2 L+ water capacity
Camera & tech
- Garmin Fenix 7
- Phone & power bank
Toiletries & documents
- SANParks permit paperwork
- Rubbish bags — pack out all waste
Backpack & organization
Osprey Atmos AG 6550–65 L for tent + food — carried on Skye- Pack rain cover & dry bags
Clothing
- Arc'teryx Beta AR shell & rain pants
- Merino base layers
- Fleece or insulated layer
- Gaiters for bog sections
- Midge head net
Footwear
- Waterproof hiking boots — broken in
- Merino socks (3–4 pairs)
- Blister kit & knee brace
Trail essentials
Water & food
- Stove, fuel, cook set
- 5–6 days food or resupply plan
- Water bottles 2–3 L capacity
Camera & tech
- Garmin Fenix 7
- Phone with offline AllTrails GPX
- Power bank
Toiletries & documents
- Midge repellent
- Map & compass backup
Packing list
Hornstrandir
Roadless Westfjords wild-camping kit — windproof tent, cold-rated sleep system, poles, and full food carry.
Backpack & organization
- Osprey Atmos AG 6555–65 L for tent + 5 days food
- Pack rain cover & dry bags
Clothing
- Arc'teryx Beta AR shell & rain pants
- Merino base layers — no cotton
- Fleece or insulated mid-layer
- Gloves, beanie, spare warm socks
- Quick-dry hiking pants and shirts
Footwear
Merrell Moab 2 Mid WPAnkle support for bog, ice and rocky descents- Gaiters for mud
- Merino socks (3–4 pairs)
Trail essentials
Nemo Hornet Elite tentWindproof pitch — stakes matter at Hornvík- Cold-rated sleeping bag & insulated pad
- Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Z polesSnow patches, river wades, steep descents
- Petzl Actik Core headlamp
Water & food
- Katadyn BeFree filter
- Stove, fuel, cook set
- 5 days dehydrated meals + snacks — zero resupply
Camera & tech
- Garmin Fenix 7Offline route before the boat drop — no cell coverage
- Phone with offline maps
- Power bank
Toiletries & documents
- First-aid & blister kit
- Travel insurance covering backcountry hiking
- Cash for Hesteyri café on exit day
Packing list
Inca Trail
Guided Classic Inca Trail kit — daypack for trail days, porter duffel for camp kit, poles and rain shell for Dead Woman's Pass.
Backpack & organization
Kelty Redwing 50Use as 20–30 L daypack on trail — porters take the duffel- Porter duffel ≤7 kg — confirm operator limit
- Pack rain cover & dry bags
Clothing
- Arc'teryx Beta AR shellCloud-forest rain is common
- Merino/synthetic base layers — no cotton
- Fleece mid-layer for camp evenings
- Light insulated jacket for cold nights
- Warm hat & gloves — Wiñay Wayna camps can freeze
Footwear
- Merrell Moab 2 MidBroken-in waterproof boots for thousands of stone steps
- 4 pairs hiking socks
- Blister kit
Trail essentials
- Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Z polesEssential on Dead Woman's Pass descent
- Petzl Actik Core headlampPre-dawn start to Inti Punku
- Sleeping bag (~–5°C) — confirm if operator rents
- Sleeping bag liner
Water & food
- 2 L daypack water capacity
- Snacks for trail days — meals cooked by the team
- Insect repellent (lower elevations day 1)
Camera & tech
- Phone / camera
- Power bank
- Passport — checked at KM 82 and on trail
Toiletries & documents
- Sun protection — hat, SPF 50+, sunglasses
- Wet wipes & hand sanitiser
- Operator permit confirmation (passport-perfect name)
Packing list
Bernina Trek
Seven-day Via Bernina SAC hut traverse — liner, poles, and layers for Swiss glacier country.
Backpack & organization
- Osprey Exos 5830–40 L hut-to-hut — pack light
- Dry bag for liner + hut clothes
Clothing
- Moisture-wicking shirts (2)
- Light fleece + insulating layer
- Arc'teryx Beta AR waterproof shell
- Sun hat, sunglasses, SPF 50
- Thin gloves for windy cols
Footwear
- Broken-in boots or trail shoes
- Camp sandals for huts
- Blister kit
Trail essentials
- Sleeping bag liner — required in SAC dorms
- Earplugs & eye mask
- Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Z polesEssential on Bernina descents
- Petzl Actik Core headlamp
Water & food
- Katadyn BeFree filter
- 2 L+ water capacity
- Electrolyte tablets
- Trail snacks between huts
Camera & tech
- Garmin Fenix 7
- Phone with offline GPX before Madulain
- Power bank
Toiletries & documents
- CHF cash for half-board huts
- Quick-dry towel & wet wipes