Packing List Multi-Day Hiking: Ultralight & Complete

Creating the right packing list for a multi-day hike is an art: too much means knee pain and slow progress, too little means freezing and hunger. This guide shows you how ultralight hikers pack — and what really needs to go in your backpack.

The Right Target Weight

Rule of thumb: Your backpack weight should be max. 20% of your body weight — at 75kg that's max. 15kg. Ultralight hikers pack under 10kg (without water and food, even under 5kg base weight).

Clothing & Layering — The Onion Principle

3 layers, no more:

• Base Layer: Merino Long Sleeve Shirt 150–200 g/m² — not synthetic, no cotton
• Mid Layer (Insulation): Fleece jacket or lightweight down vest
• Outer Layer: Lightweight hardshell jacket (waterproof, packable)

Underwear: Merino boxer shorts + Merino socks — wear for 3 days without odor. This saves 2–3 change sets.

Sleep & Bivy

• Sleeping Bag: Down Sleeping Bag matching the season (comfort temperature +5 to −5°C for summer/fall)
• Sleeping Mat: Inflatable (R-value >3 for fall), 300–500g
• Tent/Tarp: UL tent from 1kg or tarp 300g (good weather only)

Food & Water

• Calorie-dense food: nuts, energy bars, freeze-dried meals
• Plan: 500–600 kcal/hour during climbs, 2,500–3,500 kcal/day total
• Water: 0.5L/hour at normal intensity — water filter for longer tours

Safety & Navigation

• Emergency blanket (always with you — weighs 50g)
• First Aid Kit (ultralight, 80–100g)
• Offline map (Maps.me or Komoot offline)
• Power bank (10,000 mAh for 5+ days)

Complete Ultralight Checklist (3–5 Days)