My friend and I were saying that we packed too many warm clothes when we got to Bolzano. Every day it was 30 degrees and we were walking around with rain jackets and warm jumpers. We were laughing when we got up to the mountain in Tschagerjoch when we were putting on the warm clothes. Nothing worse than being cold and having no warm clothes. We were happy we brought the extra jumper.
If you are looking for a hut to hut hike in the Dolomites, have a look here. If you have your trip already planned and are looking what to bring on your next hike, have a look at the below list:
What to wear
- T-shirts – I like to get woolen t-shirts that protect your shoulders from the sun and don’t smell after a day of hiking.
- Sunglasses
- Walking socks: I like the Falke hiking socks. They are made from Merino wool. Merino wool keeps you warm in winter and cool in summer.
- A hat to protect your head from the sun.
- Good walking shoes – Go to a shop in your area where they can advise you what walking shoes to buy. They are usually a bit more expensive, but if you have walking shoes that fit right and keep your feet warm and dry it makes a big difference. My shoes are from a brand called Meindl. The shoes I have are category A/B and they were great!
For in the hut
- Fast drying towel – there are no towels in the huts, so you will have to bring a towel yourself.
- (Cotton) sleeping bag liner – In some huts it is mandatory to have a sleeping bag liner as the bedding in the huts are not washed regularly. Sometimes you will have to inform the hut at check-in that you have a sleeping bag liner with you.
- Crocs or flipflops – When you enter the hut you will have to take your shoes off and place them on the rack in the dry room. Also, the shower area is shared, so make sure to bring slippers.
- Kindle/ book.
- A small (card) game.
When walking
- Camelback waterbag (2 Litres).
- Sunscreen for your face/ body/ lip balm. Don’t forget to reapply during your walk.
- Walking sticks – I didn’t have walking sticks, but there were places where they would have been great to have.
- Map of the area with all the walking routes. I know we rely on Google maps a lot, but in the mountains you won’t be able to use Google maps.
- Maps.Me – An offline app where you can see the walking route. I must say the app doesn’t always show all the trail numbers, but in combination with a map of the area you will get to your next hut safely.
- A backpack that you can clip around your hips. This will take the pressure of your shoulders. It also provides space between your back and the backpack, so there is airflow. I have an Osprey backpack.
- Biscuits/ bread and peanut butter – You pass huts that serve lunch and dinner, but it is great to have food with you when you get hungry.
Cash
When confirming the booking for the huts in the Dolomites you will have to pay a deposit. When you check-out you will pay for the rest (stay/ drinks/food ). Not all huts have a card machine, so please bring enough cash with you (about 90 Euro per person per day).