Gear for the AV2.
I hiked Italy’s Alta Via 1 and 2 back-to-back over 10 days in mid-September, 2019. The conditions I encountered were typical for that time of year, with temps ranging from low 20’s C to just below just below freezing.
Overall I was happy with my gear selections for the Alta Vias. I was never uncomfortable at any stage during the hike (s), and felt prepared for any meteorological scenario that may have occurred. I could have got by with my Katabatic Palisade 30 quilt instead of the Alsek 22, however, due to the fact that I was still had a month of Alps hiking to go, the latter was definitely the right overall option for the trip.
My base weight for the Alta Via 1 and 2 was 8.2 lbs (3.7 kg), and the total weight came in at 11.1 lb (5 kg).
(Note: For planning information on the AV2, see A Quick and Dirty Guide to the Alta Via 2).
| ITEM | WT. (OZ) | SUB (oz) | SUB (kg) | COMMENTS |
| BACKPACK | ||||
| MLD Burn DCF | 16 | UL, frameless, slim profile – I’ve been using different incarnations of the Burn for over a decade / I’ve had the DCF model for the past two years – so far, so good. | ||
| Pack Liner (Trash Compactor Bag) | 2 | Cheap & effective | ||
| 18 | 0.51 | |||
| SHELTER | ||||
| Tarptent Aeon Li | 16.8 | Uber-lite, holds up well in a storm when pitched low (108cm), and very roomy for something which weighs around a pound. | ||
| Stakes – Easton “Nail” models (6) | 1.7 | |||
| 18.5 | 0.52 | |||
| SLEEPING SYSTEM | ||||
| Pad – Thermarest NeoAir XLite (Sm) | 8 | Very comfy / Doubles as makeshift framesheet for pack / Put feet on backpack when sleeping / See 20,000 + mile review. | ||
| Quilt – Katabatic Alsek 22 (Long / 900fp) | 22.2 | Second season using the Alsek / Conservatively rated 22°F / More than 900 nights using Katabatic quilts since 2011. | ||
| 30.2 | 0.86 | |||
| KITCHEN | ||||
| LokSak 20×12 (Food Bag) | 1.2 | |||
| Food Vessel: Reconstituted sealable granola pouch. | 0.3 | I ate virtually all of my breakfasts and lunches at the huts (and would often get a sandwich or two to go for dinners), so I only used this a few times for muesli and powdered milk. | ||
| Plastic spoon | 0.2 | Picked this up in a Greek restaurant last year. Can’t believe it hasn’t snapped. | ||
| SmartWater Bottles 1 LT (2) | 2.6 | |||
| 4.3 | 0.12 | |||
| FIRST AID / HYGIENE | ||||
| Sunscreen (repackaged in tiny btle.) | ||||
| Hand Sanitizer (repackaged in dropper btle.) | It’s been 20 years since I’ve had a case of the trotskies in the backcountry. I think a big reason is my diligent use of hand sanitizer. | |||
| Aquamira (repackaged in dropper btles.) | Purification method of choice since 2007. | |||
| Mini Toothbrush | ||||
| Toothpaste (mini tube) | ||||
| Dental Floss | Doubles as sewing thread | |||
| Antiseptic Wipes (2) | Clean cuts / wounds | |||
| Gauze | ||||
| Triple Antibiotic Cream (tiny tube) | ||||
| 3M Micropore Medical Tape | Breathable, paper tape / Adheres well. | |||
| Ibuprofun (6) | ||||
| Sewing Needle | One armed blind people can sew better than I can. | |||
| Tenacious Tape, Mini Tube Super Glue (repairs) | To compensate for lack of sewing skills. | |||
| 4 | 0.11 | |||
| CLOTHES | ||||
| Rain Pants – Montbell Versalite | 3.2 | Very light, water resistant, but not the most durable. Fine for on-trail hiking, care needed when heading off-trail/bushwhacking. | ||
| Rain Jacket – Montbell Torrent Flier | 6.5 | Newest incarnation of the Torrent Flier. A couple of ounces lighter than the older model. Ideal for on-trail – better than the Versalite. For off-trail I prefer the heavier 3-Layer Montbell Storm Cruiser. | ||
| Insulation – Montbell Chameece Inner Jacket (No longer made/Replaced by Montbell Chameece Jacket) | 8.8 | I’ve owned this fleece for the last four years / Ideal summer insulation layer for the Alps– not too heavy, performs well when damp, takes the edge off chilly mornings. | ||
| Extra Socks – Darn Tough Hiker Micro Crew | 2.6 | |||
| Buff (Original Polyester) | 1.4 | Beanie, neck/face protection, condensation wipe, convenience store holdups if low on cash / I came late to the Buff party, but I’ve got to say I’m impressed. | ||
| Montbell Chameece Liner gloves | 0.9 | Almost four years of regular use and still going strong / Easily the best liner gloves I’ve used, and it’s not even close. | ||
| 23.4 | 0.66 | |||
| MISCELLANEOUS | ||||
| Phone – Samsung Galaxy S7 | 5.3 | Unlocked / Photos, videos, journalling, backup light, GPS / Battery starting to go / Need to upgrade next year. | ||
| Camera – Sony RX100 3 + Neoprene camera case | 11.3 | After some years of only using my phone, I bit the photography bullet last year and upgraded for the Scotland/Norway trip. Happy with the results so far. | ||
| Stuff sacks – HMG Cuben Fiber (2) | 2.4 | |||
| Montbell Power Head Lamp | 1.9 | Four settings, good battery life | 200 Lumens – 90 m / Double click feature to prevent it accidentally turning on / I’ve been using this head lamp for four years and it’s still going strong. | ||
| Montbell Trail Wallet (orange model) | 0.5 | Love this little wallet. Use it both on trail and off. Upgrade from the plastic card holder. | ||
| Swiss Army Classic | 1.3 | For a long time I really only used the tweezers and scissors, but in recent years I’ve carried more cheese and veggies on shorter hikes, meaning that I now use the knife as much, or more than the other two features. | ||
| Compass – Suunto M-3G Global Pro | 1.6 | Adjustable declination and globally balanced needle (more responsive than my old Suunto M-2). | ||
| Small pen | 0.3 | Notes on maps / journal. | ||
| Deuce of Spades potty trowel | 0.6 | |||
| Map Bag – Quart Size Ziploc | 0.2 | Keeps maps clean, dry & organized. | ||
| Montbell Alpine Carbon Pole Cam Lock | 7.1 | Upgrade after many years of using the Fizans, due to the fact that I’ve had the twist-lock mechanism fail on me a couple of times in extreme conditions / Cam (flip) lock easier to handle, more secure, and worth the extra ounce and a half. | ||
| 32.5 | 0.92 | |||
| BASE WEIGHT | TOTAL | 8.2 lb | 3.7 kg | |
| ITEMS WORN | ||||
| Shorts – Patagonia Baggies 7″ | 7.9 | Hiking shorts of choice since 2014/15. 7″ are long enough that they can be used on trail, but still look respectable around town. See Review. | ||
| Base layer – Montbell Cool Hoodie | 6.6 | This was the first sun hoodie I’ve ever tried and I have to say I loved it. Light, airy, dries quickly, the kangaroo pouch was handy for snacks/phone/map, and when combined with the baseball cap, it provided great sun protection. | ||
| Hat – CDT Baseball Cap | 3.2 | |||
| Shoes – Brooks Cascadia 13 | 23.6 | I’ve worn every model of the Cascadias since the 3’s, which came out more than a decade ago. Since that time I’ve tried Altras, La Sportivas and a couple of other different brands, but I always come back to the Cascadias. | ||
| Socks – REI Merino Wool liners | 1.6 | Still my favourite liner socks, though the current models aren’t as durable as the pre-2013 versions. | ||
| Dirty Girl Gaiters | 1.2 | Handy for keeping out dirt and mud. I’ve been rocking DG’s since 2007. | ||
| Timex Ironman Watch | 1.4 | Cheap, durable, light, multiple alarms | ||
| Sunglasses | 0.8 | Polarized lenses, 100% UV protection, wrap around. | ||
| 46.3 | 1.31 | |||
| TOTAL WEIGHT | 11.1 lb | 5 kg | ||
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Hi Cam- I am curious about your map usage vs. GPS usage on a typical trip? I am a huge fan of maps, but am increasingly aware of the amount of GPS users the world has. Just wondering?
Thanks
Ted
Hi Ted,
I still tend to use map and compass more than 95% of the time. Though in recent years I’ve started to upload GPX/KML files to Gaia for occasional use as a navigational backup while out on trail.
Cheers,
Cam
Hey Cam
I was wondering how you liked that Aeon li tent?how did it hold up? How was the set up.
Hey Glen,
I like it a lot. This was the second long trip I used it on this year. In the Alps there were a few nights when the wind and rain were really coming in, and it held up well (on these occasions I’ll pitch it as low as possible i.e. around 107 cm). I wrote a review of the Aeon Li earlier this year: https://www.thehikinglife.com/2019/02/gear-review-tarptent-aeon-li/
Cheers,
Cam
Cam,
I’ve noticed you have never listed any battery bank in any of your gear lists to my knowledge. Power banks have seem to become an essential backpacking item for many. In all your years of hiking, granted they are still relatively “new” technology, have you ever considered carrying one? Do you ever carry a seperate camera or do you take photos with your smartphone? Just curious because cell phone usage has definitely increased on trail with all the very resourceful apps available nowadays. Has your cell phone usage increased over the years on trail? How do you manage battery power?
Hi Timothy,
I actually picked up a couple of Anker Battery banks last year (10,000 and Astro 6700), and used one on the latter hikes of the Alps trip, where I wasn’t able to recharge in the huts because they were closed for the season. I suspect going forward I’ll probably use them a little more on longer trips. In regard to managing battery power, it has never been too much of an issue for me as I still use map and compass for navigation the majority of the time.
As for a dedicated camera, I bought the Sony RX100 3 last year and have used it on a few trips since then, including all the Alps hikes this year. I forgot to include it in the original list (now amended). So far I’ve been pretty happy with the results; definitely a step up from the phone in regard to photo quality.
Cheers,
Cam
You did both AV’s in 10 days?? Wow, congrats!
Just show how much experience I lacked when I did AV1 only in 11 days and ended up with ITBS.
Hi, thanks for your information and lists. I notice you typically carry either the Patagonia R1 Hoody or the Montbell Chameece jacket (no hood). As a hoody fan I’m curious the decision process of which one to take in what appear to be similar temperature range trips. Thanks.
Hi Terry,
On recent European trips, I’ve spent quite a bit of time in towns between hikes, and the Chameece jacket is a little bit more “urban-friendly” than my decade-old R1 Hoody. That said, I’ll probably pick up a new R1 in the coming months to replace my old one, as it remains one of my favourite layers (Note: Apart from the hood/balaclava, I’ve found the difference in warmth between the two items to be negligible).
Cheers,
Cam
Good point. Thanks for your time. One more question. I’ve noticed you switched to the DCF Burn and wondered if you think it is worth it for the added water resistance or any other reason. It looks like you still use a liner even in the dcf?
I think the DCF version is worth it if you do a lot of hiking in typically wet environments. Yes, I normally still use a liner, because while the material is 100% waterproof, due to the stitching/seams, if you’re hiking in an extended downpour water can still seep in (Note: Though significantly less than with the 210D Ripstop nylon model).
Hi, thanks for this! Is it worth bringing a water filter? I see the rifugi sell water – could you just filter their tap water and save from purchasing?
Hi Jen,
It’s not a bad idea to bring along some means of water purification – be it drops, tablets, or a lightweight filter. In regard to the tap water, in some (though not all) of the refugios water supplies are limited, so they don’t permit non-guests to fill their bottles. I suspect if you are staying overnight it’s probably Ok to do so.
Cheers,
Cam
Hello Cam,
Looks like you made it w/o a freestanding tent. Did you have any issue finding places you can use tent stakes? I’m trying to decide whether to take the pole kit for my Duplex.
Regards.
KAT
Hey Keith,
It was never an issue, although there were two or three high camps where I had to anchor with rocks (of which there were plenty).
Cheers,
Cam
I saw the pictures with the rocks. 🙂 Thank you for the info and these 3 posts, also. Very interesting and useful.
Hello !
I’m doing the Alta Via 1 in 2 weeks from now, hoping to do it in 7 days. I wonder if my EE Revelation 30°F quilt will be enough if it’s freezing outside my tent. Never used it below 10°C. I guess that if i’m sleeping with all my layers it might be ok.
Did you choose your campsites to be as low in elevation as possible to avoid cold nights or did you prefer sleeping high to get the best views in the morning ?
Cheers,
Jeremy
Hey Jeremy,
Thanks for the message.
Re: EE 30°Quilt – You’ll likely be fine at lower altitude forested environments, but may need to put on some layers on if you’re camping higher up.
Re: Campsite Selection – On the AV1 and AV2 I mostly camped at scenic, out-of-the-way locations. The temperature was never a consideration, though if a big storm front was rolling through, I would generally be on the lookout for a more sheltered site at which to set up (as I would on any hike).
All the best on your trip.
Cheers,
Cam
Hi Cam. I am heading to the Dolomites in a month. Although I will be doing Alta Via 4 your write ups for 1 & 2 have been very helpful for general info and ideas. I see you carried the Mont Bell Versalite rain pants. Do you think rain pants are necessary for a trip to the Dolomites? I currently have a pair of heavier rain pants (~11oz). Weight isn’t a huge concern as I will be staying in the refugios but if I didn’t have to carry them I’d prefer not to. I’ll of course check the weather closer to when I leave but if it looks good I was thinking I could either get a way with cheap/light wind pants or just my hiking pants as if I do get wet I’ll be able to dry out overnight in the refugios.
Hi Chris,
I wouldn’t say that lightweight rain pants such as the Versalites were essential for the Dolomites, but for a relatively small weight penalty, they’re nice to have when the weather turns cold, wet, and windy.
Cheers,
Cam
Greta article – super helpful. I see that you used liner gloves only – Any need for either more warmth or water-proofing?
Hi Cam,
I noticed that you managed to keep your base weight very light by only having one item per layer and not bringing any spare shirts or any other apparel or so. How did you manage to freshen up your clothes?
This is actually a really useful observation. I wonder if the key is to pack only fast-drying clothes, to wash one item at a time, and to choose the moment of washing to coincide with a weather window that allows that item to not be necessary until it has dried. In this scenario, if the weather stays damp, the hiker stays _non-fresh_.
How have you approached the problem since you posted this question?
Hi Cam, I am doing the alta via 1 soon. I read somewhere that the water in the huts is non-potable due to it being like distilled water, without any minerals and we need ‘rehydration tabs’ and not necessarily because it’s dirty. However, there seems to be contradicting info regarding this because some people also say that simply purifying the water is enough and you don’t have to have another tablet to ‘add minerals’ to it. At this point we are absolutely confused and don’t understand whether we need electrolyte additions or purifying tabs to be able to drink the water (or both?). Would be very happy to have you opinion!