How heavy should my pack be for a Dolomites hut-to-hut trek?
7–9 kg loaded with 1.5 L of water is normal for a 7-day trek. Above 10 kg you'll regret it by day 3. Strip ruthlessly — every extra kilo is felt on the 1,000 m ascent days.
Gear
Dolomites hut-to-hut packing list (35 L, 7 days)
A tested 35 L packing list for hut-to-hut walking in the Dolomites: clothing, footwear, sleep liner, the via ferrata kit you do (or don't) need.
Updated: 2026-06-01 8 min read
Rifugi have beds, blankets, hot dinner and breakfast. That means your pack stays under 8 kg for a 7-day trip if you pack right. This list is what experienced Dolomites walkers actually carry.
The non-negotiables
Skip nothing on this list. Half of it is required by the rifugi themselves.
- Sleeping-bag liner (sacco lenzuolo) — every CAI hut requires one for hygiene
- B-rated approach boots, broken in (B/C if you'll do via ferrata)
- Waterproof shell jacket — afternoon storms above 2,000 m are weekly
- Warm mid-layer (light puffy or fleece) — huts are 12–15 °C in the evening
- Head-torch — for the Lagazuoi tunnel on AV1, and pre-dawn starts anywhere
- 1.5 L water capacity — refill at every rifugio
- Cash, €300+ per person for a week — cards are unreliable
Clothing for 7 days
The rifugi run laundry sinks. You don't need 7 of anything.
- 2 hiking shirts (one merino, one synthetic)
- 2 pairs hiking socks + 1 spare
- 1 pair hiking trousers (zip-offs are great)
- 1 pair shorts
- 1 set thermal base layer (top + bottom) — also doubles as hut pyjamas
- Underwear x 3
- Light gloves and a beanie — even in August above 2,500 m
- Hut shoes — rifugi provide slip-ons (croc-style) at the door
Via ferrata kit — do you need it?
On Alta Via 1: no. The 'ferrata' sections are essentially walking with the help of a cable on one short pitch.
On Alta Via 2, Alta Via 3, and any variant route that includes a named ferrata: yes — certified lanyard, harness, and helmet. Rent in Cortina, Bressanone or Canazei if you don't want to fly with it.
What to leave at home
Saving 1 kg in your pack makes the steep days noticeably easier.
- Tent — illegal to wild camp in the protected areas, and rifugi are spaced for hut-to-hut
- Stove and cooking kit — every rifugio serves dinner and breakfast
- Multiple books — bring a Kindle or one paperback
- Heavy DSLR with multiple lenses — your phone is fine for share-on-WhatsApp shots
- Towel larger than a small microfibre
FAQ
Do I need a sleeping bag in a rifugio?
No. Rifugi provide blankets or a duvet. You DO need a sleeping-bag liner (a thin cotton or silk sheet sleeping bag) — it's mandatory in every CAI hut for hygiene.
Do I need trekking poles in the Dolomites?
Strongly recommended. The descents are long and steep on scree — poles save your knees. Foldable Z-poles fit inside the pack on cabled sections.
Are crampons or ice axe needed in summer?
No, not on the main Alte Vie between July and September. If you walk in mid-June, ask the hut whether the high passes still hold snow — if yes, microspikes can help.