What should you take with you on a day trip to the mountains?

Packing for a mountain hike isn’t about taking everything with you – it’s about taking the right things and nothing more. A day trip in Sälenfjällen requires considerably less than a multi-day hike, but considerably more than a walk in the woods back home, and it’s in this middle ground that most people pack incorrectly. This list is for the rucksack you take with you when you leave the cottage for the day, in summer or winter. If you live in one of the holiday cottages to rent in Sälen Having a place to dry your things also makes packing in the morning a breeze: everything is dry and ready.

An important clarification: this guide applies to day trip rucksack. If you’re packing for the whole trip – clothes for the week, things to take in the car and what’s already in the house – you’ll find the list in our Packing list for the whole winter week. The two complement each other.

Short answer: how to pack for a mountain hike – clothes, food, a map and a margin

Four categories cover most things. Clothes that can cope with it being colder, wetter and windier than the forecast suggested. Food and drink that will last longer than the trip is planned to take. Navigation that works when your phone doesn’t. And a margin – that little bit extra that turns an unexpected hour in the rain from a crisis into a mere inconvenience. A day rucksack of twenty to thirty litres is more than enough for most trips, and a rule of thumb is that if the rucksack feels heavy in the garage, it will feel twice as heavy after three hours. Pack heavy items close to your back and lighter ones on the outside, and make sure the things you need most often – water, a hat, a map – are on top.

Layer upon layer – how to dress for the mountains

The principle is simple and applies all year round. Start with a base layer that wicks away moisture – wool or synthetic, never cotton, which gets cold as soon as it gets wet. Then an insulating mid-layer, such as a fleece or a thin down waistcoat, which you can take off when you’re working your way uphill. On the outside, a shell that keeps out wind and rain. With three layers, you can regulate your body heat whilst walking rather than guessing in the morning, and it’s precisely this regulation that ensures you neither sweat excessively nor feel the cold during breaks. Always pack an extra layer in your rucksack to put on when you stop. A hat and gloves belong in your rucksack even in July – it can get chilly quickly on the bare mountain, especially when it’s windy.

In the rucksack: food, water and energy

Expect to eat more than you would at home and to get hungry sooner. Bring a proper packed lunch – sandwiches, a flask with something hot, fruit – plus something to nibble on between breaks. Nuts, dried fruit, chocolate or energy bars are all good options, and taking an extra portion on top of what you’ve planned is the cheapest way to give yourself some leeway if the trip takes longer than expected. Water is more important than most people realise: in the open mountains there’s no shade, and the air is dry in both the summer heat and the winter cold. One litre per person per half-day is a reasonable starting point, more if it’s hot. In winter, drinks should be carried in a thermos flask, as water bottles will freeze.

Maps, phones and sat-nav when there’s no signal

Mobile coverage in Sälenfjällen is good around the facilities but considerably poorer in valleys and behind mountain ridges. You should therefore always carry a paper map of the area and a compass – they weigh next to nothing and work when other devices don’t. Download the map area offline onto your phone before you set off, take a power bank with you, and keep your phone warm in an inside pocket on cold days, as the battery will otherwise lose charge quickly. Learn to read the trail markings: look for the next marker before you leave the previous one. You can find more information on planning your route, timing and navigation in the guide on how to planning your first mountain hike. A head torch belongs in your rucksack all year round.

Extra for the winter trip

Winter brings a few new things and makes others more important. Windproof outerwear becomes essential rather than just a nice-to-have, and mittens beat gloves when it’s windy. Bring spare mittens – wet mittens are the most common reason for a winter trip to be cut short. Gaiters keep snow out of your boots, a buff or face mask protects against the wind chill, and ski goggles or sunglasses are needed to protect against both the sun and blowing snow. Lay down a seat mat, as otherwise breaks in the snow will be short and cold. And adjust your schedule: daylight hours are short, and the wind chill means that a break costs you more body heat than in summer. Our guide to chilly winds and mountain weather explains why there is such a big difference between the thermometer and what we feel.

Extra when you’re travelling with children or a dog

When travelling with children, there’s one simple rule: everything gets wet, and everything takes longer. Pack a full change of clothes for each child, rainwear whatever the forecast, more food than you think you’ll need, and child-sized plasters – grazes put an end to more family trips than the weather does. A seat mat and a small blanket make breaks twice as enjoyable. If you’re taking the dog along, it’ll need its own water and a collapsible bowl, paw protectors or paw balm, an extra lead and dog waste bags. Also bear in mind that on a hot day, the dog will get thirsty long before you do – and it can’t tell you. A couple of spare pairs of socks for each person, whatever their age, are the single most appreciated item in the whole pack.

What you can hire locally instead of buying

You don’t need to own mountaineering kit to go on a mountain hike. At Sälen, you can hire most things on a seasonal basis – from poles and snowshoes to sledges and rucksacks – which is particularly useful for children who grow out of everything in a year. Our overview of hire equipment in Sälen shows what’s available in the area. What’s difficult to borrow, however, are the right shoes and the right outerwear: shoes need to be broken in and the fit must be right, so these two items are worth investing in even if you only go a few times a year. Check availability well in advance during the school holidays, as demand is at its highest then.

Summary – a checklist for packing for a mountain hike

Here’s how to pack for a day’s hike in the mountains:

• Clothes: woollen or synthetic base layers, a mid-layer, a windproof and waterproof outer layer, an extra layer for breaks, a hat and mittens.
• Food and drink: a packed lunch plus an extra portion, a flask, and at least one litre of water per person per half-day.
• Navigation: paper map, compass, offline map on your mobile, power bank, head torch.
• Winter: extra gloves, scarves, a neck warmer, glasses, a seat cover – and a shorter schedule.
• Children and dogs: a full change of clothes, plasters, dog water, paw pads, dog waste bags.
• Always: a first-aid kit, sun cream, a fully charged mobile phone and a message to someone telling them where you’re going.

A properly packed rucksack is something you never notice when everything’s going well – but it saves the day when it isn’t.