In this post, I’ll share my best tips for packing light and smart for a multi-day hut-to-hut hike, where sleeping gear isn’t needed – beside a sleeping bag. Find and download the full packing list for hut to hut hikes in the bottom of this post.
When I was in New Zealand, I went on my first solo three-day trek, hiking one of the Great Walks: The Kepler Track. It was such a cool experience! I hiked from hut to hut and, for the first time, had to consider how much food to bring for three days, what cooking gear to take, and the best way to purify water along the way.
Food
In the beginning, it was difficult for me to decide how much food I needed. I was also uncertain about what kinds of food would be nice and easy to cook. I got inspiration from seeing what others were bringing and started getting more creative. Food is very personal, but here’s some of my inspiration:
- Oatmeal for breakfast with fruit and nuts
- Hardboiled eggs
- Pasta with various toppings
- Canned tuna
- Freeze-dried food
Cooking gear
I am happy that I had bought the most basic setup for my multi day hikes.
My kit included:
- Gas (not needed in all huts)
- Stove/Burner (not needed in all huts)
- Pot
- Cutlery
- Matches/Lighter
How to purify water?
All the huts I hiked to had tap water, but it needed to be boiled or purified before drinking. There are several options to make it safe to drink: you can use tablets, boil it, or use a filter. I decided to boil the water to bring fewer items, but after trying some of the other hikers’ water filters, I realized how easy it was to get clean water without having to wait for it to cool. I will definitely buy one for next time.
On all my hut to hut multi-day hikes in New Zealand, I used my 44-liter backpack. I packed my sleeping bag inside to keep everything as tight and compact as possible. With only the most essential cooking equipment and clothing, I had just enough room for multiple days of food.
Check as well these two posts for more inspiration on what to bring for your multi day hike: 7 things I wish I had packed for my first multi-day hike and 5 things I am happy I DID pack for my first multi-day hike
More Packing List inspiration
If you’re curious about what I packed for my entire trip to New Zealand, you can read much more here: Packing list for three months in New Zealand
And if you want the packing list where I managed to pack the lightest, check out my Camino packing list. I hiked for 40 days with only 6-7 kg in my 30-liter backpack – my personal record. The weight depended on how much food I had in the bag and how much clothing I was wearing. I quickly identified the most essential items and optimized everything I was carrying to make it as comfortable as possible for walking such a long distance.
