What actually belongs in your day pack, what you can leave behind, and clever ways to cut weight without ever compromising your safety on the mountain.
What absolutely has to go in your day pack, and what can you safely leave at home? The honest answer: less is almost always more — except for the handful of things that decide between life and death in an emergency.
When hiking, the contents of your backpack determine to a large extent whether the tour becomes an enjoyable nature experience or an ordeal. The most important principle in tour planning is: "travel light and fast." Unnecessary gear weighs you down, drains your energy, and reduces your sure-footedness. At the same time, leaving out life-saving equipment can have fatal consequences in an emergency.
This DOMISPORTS Academy guide shows you, as a beginner, what absolutely belongs in your day pack, how to cleverly cut weight, and why a well-thought-out packing strategy massively boosts your performance on the mountain.
For a regular day tour (without an overnight hut stay or glacier gear), you need a compact day pack. A volume of 18 to a maximum of 25 liters is completely sufficient for this. Anything bigger just tempts you to pack unnecessary things. Besides the backpack itself, the basic gear includes waterproof stuff sacks (dry bags) for clothing and electronics, plus, if needed, an integrated hydration bladder.
Before you pack, you should internalize the principle of multifunctionality. Use items for multiple purposes: your smartphone, combined with a power bank, doubles as a camera, an emergency call device, and a topographic GPS navigation device (e.g., with offline maps). A huge lever for saving energy also lies not in the backpack but on your feet: a scientifically proven rule states that 100 grams less weight on the foot (by choosing sturdy trail running shoes instead of heavy mountain boots) feels equivalent to a full kilogram less on your back.
There are items you might not need for years, but which always belong in the backpack. This includes, without exception, the first-aid kit, upgraded with blister plasters and tape. In case of a sudden weather collapse, an accident, or an unplanned bivy, you must carry an aluminum bivy bag or at least a sturdy polyethylene emergency blanket to avoid fatal hypothermia. Also mandatory are a fully charged smartphone, a small headlamp (in case the tour unexpectedly runs into darkness), and a fully charged power bank. For redundant navigation, an analog topographic map at a scale of 1:25,000 is also recommended.
The weather in the mountains can change extremely fast. Even if you start out in brilliant sunshine down in the valley, a wind- and waterproof rain jacket firmly belongs in your day pack. Many beginners also underestimate the cold at altitude: a light headband or beanie, as well as thin gloves, belong in your standard kit even in high summer, so you don't get chilled at windy passes or during a sudden weather collapse. Sun protection is just as important: high-quality sunglasses and sunscreen (SPF 30+) are mandatory, since UV radiation is significantly elevated in the mountains.
The human body has roughly 50,000 kilocalories stored in fat reserves, but the carbohydrate stores responsible for fast performance are small and get depleted quickly. To prevent a dangerous performance crash ("hunger knock"), pack easily transportable, quickly available energy: granola bars, nuts, trail mix, and dried fruit (like dates) have an excellent weight-to-calorie ratio. To save weight and trash, decant these snacks into lightweight, reusable zip bags beforehand. You also absolutely must plan for at least 2 liters of fluid (water, unsweetened tea, or isotonic diluted juice) for a day tour. Drink small sips preventively about every 15 to 30 minutes, ideally through a hydration bladder with an integrated hose, before you even feel thirsty.
Leaving out emergency gear (like the first-aid kit, bivy bag, or headlamp) purely to save weight is negligent. During an unplanned stay on the mountain (e.g., due to a sprained ankle or loss of orientation), the body cools down rapidly when movement is limited. A bivy bag and insulating clothing then form the last barrier against life-threatening frostbite. Also strictly avoid alcohol during the tour, since it draws fluid from the body and reduces the concentration you urgently need for sure footing.
A genius ultralight trick for true outdoor pros: take a roll of duct tape and wrap about a meter of it tightly around the shaft of your trekking pole or your water bottle. A few zip ties also fit into any tiny gap in your pack. Both weigh practically nothing, but in the event of a gear failure – like a torn backpack buckle, a coming-loose shoe sole, or a broken trekking pole – they work true wonders as a life-saving emergency repair kit on the mountain!
18 to a maximum of 25 liters is completely sufficient for a normal day tour. A bigger pack just tempts you to pack unnecessary things — and every extra kilo noticeably costs you strength and sure-footedness on the mountain.
A first-aid kit, bivy bag or emergency blanket, a fully charged phone with a power bank, and a small headlamp. These are things you might not need for years — until the one day a sprained ankle keeps you stuck on the mountain unplanned.
At least 2 liters, no matter how cool it looks outside. Drink small sips every 15 to 30 minutes before you even feel thirsty — wait too long, and the performance drop from dehydration is hard to claw back.
Cotton absorbs moisture, clings to your body, and cools you down rapidly once it's wet from rain or sweat. Breathable technical clothing, by contrast, wicks moisture away and keeps you warm even after you've been sweating.
Cut duplicates and luxury items, not your emergency gear. One simple lever: 100 grams less on your feet, say by choosing light trail running shoes over heavy mountain boots, feels like a full kilo less in your pack.
Surefootedness & Walking Technique