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 7.4 lbs (3.4 kg), and the total weight came in at 10.3 lb (4.7 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. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 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. | ||
| 20.6 | 0.58 | |||
| BASE WEIGHT | TOTAL | 7.4 lbs | 3.4 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 | 10.3 lb | 4.7 kg | ||
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