Patagonia Packing Essentials
- borderlesskate
- Oct 9, 2023
- 2 min read
Planning a hiking trip in Patagonia and not sure what to bring? Look no further! I've compiled a check-list for you as well as a rough estimate of costs if you need to purchase things. I did 10 weeks in South America in a carry on and backpack so space was crucial and I've boiled it down to the essentials. In the table below you'll find the items that I brought as well as my thoughts.
NOTE: I stayed in hostels and didn't do the full backpacking hike of the W. If you are backpacking and setting up your own camp then this will not be an exhaustive list, and you will need more gear.
ADDITIONAL NOTE: I have provided links to a lot of products below. NONE of them are affiliate links and I do not receive any commission from any clicks or purchases.
SECTION OVERVIEW
GEAR
GEAR | # BROUGHT | NOTES |
|---|---|---|
Backpack | 1 | I brought an Osprey 32L backpack. After doing a lot of research I found that the things I really wanted in my backpack were: 1) hip straps to distribute the weight 2) a water bladder (ie- CamelBak) 3) lots of pockets for organizing. All of these ended up being super crucial for me during the trip. There are so many backpacks on the market, if you're looking for one (they aren't cheap), I recommend making a list of your must-haves (pockets/hip straps, etc) to help narrow down options. My model is now discontinued but here is their new version. |
FEET
GEAR | # BROUGHT | NOTES |
|---|---|---|
Hiking boots | 1 | I highly recommend investing in a good pair of sturdy hiking boots. There are 2 main options: high-top (above ankles) and non-high-top (more like your standard sneaker fit). I loved the high-top because it protected my ankles more when hiking on uneven terrain. My shoes were similar to these. Mine were also water proof (Gore-Tex) which I thought was helpful, but if you walk through a river or get them really wet they will take extra time to dry. |
Camp shoes | 1 | Like crocs or sandals. I didn't bring any slip on shoes and I regretted it. They're not only important for after hiking when you want to go to dinner and not re-tie your hiking shoes, but also when showering in communal or camp showers at the refugios/campsites |
Wool socks | 1 - 2 | The number you want to bring will depend on your personal preference and space in your suitcase. I only brought one good pair of SmartWool socks and wore them for 9 days straight. You can also bring thicker ones if you are going to spend more time camping, these will keep your feet warmer at night. |
UPPER BODY
GEAR | # BROUGHT | NOTES |
|---|---|---|
Long sleeve sun shirt, or t-shirt | 1 | I wore Ansilta. This shirt was super lightweight but had long sleeves and SPF to protect from the UV. I wore it for every hike and very rarely felt too warm. Some friends preferred short sleeve athletic shirts as their main top layer, it's up to you. |
Warm base layer | 1 | I brought a SmartWool base layer shirt too. I must admit I didn't wear it as frequently, but there were a few hikes were I put it on because it was windy and cold, and always had it in my backpack. It was critical the night we were camping - I would have frozen without it and all of my layers. |
Midweight fleece or pullover | 1 | I brought an athletic pullover (I think from Costco, but similar to this). Really great for layering. I wore it at the start of most hikes until I warmed up and then just tied it around my waist. |
Puffy jacket | 1 | This is a crucial layer. I brought a Patagonia puffer that could roll up to be pretty small. It was important on rainy/cold hikes and in the evenings. Also crucial for the camping nights. |
Sports bra | 1 - 2 | For those who wear them - definitely bring a few sports bras! |
LOWER BODY
GEAR | # BROUGHT | NOTES |
|---|---|---|
Hiking pants | 1 | I wore these everyday. They're super important for hiking and I highly recommend them over leggings because they protect against mosquito bites (which can bite right through leggings). I got a pair on sale at REI for $50. Here are some example pants. |
Leggings (athletic) | 1 | Great to bring to wear around camp or layer at night |
Leggings (base layer) | 1 | I brought a pair of SmartWool leggings. I found them really important at night at the campsite and once or twice across the trip when I was feeling chilly. I think this could be left out if you wanted, if you run warm, or if you aren't doing any nights camping |
Underwear | up to you | Obviously! Avoid cotton. |
HEAD AND HANDS
GEAR | # BROUGHT | NOTES |
|---|---|---|
Hat or ear warmer | 1 | I only used SmartWool ear warmers a few times when it was really windy and stormy but I was glad to have them. I could also probably have gotten by without them. That said, they were really small and didn't take up much space, so it doesn't hurt to have them. |
Baseball cap | 1 | I initially didn't bring one and regretted it. I ended up buying one in El Chaltén and thankfully a few people had 2 so I could borrow until then. But definitely a must-have. |
Sunglasses | 1 | These are for sure good to have |
Headlamp/flashlight | 1 | I didn't bring a headlight, but I brought a back-up charger with a strong flashlight that I found useful in the dark. This was more useful than my phone flashlight because the beam was really powerful and could illuminate a lot more space in front of and around me. But you can make do with just a phone flashlight if you want. |
MISCELLANEOUS
GEAR | # BROUGHT | NOTES |
|---|---|---|
Water bottle | 1 | Crucial!! I had a CamelBak bladder and also brought a 1 L Nalgene |
Nuun / salt tabs | 1 tube | I brought a tube of Nuun and some salt tabs. I thought these were super important to have during and after the hikes for a little electrolyte boost |
Carabiners | 2 | I LOVE having my carabiners attached to my backpack. I would clip all sorts of things to them from my backup charger to my hat to my water bottle |
HAVE, BUT BUY THERE
Sweet treats | up to you | Having some gummies or chocolate to snack on on the trail was always an energy booster! |
NOTE: I (and all of us) wore the same outfit every day. It's worth investing in good clothes for quality, and clothes built specifically for hiking tend to get less smelly. When looking at warm layers, choose wool.
GEAR COST ESTIMATE
This is the total additional cost I'd estimate if you own ZERO hiking gear and bought it all new. You can always borrow from people if you don't want to invest so much or don't think you'll wear items often. If you think you'll be hiking again or are an outdoor enthusiast (like skier) and have multiple uses for these items I highly recommend making the investment.
GEAR | COST | NOTES |
|---|---|---|
Backpack | $200 | Good hiking backpacks are expensive, but I absolutely adore mine and have used it on so many other trips |
Hiking boots | $150 - $200 | Good hiking shoes are also expensive, but these are a MUST if you are going to do a lot of hiking. The last thing you want are shoes that are unstable, break, slip, or give you blisters. |
Camp shoes | $20 | Flip flops, crocs, any cheap slip on shoe |
Wool socks | $25 | per pair. $50 if you bring 2. Seems expensive for a pair of socks, but so worth it. Your socks are what will determine if you end up with nasty blisters or have happy feet at the end of a hike! |
Long sleeve sun shirt, or t-shirt | $60 | Mine was $50 from a great brand and I have worn it all the time and well past just Patagonia trekking. I recommend investing. |
Warm base layer​ | $50 | $110 when not on sale. I got my SmartWool layer on sale at REI. |
Midweight fleece or pullover | $35 | Any athletic pullover or fleece will do |
Puffy jacket | $220 | Again, I'd argue it's worth the investment in a really good one. Mine was from Patagonia and I wear it all the time in non-hiking situations |
Hiking pants | $50 | Found mine on sale but can be up to $100+ depending on brand and style |
Leggings (base layer) | $100 | These don't come cheap. I found it worth the investment because I will use them for skiing as well. If you aren't a big hiker or skier maybe pass on buying these. If you don't want to buy these but are worried about getting cold you could always bring a pair of fleece lined leggings from Amazon |
TOTAL | $760 | ​ |
NOTES:
These are cost estimates based on high quality gear from companies like Patagonia, Columbia, etc. You can probably find cheaper if you wanted.
I didn't include costs for basics like athletic leggings, underwear, sports bras etc. I made the assumption that these are things that people already own and won't need to purchase.
I love REI and think it's a great place to go to get your gear. The staff is also super knowledgable if you have any questions about anything.
Disclaimer: The opinions stated in this article are my own and do not reflect those of my employer in any way.