The Dolomites are located in the northeastern Italy and one of the most beautiful mountain ranges in the world. They are the perfect place to hike for week or two which is exactly why I planned a trip there. The Dolomites may not be as challenging as past treks to Everest Base Camp or climbing Kilimanjaro but they are just as beautiful. The food, the people and the region of Italy is not to be missed.

Book Your Trip to the Dolomites

Your packing list for the Dolomites can vary greatly depending on the time of year. When I hiked the Dolomites in Septmeber I encountered sunny days, rain, and even snow. I needed to be able to be ready for any type of weather. However, if you’re hiking in the Dolomites in the summer you can probably leave the warm clothes at home. Shoulder season hikes will want to be prepared for anything. That is why my

Packing List for Hiking the Dolomites

Jump to the end to see my complete Dolomites packing list or browse by section below.

Which Backpack is Best for the Dolomites?

I carry the 28 liter pack or the 38 liter backpack from Osprey. It has enough room for a jacket, a lightweight long-sleeve shirt, GoPro, Camera, and backup batteries. The larger 38 liter pack is another great option if you need additional space. Just don’t over pack your day pack.

28 liters was plenty of space for my daily hiking gear and 3 liters of water.

Dolomites Camera Gear

This is going to vary for each person but the key is to pack light. I switched from my Nikon DSLR to a lighter Sony A7ii. Every gram matters when you’re trekking all day and the Sony A7 series offers a lighter camera that shoots amazing images and video (full Sony A7ii review coming soon).

You will need backup batteries and you will want to pack light. A small point-n-shoot, light DSLR, or a GoPro are great. Small or light tripods are also great additions. Below you will see the camera gear you will want to consider for your hike in the Dolomites.

Solar Power and Portable Batteries

You will be able to charge up every evening at the refugios in the Dolomites but if you want to charge up while you’re trekking a solar panel pack is a nice option.  Solar chargers are also a great option during treks. Strap the power cells to your daypack and charge your gear in your tent in the evenings. I recommend Voltaic solar chargers for trekking. You can get away with the 4W charging system but the 6W Solar Charger will charge more cameras and pack a bigger battery.

The Canon s120 takes great photos and is a perfect lightweight solution. The Sony a7ii is an amazing camera and is also lightweight compared to most DSLRs. It has a small body and is easy to carry.

The Peak Design CapturePRO Camera Clip proved to be one of the best items I packed. You can use it to attach your camera to your shoulder strap while you’re trekking. This is great for when you aren’t shooting or when you need to use trekking poles on the trail.

Best Hiking Boots for Hiking in the Dolomites

Before arriving in the Dolomites you should break in your hiking boots for weeks during your training. You don’t want to develop blisters on the trail and want to be sure they are comfortable. Look for lightweight and comfortable hiking boots that offer a lot of stability and comfort. My boot of choice: Scarpa Men’s Kailash GTX Hiking Boot

Scarpa Boots were recommended to me by a friend who makes 30, 40, and 50 day treks. I had zero blisters when wearing one or two pairs of socks on the trek.

You can also wear lighter boots and even low-top trekking shoes if you prefer. As I mentioned I had to hike in snow and rain so I preferred the full protection of my Scarpa boots. Your boot options may change if you hike in the summer or winter.

Hiking Socks

Comfortable hiking socks are key to a comfortable and enjoyable climb. Pack merino wool socks. They reduce odor and can be worn over and over again. I carried one pair of heavy merino wool socks, 2 medium weight hiking socks, and 1 light weight pair of socks.

Best trekking socks: Icebreakers | Smartwool | Patagonia

Trekking Shirts for the Dolomites

A shirt you can wear everyday while hiking in the Dolomites is important. Cotton t-shirts are not good for hiking. Investing in merino wool shirts is a great idea. It is possible to do laundry in some hotels and refugios in the Dolomites but you might not have enough time to wash clothes while you’re trekking from one place to the next. It depends on your hiking itinerary which is why I recommending packing shirts you can wear over and over again.

Just like merino wool hiking socks the shirts will last for the duration of the trek. I packed two Icebreaker Tech T Lite shirts , one long sleeve shirt, and a merino wool sweatshirt.

Hiking Pants for the Dolomites

Dolomites hiking gear may vary slightly based on the time of year. Shorts may be acceptable on the first day or two if you easily get hot while hiking. So The key is to layer up so you can take off what you need as you hike comfortably throughout the day.

Hiking pants are great but running tights and shorts make a nice combo.

Jackets for hiking the Dolomites

A good jacket is essential for hiking in the Dolomites. I carried a lightweight down jacket (seen below) and a rain jacket to keep in my backpack.

Evening and Sleeping Gear

I spent nights in hotels and refugios while I was hiking in the Dolomites. Refugios are laid back and casual. You are often sharing rooms and eating with other hikers in the common areas. Comfortable shoes or slippers is important when you are resting up for the next days hike.

My nightly gear: Long sleeve merino wool shirt, wool long underwear, warm socks, and a sweatshirt.

Long Underwear, Base Layers, and Rain Gear

This gear is similar to what you may wear in the refugios. The difference for me as the long underwear or base layers I wore during the day were lighter than what I wore in the evenings at the tea house.