{"id":2854,"date":"2024-07-25T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-07-25T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/e5-alpenuquerung-packliste\/"},"modified":"2026-04-04T13:33:28","modified_gmt":"2026-04-04T13:33:28","slug":"e5-alpenuquerung-packliste","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/e5-alpine-crossing-packing-list\/","title":{"rendered":"Packing for the E5 Alpine crossing \u2014 My packing list"},"content":{"rendered":"

E5 Alpine Crossing Packing List \u2014 What you really need (and what you don't)<\/h2>\n

In July 2024, I hiked the E5 Alpine crossing from Oberstdorf to Merano. Six days, over 100 kilometers, more than 5,000 meters of elevation gain. And I can tell you: the packing list determines whether this hike becomes the highlight of your year or a painful ordeal.<\/p>\n

During my preparation, I read dozens of packing lists\u2014and almost all of them were either too minimalist (lacking warm clothing for the 3,000-meter passes) or overloaded (who needs three pairs of socks a day?). Here is my field-tested packing list, sorted by category, with the exact weight of each item. My total weight was 8.7 kilograms\u2014light enough for the long climbs, but sufficient for all weather conditions.<\/p>\n

The backpack \u2014 the most important piece of equipment<\/h2>\n

Your backpack needs to have a volume of between 30 and 40 liters. Anything smaller won't do, and anything bigger will tempt you to overpack it. I ran with the Osprey Kestrel 38, which at 1.4 kg is one of the lightest models in this size range. Important: Try on the backpack in the store when it's loaded. The hip belt should sit on your hip bone, not on your stomach. 80 percent of the weight should be on your hips, only 20 percent on your shoulders. If you get shoulder pain after 30 minutes, the backpack is either incorrectly adjusted or the wrong model.<\/p>\n

Alternative recommendations: Deuter Aircontact Lite 40+10 (slightly heavier, but extremely comfortable), Gregory Zulu 35 (lighter, slightly less volume).<\/p>\n

Clothing \u2014 The layering principle<\/h2>\n

On the E5 trail, you'll experience temperatures ranging from 5 to 30 degrees Celsius in a single day. You'll be freezing on the glacier in the morning and sweltering in the valley by midday. The layering principle (base layer, mid layer, outer layer) is not optional\u2014it's essential for survival.<\/p>\n

Base layer (directly on the skin)<\/h3>\n

Merino wool is the magic material. I brought two merino T-shirts (Icebreaker Tech Lite, 150g each) and changed them every evening. Merino wool regulates temperature, wicks away sweat, and doesn't smell even after three days. Synthetic shirts stink like a gym after two hours. The same goes for underwear: merino boxer shorts (two pairs) instead of cotton. Cotton gets wet, doesn't dry, and chafes.<\/p>\n

Mid Layer (Heat)<\/h3>\n

A fleece or a thin down jacket for the huts in the evening and the cold mornings. I had a Rab Microlight Alpine down jacket (380g, pack size about the size of a water bottle). It saved me on the Martin-Busch-Weg trail in 4\u00b0C and wind. An alternative is the Patagonia Nano Puff (synthetic, works even when wet). A thin fleece pullover as a second layer of warmth in extreme cold is a good idea and only weighs 200g.<\/p>\n

Outer Layer (Weather)<\/h3>\n

A waterproof, breathable hardshell jacket is essential. Gore-Tex or equivalent material. I had the Arc'teryx Beta LT (350g) \u2014 expensive, but worth every gram. On the fourth day, it poured for three hours straight. The jacket kept everything out. Rain pants: Optional if you have a hardshell jacket that covers your bottom. I had lightweight Montane Pac Plus Pants with me (just in case, never needed them).<\/p>\n

hiking trousers<\/h3>\n

I only had one pair of hiking pants with zip-off legs. I wore the Fj\u00e4llr\u00e4ven Abisko Midsummer (250g). I wore the long version in the morning and the short version at midday. In the evening at the mountain hut, I wore the long version. No jeans, no denim, no cotton. They don't dry and weigh twice as much when wet.<\/p>\n

Socks \u2014 don't underestimate them<\/h3>\n

Two pairs of merino hiking socks (Smartwool PhD Outdoor Medium Crew). One pair for walking, one for drying. Socks are the most underrated piece of gear. Cheap socks = blisters. Period. I wore the Smartwool socks on all six stages and didn't get a single blister. The investment of \u20ac25 per pair is absolutely worth it.<\/p>\n

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Shoes \u2014 The crucial question<\/h2>\n

Ankle-high hiking boots or lightweight trail runners? E5 hikers argue fiercely about this. My experience: For the standard route (not the glacier variant), lightweight, ankle-high hiking boots of category B\/C are sufficient. I hiked in the Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GTX (420g per shoe, ankle-high, Gore-Tex). They were light enough for long days, but stable enough for scree and snowfields.<\/p>\n

Important: Break in your shoes for at least 50 kilometers BEFORE the E5. New shoes on an Alpine crossing = guaranteed blisters. And under no circumstances should you wear shoes you've never worn in the rain.<\/p>\n

Technology & Photo Equipment<\/h2>\n

This is where it gets interesting for me as a content creator. I obviously have more tech with me than the average hiker:<\/p>\n

| Item | Weight |
\n|\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2013|\u2014\u2014\u2014|
\n| DJI Mini 5 Pro + 3 batteries | 480g |
\n| Sony A7 IV + 16-35mm GM | 1,200g |
\n| DJI Action 6 Pro | 145g |
\n| Smartphone (iPhone 15 Pro) | 187g |
\n| Power bank (20,000 mAh) | 350g |
\n| Charging cable (3x USB-C) | 60g |
\n| Overall technology<\/strong> | 2.422g<\/strong> |<\/p>\n

That's 2.4 kilos just for equipment\u2014a quarter of my total weight. The average hiker can save 1.5 kilos by only using their smartphone for photos. But for me, as a creator, the drone is as essential to the E5 as hiking boots. The aerial shots of the Vernagt reservoir and the Similaunh\u00fctte mountain hut\u2014that's why I hiked the E5.<\/p>\n

If you're only taking one camera: the DJI Mini 5 Pro. 250 grams, fits in a jacket pocket, takes 48MP photos and 4K video. The drone delivered the most epic images at E5\u2014the Sony was for close-ups, but the drone's perspective of the Alpine landscape is unbeatable.<\/p>\n

Hygiene & Other<\/h2>\n

The huts have washrooms, but nothing luxurious. My hygiene list: mini toothbrush, small toothpaste, biodegradable soap (50ml, also serves as shampoo and laundry detergent), SPF 50 sunscreen (absolutely essential!), lip balm with UV protection, blister plasters (Compeed, 6 pieces), first-aid kit (minimal: plasters, ibuprofen, tape, disinfectant spray), headlamp (Petzl Actik Core, 75g), sleeping bag liner (mandatory!), 1-liter water bottle + 1.5-liter hydration bladder. Earplugs for the huts\u2014if someone snores in the 20-bed dormitory, you won't sleep without them.<\/p>\n

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Complete packing list as a table<\/h2>\n

| Category | Item | Weight |
\n|\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2013|\u2014\u2014\u2014\u2013|\u2014\u2014\u2014|
\n| Backpack | Osprey Kestrel 38 | 1,400g |
\n| Clothing | 2x Merino T-shirts | 300g |
\n| | 2x Merino boxer shorts | 120g |
\n| | Down jacket | 380g |
\n| | Hardshell jacket | 350g |
\n| | Zip-off hiking pants | 250g |
\n| | 2x Merino hiking socks | 160g |
\n| | Fleece (thin) | 200g |
\n| | Hat + Buff | 80g |
\n| | Gloves (thin) | 40g |
\n| Shoes | Salomon X Ultra 4 Mid GTX | 840g |
\n| Technical details | See above | 2,422g |
\n| Hygiene | Complete package | 600g |
\n| Other | Sleeping bag liner | 300g |
\n| | Hydration bladder + bottle | 350g |
\n| | Hiking poles (Leki) | 480g |
\nSunglasses | 30g |
\n| | Rain cover for backpack | 50g |
\n| IN TOTAL<\/strong> | | 8.352g<\/strong> |<\/p>\n

What you should NOT take<\/h2>\n

From experience: Laptop (too heavy, no power outlets in huts), jeans or cotton clothing (gets wet, never dries), more than 2 pairs of socks (you wash them in the evening), a book (Kindle or smartphone is enough), towel (huts have towels or take an ultralight microfiber one), a second pair of trousers (one is enough, really), cooking equipment (you eat in the huts).<\/p>\n

FAQ \u2014 E5 Packing List<\/h2>\n

What is the maximum weight my backpack should be?<\/h3>\n

Rule of thumb: a maximum of 20 percent of your body weight. So, for 75 kg, a maximum of 15 kg. A realistic goal for the E5: 8-12 kg. My backpack weighed 8.4 kg without water, 10 kg with a full hydration system. That was very comfortable, even on the long climbs.<\/p>\n

Do I need hiking poles?<\/h3>\n

Yes, highly recommended. Trekking poles reduce the strain on your knees by up to 25 percent on descents and provide stability on snowfields and scree. I had Leki Micro Vario Carbon poles (480g, foldable) and used them on every stage.<\/p>\n

Can I do laundry while traveling?<\/h3>\n

Yes, most mountain huts have sinks. You can quickly wash merino clothing with biodegradable soap and let it dry overnight. Merino dries faster than synthetics.<\/p>\n

Do I need to bring my own sleeping bag liner?<\/h3>\n

Yes, a sleeping bag liner (also called a liner or inlay) is mandatory in all DAV huts. You can also rent one at the hut (5-10 euros), but bringing your own is lighter and more hygienic.<\/p>\n

How do I charge my electronics in the cabins?<\/h3>\n

Most cabins have power outlets in the common areas\u2014but not in the sleeping quarters. A 20,000 mAh power bank will last for 6 days (charging one smartphone, one drone, and one action camera). Recharge the power bank at every cabin where there are available outlets. Tip: Bring a multi-USB cable so you can charge three devices simultaneously.<\/p>\n

About the author:<\/strong> Max Haase is Germany's most influential travel influencer with over 4.2 million followers. He specializes in drone footage and luxury travel. Cooperation requests here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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<\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The ultimate E5 packing list for your Alpine crossing from Oberstdorf to Merano. What really needs to go in your backpack \u2014 from drone and sleeping bag to first-aid kit. Tested on the E5 hike in July 2024.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":3409,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_analytify_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[40,29,30,7],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2854","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-abenteuer","category-backpacking","category-europa","category-travel","has-post-title","has-post-date","has-post-category","has-post-tag","has-post-comment","has-post-author",""],"builder_content":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2854","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2854"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2854\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5397,"href":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2854\/revisions\/5397"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3409"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2854"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2854"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/max-haase.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2854"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}