The W hike in Torres del Paine National Park is truly indescribable. You have to experience it for yourself to understand the true beauty of this pristine, remote slice of earth. While some may find stories of extreme winds and volatile weather to be intimidating, others will likely be equally overwhelmed by the task of packing all the necessities for a 4-5 night trip in a single backpack. This packing list is here to help.
A few notes:
This packing list is intended for people hiking and backpacking the full W trek. My list is made for 5 nights of camping, though many people do the trek in 4 nights. I don’t think there will a big difference in what you’ll need to pack, but use your judgement based on how long you plan to be in the park. I have also included links where relevant to the gear I used (and liked) on the trip, in hopes that this will make it simpler for you to find good quality products quickly.
If you don’t have time for the full 4-5 day trek, or aren’t keen on carrying all your possessions on your back, It is certainly possible to see many of the highlights of this trek by basing out of one or two different locations and doing day hikes. For more details about our full hike, including pictures of the stunning scenery we saw along the way, check out this post.
If you prefer not to camp, or don’t have the necessary equipment to do so, you can still do the full trek, either renting equipment as you go, or staying in Refugios, basic dorm style lodges that offer a bed and meals.
Ok… on to the list!
Clothing
Tops:
- 1 long sleeve thermal base layer (mid-weight)
- 1 fleece or sweater pullover layer
- 2-3 short sleeve dri fit t-shirts
- 1 cotton tank top (to sleep in)
Bottoms:
- 1 pair waterproof hiking pants
- 1 pair thermal leggings
- Nike Lady Tempo Running Shorts – Medium – Black
1 pair hiking or running shorts
1 pair hiking or running shortsOuterwear:
- 1 insulated jacket
- 1 water proof/wind resistant jacket
Shoes & Accessories:
- 3 pair hiking socks
- 6 pair underwear
- 3 sports bras
- 1 beanie hat or over the ears headband
- 1 all-in one neck warmer
- 1 pair water resistant gloves
- 1 pair hiking boots or shoes (I am seriously obsessed with my Lowa Renegade boots. They give me much needed ankle support and are unbelievably comfortable and durable).
- 1 pair flip flops or lightweight sandals (for camp and showering)
- 1 handkerchief
- 1 quick drying camp towel
- 1 travel size hair brush
- Sunglasses
- Camera (I used my iPhone, but Matt packed his Canon DSLR to capture the incredible scenery)
Gear
- 50L backpacking backpack (note: we traveled in a group of 4 and my husband carried some larger items, – his pack was 65L. I am a big fan of my Osprey Viva, and you can’t go wrong with the Osprey Aura either )
- 3-season tent
- Sleeping pad (I recommend an inflatable one to save on space and weight)
- 3-season sleeping bag
- Trekking poles
- 1 rain cover for your pack
- 1 external charger w/ USB adapter
- Headlamp
- Water bottle
- Camelbak bladder
- Jetboil camp stove
- 1 camping mug
- Eating utensil(s) (spork or fork and spoon)
Toiletries/First Aid/Medicine
Note: do not rely on campsites to have quality first aid supplies. While you can find more at campsites on the outskirts of the park (ie. Torres Central), at many along the way you are hard pressed to find even a good quality bandaid. Obviously, keeping your pack light is important, but make sure you have at least a few emergency medical supplies with you.
- Sunscreen
- Chapstick (with SPF)
- Travel Size Shampoo/Conditioner
- 2 bars travel size soap or body wash
- Travel size toothpaste
- Toothbrush
- Band-aids, Bandages & Gauze
- Antiseptic cleanser
- Triple Antibiotic Cream (neosporin)
- Ibuprofen, Aleve, etc. (combine your pills into one small bottle to save on space)
- Rx of Cipro (antibiotic for foodborne illness aka Montezuma’s revenge (hopefully precautionary, but after getting sick from a bad salad in Peru several years ago, I always like to carry this just to be safe)
Organization
Most trekking packs are lacking when it comes to internal organization. To keep organized along the way, I used a combination of dry sacks, zip lock baggies and small travel pouches to keep things in order.
Food
This can be much more personalized, and will depend on which campsites you choose. We cooked our own breakfasts and dinners 4 out of 5 days, but were required to purchase meals at Refugio Chileno, which does not allow camp stoves. Note that when you arrive at the park, you will be required to watch a video about safety, and be given a map that indicates where camp stoves are allowed. This map makes it appear that only a couple sites allow cooking. In fact, most of the campsites allow cooking using camp stoves, but you are required to use them in designated areas. It is possible to cook all your own meals, or virtually none of them if you plan accordingly. Most refugios also have restaurants, serving breakfast and dinner, and providing boxed lunches if you order ahead of time. Do keep in mind that the portions aren’t huge, and you will pay a pretty penny due to the logistical challenges of bringing supplies into the park.
With that said, here is what we packed (per person) for 5 nights on the trail:
- 3 dehydrated breakfasts (try Mountain House Biscuits n’ Gravy, Breakfast Skillet, or Granola from Backpacker’s Pantry)
- 5 dehydrated dinners (we only ended up eating 4 – our favorites include Mountain House Mac n’ Cheese, Lasagna and Chicken Fried Rice or Hawaiian Style Rice, Pad Thai and Risotto with Chicken from Backpacker’s Pantry)
- 5 servings of trail mix
- 3 CLIF bars
- 3 Nature Valley granola bars
- 1 ziplock bag of dark chocolate covered coffee beans
- 4 packets powdered lemonade
- 5 starbucks VIA packets
- 5 bags herbal tea
- 1 jar peanut butter (shared between 4 people)
- 1 packet wheat tortillas (shared between 4 people)
So, there you have it. Somehow, everything pictured and described above squeezed into my pack and was carried across this beautiful landscape without too much difficulty. I hope this list is helpful to others embarking on the W or other similar treks!