BEFORE THE ALPINE TOUR: CHOOSE THE RIGHT BACKPACK

If you want to make your way over impassable steep slopes, icy glaciers and gaping crevasses to the longed-for summit, you should consider in advance exactly what equipment is required for such an undertaking. This is why choosing the right rucksack plays an enormously important role, especially for alpine tours. The deuter alpine touring rucksacks are the ideal companions here, as they are perfectly adapted to the needs of mountaineers in the high mountains and combine high carrying comfort with optimized weight and a secure fit.

Our tip: Are you unsure about the right backpack size? As a guideline, a 35-liter rucksack packed with a maximum of 10 kg of equipment is completely sufficient for a two-day high-altitude tour.

The most important equipment for your next high-altitude tour at a glance

• Indispensable: the basics
• The right clothing
• Important climbing equipment for alpine tours
• Must-haves for overnight stays in mountain huts or bivouacs

THESE BASICS SHOULD DEFINITELY BE ON YOUR PACKING LIST FOR YOUR NEXT ALPINE TOUR

The basic equipment that you should definitely have in your rucksack for a high-altitude tour is not too different from the items that should definitely be on your packing list for a normal multi-day hike. In addition to sufficient provisions, make sure you have enough water with you.

Our tip: With a deuter hydration bladder, you save a lot of space in your backpack and don't even have to stop to drink. We explain how to pack your rucksack correctly in a separate article.

The basics for your alpine tour:

WELL EQUIPPED FOR THE SUMMIT: THE RIGHT CLOTHING FOR ALPINE TOURS

Long live the onion principle! Especially on strenuous climbing tours in the high mountains, the individual layers of clothing ensure that you can react flexibly to the external weather conditions and arrive at the summit warm and dry. Even if you will of course be wearing most of the items of clothing listed here directly on your body and not in your rucksack, it is worth taking another look at this packing list to make sure you don't leave your hat, scarf or gloves at home.

Our tip: Don't underestimate the importance of glacier goggles for your alpine tour! If you don't wear adequate protection, the strong UV radiation near the summit can lead to corneal burns.

The right clothing for your alpine tour:

SAFETY FIRST: YOU SHOULD HAVE THIS CLIMBING EQUIPMENT WITH YOU ON YOUR ALPINE TOUR

Challenging climbing passages along glacier fields and steep rock faces are an integral part of every alpine tour. The following applies here: the safety of the climbers has top priority! You should therefore double-check that you really have the climbing equipment on the packing list below.

Our tip: Make a conscious effort to put together the safety equipment you need for your alpine tour, because a lot doesn't always help a lot. In fact, a backpack that is too full only slows you down unnecessarily and can itself become a safety risk. As a rule of thumb, you should only take equipment with you that you really know how to use correctly in an emergency.

Important climbing equipment for alpine tours:

HUT OR BIVOUAC? YOUR PACKING LIST FOR OVERNIGHT STAYS DURING THE ALPINE TOUR

Whether for a short two-day alpine tour or for longer climbing trips in the mountains, you should make sure that you have packed the most important basic equipment for a night in the mountains so that you can recover at night from the exertions of the day. Of course, it also depends on whether you want to spend your nights in a mountain hut or in a bivouac.

Our tip: If your rucksack allows it in terms of space and weight, you should always be prepared for a night in a bivouac, even if you have only planned to stay overnight in a hut. This is because the weather conditions in the high mountains can change unexpectedly at any time, forcing you to take refuge in a makeshift bivouac.

Packing list for overnight stays in huts:

Packing list for the bivouac:

GET OFF TO A GOOD START - FINAL TIPS FOR YOUR ALPINE TOUR

A high-altitude tour should be well planned and prepared, as the challenging climbing sections over glaciers, firn and ice can only be mastered with the right equipment. However, the exertions of the tour are quickly forgotten with the unique view from the summit! Nevertheless, you should be aware that a high-altitude tour will place significantly higher physical and mental demands on you than a classic hike. A good basic level of fitness, a high level of surefootedness and, above all, theoretical knowledge about how to recognize and deal with potentially dangerous situations are therefore essential for a successful alpine tour, along with a well-thought-out packing list. For this reason, it is particularly worthwhile for beginners to complete a theoretical introductory course before their first tour or to take part in a guided alpine tour with an experienced mountain guide.