Choosing the right equipment is essential for the success, safety and pleasure of your hike. Plan it carefully and you will experience the perfect hiking holidays! Before filling up your backpack, think carefully which route you are hiking. Remember, especially if your goal is a multiday hike, terrain changes constantly and you will almost certainly have to face steep slopes, scrambling parts and probably even a few patches of snow. Therefore, pack your backpack wisely.
What to wear?
Even if you are hiking in July or August, which are the hottest months in Slovenia, Alps can be a cold place. During the summer months, even the altitude of 2000 metres above sea level can see temperatures reach 20 degrees Celsius, but at night temperatures drop significantly, even down to zero degrees. You should combine light summer clothes with a warm layer and a waterproof jacket. This way you will be prepared for all kind of scenarios.
What about technical equipment?
The terrain in the Alps is often challenging. Even if you avoid difficult, via ferrata (climbing route, protected with a steel cable) routes, chances you will be hiking under a tall wall are big. Therefore, a helmet is an essential part of your technical equipment. Here is a shortlist of equipment needed for hiking the Slovenian Alps:
- Hiking boots (no trainers please!)
- Hiking poles
- Sun protection (sunscreen and sunglasses)
- Crampons and an ice axe (winter, spring and early summer hikes)
- Helmet
- Headlamp
- First-aid kit
- ID, cash (huts often don’t accept cards)
- Via ferrata set (highly recommended for all via ferrata routes, such as Mount Triglav)
Food & beverage is very important
There is no point in stressing the importance of carrying a plentiful supply of food and beverages. The question you are probably asking yourself is where to refill your supply? You have to bear in mind that after you start your hike, options will be limited. We recommend bringing your own snacks and plenty of water. Huts are usually a few hours of hiking apart, please consider this while creating your itinerary. However, when mountain huts are open, they always provide you with a meal or a snack. For a rough estimate on the prices, click here.
Can you drink water from springs/streams?
When it comes to water, you have to be careful. It gets very hot in the summertime and you have to be sure to always carry enough supply to last for the whole day, which is usually at least 3 litres, depending on each individual. Hiking in the Alps will lead you past several streams and springs when temptation will surely be strong. To your relief – yes, most streams and especially springs are drinkable. The most important thing to remember is not to drink from standing water, such as Triglav lakes.
And last but not least…
THE MAP! During your hike, you will find many paths, marked and unmarked. It’s very wise to carry a proper map. Although some maps exist for portable devices, they can be quite unreliable, so we recommend carrying a physical map. They’re cheap (7€ – 10€) and you can buy them in several stores across the country. The two most popular hiking stores in Slovenia are Iglu Šport and Kibuba. All our self-guided hikes include detailed maps of the region, so you can switch off your phone and enjoy nature 🙂