Are you ready for your mountain adventure? As you plan your vacation itinerary, you’ll want to ensure you’re packing the right things for your high-altitude excursions.
Packing for a beach vacation is easy—a couple of swimsuits, sun hats, shorts, shirts, flowy cover-ups, and flip-flops, and you’re ready to roll.
Packing for mountain family vacations isn’t as easy. The weather is unpredictable. It can be cold one moment and hot the next.
We’ve compiled a comprehensive packing list to ensure you bring the essentials you need for your upcoming mountain vacation.
Essential Gear to Pack
At the risk of stating the obvious, you’re heading to the mountains. The weather will largely depend on what time of year you’re going and your destination’s elevation. Some mountains get snowfall only during winter and stay sunny all through the summer. Others have snow-covered landscapes year-round. Do your homework beforehand to familiarize yourself with the mountain weather at your vacation spot.
That said, mountains that don’t snow in the summer can still get pretty chilly. The mountain sun is a little different from the regular, lower-altitude sun. You see it, but you don’t exactly feel it, at least not to the extent you would expect.
High-altitude mountains are usually cold all year round. If that’s where you’re headed, you should pack your usual winter gear.
Mountains at lower elevations are generally warmer in the summer, but the nights and early mornings are chilly. With that in mind, here’s some essential gear that needs to be on your packing list.
Athletic Clothes
If hiking is part of your itinerary, comfortable athletic gear must be on your mountain packing checklist. You want athletic tops and bottoms made of moisture-wicking materials such as polypropylene and polyester.
Pack a few long-sleeved shirts to protect your arms from harmful UV sun rays, short-sleeved shirts for those days that get extra hot, and athletic pants/tights/shorts, depending on your preference and where you’ll be hiking.
Raincoat
Mountain weather can be pretty erratic. It can be sunny one moment and rainy the next. A rule of thumb when packing for mountain family vacations is to always be prepared. Pack a lightweight raincoat or rain jacket that you can easily fold and stuff into your backpack. It should also be easy to access when you need it. You don’t want to get drenched simply because you were fiddling around your bag trying to find your raincoat.
Fleece / Down Jacket
You should also bring a warm jacket for those chilly nights and mornings. Pack one that’s easy to take off and folds into a compact enough size to fit into your day bag.
Socks
You can never have too many socks. After a day of outdoor adventures, your feet can get sweaty and smelly. There’s no better feeling than putting on a fresh pair of socks after hiking, biking, skiing, or snowboarding.
Ensure the socks you bring are made of breathable fabric and have moisture-wicking properties to keep your feet dry and cool, even after they’ve been in boots all day.
Hiking Boots
Speaking of boots, if you plan to explore the mountains, you must get a solid pair of hiking boots. They need to fit properly with socks on, offer good grip and ankle support, and be lightweight and waterproof.
If they’re brand new, be sure to break them in before you pack them for your mountain vacation. You need them to soften up and adjust to the shape of your feet. Don’t make the rookie mistake of buying brand-new hiking boots and wearing them for the first time when you hit the trails. You’ll regret it.
Sandals
Sandals are a must-have for any mountain vacation. After spending all day with your feet confined in tight boots, it feels nice to give them a break and let your toes wiggle free. Make sure the pair you bring is waterproof, so you can wade through the lake or river water with them on.
Swimsuit
Mountains don’t have beaches. However, they have lakes and rivers to splash around on a warm summer day. Mountainous regions tend to have hot springs nearby. Pack a swimsuit to soak and relax in the mineral-rich spring waters. After a day of fun outdoorsy activities, soaking in a hot springs pool will leave you feeling invigorated.
Dinner Outfit
Yes, you read right. Just because you’re out in the mountains, doing “mountainy” stuff all day, doesn’t mean you can’t dress up for a nice dinner with your significant other. We’re not saying you should go black-tie. Think—smart casual. A pair of jeans paired with a cute blouse, button-down shirt, or flannel. All those qualify as mountain chic.
Must-Have Accessories and Necessities
In addition to clothes, here are a few things you should bring.
Sun Hat / Baseball Cap
You choose a mountain vacation to enjoy the great outdoors and bask in the sun. There’s a good chance you’ll spend the better part of your days outside. Packing a sun hat or baseball cap to shield your face, ears, and neck from the sun is an absolute must.
It is the first line of defense against harmful UV rays. It also doesn’t hurt that they look good. There’s something about putting a hat or cap on that completes an outfit.
Sunscreen
Skin cancer is real, people! Contrary to what you might believe, UV exposure is more at higher elevations, so you still need to wear sunscreen to protect your skin. Nothing puts a damper on a trip than nursing sunburns the first few days of being there. Remember to reapply every couple of hours to ensure you stay protected throughout.
The sunscreen you pack should have an SPF of no less than 30. If you can get one rated 50 or higher—the better. Ensure that it is a broad-spectrum sunscreen to protect you against UVA and UVB rays responsible for causing premature aging and sunburn.
If you intend to go for a soak in a hot springs pool or swim in the river or lake, ensure the sunscreen you bring is water-resistant.
Sunglasses
Sunglasses are to the eyes, what hats are to the head. Get yourself a good pair of polarized sunglasses to protect your eyes from UV rays and glare. They also help protect your eyes from the elements. That way, you don’t have to worry about dust and wind irritating your eyes outdoors.
If you have plans to go skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, or any other kind of snow-related activity, don’t attempt to leave your sunglasses behind, or else you could go blind—quite literally.
Spending too much time in the snow without shielding your eyes can cause “snow blindness.” The condition occurs when your eyes get overexposed to ultraviolet light rays reflected off the surface of the snow. Snow blindness can last several days.
Snacks
If your vacation itinerary includes many physical activities, don’t forget to pack snacks to keep your body fueled and energized. Dried fruit, nuts and seeds, granola, tuna and goldfish, and beef jerky are excellent snacks to pack in your day bag for a day of mountaineering.
Reusable Water Bottle
Carry a reusable water bottle for your mountain vacation to reduce plastic waste. Ensure you drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, even when you’re not thirsty. Getting dehydrated in the mountains is easy, so you must be intentional about sipping on your water periodically.
Camera
Modern smartphones have pretty fantastic and powerful cameras. There’s no question about it. However, most phones won’t keep a charge all day without juicing it up again. That’s where a separate camera comes in.
Consider packing a durable, lightweight, waterproof camera such as a GoPro instead. With the right accessories, you can even document your entire trip hands-free, which would be difficult to do with a conventional phone camera.
Backpack
A backpack is a must-have for your daytime excursions in the mountains. It should be big enough to fit your raincoat, down jacket, snacks, water bottle, sunscreen, camera, and anything else you might need for your adventures.
Portable Hammock
This last one is a little extra, but it is an absolute must-have in our books because why not? There are many trees in the mountains and many cool spots to set up a hammock. If you’ve space to spare in your luggage, pack a hammock. You won’t regret it.
In the meantime, are you wondering how far in advance you should start planning for your family vacation in the mountains? Check out this guide for the lowdown.