Hola to everyone reading this post, I’m Sofia, one of the many OneSeed guides in Patagonia. I want to give you an idea of what I bring on my backpacking trips in Torres del Paine and how you can pack smart for the days that you are on the trail.

First off, I care deeply about protecting the environment, so the clothes I pack are fairly minimal for the trek. I always bring a clean set for the day or two after a trek. When you get to take a shower AND put on clean clothes -- ¡ what a great moment! 

CLOTHES

• 1 base layer, for sleeping and post-trek clothes

• 1 or 2 pairs of trekking pants 

• 2 pairs of socks 

  • I use merino wool socks because they are antibacterial and odor free. I wear the same sock every day for hiking and air them out in the afternoon. The other pair is for wearing at night and after getting off the trail.

• 1 top base layer (long sleeve)

  • Also merino for the same reason I mention above, I especially like Patagonia’s capilene base layer. In March and October I might add an extra top as a second layer and extra hiking pants for chillier weather.

• 1 rain pant and rain jacket 

• 1 synthetic lightweight jacket that I can hike with if it gets cool but not cold 

• 1 down jacket 

• 1 pair of fake Crocs  

  • I used the brand Frogs. I like them because I can wear them with socks if it’s chilly.

• 1 towel 

• 5 pairs of underwear 

• 2 bras 

• 2 hats (sun hat + beanie)

• 1 buff / facemask 

  • you can also wear this as a eye mask to sleep 

• sunglasses with Croakies (sunglasses straps)

TOILETRIES

• shampoo and conditioner bars

  • they are easy to transport, not messy, and don’t produce any garbage!

• small toothpaste

• deodorant

• face cream or jojoba oil

  • Nivea is good for body and face, I also have a solid body cream that I use sometimes when my skin is very dry.

• toothbrush 

• nail clippers

• tweezers

• comb 

EXTRAS 

• trekking poles

• external battery pack for charging camera/phone

• an old cell phone with videos, podcasts, and books for nights when it’s hard to sleep

• a small embroidery set (very tiny)  

• compression dry sack for my sleeping bag and clothes 

As a guide I also have to carry the first aid kit, radio, papers with the booking and vouchers, some snacks and food, tent, sleeping bag and pad, coffee press (VERY IMPORTANT FOR GOOD DAY), and the coffee. 

HELPFUL TIPS:

One new item that I will be adding for the next season is a Kula Cloth. What is it? 

It’s an antibacterial tiny towel for going to the bathroom outside (just for liquid, not solid). For those who have read the OneSeed blog, there is an entry about the Fiesta de la Limpieza, which is a volunteer-led initiative where we hike at the end of the high season to pick up any garbage and even toilet paper that travelers leave behind trees and rocks. You don’t need to have a Kuna Cloth with you, but if you bring toilet paper, never leave it on the trail or bury it in the ground. Make sure you have a pocket or ziplock for any dirty toilet paper and snack wrappers. Just a little piece of trash really adds up. 

I also like to bring a Nalgene water bottle because you can fill it with hot water at night to warm up in the sleeping bag (we called it GUATERO, and I love it).

Lastly, it’s always a good idea to bring one durable garbage bag. Sometimes backpack rain covers are not good enough in heavy rain, so I always have a garbage bag inside my big backpack plus the pack cover.