TMB Packing Checklist

Show essentials only

0 / 35 packed

Worn and carried

Rucksack, 35-45 L with padded hip belt
Waterproof pack liner or dry bagA liner inside the pack keeps things dry. Pack covers blow off and leak at the seams.
Trekking poles, pairNot optional on this route. They take a large share of the load off your knees on the long descents.
Water bottles or bladder, 2 L capacity
Water carried, 2 LWater is 20-25% of a good pack weight. Carry to the next refill, not to the end of the day.
Sunglasses, category 3 or 4
Brimmed sun hat
Warm hat and light glovesEven in August: a col at 07:00 can be near freezing with wind.

Base layers, 2 (merino or synthetic)
Midlayer or sun hoody
Insulated jacket, down or synthetic
Waterproof hardshell jacket, taped seamsA water-resistant softshell is not this. You want 10,000 mm or better.
Waterproof overtrousers
Hiking trousers plus lightweight evening pair
Hiking socks, 3 pairsTwo in rotation, one kept dry and sacred for sleeping.
Underwear, 3 pairs

Boots, broken in over 60 km+The TMB is not the place to discover a hot spot.
Camp shoes, lightweight sandalsMost lists call these optional. They are not: refuges make you take boots off at the door.

Silk sleeping bag linerMandatory. Most refuges refuse you a bed without one. They provide the blanket, not this.
EarplugsGenuinely not optional. Dormitories sleep 6 to 20 people and someone always snores.
Lightweight travel towel
Eye maskoptional
Sleeping bag - leave this at homeoptionalThe single most common and most expensive packing error on the TMB. Refuges provide a blanket. Bring the liner instead.

Headtorch with fresh batteries
First-aid kit with blister plasters and tape
Power bank, 10,000 mAhRefuge sockets are scarce and contested. Your phone is your map and your emergency call.
Phone with offline maps downloaded
Emergency bivvy or foil blanket
Sun cream factor 50 and SPF lip balmUV rises roughly 10% per 1,000 m and you are at altitude eight hours a day.
Paper map and compass backupoptional

Passport or national IDThe route crosses into Switzerland, which is outside the EU.
Travel insurance proof, printed and offlineMust cover mountain rescue, helicopter evacuation and repatriation. The EHIC covers none of these, and does not cover Switzerland at all.
Cash in euros and Swiss francsMany refuges have no card machine and no signal for one.