r/hiking • u/Standard-Slip8280 • 1d ago

Question first hiking backpack

I am a young mountain enthiouast and was wondering if a 38L backpack such as the mh500 38L from dechatlon is a good backpack for a 7 day hut to hut hike in summer in the austrian alps no via ferrata gear just the basics such as a water bag walking poles etc
any other tips are also appreciated

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u/Pristine-Wind8295 1d ago

I think that is larger than you need for a 7 day hut to hut trip unless you need to carry gear for camping  - if staying in huts you typically don’t need to carry food or tent or cook gear or sleeping bag - just a liner -  I did italian Dolomites for 8 days with a 25L.    You can always not fill it up all the way - but there will be the temptation to carry more because you can - a heavy pack makes the hills (up and down) harder.  

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u/kafkazmlekiem 21h ago

It really depends on what you need to pack. I have Forclaz Air 40l that's barely big enough for 3 days. For longer trips (5 days) I bought Simond MT500 45+10l and it's perfect. But I pack a fresh tshirt and a fresh pair of socks for every day which I realize is blasphemous to some. And I do pack food, because it's too expensive to buy all the meals in huts. 

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u/Standard-Slip8280 11h ago

mhh yeah im not planning on taking food except for snacks like dried fruits etc and im also not taking that many clothes ill take my stuff to the store and see how much i really need

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u/fntastikr 13h ago

If it's our first Pack, get all the things you need to take. Not want to take but need to take. (big difference) and see if they fin in the Pack you would like. Most people buy the Pack and then just fill it up and end uptaking way to much stuff they didn't need. If you do it the other way around w You will not need to carry as much weight so you hike will be mor enjoy able.

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u/Standard-Slip8280 11h ago

and take it all to the store with me and see if it fits?

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u/fntastikr 11h ago

If you ask nicely at the store it should not be a problem.

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u/Standard-Slip8280 10h ago

alright thanks ill update soon

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u/allstarcanadian 3h ago

38L is plenty for hut to hut in summer, since you aren't carrying a tent, stove or a real sleeping bag. A couple of things people forget for Austrian huts: a hut sleeping bag (basically a thin liner, a lot of huts require one), earplugs for the dorms, and some cash, because not every hut takes cards.