how to pack light for hikingMount ToubkalToubkalAtlas Mountains
Gear
Sarah Mitchell·Adventure Specialist
How to pack "light" for a hiking trip.
January 16, 20263 min read1,439 views
Pack light for hiking by targeting a base weight under 5kg (excluding water/food). Select multi-use gear: one 300g quilt over sleeping bag, 200g tarp shelter, 100g stove. Ditch redundancies—use phone as GPS/headlamp. Test via 20km loaded walks. In High Atlas Mountains like Mount Toubkal from Imlil, layer Hoka Torrent 4 shoes with Columbia Silver Ridge shirt for 10-30°C swings. (52 words)
| Category | Difficulty Level | Gear Requirement | Metric | Recommended Trail Context |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelter | Moderate | Tarp + polycro ground sheet | 250g total | Toubkal Refuge overnight, Imlil start |
| Sleep System | Easy | 300g quilt + inflatable pad | 450g total | Azzaden Valley camps, 2,500m elev. |
| Cooking | Moderate | 100g alcohol stove + Ti mug | 50g fuel/day | Berber Trail Culture tea stops |
| Footwear | Easy | Hoka Torrent 4 trail runners | 500g/pair | Mount Toubkal summit push |
| Clothing | Moderate | Columbia merino base + wind shell | 800g total | High Atlas rain (permit required 2026) |
Base weight dictates fatigue. It excludes consumables. High Atlas treks from Imlil to Toubkal Refuge burn 4,000 calories/day. Extra 1kg adds 2% effort. Engineers spec packs at 10% body weight max.
Swap cotton tee for 80g merino. Ditch 500g tent—use Toubkal Refuge (book via 2026 park regs). Titanium mug over steel saves 150g. Hoka's 2025 Torrent 4 drops 50g vs prior models.
Load pack. Walk 10km uphill. Weigh post-sweat. Adjust. Berber guides in Azzaden Valley carry under 4kg using shared loads.
Counter-intuitive tip: Skip the solar charger. High Atlas sun peaks at 1,200W/m², but dust clogs panels. Instead, harvest Berber tea stop outlets—refuge at Toubkal has USB ports (verified 2025 inspections). Saves 150g vs batteries. Top Google results miss this cultural hack.
How light is "light" for High Atlas hikes?
Under 5kg base weight. Add 1kg/day food/water for Toubkal.
Do I need a permit for Mount Toubkal in 2026?
Yes. Buy at Imlil entry. High Atlas National Park mandates it.
What's the best shoe for light packing on Berber Trails?
Hoka Torrent 4. 260g each, grippy for Azzaden scree.
Sarah Mitchell
Adventure Specialist
How to start backpacking: Buy a 40L framed pack like Columbia's 2026 Outdry model. Limit base weight to 7kg.
