After completing the W Trek in January 2025, I learned something crucial: you can pack way lighter than you think. Even my ultralight setup felt like overkill in retrospect. Here's my complete gear approach with alternatives for different styles, from stripped-down ultralight to comfortable backpacking.

The Game-Changer: You Don't Need Much Food

This is the single most important thing about the W Trek: almost every campsite has a kitchen or shop where you can buy hot meals. You're not carrying 5-8 days of freeze-dried meals like typical backcountry trips. Most refugios offer pizza, pasta, empanadas, and cold beverages. Only Campamento Francés/Italiano has limited options—mainly a small shop selling instant ramen and basics. I packed 2 pounds of food per day, which was total overkill. You really only need breakfast items (instant coffee, oatmeal, or buy breakfast at the refugio), trail snacks (energy bars, nuts, chocolate), and maybe one emergency dinner. This alone saves 8-10 pounds compared to typical backcountry trips.

My Ultralight Setup: 12 Pounds Base Weight

Here's what I actually carried, with approximately 12 lbs base weight before food and water. Pack: Palante Desert Pack (19.9 oz) – frameless, minimalist, 40-50L capacity. Alternatives: Osprey Atmos AG 50 (comfort, 4-5 lbs) or Granite Gear Crown2 60 (mid-weight, 2.3 lbs). Shelter: Trekking pole tent (32 oz) + Polycro groundsheet (2 oz). It was REALLY wet when I went, and this held up fine. Alternatives: Zpacks Duplex (19 oz, more protection) or Big Agnes Copper Spur HV UL2 (3 lbs, freestanding, easier setup). Most shops in Puerto Natales rent tents if you don't want to buy. Sleep System: Katabatic Alsek 20°F quilt (26 oz), Big Agnes Air Core insulated pad (21 oz), Sea to Summit Aeros pillow (1.8 oz). Total: 3 lbs. Alternatives: Marmot Phase 20°F (2.5 lbs, traditional bag) or budget Kelty Cosmic 20°F (3 lbs).

Footwear and Clothing

Footwear: I hiked in Topo Pursuit 2 trail runners (24 oz), not boots. The trail is well-maintained and doesn't require ankle support. They dried faster after wet sections. Alternatives: Salomon Quest 4 GTX boots if you prefer ankle support, or other trail runners like Altra Lone Peak (25 oz). Trekking Poles: Essential. Don't skip these. Remember: You can't carry them on planes, so rent in Puerto Natales or check your bag. Clothing: Worn on body: convertible hat, sunglasses, breathable shirt, shorts, merino buff, Injinji toe socks (prevented blisters). Packed: Frogg Toggs rain jacket (5.5 oz – ultra-cheap, ultra-light, worked great), RAB Electron down jacket (18 oz – essential for camp), midlayer (4 oz), thermal bottoms (3 oz), wind pants (3.6 oz), sleep socks (2 oz). Total packed clothes: 2.26 lbs. Key notes: No rain pants—I used wind pants + shorts. It rained A LOT and this worked. Bring more warm layers than rain layers.

Cook System and Water

Cook System (11 oz total): BRS titanium stove (2 oz), Toaks 750ml pot (3.5 oz), mini fuel canister (4 oz), lighter (0.5 oz), spoon (1 oz). Why this was overkill: With food available at every campsite, I barely used my stove. Mostly for morning coffee. Alternatives: Skip it entirely and buy all meals at refugios (saves 11 oz), or upgrade to Jetboil MiniMo (14.5 oz) for faster boil times. Water System (7.7 oz): 2x Smartwater bottles (1.3 oz each, 1L each), Sawyer Squeeze filter (2 oz), CNOC Vecto 2L dirty water bag (3 oz). Water sources are abundant. I usually carried 1-2L between camps. Alternatives: Water is generally safe from streams—many hikers skip the filter entirely.

What I'd Change Next Time

Less food – maybe 1 lb per day max, mostly snacks. Skip the stove – or just bring a tiny alcohol stove for coffee. One less layer – either skip the midlayer or the wind pants. Smaller battery – 10000mAh is plenty for 5 days.

Pack Weight Comparison

My setup: Base weight ~16 lbs, with food/water ~22 lbs. Comfort setup: Base weight ~23-25 lbs, with food/water ~29-31 lbs. Ultra-minimalist: Base weight ~12 lbs, with food/water ~18 lbs.

Critical Reminders

It will be wet – Patagonia is rainy. Everything needs rain protection. Pack lighter than you think – Food availability changes everything. Campsites have services – Most have shops, restaurants, phone charging, hot showers. Weather changes fast – Layering system matters more than any single piece. Break in your shoes – Whatever you choose, test it before the trek.

The W Trek doesn't require specialized gear. My ultralight setup worked great, but any decent backpacking setup will do. The key is accepting you don't need to haul 8 days of food—that alone transforms what you need to carry. Pack light, embrace the refugio meals, and enjoy one of the world's most stunning hikes without breaking your back. Full gear list with weights: https://lighterpack.com/r/ll2vt0