The autumn packing list, annotated

We publish this list every August and change almost nothing. That is the point. Gear that survives a Nordra autumn is gear that has been rained on for six days straight, dragged over lava, and dried on a hut stove that was never quite hot enough.

What follows is the list our guides actually carry. Where an item replaced something else, we say what it replaced and why. Where we have a preference between two good options, we say that too.

Feet first

Boots matter more than anything else in this list, and less than you think once they fit. We want a stiff sole for scree and crampon compatibility for the glacier days. Leather uppers because they dry slower but fail slower. Two pairs of socks; the second pair stays in a dry bag until the hut.

Gaiters are not optional in September. Wet grass at ankle height will soak a boot from the top in under an hour, and no membrane will save you from that.

The shell question

You will be told to buy the lightest hardshell you can find. Do not. Above 64°N in autumn the wind carries grit and the rain is sideways; a 3-layer fabric at 70 denier or more outlasts anything ultralight by several seasons. Pit zips matter more than weight. A hood that fits over a helmet matters more than either.

Under it we run a light synthetic insulation piece, not down. Down is warmer per gram and useless once wet, and everything gets wet.

What we cut

Trekking umbrellas, camp shoes, a second stove, anything labelled “packable”. The bag is 38 litres and it is full. The list below is what fills it.