Packing Lists

What goes in a day pack for a ski tour

Last updated: May 7, 2026
Backcountry ski tour

The Norwegian Red Cross's fjellvett perspective on the winter day pack — what has to go in, why, and where it shades into topptur kit.

Over the years, the Norwegian Red Cross and the Norwegian Trekking Association have built up a fairly precise list of what should go in the day pack in winter. We have built the same principles into our interactive packing lists — so if you are after a concrete list to pack by, those are the ones you want.

The fjellvett perspective

The Norwegian Red Cross’s starting point is simple: what happens if things go wrong? Your hat or mittens get wet, you have worked up a sweat, you go into the water, or someone in the group is injured. The core of the packing list has to cover these cases — not just the normal one.

Three principles underpin our lists:

  1. Extra insulating layers — a windproof jacket, windproof trousers, a dry base layer, a change of wool, a warm jacket. Even if the sun is out as you set off.
  2. More food and drink than you think you need — one extra day’s provisions is enough on most day trips. A flask of a hot drink makes breaks possible on cold days.
  3. The safety baseline is never optional — a bothy bag, a head torch, a whistle, first aid, a map and compass. Together these weigh under 600 g and should always go with you.

For more detail on each individual item: see what goes in the pack (the hub article) or skip straight to the interactive list for the trip you are going on.

When a day trip becomes a topptur

If the trip goes into, or near, avalanche-prone terrain — slopes of 30 degrees or more, exposed slopes, lee slopes below a summit — extra kit is required that is not optional:

  • An avalanche transceiver (transmitter/receiver) per person
  • A shovel with a sturdy aluminium blade
  • An avalanche probe (sonde)
  • The competence to use it all under stress

This is topptur territory. The packing list for topptur covers it in full.

Next steps

Learn more

Text: Built on the Norwegian Red Cross’s fjellvett guidance and DNT’s official packing lists, adapted by Snuitide (2026).