My Trekking Gear for the Kungsleden – Your Complete Packing List

Trekking in Europe’s Last True Wilderness: An Adventure for Outdoor Lovers

Trekking through Europe’s last true wilderness is an experience no outdoor enthusiast should miss. The vast open landscapes of Lapland are breathtaking – endless, raw, and untouched. Anyone who has set foot in this region knows how humbling and awe-inspiring it is.

The terrain is only lightly developed, which makes both getting there and getting out a challenge. Any injuries along the trail are serious matters, and often the only possible rescue is by helicopter. That’s why having the right gear is absolutely essential. For our adventure, we spent a total of seven days on the northern section of the Kungsleden.

Kungsleden Packing List

Below you’ll find a detailed packing list to help you prepare for the Kungsleden.

Clothing

The right clothing is crucial when trekking in Lapland’s unpredictable weather. Here’s what I brought:

• 1x rain jacket

• 1x fleece jacket

• 1x vest

• 1x shirt

• 1x T-shirt

• 1x longsleeve

• 1x long trekking pants

• 1x short trekking pants

• 1x rain pants

• 2x underwear

• 1x long underwear

• 2 pairs of socks

• Neck gaiter

• Cap/hat

• Hiking boots

• Lightweight camp sandals

  
  

Gear

Good gear can make or break your trek. This is what was in my backpack:

• Backpack

• Rain cover

• Tent

• Sleeping pad

• Sleeping bag

• Mosquito head net

• Camping stove + gas

• Cooking pot

• Cutlery

• Cup

• Bowl/plate

• Knife

• First aid kit + medication

• Mosquito repellent

• Water bottle

• Trekking poles (optional)

• Tent repair kit, tape, cord

• Candle (useful for starting a fire)

  
  

Hygiene

Staying clean and comfortable is important, even on a multi-day trek:

• Toothbrush

• Biodegradable toothpaste

• Biodegradable soap/dish soap

• Hand sanitizer

• Sunscreen

  
  

Electronics

Here’s the electronic gear I carried with me:

• Camera + memory card + accessories

• Power bank

• Phone

• Headphones

• (E-book reader)

Food

Make sure you pack enough calories – the Kungsleden demands a lot of energy:

• 8x freeze-dried trekking meals + 2 extra portions

• Daily porridge

• Nuts

• 8x protein bars

• Electrolyte powder for isotonic drinks

  
  

My mixture of porridge. 5 filled spoons per day.

Verfeinert mit frisch gepflückten Blaubeeren

Miscellaneous

Small items that make the trek more enjoyable:

• Card game

• Notebook + pen

• Book

• Trekking map

• Satellite phone

• Trash bags (you must carry out all your waste!)

  
  

Pack Weight & Personal Notes

Due to the weight of my backpack and camera equipment, my starting weight came to 22 kg. This is not a benchmark for others. Around 4 kg of that was camera gear alone — something you could easily reduce. For me, however, leaving it behind was never an option.

Take a look at my other blog posts

I hope this post helped you with your own Kungsleden experience. What would you do differently? Let me know in the comments.

Until next time,

Joris