Kungsleden Trek - The Kings Trail of Sweden
The following checklist should help you with your packing. As a general rule, you should always try to keep the weight of your equipment to a minimum.
You must bring the following items:
Hiking boots
Gaiters
Socks
Trainers / Sneakers or slippers for use in the huts.
Technical walking socks (2 or 3 pairs)
Spare laces
Trekking trousers/pants
Lightweight waterproof overtrousers / rainpants
Underwear
Shorts
Thermal baselayer shirts
T-shirt / casual shirt
Fleece jacket or warm jumper
Lightweight windproof/waterproof jacket
Sunhat
Warm hat
Eyewear – Sunglasses
Sun protection (including total bloc for lips, nose etc.)
Thermal gloves
Backpack 50 - 60 litres / 3000 – 3600 cu in
Mug and spoon (for lunches)
Antibacterial hand wash
Vacuum flask 1 litre / 1 quart
Water bottles 1 Litre (x1)
Head torch/headlamp
Basic First Aid Kit which should include: Antiseptic cream, throat lozenges, diarrhoea treatment (Imodium), painkillers, plasters and blister treatment, Insect repellent (DEET), and re-hydration salts (Dioralite). Glucose tablets and multi-vitamin tablets are also a good idea.
The following items are optional:
Karrimat or similar foam sit mat (for lunch stops)
Insect repellant
Washbag and toiletries
Small towel
Sleeping bag liner
Travel clothes (can be left in trek bag)
Camera, batteries
Selection of dry bags (to keep kit dry)
Trekking poles
Pen-knife (remember to put all sharp objects in hold baggage
Notes:
Your trek bag and travel clothes will be transported from the Abisko Mountain Station to Nikkaluokta where they will be stored, and then transported on to the hotel in Kiruna. There is a small charge of approx 40 SEK for this baggage storage which you will need to pay directly to the local Sami people living in Nikkaluokta.
You need to allow space in your backpack for an extra 1-2kgs (2 – 4lbs) of fresh food you will be carrying from Abisko. After the first night in Abiskojaure the extra weight is reduced to approx 1 kg. The fresh food from Abisko is estimated to last to Alesjaure cabin. The rest of the food for this hike will be cached in the Alesjaure cabin and in the Salka cabin. There is no shop in the Tjaktja cabin so the group will carry food from Alesjaure to Tjaktja. The weight of the food is estimated to approx 0.5-1 kg/person (1-2lbs).
Although the summer months from June – early September offer the best conditions to trek the Kings Trail with day time temperatures of between 8 – 18C (46 – 64F), it can be cold during this period and warm clothing should be packed. There can also be some snow patches remaining on the trail, and muddy, boggy sections of trail, so boots need to be suitably waterproof.
