The Trekker’s Packing List

With a weight limit of just 10kg, or roughly 22 pounds, travelers on our foot treks in the Everest region have to be smart about what they pack. Fortunately, with a well-chosen selection of kit getting everything you need under that weight limit is a piece of cake.

Seasonal Considerations

For treks in mid to late spring, it’s good to plan for warm days and cool, but not cold nights. During a warm April day the Himalayan sun can push temperatures into the high 70s, even at higher elevations. Our most recent December trek was filled with gorgeous days in temperatures around 50F degrees (no jacket needed), but nighttime temps in our lodge rooms plummeted to the point of freezing.

Luggage and Packs

All of our treks include porters, so you don’t have to carry the bulk of your personal items. We use porters as it’s simply a facet of Himalayan trekking, and helps keep already challenging days from becoming a bit too tough. Our porters are never asked to carry more than the maximum load established by local unions. In fact, we tend to keep their loads as light as possible.

We recommend single trekkers pack their gear in a small 60-liter duffel bag like a North Face Basecamp Duffel, or anything light and durable. For the items you need to access during each daily walk, we suggest a small backpack, ideally between 30-40 liters.

Technical Clothing

It’s critical to have the best gear available, but the good news is - you don’t need much of it! This is not the type of outing that requires a fresh set of duds each day, so each piece of clothing needs to be high-tech. What does that mean? First off - avoid bringing cotton of any kind. The better fabrics will be nylon, polyester, and the best is merino wool. Good fabrics will resist odor, dry quickly, wick moisture from your skin, and regulate body temperature.

• Rain jacket (Breathable and waterproof fabrics like GoreTex and eVent are the only way to go)

• Down or synthetic jacket (light for spring treks, but a tad heavier for the fall is best)

• Warm mid-layer (A light fleece pullover or warm sweater will be great for fall treks and well suited to springtime evenings.

• Base layer top and bottoms (We like to keep one set of long base layers for sleeping and one set available to use during the day. This is a great place to spend a little extra and get merino wool, or high quality synthetic base layers like Patagonia Capilene. )

• Merino wool socks x 4 pairs (Take it from us, nothing beats Darn Tough socks. That’s the only brand we use and will ever recommend.)

• Light knit or fleece hat, thin gloves, and a Buff. (These three items are essential, particularly the Buff neck gaiter, which can be pulled over your face to reduce the effects of dust.)

• Sunglasses

• Light pants (one pair) for use in the lodges and tea rooms. (Anything will do, but we like something that can double as a travel pant in Kathmandu. The idea is to never get these pants dirty on the trail, and reserve them for evenings in the lodges.)

• Trekking pants (one pair). This is one of the more important items on the list. Good trekking pants are comfortable, weather resistant, durable, and feature rich. If you pick a good pair, they will be like a suit of Himalayan armor.

• T-shirts (two or three). Again, avoid cotton and stick with synthetic or wool fibers as they dry quickly and resist odor.

• Underwear. We only recommend Exofficio underwear as they are the ultimate travel option. They really are the best.

Washing your apparel while underway

Even though we recommend quick-drying fabrics, we never suggest washing your clothing during any of our expeditions. Simply put, there is rarely enough time at the end of the day for wet clothing to dry. You’re far better off wearing a “dirty” piece of clothing that packing a soggy bag of laundry in your duffle bag for 10 hours.

Equipment and kit

You don’t need much for a trek in the Himalayas as our accommodations are pretty nice with all the creature comforts of a good hotel. There are a few things worth having.

• Travel Towel x 2. We like Cocoon travel towels above all others. We recommend one full body towel and one small face towel.

• Headlamp x 1. Power is sometimes fickle in mountain lodges so a small headlamp by your bedside is a good idea. Even a compact flashlight will do the trick. It’s never a planned event to hike at night, but should we get delayed on the trail, a headlamp in your pack is a great idea.

• Hydration Reservoir and/or water bottle. Most of our trekkers prefer the convenience of a hydration reservoir, but a hard water bottle will work just fine.

• Trekking Poles. Not everyone likes hiking with trekking poles, but when USED PROPERLY, they can greatly reduce the physical strain on backs, hips, knees, and feet. The trick is to use good poles, and use them properly. We suggest newer models of poles that collapse in small sections so they can be easily transported in your bag or on your pack when not in use.

• Sunscreen, lip balm, skin lotion, and blister fixers. The Himalayas are high and dry, which means taking care of your skin is a very critical part of any trek, particularly the skin on your feet.

Boots

The most important piece of kit you must select is your footwear. The Everest region is not the place to tackle in trail running shoes, or any shoes for that matter. While you don’t need heavy trekking boots, you should have substantial boots that protect your toes and ankles. It goes without saying, by the time you arrive in Nepal, you should have a bunch of miles on your boots and know they work well for you. It’s not critical your boots be waterproof, but it’s the better option if you can swing it. Just keep in mind, a sprained ankle in the Everest region would be a trip-ending event, so select your boots carefully.

Christophe’s favorite picks

• Duffel Bag - Eagle Creek Migrate Duffel 90L - This bag is really brilliant, durable, easy to lug around, and perfectly sized to haul all of your kit to Nepal, and work perfectly as your porter bag. Some trekkers can even get away with the smaller version.

• Trekking Pants - Fjallraven Keb Trousers - I consider these equipment as much as apparel. With stretch fabric backed with reinforced knees and thighs, these are perfect for Himalayan treks. They also include four zippered vents on the outer leg for those sunny moments when you need to purge a little heat. The front pockets are a great stash for lip balm, hand sanitizer, or your phone (camera). One pair is all you need for a 10-day walk as they even stay remarkably clean.

• Backpack - Osprey Talon 36 - It’s always better to have extra pack space than too little. The 36-liter Talon has been a stalwart pack in the Osprey lineup for decades and it’s perfectly suited to a Himalayan trek.

• Backpack - Big Agnes Ditch Rider 32 - Not many things really call to me, but the Ditch Rider did, and it’s an incredible option for Himalayan treks. Super light but very comfortable, it’s a great travel hauler and will be a great companion from plane ride to high mountains.

• Boots - La Sportiva Ultra Raptor GTX Mid - Almost purpose built for this type of trek, the light but stable Ultra Raptor will walk efficiently without sacrificing protection. Keep in mind, boot fit is highly personal, so these may or may not fit your feet!

• Boots - Oboz Bridger Mid GTX - Similar to the Ultra Raptor, the Oboz boot might fit wider feet and offer similar performance and comfort. Again, individual fit should be the final driver.

• Trekking Poles - Leki Khumbu FX TA Poles - The name says it all. Khumbu is the name of the valley leading to Mount Everest. You have to think of poles as boots for your hands, and comfort is absolutely critical. These poles have excellent grips, a wide strap to bare the load of your body weight, and a smart mechanism to adjust and collapse the poles for a quick stow on your pack. If you’re choice is to have bad poles, or no poles, go with no poles. If you have bad knees or hips, a good set of poles could make your trip much more enjoyable.

If you select your gear well, you won’t need very many items, each capable of serving you daily to keep you warm, dry, and comfortable. While the best apparel and gear is seldom inexpensive, it will be worth the expense and serve you well for years to come.

If you have questions, reach out to your expedition leader!