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TYPICAL
GEAR LIST FOR SOMEONE JOINING A TREKKING GROUP
Clothing
1 pair of trekking boots, well broken in,
with spare laces
What kind of boots?The best boots are
the ones that fit!
If you are walking non-technical trails, lightweight trail boots
are fine. If you will be going over long stretches of snow, heavier
boots with a bit of an edge on them will make life easier for you.
1 pair of sandals or camp shoes and a bag to store them in
4 pairs of underpants
Should be easily washable, quick drying
4 pairs of liner socks
Try them out beforehand to make sure they help avoid blisters
4 or 5 pairs of walking socks
A mix of weights is good for different climates. You’re likely
to be warm at lower elevations, but will need heavier (at least
50% wool) for higher, colder places. Consider taking one especially
warm pair to use just in camp, at the end of the day.
2 warm weather T shirts (lightweight synthetic e.g. Patagonia Level
1)
2 long sleeve shirts with pocket (midweight synthetic. e.g. Patagonia
Level 2)
1 long sleeve thermal shirt or top to 1 pair of long johns
Bottoms for long johns are only necessary for high altitude or if
you especially feel the cold
2 lightweight walking pants, detachable legs are not essential
If you are going high, or through much snow, or get cold easily,
consider taking a pair of heavier pants
1 fleece or lightweight soft shell jacket
Consider supplementing with a down vest
1 warm overlayer, e.g. down jacket
If you are going high, or through much snow, or get cold easily
1 waterproof (Goretex type) rain over-jacket
1 waterproof (Goretex type) pair of rain pants
1 sun hat
1 sun glasses
If you are going on snowfields or glaciers, should be wrap-around
or have sides to avoid snow blindness
1 warm hat
1 pair of lightweight liner gloves
1 pair of warm, weatherproof gloves
If you are going high and cold, bring over-mitts
1 trekking scarf or bandana
General equipment
1 kit bag or suitcase to leave in Kathmandu with a clean set of
clothes
1 kit bag to take on the trek
You’ll put all your gear in this and a porter will carry.
It doesn’t have to be waterproof (in case of rain/snow porter
will cover it with plastic) but if not waterproof the clothing and
gear within it should be in dry bags
1 pack you will carry
Size depends on the kind of trek you’re doing; 25 liter can
be fine for teahouse trekking; up to 40 liter may be needed if you’re
doing more technical trekking. See below for what you would usually
carry on the trail.
1 Hydration bladder and/or water bottle
Adequate hydration is a must. Most people find they drink more if
they use something like a Camelbak rather than rely on a water bottle,
but it’s up to you.
It’s possible on teahouse treks to get bottled water, but
the cost will rise the further out you go; a liter bottle which
sells for 25 cents in Kathmandu can cost $4 in the Everest region.
The crew can always provide boiled water, but you might want to
bring a backup system when trekking through villages (e.g. a steripen
or iodine pills). Note that if using a bladder, check to see if
it can take boiled water – much easier than having the crew
boil it and then have to wait for it to cool.
1 pair of trekking poles
1 sleeping bag
rated to at least --10º C for treks over 5000m. However, if
you are not going that high such bags are likely to be overkill
and you will be too warm at lower elevations. A bag rated for 0º
C is fine for most treks which are not high altitude or if you will
be staying in teahouses (where you can always get an extra blanket
or quilt if needed)
1 sleeping bag liner
1 inflatable sleeping mat (optional)
Optional, but highly recommended. An ensolite pad will be provided,
but an extra layer of padding is very nice. Also, for higher altitude/cold
climate treks, down-filled inflatable mats make all the difference
between a night spent shivering and surviving and a night getting
good sleep
1 head torch with spare batteries
1 selection of waterproof bags to organize your gear
1 bag of toiletries
1 personal first aid/medicine kit
We will have bandaids, diamox, paracetamol, but since everybody
is different and quality of medicine in Nepal varies it’s
good to bring your own kit: antibiotics, personal medicines, etc.
1 repair kit
for any personal items (e.g. inflatable pads) which might get worn
out. Also consider a small traveller’s sewing kit in case
clothing rips. And duct tape can be used for anything!
1 note book, pens
1 camera, spare batteries and memory cards
1 pack towel
Quick drying, lightweight. Good to have it be large enough so you
can wrap it around you and do a sponge bath if you want to.
Trail snacks -
It’s easier to get Snickers and other candy bars, but trail
bars can be hard to find and expensive in Kathmandu. We will provide
cookies or biscuits with tea, but snack foods are a personal preference
– bring your favorite. (Jerky is good to bring if you are
a high-protein eater).
Binnoculars, GPS, other gizmos
Fun, but you’ll be carrying them in your daypack, and they
can be heavy
Entertainment: iPod, Kindle,etc.
Obviously optional. You can get good books in Kathmandu (Pilgrim’s
Books has a great selection). If you are using electronics think
about your battery life; consider taking a light solar charger (but
remember you can’t rely on sunlight in late afternoon, when
you’ll usually be stopping, and there will be only occasional
full rest days). You can get alkaline batteries in Kathmandu but
Lithium batteries are hard to find and expensive – bring extra
if you are relying on them.
Speciality gear [Pema Treks can provide this, or you can rent your
own in Kathmandu. However, personal fit is better if you have the
gear and make sure it feels right for you]
1 pair of gaiters if going above the snowline
Some people like to use gaiters on dusty or muddy trails
1 pair of crampons to suit trekking boots
1 ice axe
1 harness, 2 locking carabiners and descending device
What will I be carrying
in my daypack?
Obviously, this will depend on the type of trek you are doing and
the particular trail conditions on a given day. Ultimately, what
you take is up to you. The porter carrying your gear will generally
never be more than a half hour in front of or behind you, but that
can be a long time if you’re needing something and it’s
not right there. On every day you can count on carrying your water
(in bladder or bottle), a rain overjacket (and perhaps overpants),
a warm layer or two (fleece and/or down vest), gloves as it gets
colder. A head torch in case it gets dark. A small bottle of hand
sanitizer can be good. Your hat, sunglasses. Perhaps a pocket knife.
Some trail bars.
On more technical treks, you may want to carry
gaiters, crampons, harness, ice axe in case you encounter situations
requiring them.
Some people love to take their shoes off in the
middle of the day so they carry an extra pair of socks, or even
their camp shoes to give their feet a rest.
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