The Golden Rule: Your Pack Should Weigh Under 10 kg
Your porter carries your main duffel (max 15 kg). You carry a day pack with essentials only. Everything that follows assumes this split. The number one mistake first-time trekkers make is overpacking — you will not need everything you think you will.
Clothing System
The key is a layering system, not individual heavy garments:
- Base layer (×2): Merino wool or synthetic moisture-wicking long-sleeve. Merino is worth the price — odour-resistant for multi-day use.
- Mid layer (×1): Fleece jacket or light down sweater. This is your main insulation layer for evenings and mornings.
- Shell layer (×1): Waterproof and windproof outer jacket. Gore-Tex or equivalent. Non-negotiable above 3,000 m.
- Down jacket (×1): For high camps and acclimatisation days. −15°C rated for EBC; −20°C for passes. Can be rented in Kathmandu for ~USD 2/day.
- Trekking trousers (×2): Zip-off style for versatility. One pair synthetic, one pair can double as smart casual.
- Thermal leggings (×1): For sleeping and under trousers above 4,000 m.
- Trekking shirts (×3): Lightweight, quick-dry.
- Merino wool socks (×4–5 pairs): Proper hiking socks with cushioning. Do not use cotton socks — blisters guaranteed.
- Gloves (×2 pairs): Lightweight liner gloves + waterproof outer mitts.
- Wool hat and sun hat: Both essential — cold nights, blazing daytime sun.
- Gaiters: Optional but useful for passes and snow sections.
Footwear
- Trekking boots: Mid or high-cut, waterproof, broken-in BEFORE you arrive. This cannot be overstated — new boots cause serious blisters. Wear them for at least 40 hours before your trek.
- Camp sandals or light shoes: For teahouse evenings. Crocs are a surprisingly popular choice on the trail.
Technical Gear
- Trekking poles (×2): Massively reduce knee stress on descents. Adjustable, lightweight aluminium or carbon.
- Headlamp + spare batteries: Power cuts are common; essential for early starts.
- Sleeping bag liner: Teahouses provide blankets but a silk or fleece liner adds warmth and hygiene.
- Sleeping bag (optional): EBC teahouses now have adequate blankets. Only needed for camping treks or winter trekking.
- Daypack 25–30L: With rain cover.
- Duffel bag 60–70L: For your porter. Soft-sided is easier for porters to carry.
- Water purification: SteriPen UV or iodine tablets. Reduces plastic waste and saves money vs buying bottled water.
- Altitude device: A pulse oximeter is worth its weight — monitors blood oxygen saturation (SpO2) daily above 3,000 m.
Toiletries and Health
- Biodegradable soap and shampoo (required in conservation areas)
- Sunscreen SPF 50+ (UV is intense at altitude)
- Lip balm with SPF
- Hand sanitiser
- Wet wipes (showers are cold or unavailable above 4,000 m)
- Diamox (acetazolamide) — discuss with your doctor before travel
- Blister kit: moleskin, Compeed, needle, antiseptic
- Anti-diarrheal medication
- Ibuprofen and paracetamol
- Oral rehydration salts
Leave These at Home
- Jeans (heavy, slow-drying, useless when wet)
- Cotton anything (cotton kills — it absorbs moisture and loses all insulation value)
- More than 2 books (buy/swap at Namche or Pokhara bookshops)
- A full-size towel (a small microfibre towel is all you need)
- Your laptop (phone is sufficient; laptops get damaged and add weight)
What to Buy/Rent in Kathmandu
Thamel has excellent gear shops selling both genuine and replica brands. Rent down jackets, sleeping bags, and trekking poles for a fraction of purchase price. Genuine North Face, Arc’teryx, and Mammut can be found at real Kathmandu retailers — prices are lower than Western markets for authentic gear.
