Clothing and Equipment for Trekking in Nepal
Trekking in the Himalayas needed right equipment for being comfortable at higher altitude and to enjoy your trekking. The basic clothing items you will need are described below, with explanations about each item. There is a complete equipment checklist included in this packet. Remember that excess baggage can be a burden to you and the support staff in the field. Pack light, but pack right. This will allow you to enjoy a comfortable journey with your energies focused on the experience of Nepal.
The following equipment lists are suggested and essential for both camping & teahouse treks in the Himalayas . Make use of this list as a guideline, most of the trekking equipment can be hired or bought in the many adventure shops in Kathmandu . As well. Besides, keep in mind trekking gear can be bought in the many adventure shops in Katmandu, the majority of gear is locally manufactured (hence a lot cheaper) although it is becoming more common for gear to be imported from China and therefore of better quality.
Remember that excess baggage can be a burden to you and the support staff in the field. Pack light, but pack right. This will allow you to enjoy a comfortable journey with your energies focused on the experience of Nepal .
The major items you require are:
- Good wind/rain jacket
- Warm fleece jacket or jersey
- Good boots, either light-weight trekking boots or light full leather boots
- Good -20 Sleeping bag (which can be rented or buy in Kathmandu ), we will provide you on request.
- A comfortable day pack, preferably with a waistband.
Check other necessary items as listed below:
Personal necessary
The following basic equipments check lists should help you with your packing. Please remember that you should always try to keep the weight of your equipment to a minimum. At the start of the trek your packed trek bag should weigh not more than 33 pounds or 15 kg.
- Fleece jacket or pullover
- Fleece Wind-Stopper jacket (optional)
- Waterproof (preferably breathable fabric) shell jacket
- Down vest and/or jacket (optional)
- Lightweight gloves
- Heavyweight gloves or mittens with a waterproof shell outer
- Sun hat or scarf
- Light balaclava or warm fleece hat
- Sunglasses with UV protection
- T-shirts (2)
- Underwear (4)
- Hiking shorts (2)
- Lightweight cotton long pants
- Light and expedition weight thermal bottoms
- Fleece or wool pants
- Waterproof (preferably breathable fabric) shell pants
- Thin, lightweight inner socks (4)
- Thick, warm wool hiking socks (4)
- Hiking boots with spare laces
- Camp shoes (sneakers and/or sandals)
Other necessary equipments
- Sleeping bag rated to zero degrees F
- Headlamp (e.g. Petzl Zoom) with spare bulbs and batteries
- Small pad or combination lock-to-lock trek bag
- Basic First Aid Kit (see Health and Medicinal)
- Large plastic bags – for keeping items dry inside trek bag
- Daypack (approximately 2500 to 3000 cubic inches)
- Thermarest sleeping pad
- Water bottles (2)
- Toiletries
- Small wash towel
What to Bring more Details:
Layering:
Keeping the proper temperature is best accomplished by adding or taking off layers of clothing. While hiking during the day, you may be in shorts or skirt and a long-sleeved shirt. During the evening, as the temperature cools, you will add a sweater and, perhaps, a parka. Bringing the items outlined below will ensure that you are adequately prepared. Make sure that your clothing is sized to allow your layers and still move comfortably. This will prepare you for any weather extremes or unexpected situations that may arise. Below is an explanation of some the personal items you will need to bring.
Toiletries
soap, razors, shampoo, nail scissors, hair products, tooth brush and tooth paste, tissues, sun cream, chap stick, antiseptic hand wipes, face washer
Back pack:
For travel in Nepal a back pack is more convenient than a suit case. If you plan on trekking, a sturdy and comfortable back pack and day pack is essential. You should have your back pack expertly fitted to you before your departure. Your back pack should also have a water proof cover.
Sleeping bag
Down-filled bags are better. Beg, borrow or steal a good one (ie 4-5 season) because high altitude nights will be cool. Good down is fluffy, light and thick. A muff (an extra section around the neck) makes a big difference to the overall warmth of a bag. Reasonable sleeping bags are cheaply available for rent in Kathmandu . Alternatively add a fleece sleeping bag liner to add warmth to a 3-4 season bag.
Sleeping bag liner
Cotton, silk or fleece. Saves washing your sleeping bag and adds warmth. These are now available in Kathmandu .
Daypack
This should be comfortable and a good waist band that transfers some of the weight to the hips is most important. It needs to be big enough to take a jacket, fleece, water, camera and odds and ends. Kathmandu now offers a range of cheap fall-part packs to top of the range.
Footwear:
One pair of sturdy light to middle-weight hiking boots. Typically these are combination of nylon and leather. We suggest boots with a Gore-tex lining to be waterproof. These types of shoes have a lug sole for good traction and provide lateral support for the ankles that is essential while hiking (for example; the Vasque Clarion and the Asolo Approach). Heavy-weight all-leather backpacking boots are not recommended. Be sure your footwear is broken in and fits well. Boots should fit comfortably over one thin liner sock and a mid-weight wool sock. This reduces chafing and blisters. Tennis shoes, or sandals are also useful for in camp use or bathing.
Socks:
Four pairs of liner socks. Four pairs of mid-weight wool socks. Socks and footwear should be coordinated for a proper fit.
Camp shoes/sandals/flip-flops
A luxury for your feet at the end of the day. Sandals or running shoes will be better you can buy for cheap in Kathmandu, are a necessity for showers during the Khumbu and Annapurna treks.
Fleece jacket
Most trekkers consider this essential, but alternatives are a thick thermal top or a light down jacket. In Kathmandu you can get almost any sort of copy fleece you need, but for good quality you can purchase on your home
Down jacket/Gore-Tex
This is really needed for the 2 weeks trek although trekking up to 3000m also cold in the evening and morning, if you don’t have it and wanted to use for only Nepal trekking you can rented in Kathmandu in less than a dollar
Rain Jacket/ Wind Shell:
The jacket should be very water repellent and roomy. Coated nylon or a waterproof/breathable fabric such as Gore-tex, A nylon or synthetic wind jacket. A waterproof/breathable jacket such as Gore-tex can be used both as a rain and a wind jacket.
Thermal shirts/underwear
Good thermals, both tops and bottoms are the best for cold weather in trekking
Nightwear thermals
Good for making warm nights in the sleeping bag, Silk-weight is lightest and warm,
Fleece/sweatpants
Good for the cold evening and morning.
Day-wear T-shirts/Shirts
On the lower altitude trekking weather will be hot, T-shirts and shirts are recommended
Trekking pants
Recommended to have 2 pairs
Wind pants
If your trekking pants are reasonably windproof then special wind pants are not needed. If you do bring a pair, it is not necessary to have Gore-tex. Similar, non-waterproof is quite OK.
Underwear
Regular everyday type.
Neck gaiter
For winter trekking they are really the best for staying warm
Trekking poles
Trekking poles are very useful specially for downhill, in popular trekking in Nepal you can buy the wooden trekking poles selling by children, trekking can be done with out trekking poles also
Sunglasses
Good wraparound glasses suitable for snow, its bright up there, but specialized glacier glasses with side pieces are not needed. Contact lens wearers report very few problems except cleaning them in the conditions.
Mittens/gloves
A good pair of wind-proof gloves is essential. You can buy in Kathmandu cheap if you don’t have it.
Water bottle
Two water bottles are recommend 1 liters bottles, bring the good one to take boiling water and be leak proof, European Aluminum bottles are best .
Torch / Flashlight
Flash light or head lamp is necessary, bring extra bulb and batteries
Towel
During the trekking no Towel at guest houses but hotel in the city like Kathmandu, Pokhara and Chitwan supplies the tours, Bring the small and light towel for trekking
Sunscreen and lip balm with sunscreen
The sun is strong at altitude, especially after snow. Bring at least sunscreen and lip balm WITH SPF 15, and better still SPF 30+. You can buy in Kathmandu
Moisturizer
The air is dry and more windy with dust some part of the trek so moisturizer is is good to car for skins.
Sun hat/woolen hat
Trekking in spring and summer of lower altitude is more hotter and whole day sun shining, you can bring the hat or small cap to protect from Sunburn, on the upper part of trek more cold and windy so you can have woolen hat to make your head warmer.
First aid kit
All our trekking our tour and trek leaders carry the first aid kit box including the medicine for altitude sickness and diaoheria and other small problems, you should bring any personal medicines that you need, some time your local medicine is more effective than we provide
Water purification
Some places on the tea house trek can buy the Mineral water but it is discourage for an environmental point of view because of the plastic bottles, hot and boiled water can get from the guest house. Iodine tablets and water purification drop chlorine is recommended to take.
Buying and renting equipment in Kathmandu
Kathmandu has ranges of good trekking stores and you can get every needed thing for the trekking. North Face, Mountain Hard wear and other big show rooms are in Thamel and other centers. Easy to rent items are down jacket and sleeping bag, most of the things are fake but you get on good price. Shoes are recommended to buy from your home