Himalayan Gear List & Packing Guide
Everything you need to carry — and nothing you don't. Built from 15 years of leading expeditions across India, Nepal, and Bhutan.
Know Your Weight Targets First
Set your targets before you buy a single item. An overloaded pack on a Himalayan pass is not an inconvenience — it is a cumulative injury risk across seven or more consecutive days.
7–9 kg
Day Pack
(you carry)
(you carry)
12–15 kg
Main Duffel
(porter carries)
(porter carries)
22 kg
Airline Check-In
Maximum
Maximum
7 kg
Cabin Bag
Limit
Limit
Day Pack vs. Main Duffel — The Division
On all supported treks, a porter carries your main duffel between camps. You hike with your day pack only. Day pack: water, snacks, warm layer, waterproof jacket, hat, gloves, headlamp, first aid, sunscreen, camera, documents, power bank. Duffel: sleeping bag, spare clothing, camp shoes, toiletries, everything non-essential for the day.
The One Rule
Lay out everything you plan to pack. Then remove 30% of it. Every experienced Himalayan trekker says the same thing on return: "I packed too much." The mountain does not reward preparation that breaks your knees on the descent.
The Complete Gear List
Items marked Essential are non-negotiable on all treks. Critical means required for specific conditions noted. Optional means useful but not required.
Layer 1
Base Layer
Essential
- Merino wool or synthetic top + bottom × 2 — never cotton
- Rotate daily — merino manages odour without washing
- Lightweight for summer routes, heavyweight for winter
Layer 2
Mid Layer
Essential
- Lightweight fleece or softshell — for active hiking
- Packable down jacket, 600 fill minimum — for camp and rest stops
- Down jacket is mandatory above 3,500m on all routes, all seasons
Layer 3
Outer Layer
Essential
- Waterproof hardshell jacket — 10,000mm+ rated
- Waterproof hardshell trousers
- Gore-Tex or equivalent membrane — must be breathable, not just waterproof
- Helmet-compatible hood, pit zips preferred
Footwear
Boots, Socks & Camp Shoes
Essential
- Waterproof mid-cut trekking boots — broken in before arrival
- Merino wool hiking socks × 4–5 pairs
- Camp sandals or lightweight shoes
- Gaiters — snow routes and monsoon season
- Blister kit: Compeed, moleskin, sports tape
Head & Hands
Warmth & Eye Protection
Essential
- Warm beanie or fleece hat
- Sun hat or trekking cap
- Lightweight liner gloves
- UV sunglasses — CE Cat. 3 minimum
- Neck gaiter or balaclava
- Waterproof outer mitts (5,000m+ routes)
Sun Protection
Sunscreen & Skin
Critical Above 3,500m
- SPF 50+ sunscreen × 2 full tubes
- SPF lip balm
- After-sun lotion — skin dries fast at altitude
- UV radiation increases ~10% per 1,000m — apply even on cloud cover
Sleep System
Sleeping Bag & Liner
Essential
- Sleeping bag — −10°C rated minimum
- Silk or fleece liner — adds 5–8°C, compresses small
- Sleeping mat (camping treks — provided by us on expedition routes)
- Earplugs — teahouses carry sound between walls
Bags & Packs
Duffel, Day Pack & Covers
Essential
- Main duffel: 80–100L — soft-sided, not a framed pack
- Day pack: 25–35L with hip belt
- Rain cover for both bags
- Dry bags or compression sacks inside duffel
- 2× large ziplock bags — documents and electronics
Power & Navigation
Light, Charging & Tech
Essential
- Headlamp + lithium spare batteries
- Power bank — 20,000 mAh minimum
- Universal travel adaptor
- Waterproof phone pouch or dry bag
- Offline maps downloaded before departure (Maps.me / Gaia GPS)
- Satellite communicator (remote expedition routes)
Trekking Kit
Poles, Water & Trail Tools
Essential
- Collapsible trekking poles × 2 — with snow baskets
- Insulated water bottles × 2 (1L each) — no single-use plastic
- SteriPen UV or purification tablets
- Microspikes (snow/ice routes — confirm with guide)
- Technical equipment (ice axe, harness, helmet) — provided by us on expedition peaks
Health & First Aid
Medications & Hygiene
Critical
- Personal prescriptions — double supply
- Ibuprofen, paracetamol, antihistamine, ORS sachets × 6+
- Diamox — consult your doctor before departure
- Pulse oximeter — strongly recommended above 3,500m
- Hand sanitiser, biodegradable soap
- Toilet paper + trowel (camping routes)
Documents & Money
Permits, Passport & Cash
Critical
- Passport + 2 photocopies — give one to your guide
- Travel insurance with helicopter evacuation cover
- Local currency cash — no ATMs above base villages
- USD $100–200 emergency reserve
- Permits and TIMS card — we arrange, you keep copies
Seasonal Adjustments
The core list above applies year-round. These are the critical additions and swaps for each season.
Spring
Mar – May
Mar – May
Add: Waterproof jacket for afternoon showers, gaiters for late-season snow on passes, insect repellent at lower altitudes. Drop: Ski mitts and heavy down below 4,000m. Spring is variable — pack for both warm days and cold nights.
Monsoon
Jun – Sep
Jun – Sep
Add: Dry bags inside everything (mandatory), extra waterproof pack covers, leech socks (Bhutan and lower Nepal), anti-fungal powder, quick-dry clothing only. Drop: Heavy down below 3,500m. Note: Kashmir and Ladakh are dry during monsoon — standard summer kit applies there.
Autumn
Oct – Nov
Oct – Nov
The most balanced packing window. Core list applies well through October. From late October: add heavier sleeping bag liner and microspikes for early snow on high passes. Nothing critical to leave behind — this is the easiest season to pack for.
Winter
Dec – Feb
Dec – Feb
Add: −20°C sleeping bag, heavyweight down jacket, balaclava, ski mitts over liner gloves, chemical hand warmers × 6+, insulated boot liners, heavyweight merino base layer. Critical: Cold kills battery life fast — double your battery stock and keep devices inside pockets against your body.
Chadar Trek
Jan – Feb · −35°C
Jan – Feb · −35°C
All winter gear above plus: neoprene socks, hand and toe warmers in bulk, fleece liner inside down sleeping bag, full-face balaclava, mountaineering-grade boots rated to −40°C. Remove every cotton item from your pack without exception. Cotton is a cold-injury risk at these temperatures.
Destination-Specific Notes
India — Kashmir, Ladakh & Himachal Pradesh
- Scarf or shawl (men and women): Required when entering mosques in Kashmir and monasteries in Ladakh. You will be asked to cover up at nearly every cultural stop.
- Slip-on footwear for cultural days: You remove shoes constantly at shrines. Sandals are faster and less disruptive.
- Cash rupees: No functioning ATMs above Leh city or Kargil. Withdraw before leaving these towns. Card acceptance is minimal on trek.
- Sunscreen from arrival: Leh sits at 3,524m. You are at altitude the moment you land. Apply before leaving the airport.
Nepal — EBC, Annapurna & Langtang
- Down jacket is mandatory above Namche / Manang — even in October, teahouses above 3,500m are cold after 4pm.
- Trekking poles: The Namche staircase and all Nepal descents are punishing on knees without them. More critical here than on any other route we run.
- Nepal rupees cash: Above Namche on EBC, many teahouses do not accept cards. Withdraw at Namche ATMs — last reliable cash point before Base Camp.
- Gaiters: Snow on Thorong La and high passes is present year-round. Needed even in peak autumn season.
Bhutan — Druk Path, Jomolhari & Snowman
- Leech socks: Lower sections of all Bhutan treks, especially June–September. Small and lightweight — do not skip them.
- Dry bags for everything: Bhutan receives heavy rain at lower elevations even outside monsoon season. Treat all electronics and your sleeping bag as if rain is guaranteed.
- Smart-casual clothing: Entry to dzongs requires covered shoulders and knees. No shorts or sleeveless tops in Paro or Thimphu cultural stops.
- Snowman Trek: Requires full expedition-level winter kit. Contact us for the route-specific briefing before purchasing equipment.
Leave These Behind
Do Not Bring
- Cotton clothing in any form — absorbs moisture, retains cold, does not dry. Remove every cotton item before departure.
- Jeans — heavy, slow-drying, no insulation when wet.
- New, unbroken-in boots — blisters from new boots have ended more treks than altitude sickness. Minimum 50km in them before departure.
- Laptop or tablet — 1.5–2kg for a device you will rarely use. Download to your phone instead.
- Full-size toiletries — decant into 50–100ml containers. Heavy and available in all departure towns.
- Single-use plastic bottles — not accepted on our treks. Bring a reusable insulated bottle.
- Alcohol above 3,000m — suppresses breathing during sleep, worsens altitude symptoms, dehydrates. Also inappropriate in Islamic regions of Kashmir.
- Drones without permits — illegal in Nepal without CAA permit, restricted in India and Bhutan. Confiscation is real.
- Valuables and jewellery — leave in a hotel safe in your departure city.
- Strong perfume or cologne — triggers altitude headaches. Scent-free toiletries only above 3,500m.
What to Buy or Rent In-Country
Kathmandu's Thamel district is one of the best-stocked trekking gear markets in the world — and significantly cheaper than Western outdoor retailers. Here is what to source at home versus on arrival.
| Item | Kathmandu | Leh / Srinagar | Paro / Thimphu | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Down jacket | ✓ Buy or rent | ✓ Available | ⚠ Limited | Rent in Kathmandu for a one-off trip |
| Sleeping bag | ✓ Rent or buy | ✓ Available in Leh | ✗ Bring your own | Rent in Kathmandu — check temperature rating carefully |
| Trekking poles | ✓ Cheap to buy | ✓ Available | ⚠ Limited | Buy in Kathmandu if not bringing from home |
| Trekking boots | ✓ Wide range | ✓ Available | ✗ Bring broken-in | Never buy new boots and trek immediately — blister risk is acute |
| Sunscreen SPF 50+ | ✓ Available | ✓ Available | ⚠ Limited brands | Bring from home for quality and quantity assurance |
| Water purification | ✓ SteriPen & tablets | ✓ Available | ⚠ Thimphu only | We provide purified water on all camping expeditions — bring tablets as backup |
| Pulse oximeter | ✓ Available in Thamel | ⚠ Limited | ✗ Bring your own | Buy before travel — cost is low ($15–30), value is high above 4,000m |
| Gaiters | ✓ Available | ⚠ Limited | ✗ Bring your own | Source before travel if not going via Kathmandu |
🌿 Our Plastic-Free Commitment
We operate plastic-free on all our treks. Bring a reusable insulated bottle and purification tablets. Our teams carry a Katadyn base camp filter on all camping expeditions. Packing this way is not just ethical — it reduces pack weight and saves money over a full week on trail.
Ready to Pack for Your Trek?
Every Summit Routes booking includes a route-specific gear checklist, altitude briefing, and a direct line to your guide before departure.