Packing for the Everest Base Camp trek is a vital a part of having a profitable and satisfying climbing journey. Now we have spent a number of seasons climbing in Nepal, together with a few hikes to EBC. On this publish, we focus on the whole lot you might want to know to arrange for the trek from our in depth expertise. This packing publish ought to be useful, whether or not you trek independently or with an organization and we present you what to pack for males and girls. Our full packing checklist for the Everest Base Camp trek, contains garments, gear, electronics, and all types of nifty little extras we pack on this trek.
Are you to see what you’ll be able to eat on the Everest Base Camp trek?
Our Garments on the EBC Trek
What garments to pack? – Layering is essential and simply means sporting a few layers of clothes. Breathable clothes might help you to maintain heat, dry, and comfy in altering circumstances by eradicating layers relying on how you’re feeling and the circumstances you’re in. A number of skinny layers will preserve you hotter than a single thicker layer as a result of heat air is trapped between the layers appearing as an insulator.
Garments are organized in 3 layers out of your pores and skin outwards; a Base layer (underwear) that wicks (attracts moisture away) sweat off your pores and skin utilizing an artificial materials that doesn’t take up wetness. Center layer (insulating): retains physique warmth defending you from the chilly. An Outer layer (the shell) waterproof and windproof.
The Shell
Outer Shell Rain Jacket – wind and waterproof jacket girls or Outer Shell Rain Jacket for males with a hood in case of sturdy wind or rain. Strolling EBC in April we walked more often than not in a climbing shirt and outer shell jacket, layering up with a fleece and thermal vest a handful of occasions when it was chilly.
Trekking pants – I had one pair of sunshine quick dry climbing pants and I by no means zipped off the legs, on on very chilly days I layer up with thermal underpants (you’ll be able to take this off later within the day when it will get hotter). Should you go climbing low season when it is vitally chilly it’s good to put on thicker waterproof pants. For girls, I’d counsel packing trekking pants and stretchy exercise tights. That is Alya´s climbing pants of alternative, her stretchy, comfy yoga pants, dries rapidly if it will get moist and she or he layers up when it will get chilly.
You can even watch our Everest Base Camp Trek video displaying you what’s in my backpack on the trek.
Insulating Later
Light-weight Down Puffer Jacket, These, delicate, heat jackets are extraordinarily comfy and good to stroll in. Additionally good to put on within the tea home at night time. Mild, small, and really packable.
Fleece – Important merchandise. I put on a fleece beneath my outer shell on chilly days and over a thermal vest in tea homes.
A Fleece vest is nice for further warmth layering, girls fleece vest.
Base Layer
Merino wool socks – Strolling hundreds of kilometers on climbing routes all over the world we discovered Merino wool socks the very best at preserving your ft dry, blister-free, and stopping smelly ft. Merino socks come in numerous blends (wool share), weights (thickness) and heights (size). These socks are all completely fitted to completely different circumstances. For the EBC trek I like to recommend utilizing a Mid-weight Wool Sock – Darn Powerful Micro Crew Cushion Hike-Trek Merino Wool Sock (Hike Trek Girls Sock). With a really excessive merino wool content material (60%), it is a excellent sock to make use of for ft that sweat so much. Darn Powerful is a wonderful model with a lifetime assure on their socks. Danish Endurance Premium Outside Climbing Socks (Unisex) is one other wonderful merino wool sock that’s simpler to pay money for in Europe. For extra particulars about completely different merino wool climbing socks see our article on finest socks for the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage.
Climbing shirt – Put on breathable, moisture-wicking, quick-dry shirts. For males, I really like climbing in Columbia shirts, doesn’t take up water so it dries rapidly, and lengthy sleeves are nice for solar safety.
Moisture Wicking Merino Wool T-Shirts are additionally nice, quick-drying, moisture wicking
For Girls, Alya packs a mixture of long-sleeve operating shirts and short-sleeve operating t-shirts.
Sports activities bras – For climbing and out of doors actions Alya prefers to put on sport bras .
Thermal underwear – thermals (males’s fashions) are nice for sleeping in or use as an additional layer for climbing on very chilly days. girls thermal underwear
Underwear – Merino wool underwear could be very comfy, moisture-wicking, and temperature regulating. Pack at the least three or 4 pairs relying on how lengthy you’re climbing for, You may normally hand wash on the way in which. Girls – moisture-wicking panties
Beanie – since I don’t have a lot hair I typically put on a beanie. Although she has numerous hair, Alya generally put on a beanie when it is vitally chilly, pack one.
Gloves – Sporting skinny fleece gloves or no gloves was effective more often than not. My palms get chilly very simple and I used to be joyful that I packed a pair of winter ski gloves on one or two chilly mornings, I particularly recall ascending Kalapathar heat gloves helped so much!
Cap/hat – a cap, or hat is essential for solar safety on hikes.
Sun shades – I really like my giant Polaroid sun shades with correct UV safety necessary for climbing within the mountains I’ll suggest polarized lenses.
Rain poncho – On our final journey to EBC Alya left her rain jacket at residence and took a light-weight poncho that may match over her and her backpack to ensure nothing will get moist. She wore a fleece or down jacket for the remainder of the journey. We at all times pack ponchos when go touring – they’re small and lightweight and are sometimes fairly helpful. It rained a bit a few times and she or he used the poncho.
Multifunctional Headwear “Buff” nice to guard your neck and face from solar, wind and climate.
Gear and Gear – shopping for or renting?
There are various outlets promoting the mandatory garments and kit to trek to Everest Base Camp in Kathmandu. Principally fakes of well-known manufacturers like The North Face. Many individuals purchase the pretend gear, finishing the trek efficiently utilizing this tools. Clearly, the standard is inferior.
You may hire gear in Kathmandu, watch out it’s typically pretend, I rented a The North Face sleeping bag that fell aside after 3 days of use. There are a handful of retailers promoting genuine branded tools in Thamel, you cannot miss them. We purchased correct The North Face gear in Thamel, I’d nonetheless suggest shopping for important gear earlier than your journey whilst you nonetheless have time to order and alternate sizes, colours, fashions, and so forth.
Knock-off trekking Gear in Kathmandu
There are tons of of little trekking outlets in Kathmandu and Pokhara promoting handsome knock-off tools from well-known manufacturers.
You aren’t climbing Everest so that you most likely received’t die of chilly in a pretend jacket in summer season. Having one thing that matches, lasts, and retains the wind and rain out is simply nicer and can enhance your probabilities of ending the trek efficiently although it would considerably improve the price of the EBC trek.
Season is a vital consideration when shopping for gear, in summer season the knock-off stuff is OK and would possibly final throughout your trek. Once we have been trekking to EBC in late February it was so much colder than once we did the identical trek in April. I used to be glad we had correct gear, it was freezing. I wore my actual down jacket many of the trek, even sleeping in it at Gorakshep, I’d suggest taking a light-weight packable down jacket with a hood. The pretend jackets aren’t stuffed with goose down, however with artificial materials, it’s heavier and never almost as heat.
Insurance coverage for the Everest Base Camp trek
EBC is a excessive altitude trek and altitude illness is frequent. Since there are not any roads in these mountains when you get critically injured or sick you’ll have to be evacuated by helicopter which could be very costly. Journey insurance coverage that states it covers you for climbing to an altitude of 6000m is a ‘sure’ for Everest Base Camp at 5364m. Insurance coverage could be taken out in your complete journey or solely throughout your trek.
World Nomads presents easy and versatile journey insurance coverage. Purchase at residence or whereas touring and declare on-line from anyplace on the planet.
Finest Backpacks for EBC
A top quality and comfy backpack is a vital piece of apparatus. I’ll suggest a devoted climbing backpack from a well known model.
Backpacks are costly, however shopping for a great high quality pack is definitely worth the cash in case you are carrying your personal backpack. In case you are utilizing a porter he’ll most likely put the pack in a basket so it doesn’t make a distinction. I’m at the moment utilizing an Osprey Kestrel 48L backpack. I actually like this backpack it’s comparatively mild, suits very comfortably, can open from the highest, has a aspect zipper, breathable again match, adjustable torso, and comes with a rain cowl. The highest opening and aspect zipper are necessary since it’s a good-fitting climbing backpack that can be simple to pack. A 40-50L backpack ought to be sufficient for this route. Everest Base Camp is a tea-house trek there isn’t any have to deliver any tenting gear with you not like for instance whenever you pack for climbing in Patagonia.
The Deuter Unisex – Grownup’s Aircontact Lite 50+10 Trekking Backpack or Osprey Atmos AG50 for women are two extra nice packs you’ll be able to take into account.
We had been touring round Asia for about two years when the trekking bug bit and I used to be utilizing a journey pack, these backpacks similar to the Osprey Far Level 55 Journey Backpack are nice for touring as a result of they don’t seem to be solely high loading, you’ll be able to open them in entrance for simple packing. Journey packs even have all types of straps, clips, and zippers and they’re good to hold, however a backpack designed for climbing is the primary alternative for consolation. This type of backpack can be utilized for trekking however will not be as comfy as a devoted climbing backpack.
Prime Climbing Pack Options: Adjustable Torso Size, Built-in & Removable Rain Cowl, 3D Suspended Again panel, and Lumbar for excellent match and luxury, a high climbing pack!
Packing Footwear for EBC Trek
Climbing boots/footwear – necessary qualities to test for
good grip
waterproof
respiration
good high quality (high quality model)
Do you have to trek to Everest Base Camp in boots or footwear? Doing the hike in footwear is feasible, ensure they’re waterproof. With a boot laced as much as the highest probabilities of water coming in from the highest are a lot decrease in rain and snow than with a shoe. Should you would not have climbing expertise I’d go for the next minimize for some ankle help. The porters typically put on sneakers and even sandals. I’ll suggest sporting merino wool socks in waterproof climbing footwear.
We’re each very pleased with our Gortex Salomon X Extremely boots. Mild and comfy, 100% waterproof. Even after climbing for hours in snow and dust on the Annapurna Base Camp trek our ft stayed dry! Girls Salomon X Extremely Boots
If you would like a low-cut shoe I’m at the moment very joyful trekking with my Merrel Moab 3 footwear, for the EBC trek I like to recommend shopping for the waterproof Gortex model Merrel Moab 3 GTX.
Is a Sleeping Bag needed on the EBC Trek?
It will get very chilly contained in the tea homes at night time. Our water froze inside our bottles inside at night time on the highest altitude! You do get blankets and may ask for further, we nonetheless at all times carry a light-weight summer season sleeping bag that compresses for simple packing, it helps for heat and we like sleeping in our ‘clear’ sleeping luggage.
Everest Base Camp Trek Packing – Prompt Equipment
Trekking Poles – nice to scale back the influence in your knees, very useful on some icy descents on the EBC trek. TrailBuddy Climbing Sticks very properly rated for sturdiness, consolation, shock absorption, high quality, and adjustability. Good worth for cash, aluminum trekking poles.
Microfibre towels are mild, pack small and dry fast.
Petzl is nice high quality headlamps, the electrical energy within the tea homes will not be at all times on at night time, a headlamp is helpful Petzl Arctic 300 Lumen waterproof headlamp
Water is dear and the upper you climb the upper the worth. It’s attainable to sterilize faucet water and save so much. You may have three choices to sterilize faucet water and drink
A Lifestraw filter bottle makes water from most sources on the path completely drinkable. Attempt to not purchase plastic bottles of ingesting water within the mountain. This contributes to air pollution on this pristine space.
The Swiss knife could be very helpful, a pointy knife not at all times out there in tea homes, the Swiss knife for reducing, opening cans and so forth. Essential! Don’t neglect when you fly solely with hand baggage no knives will likely be allowed.
Take a pocket book
Journey moist wipes very excessive on our checklist, typically use for laundry if ‘bathe’ chilly or costly.
Hand sterilizer – faucet not at all times out there
First Support Equipment for EBC trek
Pack a great, primary, mild first support equipment similar to this one. I customise mine by including a number of the treatment beneath.
Add some
ache killers paracetamol/aspirin/ibuprofen
Imodium for an upset abdomen
rehydrate (isotonic drink) for if you end up dehydrated
Diamox. It’s utilized by many trekkers to stop altitude illness. At excessive altitude the air strain is low and fewer oxygen out there, Diamox prevents AMS by appearing as a respiratory stimulant. Contraindications Diamox is a diuretic so that you always should urinate, not good to go to the bathroom whether it is chilly at night time. Needles and pins (paraesthesia) in palms in ft.
Altitude RX Oxyboost Advanced for Mountain Illness – pure treatment towards altitude illness, we’ve got by no means used it, however it has good critiques, test right here for about 500 critiques, sound like it really works to me!
Plasters – pack sufficient plasters when you get blister that you may exchange them every day. There are particular blister prevention patches for footwear as properly.
Antiseptic/iodine.
Vaseline – you should use it for blister prevention put it each morning in your ft (some areas) earlier than you begin strolling. It’ll assist to scale back chafing.
Toiletries
EBC Trek Permits and preparations
Permits and Admin aren’t at all times probably the most enjoyable a part of packing, the permits can be found in Lukla and Monjo to allow them to be paid on the way in which.
Everest Base Camp permits required 2024
Native allow value NPR 2000 ($20)
Sagarmatha Nationwide Park Entry Allow (USD 30 + 13% Govt. Tax)
Each permits could be purchased throughout the trek at checkpoints at Lukla and Monjo. That is the best technique to do it and you cannot miss these checkpoints on the route.
Do you want a TIMS allow to trek to EBC?
TIMS ( Trekkers’ Info Administration Techniques) permits are required by the central authorities of Nepal to gather information of all people climbing in Nepal. There may be numerous conflicting info on-line concerning whether or not this allow is required or not for climbing EBC.
This allow was once a requirement for trekking within the Everest area. The TIMS card is now not required for the Everest Base Camp Trek it has been changed by the native space allow. There are a number of trekking routes round Everest Base Camp. TIMS could be required for different areas similar to Annapurna or Langtang
Lodging in Kathmandu
We’ve stayed at a number of motels in Kathmandu in numerous elements of Thamel, our favourite location within the metropolis is Keshar Mahal Marang Road. A small and quiet dead-end avenue in Thamel with solely motels, hostels, eating places, and occasional outlets. The road is a 5-minute stroll from the principle touristy space with tons of of retailers and companies.
Now we have stayed at Aryatara Kathmandu Lodge a number of occasions, a pleasant lodge and good worth for cash. Massive rooms, comfy beds, good breakfast (included), nice sizzling bathe, AC, wi-fi, TV, free airport pick-up (for worldwide flights solely). The employees could be very useful and pleasant. We saved our further baggage right here each time we went climbing free of charge with none drawback.
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The sturdy half of Stingy Nomads, a nomadic aquaman that might be joyful to spend all his life within the water diving, browsing and spearfishing however typically has to compromise with Alya and go climbing as a substitute. Campbell is accountable for all our marine adventures and following them with write-ups. He loves touring, braai (BBQ in South Africa), pink wine and spending the day in a wetsuit.
