If you Google things you need to pack for any trek, you will most likely get an overwhelming amount of information and a long checklist of items that you don’t know what to do with.
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# What to pack on your Everest Base Camp Trek?

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6 min read

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May 19, 2022

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If you Google things you need to pack for any trek, you will most likely get an overwhelming amount of information and a long checklist of items that you don’t know what to do with.

My purpose here is to take a minimalist approach and keep things simple, as simple as it can get, so that you travel light and get the maximum out of your trek. I firmly believe that the lighter you trek, the more you enjoy it. As with anything, what you need to carry depends a lot on your personal preferences. For example, I like to carry around my DSLR and lenses for most treks because I like taking pictures with them, so that’s a trade-off I am willing to live with. But the same may not apply to you.

One more thing to keep in mind is the art of layering when it comes to clothing. It’s preferred to have multiple thin layers of clothing rather than a single burly — 50 degree down jacket! You can always add more layers or take off some layers of clothing depending upon how cold or warm you feel. The layers trap air between them, which acts as additional insulation and helps keep you warm. On most days, one thermal, a polyester t-shirt and a fleece are more than enough during trekking.

Anyway, coming back to our discussion on essentials, what you need to carry on a trek to EBC can be essentially categorised into clothing and non-clothing items. Let’s look at the bare minimum in each category.

## Clothing Items / Wearables

- Head protection: Sun Hat, a pair of balaclavas, and a woollen/polyester beanie. The Sun Hat can be a regular one available for ~300 INR. No need to be brand-conscious here, it should just protect your skin reasonably from exposure. The Khumbu region is notorious for its dry winds which can cause ‘Khumbu cough’. While trekking upwards from Namche till Base Camp it’s always recommended to have a balaclava covering your ears, lips and neck. The beanie can be a regular one, you can also buy a wollen one for about 400–500 NPR in Kathmandu.
- Rain Poncho: This is critical. It can rain/snow any time on this trek. You can get one from Decathlon.
- Upper Body Protection: Polyester T-shirts (3–4 pairs), Thermals (1 pair upper and lower), Fleece (1), Rain-proof shell jacket (1), Down Jacket (1), Gloves (2 pairs — 1 woollen, 1 waterproof). A good pair of gloves goes a long way in keeping you warm. Remember, your palms and ears are the most exposed to ambient cold.
- Lower Body Protection: 2 trek pants + 1 thermal lower is sufficient. One of the trek-pants should be a little thicker for the higher altitudes, while the other one should be convertible to shorts (for lighter days at lower elevations).
- Undergarments: 6 pairs of polyester underwear, you can reuse each for 2 days. For males, upper body undergarments aren’t required as you can wear your thermals/t-shirts directly.
- Shoes: 1 pair of trekking shoes, 1 pair of crocs/sandals,1 pair of casual shoes.
- Socks: At least 4–5 pairs of socks (1–2 of these should be merino wool socks). Having a dry pair of socks is always a boon.
- Sunglasses: This is critical. Take Category-4 grade sunglasses with UV protection to protect your eyes from the harsh sunlight reflecting off the white snow. Sunglasses with wide coverings that protect your eyes from the sides are preferable.
- A few pair of masks: Well, it’s still Covid time!

You can get most of these items at any Decathlon store. For gloves and down-jackets, I would recommend brands such as Rab if you’re able to afford (these can last a lot of years). On the other hand, you can always rent down-jackets at affordable prices from Kathmandu as well.

## Non-Clothing Items

- Bags: Rucksack or Duffle Bag (can be offloaded to porters by paying a little extra), Day Pack (to carry your most frequently used items such as phone, cameras, snacks, water bottle, chargers, gloves etc.)
- Skin Protection: Lip Balm, SunScreen (SPF 50+), Moisturiser and Hand Sanitiser. Each one of these is extremely important.
- Trekking / Hiking Poles: 1 pair. Regular ones would do, no need to go fancy.
- Sleeping Bag or Mat: Good to have, but NOT essential if you’re trekking in the summer months. You would get blankets in most tea-houses, and you can get additional ones for some extra charge. Plus, sleeping bags add a lot of weight. I didn’t carry one.
- Camera Gear: Unless you’re a hardcore photographer or videographer, carrying a phone with a good camera or a small point-and-shoot camera is more than sufficient. This is what I recommend to most people. Phones have come a long way, and you can use them for reasonably good pictures, videos, slow motion clips, time lapse and multiple other things, with an ease of use that’s unparalleled. However, if you want to carry more specialised gear to capture your memories, the list can be endless: GoPro, Insta360 or other action cameras / Drones / ILC cameras (DSLRs or Mirrorless cameras), along with spare batteries, tripods, filters, external mics (if required). Don’t forget spare batteries — batteries drain very fast up in the mountains. A good way to keep them warm is by wrapping them up in warm clothes inside your camera bag, and keep them fully-charged every 2 days.
- Cramp-Ons: 1 pair (may be required on 1 or more days depending upon the snow on the particular day). I needed this while descending from the Cho La pass as the snow had hardened and was slippery. You won’t need these on fresh, soft snow. I bought a pair from Thamel, Kathmandu.
- Gaiters: Not required if you’re trekking in summer. I didn’t carry one and it was just fine.
- Water Bottles: No need to carry thermally insulated bottles which are usually heavier. Hot water is available on demand at Nepalese tea-houses. One lightweight 1L bottle is more than enough. Make sure to add a water purification tablet each time you fill your bottle up.
- Medication: Do NOT take any medicine without consulting your trek guide first. Have medications for altitude sickness (Diamox), diarrhoea, water purification tablets, fever/cold medicines and any specific medical conditions you have (e.g. I have asthma so I keep my inhaler with me at all times). Please consult your doctor or physician before embarking on this trek.
- Water Purification Tablets: I mentioned them before, but these are critical so I want to make sure you don’t miss them.
- Disposable plastic bags: These are going to be one of the most used items on this trek. Please keep a roll of bags that you can use to keep your dirty laundry or other items without having to worry about other stuff in your rucksack.
- Toiletries: No need to carry toilet paper from home, just buy a regular soft roll from Kathmandu. Girls can pack sanitary napkins or tampons as required. Tampons are always preferable.
- Torch / Watch / Solar Battery Charger: Not critical, but good to have depending on how much you can use them. You get paid electricity for charging phones/camera batteries in the tea-houses.

## Things NOT to carry

- Lots of packed or ready to eat food items: Try to stick to dal-bhaat on most days, that should keep you full and energised throughout the day.
- Cutlery: Not needed unless you plan to cook for yourself.
- Cotton apparels: Cotton retains sweat, moisture and doesn’t dry/wick easily. Leave them at home, except maybe 1 pair that you want to wear at Kathmandu.
- Alcohol: Duh! You can have your rum once you return to Kathmandu.
- Lots of unnecessary items that add to your weight, such as more than 1 book or a study lamp! Believe me, I have seen people lugging these around.
- Heating Devices: Too much weight. Try to make do with blankets.

And that’s it. You’re set.

Please remember that you can always add more items to your list, the choice is endless. But I honestly feel trekking light is the best! The above list provides you a bare minimum of stuff that will ensure you complete your trek safely and easily.

EBC Trek was one of my most memorable treks with views of Cho Oyo, Makalu, Tobuche, Ama dablam and many more mountains. I have documented my detailed experience + useful tips in this article and I hope it inspires you to go check it out for yourself. Cheers and all the best!

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I am a designer, story-teller, photographer and adventure enthusiast. Follow me for design-related content. abhijitnayak.framer.website

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