Lodge/Teahouse Trek gear info

When are you going on treks in Nepal you may think about what to take. This blog is for the trek gear list for our Nepal lodge/teahouse treks.

Snacks and nutrition

As you are having meals in lodges, you still may need some extra snacks and nutrition along with you. The lodges provide filling meals. However, inevitably you'll want some snacks. Nuts and dried fruit are perhaps best, and better bought from home to save shopping time. At local lodge shops, there are Mars bars and similar, and the infamous coconut biscuits plus more, so if you run out of snacks, there are shops.

Kathmandu clothing

From April to the end of October (~summer), it is warm or hot during the day. Cool, light clothes are best.

In winter, from November through to the end of March, it is still usually warm during the day and a single layer will often do, but long pants rather than shorts. In the evenings you will want a jacket, and during late December through to February, a light down jacket is better for eating/drinking outside.

The hotel stores luggage free of cost whatever you don't take trekking, and there are readily available laundry services. Plan a clean set of clothes for your return from the trek.

Who carries what?

You carry a day pack with your phone/camera, jacket, water, and snacks. The porters (or sometimes yaks/mules) carry everything else, and you pack this in a duffel/kitbag (rather than a backpack).

It is easy to bring extra gear that you think you will use but probably won't, and in the end, most people get by with a fairly minimal set of gear with few duplicates. When deciding on warm clothing, the principle of only what you can wear at once should apply. Take another thermal top to sleep in though. Bring the best but no excess.

Weight restrictions

For most of our treks there is no hard limit however only bring what you will use, which will likely be around 12-15kg. On most treks, two kitbags are carried by one porter.

A typical room in a lodge/tea house

A typical lodge room consists, of a spartan with beds, mattresses, sheets, pillows, and a single light.

Gear discussion

Kitbag (duffel/duffle bag)

This is carried by porters/mules and must be a simple design without wheels or frames. You can buy cheapie kitbags in Kathmandu although they are not as tough as say the popular North Face Base Camp Duffel XL or my favorite Patagonia Black Hole duffel. A loosely packed 120L capacity is mostly best however 90L might do if you are a compact packer.

Local quilts are available. But if you want to bring a sleeping liner it's up to you.

Cotton, silk, thermal or fleece. Saves washing your sleeping bag and adds warmth and comfort.

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/phone/power bank, and odds and ends. Tidy packers can get away with smaller 24-30 litre packs however mostly a 35-45 litre pack is more practical.

Boots

For a happy trek you need comfortable feet. For most people, good, relatively light boots will be best however if you hike in trail shoes, they will work, assuming there isn't an unexpected large dump of snow.

Good boots have good ankle support, plenty of toe room for long descents, a slightly stiff sole to lessen twisting torsion, and are light because with every step you lift your boot up.

Gore-tex boots have an inner liner that help with warmth but your feet tend to sweat more in the warmer low country. You don't necessarily need Gore-tex boots. Good lightweight trekking boots or light all-leather boots are best and must be lightly worn in before trekking including some steep hills to show up trouble spots.

Socks

In the low country, your feet will be warm or even hot while walking so quality cotton mix sports socks can work well, or light hiking socks. Two to four pairs are enough. Medium/thick trekking socks are better for higher-up and cool evenings, with another two to four pairs. Modern trekking boots fit snugly so wearing two pairs of socks at the same time is impractical. Socks with a high natural fiber content, either wool or cotton, are usually more comfortable and less smelly than mainly synthetic socks.

Camp shoes/crocs/flip-flops

Luxury and convenience for your feet at the end of the day around the lodge and perhaps in the shower. Crocs or similar are the best all-round, being so light, and combine with socks once high up. Or if you are worried about your boots, then bring trail/trail running shoes to double as spare trek shoes instead.

Fleece / softshell jacket

Most trekkers consider this essential for the daypack, but alternatives are a thick thermal top or a light Primaloft or light-down jacket.

Down jacket

Essential evening wear, a light or mid-weight down jacket with a hood can also go in your daypack up high. A down jacket is the best option, although Primaloft is OK for less cold treks.

Wind/rain jacket

Waterproof and breathable. Gore-tex or similar jackets are recommended for treks over passes or climbing trips. Plastic ponchos or non-breathable raincoats are not suitable.

Thermal shirts/underwear

Good thermals, both tops and bottoms, are one of the secrets to cold-weather trekking comfort. A mid-weight top (zip-T style) is great for high-country day wear. Lighter thermal tops, eg merino wool tops, are still useful in the low country and an expedition-weight thermal top is a good warm but light system for the real cold.

Nightwear thermals

If you are not sure if your sleeping bag is warm enough, or if you get up frequently, a light or mid weight thermal is perfect.

Fleece/sweatpants

Great for the chilly evenings, thicker is better (except for when the stoves in the teahouses really heat up!). A thermal layer under your trek pants will work for some less cold treks instead.

Day-wear shirt

T-shirts are the standby, or sun shirt-style with long sleeves and made of technical synthetics, light merino wool or the less versatile cotton. A travel shirt is looser than a t-shirt and therefore harder to layer however the collar protects the back of your neck and the sleeves can be rolled up or down. Bring at least two so you can swap damp for dry.

Trekking pants

You will live in these. Light material, loose and medium-coloured is best. You can survive with only one pair, although two is better, and if heading high, a slightly thicker soft shell as your second pair is really useful.

Wind pants

If you have softshell trekking pants then special wind pants are not needed. If you do bring a pair, it is not necessary to have Gore-tex and non-waterproof is quite OK as you won't wear often.

Underwear

4+ pairs.

Beanie/warm hat/balaclava

Essential for the evenings and useful for cold trekking days.

Buff/neck gaiter

A basic buff is versatile and complements a beanie.

Trekking poles

Definitely useful, especially on steep, rough terrain, and we do recommend bringing however, if you are not used to using them, you can survive without however still one pole is useful for easing long descents.

Sunglasses

Bring good wraparound glasses suitable for snow, its bright up there even without snow. Specialized glacier glasses with side pieces are not needed, although if you have, do bring. Contact lens wearers report very few problems except cleaning them in the conditions.

Gloves

A good pair of wind-proof gloves is essential, even if only for pass crossings. Windbloc fleece is enough, rather than fully insulated gloves unless you feel the cold.

Water bottle

This should be one liter or more in capacity, take boiling water, and be leak-proof. Wide mouth Nalgene bottles are best however European-style aluminum bottles are adequate. You need a minimum of 2 water bottles, or at least 1 water bottle in addition to a Camelback or hydration system.

Headtorch

Most lodges have a light in the room however bring a head torch as well, which is more reliable than a mobile phone.

Toiletries and odds & ends

Essentials for the month only. The smallest tube of toothpaste available in Kathmandu is perfect for a month. Teahouse trekking, there are a surprising number of showers or buckets of hot water available. Start with one or two rolls of toilet paper, and you can buy more in lodges. Deodorant can spare you grief with your roommate...

Towel

You will take showers so bring a medium-sized camp towel, sarong or simply a hand towel. The Kathmandu hotel supplies towels.

Sunscreen and lip balm with sunscreen

At altitude, the sun is strong, especially after snow. Bring sunscreen (high factor protection) AND lip balm WITH SPF 15, and better still SPF 30+.

Sun hat

A technical running cap is ideal. A wide-brim sun hat is also good, giving added neck protection.

First aid kit

The guide carries a medical kit with Paracetamol, Ibuprofen, decongestants, lozenges, various antibiotics for Nepalese varieties of diarrhea and chest infections, Diamox (an acclimatizing aid drug), emergency altitude drugs, antiseptic, antihistamine cream, oral rehydration, and band-aids.

You should bring any personal medicines that you need, and if you have had blisters in the past, a good blister kit.

Water purification

The guide brings a water filter however feel free to bring your own or a Steripen.

Phone / Camera

Bring a good power bank or extra batteries. Nepal is photogenic and there are no security worries about carrying a good system.

Renting equipment

Easy-to-rent items in Kathmandu are thick-down jackets and sleeping bags. Bringing your own thinner down jacket is probably better though.