Equipment Recommended For High Altitude Expeditions
Before setting out on your Trek, it is important to have the proper equipment. The equipment ensures safety and comfort during your Trek. And, it is important that you choose equipment with which you are familiar and, in some cases, equipment that you have used before.
Below you will find a detailed and general list to better face the mountain. We recommend purchasing your equipment from specialty stores where you can find a variety of brands, models and sizes. Due to the different climates to which our treks are exposed, we recommend a layering system for your clothing (Onion Clothing). Bear in mind that porters can carry a maximum load of 12.5kg per person when trekking and 18kg on technical expeditions and remote regions. Unfortunately, some regions that can only be reached by air, such as Everest, Mustang, Dolpo, they have severe restrictions on the weight of luggage and do not accept hold luggage over 10 kg, in addition to hand luggage of 5 kg.
Base & Intermediate Layers
The most important function of the base layer is to breathe moisture from the body. Technical shirts and suitable underwear are essential. The purpose of the middle layer is to provide heat. This can typically be a fleece, wool vest or jacket.
Boots
Boots are probably the most important element for your trek. The terrain, most often uneven, implies ample support for the ankle. The boots must have a sturdy sole made of leather and a Gore-Tex lining to ensure their waterproofness. Make sure your boots have a perfect fit and you absolutely must use them several times before embarking on the trek.
Trek Pants & Socks
Technical trekking socks are highly recommended. They have a particular breathable effect that helps keep feet dry. You will need to be able to move easily, with no restrictions in your legs. Trek pants must be light or heavy, depending on the climate you are going to encounter. We recommend a light trousers for walking in low and medium altitudes, a medium one for walking at high altitudes, and a heavy one, for high altitude and for the evenings in tented camps or lodges, in addition to night climbs on the peaks around 6000 meters. Trousers must be quick-drying and light in weight.
Wind and Rain
Strong winds and thunderstorms can be sudden, all year round. A jacket and trousers made of good waterproof material are essential. The jacket must have a hood, and the trousers must have zippers on the sides of the legs.
Cap & Gloves
A hat with visor is essential for protection from the Himalayan and equatorial sun. A wool cap or hat that covers the ears is also important at higher altitudes. When conditions are unpredictable, a combination of a pair of heavy wool gloves and a pair of light gloves is recommended. The “mittens” can be a solution in high altitude trekking.
Sun Protection
Sunglasses are essential for eye protection. An IREX degree of protection of 100 is strictly recommended, and additional side shields are required. For high altitude trekking and expeditions, glacier goggles are highly recommended. For the sun, both in the Himalayas and in Kilimanjaro, we recommend creams with SPF 30 levels.
Trekking Sticks
Trekking poles help take the strain off the legs while trekking, as well as helping our balance a lot. Telescopic poles with a comfortable grip and adjustable wrist are recommended.
Daily Backpack 30/35 LT
A backpack of 30-35 liters is enough to carry your eventual food or bars, water, warm clothes and a camera. You can provide yourself with a 110 lt bag / travel bin, which you will share with another person, for your mountain gear that the porters will carry. We recommend nylon bags to divide your equipment from that of your partner inside the bag.
Hydration System
Depending on your preferences, you can choose to bring bottles or blisters. We suggest a bottle of at least one liter (2 bottles in areas with less water, such as Kilimanjaro) and, especially during overnight stays in tented camps, an additional bottle for any night needs. We will provide you with drops or tablets to disinfect the water during the trek.
Sleeping Bag
Depending on the type of trekking or extreme expedition, night temperatures can drop from + 5 ° to -30 °, approximately. Depending on your trip, we recommend to take time finding the ideal sleeping bag to bring. For those who do not have a sleeping bag and do not want to buy it, there are providers of a rental service (especially for destinations Nepal, Mongolia, Peru and Kilimanjaro). Sleeping bags available are limited, please ask if you need to rent it and we will let you know the availability. We also recommend an inflatable pad.
Sanitary Kit
Wet wipes, talcum powder, dry soap and a small technical towel are useful during the trek. A pee bottle, to avoid leaving the tent at night, and She-Wee (for women), can make traveling more comfortable.
Zip-Nylon Bags
Keeping your gear and clothing dry is very important. Everything you put in our duffel bags should be packed in zip lock bags or other plastic bags to ensure that all your gear stays dry during the trek.
Front Lamps
In many peaks that we usually face, the attempts to climb to the top begin in the middle of the night. It is essential to have a strong headlamp and extra batteries and any bulbs. Camping equipment such as tents, food, cooking equipment, dining tent, sleeping mat and portable toilet are provided by our company. In trekking in remote regions, the companies provide tents, self-inflating mattresses, satellite telephone and any oxygen and / or hyperbaric chambers.