TREKKING GEAR & CLOTHING INFORMATION
Weight allowance for trekking trips
At the start of the trek, you will be carrying your day pack of around 2500 to 3200 cubic inches / 40 to 50 liters loaded with just the items you will need during the day of hiking. Your packed trek bag/duffle bag will be carried by either human porters or pack animals and should weigh no more than 33 pounds (27.5 pounds for Pakistan treks). Please contact us with any questions.
Footwear: This is the most important of your gear considerations. We recommend that you take a pair of broken in lightweight trekking boots that have proven to be comfortable on your long day hikes. For walking the easier sections of trail cross-trainers are fine. At night in camp, we suggest warm socks and sandals.
Mountaineering Footwear (climbing trips only): Plastic or the new technology leather mountaineering boots are required for our climbing trips or treks that cross high, snow-covered passes. Temperatures and snow conditions just do not allow the use of hiking boots for these trips, which may take us up to and over 20,000 feet / 6000 meters. Mountaineering boots are also designed to securely work with step-in crampons.
Gaiters: Gaiters are an important piece of equipment, which will help to keep your feet warm and dry in wet and snowy conditions. A simple "alpine" style of gaiter which hooks onto the bootlaces and is held under the instep by a strap or lace is fine for trekking trips.
Socks: Ideally you should wear two pairs of socks. Your inner sock liners should be a thin first layer and over them you should wear single pair of thicker socks. Bring 3 pairs of each type of sock. Typically, you'll be wearing one pair, another will be drying and you'll have a fresh clean pair to put on at the end of the day at camp.
Clothing: Your clothing needs to be adaptable for a wide variety of conditions. The layering principle continues to be the best approach when it comes to clothing (i.e. using a combination of several thin layers of thermally efficient clothing). When it is warm enough you can trek in either shorts or lightweight trekking pants and a long or short-sleeved synthetic T-shirt. For colder conditions, you can add layers of thermal clothing. Patagonia Capilene thermal clothing for men and women is very good and comes in three weights - lightweight, midweight and expedition weight. On top of these thermals you can add layers of fleece. A breathable rain jacket and pants should be used if it starts to rain or snow. In very cold temperatures, we suggest a down jacket and recommend a down jacket for the autumn trips.
Extremities: It is important to keep your extremities warm and dry! Please do not neglect your head and hands when selecting the equipment for your trip.
Sleeping bag: For any of our treks, you will need a 4-season sleeping bag rated to at least zero degrees F. A mattress is needed to insulate you from the cold ground, and we recommend a full-length, self-inflating Thermarest pad.
Sun protection: Sun protection is to be taken seriously! A wide-brimmed sunhat is needed to keep the sun off your head. To protect your eyes from the sun's rays at high altitude, please pack a pair (or two) of sunglasses with dark lenses. You should, of course, bring a plenty of suncream for your skin and lips.
Daypacks for trekking: A daypack with 2500 to 3200 cubic inches of capacity should be large enough to carry the following items on trek. a) shell jacket and pants. b) fleece jacket c) hat, gloves and extra pair of socks. d) Two one-liter waterbottles. e) camera plus accessories, binoculars, etc. f) first aid kit.
Please contact us to discuss any questions you may have while preparing for your trip.