Equipment Checklist

The Inspire Trek & Travel guide to your trekking and climbing essential equipment

Use our equipment guidelines below

As with any trek or overseas travel adventure, it is important to get your equipment right both for comfort and for your safety. The lists below outline our recommended checklist of equipment for our treks.

Please note that it is not an exhaustive list and does not take into account your own preferences, so feel free to add to it.

Trekking equipment list

Please note this list is for guidance only and does not take into account your individual preferences.

General equipment

  • a good quality, 4 season sleeping bag
  • trekking poles
  • day rucksac plus larger sac or similar for porter to carry (drysacs for both)
  • torch / headtorch with spare batteries and bulbs
  • map and guidebook

Clothing

  • waterproof boots or shoes and spare laces
  • lightweight shoes or sandals for use in lodges
  • waterproof jacket and trousers
  • hat for warmth, scarf / neck warmer, gloves
  • sun hat
  • socks for warm and cool conditions (3 pairs)
  • underwear for warm and cool conditions (3 sets)
  • trousers / skirt and shorts
  • wicking base layer (2)
  • mid-layer
  • fleece
  • gaiters
  • down jacket

Also

  • water bottle / bladder and purification tablets
  • high quality sunglasses
  • sun cream (factor 20 or above)
  • UV protective lip balm
  • hand sanitizer gel
  • ear plugs
  • personal toiletries and travel wash for clothes (eco-friendly, please)
  • quick drying towel
  • consider taking protein bars
  • electrical adaptor (2 pin) – charging is possible in most teahouses
  • don’t forget a camera, spare batteries / battery charger and memory cards

Climbers must add the following

Ice axe
We like a general-purpose axe in the 60-70 cm range. A wrist leash or tether to the harness is useful on steep slopes where losing an axe would be a big problem.

Crampons
The number one rule with crampons is that they need to be compatible with, and stay on, your boots. Make sure your crampon straps are long enough to go around your big boots!

Helmet

Climbing Harness
We prefer a harness with a minimum of padding that can be adjusted to fit over bulky clothing and with leg loops that open, so you don’t have to step into the harness.

Ascenders & Hardware
Two locking carabiners, mechanical ascender, rappel device (Figure 8 is good because it works on a variety of rope diameters from 7mm to 11mm), two 24” slings and 2 carabiners. Bring 30 feet of 7 or 8mm accessory cord to rig your ascender and safety sling.

Warm mittens

Plastic double boots, or equivalent

Insulated pants

Glacier glasses

5 season sleeping bag

Equipment sponsors

We are delighted to recommend some of our equipment sponsors below