List of equipment and clothes for trekking in Nepal (Annapurna tour)

Trekking in Nepal, including tours such as Annapurna Base Camp and Annapurna Around, is characterized by a wide range of climatic zones in which visit the participants of the hike (from the tropics to the eternal ice). Despite this, there is no need to drag three bags of clothes. If you try a little, you can get by with a 50-liter backpack, which will contain no more than 7 kg of clothing and equipment.

Tour ideology

The Annapurna Base Camp trek, like many tours in Nepal, allows you to trek with a very light backpack. And you should definitely use this opportunity (without taking too much or hiring a porter). Even if on “home” hikes in the Carpathians you can easily carry a 20-kilogram backpack, this does not mean that it will be just as easy for you in an unusual climate and at an unusual altitude. Altitude has its own opinion (and a very authoritative one) regarding when it should be easy for you and when it should be unbearably hard. Therefore, you must not be lazy - go through your backpack over and over again, throw out the excess, throw out the excess, throw out the excess. Or immediately prepare $150 to pay the porter (porter). In any case, make a list of things you plan to take to Nepal and send it to me. Preferably indicating the weight of each item (what, you don’t have electronic scales yet?)

List of things and equipment

First, a short list with the main items of equipment and clothing sorted into 4 categories:

• mandatory personal - everyone should have this;

• recommended - I advise you to have this with you, but I don’t insist;
• optional - something you can do without, but if you really want it, then take it, of course. I myself constantly carry a bunch of junk from this category
• unnecessary - leave it at home, or in a hotel in Kathmandu.

Backpack

Since it is assumed that there will be few things, you can take a backpack that is not the largest - 60 or 50 liters. If you have nothing to choose from, and there is only one, for example, an 80-liter backpack, then you can “adjust” it for trekking in Nepal by unfastening all the extra to make the backpack at least a little lighter.

For greater safety of the backpack in the luggage compartment of the plane, it can be packed in film - at home, free of charge or for 20-30 hryvnia right at the airport. If you decide to pack yourself, be sure to leave a handle on the outside for carrying and attaching the luggage tag.

If you want to travel light and plan to hire a porter, then in addition to a large backpack, you need to take a small one (10-20 liters). In it you will carry a thermos, a jacket and documents. After all, the porters do not trudge along with the group, but quickly run ahead, and you will only be able to see the things given for carrying during the night.

Warm things

During the day, while walking, you will be warm, regardless of the altitude and the surrounding landscape (it doesn’t matter whether it’s a jungle or glaciers). But in the evenings and early mornings we will have an excellent opportunity to get acquainted with the icy breath of the Himalayas. Approximately 4 nights on this route will be in a more or less cold zone. The thermometer is unlikely to fall below minus 5, but subjectively you will assess what is happening as wildly cold (again due to the influence of altitude). It will be especially chilly after an evening shower.

I suggest using the down jacket as the basis for your thermal protection. They are light (600-800 grams) and at the same time very warm - much warmer than two thick fleeces or a padding polyester jacket of the same weight. If you don’t have a down jacket, you can buy one in Kathmandu (from $50, which is cheaper than ours), or try to replace it with a jacket with synthetic insulation, which is not nearly as effective. The jacket should cover the lower back and loins as much as possible, and it is also advisable to have a hood.

The second important element is thermal underwear (long johns and long sleeve jacket). You will wear it in the evening after a shower, and you will sleep in it. We will practically not wear thermal underwear during the day. Except for the two days that we will spend at high altitude on the approaches to Annapurna Base Camp. And then, most likely we will only use “top”.

Legs (hips) generally freeze much less than the torso or fingers. Therefore, super warm pants are not needed. Thermal underwear + regular running trousers will do a great job with the evening coolness.

A warm hat, gloves (fleece, not leather) and warm socks for sleeping (1 pair) are a must. Girls, as more heat-loving creatures, can take mittens instead of gloves - when their fingers are together, they feel warmer.

A windproof mask (with some stretch it can be replaced with a fleece scarf) is needed in order not to catch a cold in the cold morning air. At altitude you have to breathe continuously, often through your mouth, so the chilling Himalayan air can cause a lot of discomfort. In addition, your face will need protection from ultraviolet radiation - the mask will partially take on this function. You should not buy a one-piece balaclava (a phantom mask like a special forces one) with holes for the eyes. It is inconvenient to put on and take off, and in general it is overkill. A light mask covering only the bottom of your face is enough (you still have a hat on top). They are usually fastened with Velcro at the back of the head.

Rain protection

Rain in the mountains of Nepal in the month of October is rare. The reason we are going in October is because the rainy season has already ended, and the snowfall season has not yet begun. However, everyone should have protection from the rain. This can be a poncho cape that covers a person along with a backpack, or a set of a membrane jacket and a waterproof cover for a backpack.

Sun protection.

This is not about protection from high temperatures - even in the tropical part of the route they are absolutely acceptable (up to +30) and a set of clothes from shorts, a T-shirt and a hat will be sufficient. It is much more difficult to protect ourselves from the ultraviolet radiation that we encounter at high altitudes. Even a short-term exposure (20 minutes is enough) of unprepared skin (and that’s what we have) with the high-altitude sun can result in painful and terrible-looking burns.

At high altitudes, absolutely all exposed parts of the body must be protected from the sun. That's why you need sunscreen lipstick (men, this applies to you too!). I advise you to find a lipstick without taste and odor so that it does not interfere with the taste of food and the smell of the Himalayas.

Sunscreen - something with the maximum level of protection (at least 20 SPF). Don’t take huge bottles, don’t forget to “smear yourself”.

Sunglasses - without them you can simply go blind (just for a couple of days, but for real). It is not necessary to buy special climbing models (4th degree of protection). Regular sunglasses (grade 3 protection) are sufficient, but you must be sure that they are not counterfeit and that your lenses actually block ultraviolet radiation. It would be good if the glasses fit tightly to the face, without leaving wide gaps on the sides and bottom, but this is not important, since we will hardly be walking in the snow.

Sleeping bag

Although we will sleep under a roof (in lodges) and on beds, sleeping bags are a must. When choosing a sleeping bag, keep in mind that even the highest altitude shelters are not heated. At night, the temperature in the rooms can drop to zero. Therefore, if you have a choice of sleeping bags, take not a summer one, but an “autumn” (demi-season) one with a minimum temperature of -7. If we are talking about a sleeping bag with synthetic insulation, then it will weigh about 1.5 kg. Once again I want to draw your attention to products made from down - they are two times lighter than similar synthetic sleeping bags.

If you have a summer sleeping bag (weighing 1 kg) and there is no desire or opportunity to look for something warmer, then even in this case you can survive:) To do this, you will need (only 3-4 nights, while we are at altitude) to sleep dressed (thermal underwear + fleece) and cover yourself with jackets over the sleeping bags (or extort some kind of blanket from the owner of the shelter).

In Kathmandu and the tropical zone, we also sleep in sleeping bags, or on sleeping bags (if it’s very warm). In Nepalese hotels, linen is of course changed, but you shouldn’t count on it being clean. In addition, the sleeping bag will come in handy during our overnight stays in the Sharjah airport lounge.

By the way, although I included a rug (foam, mat) in the “unnecessary” equipment section, some of the participants still prefer to take it with them for a more comfortable overnight stay at the airport. And during the trekking, they leave the rugs in a storage room in Kathmandu.

Shoes.

There is no clear answer to the question about shoes yet. In principle, most of the route follows very good paths, often even paved with stone slabs. Lightweight trekking or running shoes (I usually use Salomon XT Wings) are best for getting around. But on the approaches to Annapurna Base Camp there is some (very real) chance of running into knee-deep snow. Therefore, if you are not a walrus (yogi, extreme sports enthusiast), then in addition to light shoes (sneakers or sandals), you also need to take good leather boots. And in addition to them there are also gaiters or shoe covers. The risk of encountering deep snow is especially high in early spring (early March) and late autumn (second half of November). At this time, you definitely can’t go without boots. Fortunately, excess cargo can always be given to porters.

Under no circumstances should you take heavy climbing boots with rigid soles on this hike! It is impossible to walk horizontally in them; they are created for other purposes.

Knee protection

As I already wrote, there are many paved paths on the route to Annapurna Base Camp. Moreover, the descents and ascents are often made in the form of stone steps. This is very convenient in case of rain (no mud, not slippery, etc.), but in dry weather walking up the steps can be very tiring. Firstly, you have to adjust your step to the step of the steps, and secondly, your knees get very tired on the descents. There will be no less descents on the route than ascents, so it won’t hurt to protect your knees additionally.

I recommend having trekking poles (inexpensive models can easily be bought in Kathmandu) and knee pads - ordinary, medical ones, from a pharmacy. Knee pads can be replaced with an elastic bandage from the same pharmacy (if, for example, you were unable to choose the size).

In addition, you can include some local pain reliever and anti-inflammatory agent (Voltaren gel or other ointment with Dicolfenac) in your personal first aid kit, in case your joints decide they’ve had enough:)

Bath accessories

Showers will be available almost every day on this hike (sometimes hot, sometimes not so much). So naturally you will need a coat. It's better not to take a huge terry towel. It weighs too much (about 500 grams) and takes too long to dry (it may “suffocate” in your backpack). My point is that instead of the traditional one, it is better to take a special hiking towel. It is made from thin microfiber, ideally very thin (like a handkerchief). The thinner the fabric, the more likely it is to dry out in the cool climate of the highlands. And the unique ability of microfiber to absorb moisture will help the thin towel cope with drying the surface of your body.

If you need shampoo, take it in bags, not bottles.

Shower slippers are a completely optional item, but sometimes quite convenient. You can take one slippers for several people.

Kitchen

In Nepalese lodges, everything is in order with cutlery - there are spoons, forks and knives. Moreover, there are plates and cups. There is no need to worry about this.

At high altitudes, it is important to drink fluids regularly. It is dangerous to drink cold water, so we regularly drink tea. You can buy tea at the eateries you regularly meet along the way, or brew it yourself - from your favorite tea leaves, using boiling water purchased at the same eateries. To do this, you will need a metal thermos (from 0.7 to 1 liter). By brewing tea in your thermos, firstly, you save money, and secondly, you are less dependent on cafes - you can drink something hot when you wake up from the cold in the middle of the night.

First aid kit

In addition to the standard set, the following drugs should be included in your personal first aid kit:

• Vitamins - you should start taking them a month before your trip to the mountains.
• Diacarb - tablets, recommended as a means of preventing mountain sickness.
• Remedy for motion sickness - the road from Kathmandu to Annapurna is 8 hours of mountain roads and serpentines.
• Hand disinfection spray - carry it in your pocket, use it with every meal, both in cities and high in the mountains.

Additional materials on the topic

• List of equipment with which I went “Around Annapurna” in 2009.