Just days away from my departure in search of Everest Base Camp I have started getting together all that will be accompanying me to the land of Earth's tallest peaks.
This will be my first time backpacking during the winter months and much of my gear has yet to be tested outside the small Japanese apartment where I currently hang my hat. I have been unable to discover a gear list online reflecting the same kind of trip that I have in mind for myself: a solo (camping?) winter trip without the use of a porter. That being said, I hear that finding gear in Nepal is incredibly easy (and cheap (and fake)).
NOTE: After returning from EBC I can tell you that a tent and sleeping pad are in no way required and I met no other people who were camping (there are villages everywhere).
GEAR
- BACKPACK | Osprey Exos 58
- TENT | Mountain Hardwear SuperMegaUL 1 (REVIEW)
- GROUND SHEET | Mountain Hardwear SuperMegaUL 1 Footprint
- SLEEPING BAG | Mountain Hardwear Wraith (-20 °F/-29 °C) (REVIEW)
- LINER | Sea to Summit Reactor Thermolite Liner
- SLEEPING PAD | Therm-a-Rest Z Lite Sol
- TREKKING POLES | Black Diamond Alpine Ergo Cork
- HEADLAMP | Princeton Tec Remix
- MULTITOOL | Leatherman Skeletool CX
- RAINCOVER | Osprey UL Raincover
- WATER TREATMENT | SteriPEN Ultra (REVIEW)
- WATER BOTTLE | Platypus PlusBottle 1 Liter Water Bottle
- WATER BOTTLE | Nalgene Wide-Mouth Canteen (48-Ounce)
- HYDRATION | Platypus Drinking Tube
- BATTERY | Anker 2nd Gen Astro3 12800mAh
- TOWEL | Packtowl Ultralite Towel (L)
- STUFF SACKS | Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Stuff Sacks
- SLEEPING BAG STUFF SACK | Mountain Hardwear Wraith Compression Sack
CLOTHING
- HEADWEAR | Double Mountain Gray Flat Brim Fitted Ballcap
- HEADWEAR | Mountain Hardwear Dome Perignon<
- HEADWEAR | Mountain Hardwear Desna Balaclava
- JACKET | Heatzone 1000 Turbodown Hooded Jacket
- JACKET | Mountain Hardwear Ghost Whisperer Down Jacket
- SHIRT | Columbia Freeze Degree Long Sleeve Shirt
- BASELAYER (TOP) | SmartWool Men's NTS Mid 250 Zip Thermal Top
- BASELAYER (TOP) | Columbia Midweight Stretch Baselayer Long Sleeve Shirt
- LINERS | Columbia Synthetic Liners
- PANTS | Mountain Hardwear Mesa Convertible Pants V2
- PANTS | Columbia Sportswear Ridge 2 Run II Pants*
- BASELAYER (BOTTOM) | SmartWool Men's NTS Mid 250 Bottom
- SHOES | Merrell Men's Moab 2 Vent
- SHOES | Crocs Unisex Classic Clog*
- INSOLES | Superfeet Wide Green Premium Insoles
- SOCKS | Darn Tough Vermont Men's 1/4 Merino Wool Cushion Hiking Socks (x 2)
- SOCKS | Darn Tough Vermont Men's Coolmax Boot Full Cushion Hiking Socks
- UNDERWEAR | Under Armour Men's HeatGear Sonic Compression Shorts (x 2)
PHOTOGRAPHY
- CAMERA | GoPro HERO3: Black Edition
- CAMERA | Canon 60D
- LENS | Canon EF-S 10-22mm f/3.5-4.5 USM SLR
- LENS | Tamron SP 24-70mm Di VC USD
- CASE | Neoprene Lens Pouch
- CASE | Neoprene Camera Sleeve
- TRIPOD | Joby Gorillapod
- ACCESSORY | Peak Design Capture Camera Clip (x 2) (REVIEW)
- STRAP | Peak Design Camera Hand Clutch Strap
- MISCELLANEOUS | Spare battery (x 2), Canon charger
MISCELLANEOUS
- Sunglasses (with case)
- Toothpaste
- Toothbrush
- Credit cards
- Cash
- Cell phone
- Mini Bic
- Assorted rubber bands
- Passport
- Micro USB cord
- Mini USB cord
- Notebook
- Pens
- Spork
- Moustachio
- Assorted Ziplocs
*Still up in the air on these items.
Upon returning from Nepal I will follow this up with a more detailed version of this list including reports on how everything performed in the extreme cold and altitude I expect to encounter.
The weather report shows snow (which is apparently unusual this time of year) which means either extensive testing or, dare I say, no testing at all (either way it will be an adventure).
Hi Mac,
Thanks for the gear list.
Did you also carry a shell layer i.e. rain jacket and overtrousers ?
Thanks
My down jacket is waterproof so I just used that. Nothing on the bottom, but fortunately, I didn’t encounter any wet weather (except a bit of snow at the end).
Thanks
Aaahhhh thanks so much for this list! I want to do this trek solo also (no guide, no porter), but it seems like all the information I find is written by inexperienced hikers who go to Everest as part of a tour group. The amount of overpacking I’ve seen in most blogs is just ridiculous! No wonder these people feel the need to hire porters…
Anyway, I know it’s been more than a year, but do you remember how much did your pack weigh? And how did you handle the weight at altitude? I can confidently hike with 10-15kg at “normal” elevations, but I keep reading that 10kg feels like 30kg at altitude, and that sounds scary. I’ve read your whole Everest trip report and it sounds like you handled the weight just fine, but if you could offer some gear insight post-trek, I would appreciate it. I’m just nervous about the altitude.
Also, did you do any sort of physical training before the trek? I’m not fat or anything but I would rather die than set foot in a gym (you don’t sound like a gym person either).
Hey! So… amateur question… If I am going in September/October, and will be hiring a guide once I get to Kathmandu or Lukla (probably no porter, going by myself) would it be safe to say that I would be sleeping a tea house each night? I know it will be a peak season. I am mostly just wondering if I should be bringing a tent and planning to sleep outside at all. I don’t think there is a teahouse at EBC 🙂
Safe to say you will be in a tea house every night. Definitely no need for a tent (at least not in low season). Your guide should be able to deal with the reserving of places for you if you would like. Should probably clarify this somewhere. Best of luck – it’s awesome out there!
No solar panel this time?
I guess with the local stops and being able to charge your gear on the way, it’s not really necessary.
No solar panel, wasn’t quite sold on it after the PCT. Going with an Anker battery pack instead. Hopefully it works out?
Good luck and be safe!
Thanks Catherine!
Stay safe!!
I am always safe, I’m just hunted by danger.