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A trek to the Everest Base Camp is an amazing experience and achievement – and it’s also a LOT more accessible than you might think.
Commercially guided groups have been climbing Everest for decades, and the popularity of the Everest Base Camp trek only continues to grow as more climbers come to understand how much of a realistic goal it is.
But one of the biggest questions we are asked when people are thinking about an Everest Base Camp trek is “what kit will I need?”
What kit will I need for Everest Base Camp?
While a big part of the attraction of visiting the area is the support and infrastructure that surrounds the trek – there’s also some essential things you need to bring along with you to make the experience better.
A big part of the attraction to visiting the area is the support and infrastructure that surrounds the trek. This is also where The Bucket List Company comes in, as we can help you well on your way to the mountainous adventure of your dreams with our Mount Everest Base Camp Trek!
Because the thing is – trekking to Everest base camp isn’t your average holiday.
It requires willpower, dedication and a whole lot of planning.
But it is 100% worth it – I’ve visited Everest Base Camp 7 times in my life so far, and every single time has been INCREDIBLE.
But, since you can’t do it without proper planning, you’ll need:
COMFORTABLE CLOTHES
Honestly, the key to your Everest base camp trek is being comfortable.
Adopting several layers rather than one single item of bulky clothing will make it much easier when the temperature drops at night at a high altitude.
The easiest wins here are thermal leggings and trekking trousers with plenty of room in them to trap the heat in the layers and keep you nice and snug.
Other items you’ll want to bring include:
- Base layers
- Microfleece
- Thermal fleece jacket
- Duvet jacket
- A warm hat
- Waterproof jacket
- Thermal underwear
- T-shirts and short-sleeved shirts
- Long-sleeved shirts
- Socks – walking socks PLUS thin socks
- Gloves – bring two pairs
- Scarf
- Casual clothes – think swimwear and non-trekking clothes!
You’ll want to bring plenty of other items too – think sunglasses, sun hat, and boots.
Boots might be THE most important item – you need a pair that are comfy, durable, and in good condition. We’d recommend a pair that you’ve already broken in – maybe you use them for hill walking, which is perfect because you know they’re comfy and you already like them.
Oh, and make sure you bring a spare pair of laces for your boots too – believe me, you’ll thank me later.
If you’re not sure where to start with a pair of boots, then a good thing to look for is something waterproof and hard-wearing. An all-leather boot is usually the way to go, but there are plenty of rubber/fabric mix boots that are perfect for the job.
And don’t forget to try the boots with your favourite pair of walking socks too – since they’re much thicker than standard socks, this will affect the size and fit.
Personal equipment for Everest Base Camp
It’s not just clothes you need.
I mean you are heading to Everest base camp, after all.
You’ll want to have a sound night’s sleep while you’re there, so a good quality sleeping bag is a necessity.
A good quality four-season sleeping bag and liner is the way to go here.
A rucksack (25-35 litres) is ideal for packing all your day gear, and you’ll want to try this on for size before you do any serious trekking with it strapped to your back.
There are a few other things that you will definitely need:
- Trekking poles
- Water bottle (1-2 litres)
- Water purification tablets or bottle with a good filtration system
- Trekking towel
- Personal first aid kit
- Waterproof bags (Dry Bags)
- Duffle Bag (80 Litres)
- Toilet paper/tissues
- Inflatable pillow
- Antibacterial gel
- Earplugs
- Spare batteries
- Adaptor suitable in Nepal
- Mobile phone
- Travel wash
In the video below, I go through packing my bag ready for an Everest Base Camp Trek.
Everest base camp and what to expect
The reality is that most of us will never make it to the top of Everest. I mean unless you really, really want to – it’s a big commitment.
And it’s expensive. Plus, you’ve got to have experience climbing ALL SORTS of mountains first if you want to do it successfully.
But by setting your sights on base camp, you can still experience all the majesty of Everest without heading to the top.
The terrain is seriously tough on a full Everest climb, but for base camp, there’s no technical climbing required.
In essence, it’s more of a long hike (I mean, really long if we’re being honest).
You’ll still be heading on a 90km journey over 12 days up to a height of 5,644m (if you head up to Kala Patthar) above sea level – pretty cool, right?!
So having the correct equipment that’s good quality, fits well, and is comfy is essential.
