Your Everest Base Camp packing list must handle mild days lower down and nights well below −15°C at Gorak Shep. The answer is layers, a warm sleeping bag and broken-in boots, not a big suitcase. A porter carries your main bag, and you carry a daypack.
Below is the full list, what to rent in Kathmandu instead of buying, the weight limits, and what to leave at home.
What’s Inside This Guide
- The EBC packing checklist
- Clothing and layers
- Footwear
- Sleeping bag
- Gear and accessories
- Water and purification
- Health and hygiene
- Rent in Kathmandu or bring from home
- Bags and weight limits
- What to leave at home
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Related Planning Guides
The EBC Packing Checklist
| Category | Items |
|---|---|
| Clothing | 2–3 base layer tops, 2 base layer bottoms, fleece, heavy down jacket, waterproof jacket and trousers, 2 trekking trousers, 3–4 pairs of wool socks |
| Head and hands | Warm hat, sun hat, buff, thin liner gloves, insulated gloves |
| Footwear | Broken-in waterproof boots, camp shoes or sandals |
| Sleeping | Sleeping bag rated to at least −15°C, sleeping bag liner |
| Gear | Daypack (30–40 litres), trekking poles, headlamp, sunglasses, 2 water bottles, power bank |
| Water | Purification tablets or a filter |
| Health | Sunscreen, SPF lip balm, blister plasters, personal medicines, hand sanitiser, toilet paper |
| Documents | Passport, insurance details, spare passport photos, some cash in rupees |
Clothing and Layers
Layers work better than one heavy coat. You warm up quickly on a climb, then cool down fast when you stop or the sun goes behind a ridge.
| Layer | What it is | When you wear it |
|---|---|---|
| Base layer | Wicking thermal tops and bottoms, merino or synthetic | Every day; avoid cotton, which stays wet and cold |
| Mid layer | Fleece or a light down jacket | Cool mornings and evenings at lower teahouses |
| Warm layer | Heavy down jacket | Evenings above Dingboche and the Kala Patthar climb |
| Shell | Waterproof, windproof jacket and trousers | Wind, rain or snow at any height |
Add three or four pairs of wool or synthetic socks, a warm hat, a sun hat and a buff. Bring two pairs of gloves: thin liners for everyday use and insulated gloves for the cold mornings up high.
Footwear
Boots matter more than anything else on the list. Bring waterproof hiking boots with ankle support, worn in on several long walks at home. New boots cause blisters, and blisters can end a trek.
Pack light camp shoes or sandals for the evenings, so your feet get a break and your boots can dry.
Sleeping Bag
Standard teahouse rooms have no heating, and nights at Lobuche and Gorak Shep drop well below freezing. Bring a sleeping bag rated to at least −15°C, or warmer if you trek in winter or feel the cold. A liner adds a little warmth and keeps the bag clean.
Teahouses provide blankets, so you can add one on top on the coldest nights.
Gear and Accessories
- Trekking poles, for the steep climbs and the long descent back to Lukla
- Headlamp with spare batteries, for the pre-dawn Kala Patthar climb and night-time toilet trips
- Sunglasses with full UV protection; glare from snow can cause snow blindness
- Daypack of 30–40 litres with a rain cover
- Power bank, because charging costs extra at teahouses
- Dry bags or stuff sacks to keep your main bag organised and dry
Water and Purification
Bring two refillable bottles, about 1 litre each. The local municipality announced a ban on plastic drink bottles in the Khumbu from 2020, and refilling cuts waste on the trail.
Teahouses sell boiled or filtered water. To treat it yourself, use purification tablets, drops or a filter. If you boil water, keep it at a rolling boil for 3 minutes, which is the CDC’s advice above about 2,000m.
Health and Hygiene
- High-SPF sunscreen and SPF lip balm; the sun burns fast at altitude
- A small first aid kit: blister plasters, painkillers, rehydration salts and any prescribed altitude medicine
- Your own prescription medicines, enough for the whole trip
- Hand sanitiser and wet wipes, since showers are cold or unavailable up high
- Toilet paper, which higher teahouses often don’t provide
Talk to your doctor about altitude medicine before you travel. Our altitude sickness guide explains Diamox and the warning signs. Your travel insurance must cover trekking to 5,644m and helicopter evacuation.
Rent in Kathmandu or Bring From Home
Thamel, in Kathmandu, has many shops that rent and sell trekking gear. Renting the bulky, expensive items makes sense for a single trek. Quality varies, so check zips, fill and condition before you pay.
| Item | Our advice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Heavy down jacket | Rent | Bulky and expensive to buy for one trip |
| Sleeping bag (−15°C or warmer) | Rent | Easy to find in Thamel; check the rating and condition |
| Trekking poles | Rent or buy locally | Cheap, and saves luggage space |
| Hiking boots | Bring | They must be broken in and fit well |
| Base layers and socks | Bring | Worn against your skin every day |
| Medicines | Bring | You need your own prescriptions and familiar brands |
Gear rental isn’t included in our package price. Our EBC cost guide lists what is and isn’t covered.
Bags and Weight Limits
Pack your main gear in a soft duffel bag, not a hard suitcase, because porters carry it on their backs. One porter carries the bags of two trekkers, up to 15kg in total. That means about 7–8kg each, so pack carefully.
Your daypack should hold what you need during the day: water, a warm layer, a rain jacket, sunscreen and snacks. Aim for 5–7kg.
Lukla flights have their own limits. Airlines usually allow about 10kg of checked baggage plus 5kg of hand luggage, and charge for extra weight. Leave anything you don’t need on the trek at your Kathmandu hotel.
What to Leave at Home
Most first-timers overpack. Leave out cotton clothes, jeans, a hairdryer, heavy books and full-size toiletries. One set of clean clothes for Kathmandu is enough, and you can store it at your hotel while you trek.
Frequently Asked Questions
Layered clothing, a heavy down jacket, broken-in waterproof boots and a sleeping bag rated to at least −15°C. Also a headlamp, sunglasses, water bottles and purification. Add sunscreen, a small first aid kit and your own medicines.
One rated to at least −15°C. Nights at Lobuche and Gorak Shep drop well below freezing, and teahouse rooms have no heating. You can rent one in Kathmandu.
Yes. Thamel has many rental shops for down jackets, sleeping bags and poles. Bring your own boots, base layers and medicines.
On our treks, one porter carries the bags of two trekkers, up to 15kg in total. Plan on about 7–8kg for your own duffel.
Usually about 10kg of checked baggage plus 5kg of hand luggage. Airlines charge for extra weight, so leave spare items in Kathmandu.
No. Down suits are for climbing above Base Camp. A heavy down jacket and good layers are enough for the trek, including Kala Patthar at dawn.
Related Planning Guides
- Everest Base Camp Trek package — porters, permits and Lukla flights included, from $1,039
- EBC Packing Mistakes — the gear errors that cause trouble on the trail
- EBC Accommodation Guide — how cold the teahouses get
- Best Time for the EBC Trek — temperatures month by month
- EBC Trek for Beginners — preparing for your first big trek
- Everest Base Camp Trek Cost — gear rental and other extras
Pack Light, Pack Right
Our Everest Base Camp Trek costs $1,039 to $1,379 per person, with porters, permits, Lukla flights and teahouses included. See the full trek details, or ask us on WhatsApp if you’re unsure about an item.