Every packing list on the internet tells you to bring a down jacket and good boots. That is not particularly helpful when you are standing in a gear shop trying to decide between a -10C and a -20C sleeping bag, or wondering whether to spend $300 on a rain shell at home or NPR 4,000 in Kathmandu.
This list is built from what we see trekkers bring, what they wish they had brought, and what they regret carrying for 14 days. It is organized by category, with specific recommendations for the three altitude zones you will pass through on the Everest Base Camp trek.
For a full overview of the route, see the complete EBC guide. For what the trail demands physically, the difficulty guide covers fitness requirements and the hardest days.
The Three Altitude Zones
The EBC trail crosses three distinct climate bands. What you need at Lukla (2,860m) is different from what you need at Gorak Shep (5,164m). Pack for all three, but layer so you are not carrying dead weight on warm lower-trail days.
Zone 1: Lukla to Namche (2,860-3,440m). Daytime temperatures in October run 10-18C. Light hiking layers, a fleece for evenings, and a rain shell. This zone feels like autumn hiking anywhere in the world.
Zone 2: Namche to Dingboche (3,440-4,410m). Temperatures drop. Daytime 5-12C, nights -5 to -10C. Fleece and down jacket become daily wear in the evenings. Base layers matter at night. This is where most trekkers first feel the cold.
Zone 3: Dingboche to Gorak Shep/Kala Patthar (4,410-5,545m). Daytime 0 to -5C at the upper end, nights -12 to -20C depending on the month. Full down, overmitts, balaclava, and your warmest sleeping bag. The best time guide breaks down temperatures month by month if you want exact numbers for your travel window.
Clothing: Layering System
The layering system is not marketing language from gear companies. At altitude, the temperature swing between sun and shade can hit 15-20C in minutes. You need to add and remove layers constantly. Three layers, each with a job.
Base Layer (against skin)
- 2 long-sleeve merino or synthetic tops (150-200 weight)
- 2 pairs merino or synthetic long underwear
- 3-4 pairs trekking socks (merino blend, medium cushion)
- 3-4 sets underwear (synthetic, quick-dry)
Merino wool regulates temperature and resists odor across multiple days. Synthetic is cheaper and dries faster. Cotton is useless on the trail. It holds moisture, loses insulation when wet, and takes hours to dry in cold air. Leave every cotton layer at your Kathmandu hotel.
Mid Layer (insulation)
- 1 fleece jacket (200-300 weight)
- 1 down jacket (600-800 fill, with hood)
- 1 pair fleece or softshell trekking pants
- 1 pair lightweight hiking pants (for lower trail)
The down jacket is the single most important item above 4,000m. You will wear it every evening in the teahouse, every morning before the sun hits the trail, and all day above Lobuche. A hood matters. Hoodless jackets lose heat from your neck and head that you cannot afford to lose at 5,000m.
Outer Layer (weather protection)
- 1 waterproof shell jacket (Gore-Tex or equivalent, with hood)
- 1 pair waterproof shell pants (or rain pants)
The shell is your insurance. Rain below Namche in spring, snow above Lobuche in late season, and wind above 4,500m year-round. It does not need to be a $400 alpine shell. A basic waterproof with taped seams and a hood that fits over a hat works. You may not use the rain pants at all in October. Bring them anyway.
Footwear
- 1 pair trekking boots (ankle-height, broken in, waterproof)
- 1 pair camp shoes or sandals (for teahouse evenings)
- 1 pair liner socks (thin, under trekking socks, optional but reduces blisters)
Boots are the one item you should not buy in Kathmandu. Breaking in new boots on a 14-day trek that covers 130 km of rocky trail is asking for blisters that will define your trip. Bring boots you have already walked 50+ km in. Ankle support matters on the Lobuche-to-Gorak Shep moraine. Trail runners are fine below Namche for experienced hikers but lack the ankle stability and warmth needed above 4,000m.
Camp shoes seem like a luxury until your third evening in a cold teahouse. Your feet have been in boots for 6 hours. Lightweight sandals or down booties for the evening are a morale item worth their weight.
Accessories
- 1 warm beanie or fleece hat
- 1 sun hat or cap with brim
- 1 buff or neck gaiter
- 1 pair fleece liner gloves
- 1 pair insulated gloves or overmitts (for above 4,500m)
- 1 pair sunglasses (UV400, wraparound)
- 1 pair gaiters (optional, useful for snow or mud on the trail)
Glove strategy matters. Below 4,000m, fleece liners are enough. Above 4,500m, and especially on the Kala Patthar pre-dawn ascent, fleece liners are not remotely sufficient. Your fingers stop functioning in standard gloves at -15C with wind. Insulated overmitts or heavy ski-style gloves are not optional for the Kala Patthar morning. The difficulty guide describes what that ascent feels like at 5,545m.
Sunglasses are critical, not cosmetic. UV intensity at 5,000m is roughly 50% higher than at sea level. Snow reflection above Lobuche compounds this. Snow blindness is a real risk and it is entirely preventable. Wraparound frames that block peripheral light are worth the extra coverage.
Sleeping and Comfort
- 1 sleeping bag (rated -15C minimum for autumn, -20C for shoulder season)
- 1 sleeping bag liner (silk or thermal, adds 5-8C of warmth)
- 1 inflatable pillow (optional, weighs 60g, worth every gram)
- 1 pair earplugs (teahouse walls are thin)
Teahouses provide a bed and blankets. The blankets are not enough above Dingboche. A sleeping bag rated to -15C handles October and November comfortably. If you are trekking in March, late November, or have any doubt, go to -20C. Down sleeping bags compress to roughly half the size of synthetic equivalents at the same temperature rating. This matters when your porter duffel has a 15 kg limit.
You can rent sleeping bags in Kathmandu for NPR 100-150 per day (roughly $0.75-1.10). Over 14 days that is NPR 1,400-2,100. Rental bags tend to be bulky synthetic models. A purchased down bag from Thamel (NPR 8,000-15,000 for a -15C to -20C bag) is a better investment if you plan to trek again.
Electronics and Power
- 1 headlamp with spare batteries (essential for Kala Patthar and teahouse power cuts)
- 1 power bank (20,000mAh minimum, charge fully before leaving Namche)
- 1 phone (camera, maps, altitude tracking)
- Charging cables
- 1 camera (optional, phone cameras are excellent)
Power above Namche is limited and expensive. Most teahouses charge NPR 300-500 per device per charge above Dingboche. Some have solar panels that only work on clear days. A 20,000mAh power bank, fully charged in Namche (last reliable power), will keep your phone alive for 4-5 days in cold temperatures if you manage it. Turn off background apps, reduce screen brightness, and keep the power bank inside your sleeping bag at night. Lithium batteries lose capacity in cold.
A headlamp is non-negotiable. The Kala Patthar ascent starts at 4:30am in the dark. Teahouses lose power regularly above Lobuche. The path to the toilet at 2am in a cold teahouse at 5,000m without a headlamp is an experience you want to avoid.
Toiletries and Medical
- Sunscreen SPF 50+ (reapply every 2 hours above 4,000m)
- Lip balm with SPF
- Hand sanitizer
- Wet wipes (showers above Namche are rare and cold)
- Toilet paper (teahouses provide it inconsistently above Dingboche)
- Personal medications (full supply plus spares)
- Ibuprofen (altitude headaches)
- Diamox/Acetazolamide (consult your doctor before the trek)
- Rehydration salts (2-3 packets per day above 3,500m)
- Basic first aid: blister plasters, antiseptic, tape, small bandage
Diamox (Acetazolamide): This is a prescription medication that helps with acclimatization by increasing breathing rate. It is not a substitute for proper acclimatization and rest days. Many trekkers carry it as a preventive measure (125mg twice daily starting 24 hours before ascending above 3,000m). Others carry it only for emergency use. Discuss this with a travel medicine doctor before your trip. Diamox is available over the counter in Kathmandu pharmacies for NPR 50-100 per strip, but get the prescription and dosage guidance from your doctor at home.
Sunscreen above 4,000m is medical equipment, not vanity. At altitude with snow reflection, unprotected skin burns in under 30 minutes. The backs of hands, ears, and under the chin (snow reflection from below) are commonly missed spots that trekkers regret by day 3.
Documents and Money
- Passport (valid 6+ months beyond entry date)
- Nepal visa (available on arrival at Tribhuvan, $30 for 15 days or $50 for 30 days)
- 2 passport photos (for permits)
- Travel insurance documents (must cover helicopter evacuation above 4,000m)
- Cash: NPR 30,000-50,000 for trail expenses (above Namche, ATMs do not exist)
- US dollars: $200-300 as backup (widely accepted in Kathmandu, not on the trail)
The EBC cost breakdown covers the full budget in detail. For trail cash specifically: teahouse meals above Namche run NPR 600-1,200 per meal, hot drinks NPR 200-400, charging NPR 300-500 per device, hot showers (where available) NPR 400-600. Carry more than you think you need. Running out of cash at 4,500m is a problem with no ATM solution.
Insurance: Confirm your policy covers trekking above 4,000m and helicopter evacuation. Standard travel insurance often excludes high-altitude trekking. A helicopter evacuation from above Lobuche costs $3,000-5,000. Without insurance, you pay upfront. This is not optional.
What to Buy in Kathmandu (Thamel)
Thamel is Kathmandu's trekking district. Hundreds of shops, competitive pricing, and everything you need for the trail. Some items are genuinely cheaper and equivalent to what you would buy at home. Others are worth skipping.
Buy in Thamel (good value):
- Down jackets: NPR 3,000-8,000 ($22-60). Factory overruns and seconds from The North Face, Mountain Hardwear, and similar brands. Inspect zippers and seams. The 600-fill jackets at NPR 5,000-6,000 are the sweet spot.
- Fleece layers: NPR 1,500-3,000. Functional and warm. No need to bring from home.
- Base layers: NPR 800-1,500 per piece. Merino and synthetic options.
- Trekking poles: NPR 1,500-3,000 per pair. Collapsible aluminum. Test the locking mechanism before buying.
- Sleeping bag liners: NPR 500-1,000. Silk or fleece.
- Gloves, hats, buffs: NPR 300-800 each. Wide selection.
- Daypack rain covers: NPR 200-400.
Bring from home (do not buy in Thamel):
- Boots. Non-negotiable. Break them in at home.
- Waterproof shell. Thamel shells often have poor seam taping. A leaking shell at 4,500m in rain is a hypothermia vector.
- Sleeping bag (if you own one). Rental bags are fine for a single trek; purchased bags from Thamel vary significantly in actual temperature rating versus labeled rating.
- Sunglasses. Cheap Thamel sunglasses may lack proper UV protection despite labeling. Your eyes at 5,000m deserve real UV400 lenses.
Negotiation: Prices in Thamel are negotiable. Start at 40-50% of the first asking price and work from there. Buying multiple items from the same shop gives you leverage. The shops near the main Thamel intersection are more expensive than the ones on the side streets.
Weight Targets
Daypack (you carry): 6-8 kg This includes 2L of water, snacks, rain shell, warm layer, camera, sunscreen, personal items. You carry this all day, every day. Every gram matters over 6 hours of walking. Weigh your packed daypack before you leave Kathmandu. If it is over 8 kg, remove something.
Porter duffel (porter carries): under 15 kg This is the standard weight limit per porter. It includes your sleeping bag, extra clothing, toiletries, and everything you do not need during the walking day. Pack your duffel the night before at your Kathmandu hotel, weigh it, and remove 20%. You will thank yourself on day 7 when the porter is climbing the same trail you are.
Total combined: 21-23 kg maximum. If your total is over 25 kg, you are overpacking. The most common excess items: too many clothing changes (you will wear the same three rotations), books (use a Kindle or your phone), excessive camera gear, and "just in case" items that never leave the duffel.
What NOT to Bring
- Jeans. Heavy, slow-drying, restrictive. Cotton is the worst trail fabric.
- Laptop. Teahouse WiFi above Namche is slow and expensive. Your phone handles everything.
- More than two books. A Kindle weighs 180g. Two paperbacks weigh 600g. Over 14 days, that 420g difference is felt.
- Crampons or ice axes. The EBC trail is a walking path. You are not climbing anything.
- Full-size towels. A microfiber travel towel at 100g does the same job as a 400g bath towel.
- Excessive clothing changes. You need 3-4 rotations of base layers and 2 sets of outerwear. Not 7 days of unique outfits. Teahouses below Namche have laundry services. Above that, you wear and repeat.
- Expensive gear you are afraid to damage. Trail dust, teahouse soot, and the general wear of 14 days on a mountain path will mark your equipment. Bring gear you are willing to use hard.
The EBC trail is well-supported with teahouses every few hours, so you are never far from shelter. The packing goal is not to prepare for every scenario; it is to carry enough to be warm, dry, and comfortable while keeping your load light enough that the walking remains enjoyable.
If you are weighing specific gear options for your travel window, the best time guide has month-by-month temperature data that will help calibrate your sleeping bag and insulation choices. For the full trip budget including gear, the cost breakdown covers everything. And if you have questions about what to prioritize for your specific situation, get in touch.
