The Complete Packing List for Everest Base Camp

One of the biggest challenges when planning any long hike is determining what to pack. Finalizing a packing list for the Mount Everest Base Camp Trek is no exception.

Taking the right items and nothing more can make your hike a lot easier. Even one extra pound can make a whole lot of difference on day 7 of climbing uphill for hours on end with only the thin mountain air to breathe. However, forgetting a valuable item could cause you to be helicoptered off, or worse.

Let’s take a look at the ultimate Everest Base Camp packing list.

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Table of Contents

Know the Basics of Packing for Everest

As you prepare to hike to Mount Everest Base Camp, you need to carefully select what to pack and what to leave behind. Here are a few key points to keep in mind as you work through your personal packing list for Mount Everest.

Dress in Layers

When determining what to wear to hike to Mount Everest, plan to dress in layers. This allows you to easily adjust your clothing as the weather changes from frequent altitude changes and the crazy mountain weather patterns.

Don’t Expect to Shower

While you will find some tea houses offer showers along the hike to base camp, I do not recommend showering along the way. Instead, pack some wet wipes for “showers” at the end of the day. This will keep you fresh enough.

One of my hiking mates took a lukewarm shower and had to put on her gross hiking clothes afterwards. She did not feel any cleaner or warmer and her wet hair practically froze in place. It was not an effective option for warmth or cleanliness.

Plan to Re-wear Clothing

Hiking to Everest Base Camp requires you to pack light. This means you’ll be rewearing clothing. The good news is with the altitude and cold you won’t get very sweaty. However, after 10+ days without a full shower, you likely won’t smell very fresh.

Don’t worry, everyone you’re with is in the same boat, and you will be wearing so many clothes it will be well insulated.

Quality Over Quantity

In opting to pack light, you ultimately want to know you have packed the right things. This of course is easier with the help of a packing list for Mount Everest Base Camp, but it’s also finding the right clothing options to keep you warm and safe as you venture into the depths of the Himalayan Mountains.

Last Resort Shopping in Namche Bazaar

Take everything you need for Base Camp with you when you depart Kathmandu. While some things may be available for sale at Namche Bazaar on your way up to Base Camp, typically you only have what you bring with you.

And, I assure you things are much cheaper in Kathmandu than in Namche Bazaar!

Clothing for Mount Everest Base Camp

Determining what clothes to take to Mount Everest is obviously a critical decision for your comfort and well being in the potentially harsh weather conditions. This is particularly true when deciding on the materials of your Mount Everest clothing. Opt for warm, quick drying, and waterproof options.

Here are recommendations on what clothing to pack for Base Camp, as well as quantity of each, as you do not want to overpack… or under pack. It can be tricky!

Hiking Pants (Trousers)

2 Leggings or thermals: I had leggings which I wore daily as a base layer, but my fellow trekkers had thermals which were much more practical.

1 Trekking pants: Hiking pants will be worn over your base layer pretty much constantly. They also keep your base layer cleaner to sleep in.

1 Waterproof/windproof pants: I had a thicker pair of waterproof pants that was fleece lined. They were perfect as I needed them for warmth near the top – both when hiking and sleeping.

Shirts for Hiking to Everest

2 Base layer tops: When selecting shirts for Everest, definitely make sure they are moisture wicking, active wear material. This will keep you dry if/when you start to sweat.

1 Long sleeve top: Important for warmth, take one long sleeve shirt to layer and stay warm. It is important it also be moisture wicking, active wear material.

Fleece: Pack a fleece to keep you warm most of the way up. Fleece also deals really well with the wind you will encounter along the way.

Down coat: You need to have a nice warm down coat as you near the top. Not to mention, you ay have to sleep in the coat to stay warm. If you don’t own one, you can rent one in Kathmandu.

Waterproof top layer: Take a raincoat or something similar in case you hit rain, or blizzard like snow as I did.

Proper Footwear for Hiking in the Himalayas

Your Everest gear list would be incomplete without solid footwear. In fact, if you mess up your hiking boots or socks, you will likely not make it all the way to Base Camp – so pay special attention here!

3 Trekking Socks: I recently invested in SmartWool trekking socks, and they have served me well in my hiking adventures! Best part is they have different weights so you can layer them or change them out from lower on the mountain to the snow trekking that will inevitably happen as you near the top.

Waterproof hiking boots: I did the worst thing a person could do and bought hiking boots in Kathmandu and did not break them in. Since then, I have invested in Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GTX Hiking Boots and there is no going back! Highly recommend packing broken in waterproof hiking boots for the Everest trek.

Light weight gym shoes: Having a set of shoes for in towns and tea houses will give your feet a break from your hiking boots. I love my Nike Free Flyknit gym shoes as they are lightweight and squish down to almost nothing and have made many (successful) adventures with me.

Other Everest Clothing Items

Gloves: Take a waterproof/windproof pair of gloves and a thin pair of gloves.

Hat: Pack a head, neck, and face cover.

Underwear & Bras: You’ll be gone 12 days. Plan accordingly.

Things I Learned about Clothing for Base Camp

After a nice long hike to Everest Base Camp, I learned a thing or two. Don’t make the same mistakes as me. Learn from them.

I packed 2 long sleeve tops, but I wish I had only taken one. I always wore it over my base layer shirts anyway so it did not get as gross as I expected, and it’s less to carry!

I only took one pair of waterproof/windproof gloves but wished I had a thinner pair. They would have been more practical for most of the way up to Base Camp, and it’s a LOT easier to maneuver trekking poles and water bottles in thinner gloves!

I only needed the down coat in the higher altitudes and at night when I was not moving. Otherwise, my fleece was enough for hiking most days.

Necessary Toiletries to Pack for Mount Everest Base Camp

You don’t need much toiletry wise for your trek to Base Camp, but there are many that you do not want to forget to pack!

2 Hair ties: Take more than one hair tie, in case you break or lose one.

Comb: Unless you want dreadlocks, I highly suggest trying to comb or brush your hair daily. (Particularly for my fellow curly haired friends out there!)

Deodorant: Obviously a critical item on your Everest packing list – deodorant.

Face lotion with SPF: My go to is Neutrogena with 35 SPF. It protects you from sunburn without clogging your pores.

Toothpaste and toothbrush: Keep your teeth fresh and clean, preferably with travel sized options.

Razor: Despite not showering, you may want to work out a way to shave along the way as it’s a long time to go without!

Lip balm with SPF: Protect your lips! The sun can be brutal!

Toilet paper: You never know when you’ll need it, and you certainly don’t want to be caught without it.

Wet wipes: Get an impromptu shower whenever you need it.

Hand sanitizer: Stay healthy by using hand sanitizer, particularly for when you’re higher up and the pipes may be frozen making basics like hand washing impossible!

Sunscreen: The sun gets stronger the higher up you go. Keep in mind you will usually be fully layered in clothes so you don’t need much, but you will want to get any exposed skin such as your neck, hands, face, etc.

Things I Learned about My Toiletry Needs for Base Camp

Cut the fat from your Mount Everest Base Camp packing list. Here are a couple things I would change if I went again!

I took shampoo. As I noted above, there is no need to take things like shampoo. It is too cold to shower and no one else is showering. It was just extra weight along the way.

Instead of showering, invest in wet wipes, toilet paper, and hand sanitizer. There are “Western” toilets in some places and squat toilets in others. The toilets rarely flush without pouring water down them and sometimes the plumbing is frozen. Therefore, don’t forget either the toilet paper or the hand sanitizer.

Medications to Take to Everest

Medications are small, light weight items that can make or break your trek to Everest Base Camp. The only positive to these is if you forget something, in many cases the other hikers may be able to help you out, but that is no reason to go unprepared.

Personal medication: Do not forget any personal medications you need. There are not pharmacies readily available in the mountains!

Diamox: Used to treat altitude sickness, Diamox can help you avoid being helicoptered off the mountain. If you’re going with a guide, they likely will have it.

Band aids and Neosporin: For those blisters that might pop up or potentially worse, pack band aids and Neosporin. It’s worth the extra ounce of weight!

Body Glide or a band aid stick: The tri-athlete in me highly recommends carrying a small Body Glide stick just in case anything – shoes, backpack, clothe – chafes.

Iodine, Micropur, or a Lifestraw: You’ll need to purify your water along the way. This is readily available throughout Kathmandu and cheap!

Advil: Handle any muscle aches, headaches, etc. with ease.

Imodium and Tums: The food and water you encounter will be different than you’re used to and your system may respond differently in the high altitudes.

Things I Learned about Medications for Base Camp

Take all of the medications with you.

While thankfully, I didn’t need much of this, for the extra weight, it was well worth having it. I shared some of this wealth with my fellow hikers who fell victim to altitude sickness.

I went with 3 fellow hikers, all of whom ended up sick at some point, including my roommate who was helicoptered off with dysentery. Be prepared.

Packing Electronics for Base Camp

We live in a digital world but hiking to Mt. Everest Base Camp is the perfect time to disconnect. Just make sure you have a way to take pictures so you can commemorate this once in a lifetime opportunity!

Phone + charger + extra battery pack: My Anker battery pack has been a lifesaver. It can generally charge my phone 3 – 4x on one charge.

Camera + charger + 3 batteries: Fortunately, at the time I hiked up to Mount Everest Base Camp, I had a very light weight, point and shoot camera. A nicer, more expensive camera will likely equate to extra weight and more chances for the cold to disrupt the intricate inner-workings of the camera. Weigh the pros and cons of taking it with you.

Things I Learned about Electronics on Everest

I packed all of my long-term travel electronics to carry with me because I didn’t feel safe leaving them behind in a garbage bag in the hostel’s unlocked storage room. However, if I did it again – I would take the bare minimum electronics with me. They take up space, add weight, and it’s so cold I had to sleep with them in my sleeping bag to keep them from freezing. Leave the iPads and computers behind for sure!

I used my iPhone for pictures the whole way up except near the top where it was too cold for my phone to turn on. Then I was happy to have my point and shoot camera!

Keep your phone on airplane mode and power-saving mode to preserve the battery life.

The cold can zap your iPhone battery in no time. You can literally watch the battery percentage count down as you look at it until it turns itself off from “low battery”. The battery power is still there, but the phone is too cold to work. Keep your phone insulated near your body and in your sleeping bag at night.

There is power at most of the tea houses along the way, but you will have to pay to charge anything. The extra battery pack will keep you from having to pay to charge your phone.

Other Important Items to Pack for Base Camp

Ah yes, the miscellaneous items. Equally critical when hiking up Mount Everest are the little things you don’t even know you need. Here are a few more critical “must have” items for your Everest packing list.

Travel towel: I recommend taking a small, quick drying travel towel, not for showering, but for things like washing your face in the ice cold water. My Sea to Summit towel has withstood the true test of travels and was perfect.

Sleeping bag: Take a four seasons sleeping bag down to -10C. (You can rent it in Kathmandu – I did!)

Sunglasses: Protect your eyes from the sun and snow as you hike.

️Headlamp and extra batteries: At night there is limited light available in some places, take a headlamp with you. I love my Black Diamond headlamp. It goes everywhere with me!

Reusable water bottle: I recommend a Nalgene bottle or something equally large. You want to hydrate enough – an important part of fighting altitude sickness – but also have to give time for the Iodine or Micropur to work. Also note that you can only refill in the towns you pass, which can be a limiting factor. Therefore, I recommend at least a 1L water bottle.

Cash: How much cash to take will depend on how you plan your trek. Did you pay for anything in advance? Are you paying as you go?

Snacks: Granola bars, peanut brittle, Snickers… calorically dense snacks are preferred.

Rain cover for backpack: Make sure your pack cover fits well, it can get very windy! I did not encounter rain, but I was very glad to have it for snow!

Trekking poles: Take trekking poles!!! I have hiked the Inca Trail and through Torres del Paine in Patagonia without them, but they are a real lifesaver for this trek. From the steep terrain, snow and ice, the weight on your pack, and your poor, overused knees… you will thank me!

Trekking/Hiking backpack: I’m an Osprey lover personally. My backpack and day pack have held up to a lot of wear and tear on my travels. A 40L pack or larger should fit your down jacket, sleeping bag, clothing, and more. The Aura is perfect for it!

Things I Learned about Miscellaneous Hiking Needs

The altitude will mess with your appetite. I could have taken fewer snacks as I was rarely hungry between the altitude and regular meals.

The backpack… I had my minimalist Osprey Porter 46L backpack, which had traveled all year with me. This was the only time I felt it was a poor choice. It is not a hiking backpack. It did not have the sturdy waist straps that most hiking packs have. Since I did not hire a Sherpa to carry my belongings, I really felt the pain on my shoulders from having all of the weight being held there versus on my hips. That’s why I recommend the Osprey Aura for hiking to Base Camp!

Shopping for the Mount Everest Base Camp Trek in Kathmandu

In an ideal world, you will have planned and shopped for your trek before you arrive in Nepal, but if you’re like me and want to climb Mount Everest as part of your around the world trip, preparing for the hike can be a challenge!

I had been living out of a 46L Osprey Porter backpack for a year by the time I got to Kathmandu. Fortunately, I quickly learned that no matter how much shopping you need to do to be prepared for the cold weather and hiking through the Himalayan Mountains, you can find everything in Kathmandu.

Shopping for Mount Everest in Kathmandu

I personally had almost nothing of use for hiking, and therefore learned firsthand just how easy it is to buy everything for Base Camp in Kathmandu – including my hiking boots (yikes!). My turnaround time from arriving in Kathmandu to leaving for Mount Everest was only one day. (Good planning, I know.) So, my guide took me shopping to ensure I was well prepared.

I believe what that really means is he took me to a friend’s store, and they probably overcharged me for everything. “Overcharging” tourists is pretty common, but at the same time, being overcharged is a strong word since items are relatively inexpensive – particularly by Western standards.

Besides, having the necessary equipment to hike comfortably and make it up to Base Camp was more important to me than price. And, I got to learn about packing for Everest Base Camp from an expert!

The Cost of Shopping in Kathmandu

Good news: Kathmandu is extremely affordable. My shopping trip all in was somewhere around $165, including my hiking boots. Remember you can (and should) negotiate on price! If you don’t want to buy some of the more “pricey” items, you can rent them. I ended up renting a sleeping bag and down coat versus buying them.

Fun fact: Everything sold is “brand name” – mostly North Face… knockoffs. Just go with it. There is no avoiding the knock offs, but they are well enough made to make it up the mountain!

So, after reading many blogs, travel companies lists, and going shopping with my guide – this is what ended up in my backpack and on my packing list for the Mount Everest Base Camp Trek.

Final Notes for the Mount Everest Base Camp Packing List

The above packing list for the Mount Everest Base Camp trek will leave you well prepared from the packing and gear standpoint, but here are some additional tips to close with.

Things will seem to weigh more as you get higher. Just because your pack feels okay in Kathmandu doesn’t mean you will feel the same thousands of feet higher in elevation after days of hiking into thinner air. If you don’t need it, leave it behind.

As you get close to the top and are wearing most of your clothing, your pack gets emptier… and yet still feels like it weighs the same. Don’t pack things you don’t need.

Take a comfortable pack and hiking boots! It would be a shame to not make it to Base Camp due to one of these items failing you.

When in doubt, hire a Sherpa to help carry your pack up the mountainside. Often times you can hire them along the way if you change your mind part way through. Just make sure you take enough cash to pay (and tip) them!

Do not hike into the mountains without travel insurance!! If you need to be evacuated by helicopter, your travel insurance should cover it. Verify this before you set off. Otherwise, you can be stuck with a ~$5,000 bill that is out of your control. I have always traveled with World Nomads Insurance and recommend them!

If you’re going to Base Camp, you do not need to pack mountaineering equipment as part of your Everest gear.

Views from the Mount Everest Base Camp Trek — Mount Everest Base Camp Trek

Finish Planning Your Base Camp Trek

Need more details about hiking up to Mount Everest Base Camp? Here are two more detailed posts to get you ready:

Planning for the Mount Everest Base Camp Trek: Do you need to book in advance? Do you need a guide? Can you hike on your own? Check our more information to get ready for your hike in this post.

Hiking to Mount Everest Base Camp: My daily notes from my Base Camp trek, including the hiking distance and elevation each day, daily highlights, and 13 key things to know before hiking to Mount Everest Base Camp.

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The Complete Packing List for Everest Base Camp