Everest Base Camp Trek Packing List (2026)
An Everest Base Camp Trek packing list is the category-by-category kit needed to move safely from a warm Kathmandu afternoon to a −20°C night at Gorak Shep (5,164 m): layers, footwear, a sleep system, health essentials, and electronics.
Temp Swing
30°C+
Sleeping Bag
-15 to -20°C
Categories
5
Rentals
Kathmandu
Packing correctly for the Everest Base Camp Trek means preparing for a temperature swing of over 30°C between a warm Kathmandu afternoon and a −20°C night at Gorak Shep (5,164 m). Five categories cover everything that swing demands: layers, footwear, a sleep system, health essentials, and electronics, each detailed below with the reasoning behind it, beyond a bare checklist.
Not everything on this list needs to be bought new. The rent-versus-buy section further down covers exactly which items are worth renting in Kathmandu’s Thamel district and which are worth owning outright, since that single decision swings the personal gear cost by hundreds of dollars.
Layers
Layering, not any single garment, is what handles a 30°C swing between a warm Kathmandu afternoon and a −20°C night at Gorak Shep. Three thin layers you can add or remove beat one thick jacket, since trekking days move through several temperature zones in a single afternoon.
- Down jacket rated for sub-zero nights
- Mid-layer fleece or synthetic insulation
- Moisture-wicking base layers (top and bottom)
- Waterproof, windproof outer shell
- Insulated trekking trousers plus a lightweight pair for lower elevations
Footwear
Broken-in boots matter more on this trek than almost any other single item, since blisters on day 2 of a 12-day itinerary are far harder to recover from than on a weekend hike. Break boots in on at least 3-4 long walks before departure, never on the trail itself.
- Broken-in waterproof trekking boots with ankle support
- Wool or synthetic trekking socks (bring more pairs than you think you need)
- Camp shoes or sandals for teahouse evenings
- Gaiters if trekking in shoulder-season snow
Sleep system
Teahouse rooms above Namche Bazaar are unheated, and blankets provided by the lodge rarely add meaningful warmth on their own. A sleeping bag rated colder than the coldest night you'll actually face, not the average night, is what actually keeps trekkers comfortable enough to sleep well and recover for the next day's climb.
- Four-season sleeping bag rated to at least -15°C to -20°C
- Sleeping bag liner for extra warmth and hygiene
- Inflatable travel pillow (teahouse pillows are minimal)
Health and first aid
Pharmacies exist in Kathmandu but not on the trail past Namche Bazaar, so anything you might need has to be carried in from day one. See the altitude sickness guide for how Diamox fits into a first-aid kit and why it's not a substitute for a paced itinerary.
- Personal first-aid kit including blister care and altitude medication (Diamox) if prescribed
- Water purification tablets or a UV steriliser
- High-SPF sunscreen and lip balm (UV exposure is intense at altitude)
- Personal medications with several days' buffer supply
Electronics and documents
Charging and connectivity both degrade sharply with elevation, so electronics need to be treated as finite-battery tools rather than always-on devices past Namche Bazaar. Physical copies of documents matter because phone batteries fail exactly when you'd need to show a permit at a checkpoint.
- Headlamp with spare batteries
- Power bank (charged in Namche or Dingboche, since Gorak Shep rarely has charging)
- Passport, permits, and travel insurance documents (physical and digital copies)
- Trekking poles, which meaningfully reduce knee strain on long descents
Rent vs. Buy in Kathmandu
Kathmandu’s Thamel district has dozens of trekking gear shops that rent down jackets, four-season sleeping bags, and trekking poles by the day, and renting is the standard move for one-time trekkers who don’t want to buy bulky cold-weather gear they’ll rarely use again. A down jacket or a −15°C to −20°C sleeping bag typically rents for USD 1 to 2 a day, held against a security deposit or a passport copy.
Footwear, base layers, and socks are worth buying outright, since fit and break-in time matter for blister prevention in a way a rental item, worn by dozens of previous trekkers, can’t guarantee. First-aid items and any personal medication are single-use by nature and were never a rental candidate to begin with.
For a trekker renting the two biggest-ticket items (jacket and sleeping bag) for a 12 to 14 day trip, total rental cost lands around USD 25 to 55, a sharp reduction from the USD 200 to 600 personal gear estimate on the cost guide for trekkers buying everything new.
For how packing fits into the rest of the trip, from route to permits to altitude, see the complete Everest Base Camp Trek guide.
Frequently Asked Questions
Rent or Buy
Yes. Kathmandu's Thamel district has dozens of trekking gear shops renting down jackets, sleeping bags, and trekking poles, some genuine brand-name stock and some convincing copies. Renting is the standard move for one-time trekkers who don't want to buy gear they'll rarely use again.
Layering & Cold
Footwear & Health
For the physical preparation to go with this gear list, see the training guide, and for what teahouses provide versus what you need to carry yourself, see the accommodation guide.