Punam Phuyal
The Everest Base Camp packing list includes all the materials required for trekking. Everest Base Camp trekking encompasses a the moderate route that is impossible to complete unless you include all the materials from the gear checklist. This article includes all the essentials you must have for EBC trekking.
The foremost item on your packing list is your backpack. You should have two backpacks, i.e., a main backpack and a daypack, for your trekking. The main backpack will be carried by your porter, whereas the daypack will be carried on your own. The trekking packing list of your backpack is shown in Figure 1.
The mainpack is the backpack that includes all the clothing, sleeping bag, and shoes for your trekking, tour, and rest days. You should always pack extra shoes, socks, and 2 pairs of extra clothes during the trek in case of uncertainty in trial. The recommended clothing for the Everest base camp trek can be categorized into upper- part, middle-part, and lower part clothes (Table 1).
Table 1: Recommended clothes for trekking
| Clothes for upper part (head and neck) | Clothes for middle part (body part) | Clothes for lower part (legs and feet) |
| Hat or cap for day | Long-sleeved t-shirts or tops | Under pant |
| Woolen cap for evening | Fleece jacket | Long underwear |
| Neck gaiter/buff | Down jacket | Fleece trouser |
| Scarf | Thick Gloves | Skirt |
| Thin gloves | shocks | |
| Vest | Shoes | |
| Sports bra for female | Sleepers |
The base layer refers to the first layer of clothing that connects with your skin and remains as foundation of clothing. It manages moisture from the skin by wicking sweat. Always use merino wool clothes as your base layer to regulate temperature and absorb moisture from the body. Depending on your choice, you can also use synthetic fabrics or silk clothing for a base layer.
After putting on base-layer clothes, you should wear mid layer clothes. The mid midlayer refers to clothes over base layer that insulate heat in the body and keep you warm. You can put 2/3 mid midlayers, depending on the weather conditions.
Note: We should use thick gloves and socks during the early morning hike to Kalapather. We can use two layers of shocks to prevent from chilling.
Clothes connected to external environment and worn over the mid layer are known as outer layer. The selection of outer layer depends on the season of trekking and your sensitivity to cold.
You should have -20℃ sleeping bag for EBC trekking. Even though you will be provided with blankets in tea houses, having a sleeping bag is very important. You can also use liner to keep your body warm during the night.
daypack is your personal bag that remains with you throughout the trek. You should put all the miscellaneous in your personal bag for its safety.
List of miscellaneous items required for EBC trekking
Sunscreen is very important to protect tannins from sunlight. The higher elevation have a shorter wave length; therefore, you should use sunscreen with SPF 50 or more.
Sunglasses are very important to protect your eye from UV rays and reflection from snow. You may damage your eye unless you don’t use sunglasses at high elevations.
Be sure your purse is always with you. Keeping your personal cards and money safe is under your own responsibility.
Keep your medicine with you so that you can take it on time.
Always keep your mobile phone, camera, headphones, air pod, charger, and power bank safely in your daypack. Keeping your gadgets with you makes it easy to use in necessity.
Drinking water is essential for hydrating your body. Always remember to keep your water bottle with you during the trek. Never forget to fill up the bottle before leaving the tea house.
Since the weather keeps changing during the trek. Therefore, keep your rain cover with you so that you can use it as soon as rainfall occurs.
You can have chocolate, biscuits, dry fruits, soft drinks, chips, or other packed food, depending on your choice in your own bag.
Keep all your valuable things with you to protect your essentials.
The packing list is prepared for you to make your trekking comfortable on your clothing. Unless your body is in your comfort zone, you cannot walk easily. Being safe from cold is equally important. Thus, please be concerned about your main pack and day pack before leaving for a trek. You can do the same packing for the Cho La Pass Trek, Everest Panorama trek and Everest Three Passes trek.
...
