Trekking in Nepal varies from easy to hard depending on factors like the trekking region, trekking weather, group or solo, with a guide and assistant, or without them. Trekking in Nepal is a multi-day walk in the mountainous region of Nepal. Since Nepal is a mountainous country with 8 of the 10 highest peaks in the world, there are lots of multi-day trekking trails leading to their base. Apart from mountain base camps, Nepal provides many trails that offer you a beautiful landscape of the mountainous country. Apart from having a strong mindset, a capable leader, and finance to back you up, there are certain things to keep in mind before starting trekking in Nepal. Those things include a basic set of trekking gear and equipment you need that will ease your trekking in the strenuous region of Nepal.
Trekking gear and equipment include all the things you may need while trekking. These gears and equipment make your walk relatively easy and less strenuous compared to trekking done without using them. What gears you may need depends on the region of trekking, the weather conditions, etc.
Here are some essentials you need while trekking in the Himalayas of Nepal:
1. Clothing
- Down jacket: Since it is always cold in the upper region of the mountains, you need to carry a decent and warm down jacket that can withstand up to -10 degrees Celcius.
- Windproof thin jacket: Trekking in Nepal provides you an opportunity to experience climatic variations from Tropical to Alpine within a short period. While trekking on the lower part of the trail, you might need a solid windproof jacket to protect you from the wind.
- Trekking/hiking boots: Since you will be walking for days in the harsh terrain of the country, you will need a decent pair of trekking boots. Easy, lightweight, flexible, ankle-supporting good boots with good grip are recommended especially in the upper hills and Himalayan region. The boots must be flexible and breathable so that blisters won't appear.
- Inner thermal wear: When you are trekking in the upper Himalayan region of Nepal, the weather is cold, you may need to wear a pair of good thermal inner wear to keep you warm.
- Socks: you need a lot of socks varying in thickness depending on the region you are walking.
- Trekking track: While trekking, lightweight and comfortable trekking tracks are preferred.
- Trousers: There may be some places where wearing only trekking tracks feels cold and wearing inner thermal wear with trekking tracks feels hot. In those conditions, you may need comfortable and breathable trousers for the rest of your day trek.
- T-shirts and shorts ( long-sleeved and short-sleeved ): Except in winter, one can trek up to the height of 3700 meters with a normal t-shirt and shorts. Long-sleeved or short-sleeved depends on your choice and comfort.
- Muffler scarfs or balaclava: You will need muffler scarfs or balaclava in the upper Himalayan region to protect you from cold, dray wind.
- Normal golf caps and woolen hats: During the trek, from the lower hill region to the lower mountain region, you may need a golf cap to protect you from scorching sun rays. In the regions above that, you will need a woolen cap/hat to cover your ears and head from cold.
- Thin gloves with grip and woolen windproof mittens: Thing gloves become useful in lower altitude region that protects your exposed hand parts from direct sunlight and prevent sunburn. Also, it will help prevent blisters while using trekking poles. As you go higher, think gloves won't protect you from cold, so you will need a good pair of windproof woolen gloves or mittens.
- Underwears: Wearing the same underwear for days is not healthy and washing it every day is not possible. So it is recommended for trekkers to carry 5-6 pieces of underwear minimum while trekking in Nepal.
- Sports bras
2. Trekking Gears/pieces of equipment
- Gaiters: Gaiters are useful to cover your boots, especially if you are traveling in the winter season where snow will be common. They will also relieve you of constantly stopping to clear the mud and stones from your boot. A simple gear but it is available in different forms. A good gaiter can be expensive but are durable while common gaiters may become hot too quickly. Choose a pair carefully according to your boots
- Raincoats/ cover plastics: When you are trekking in monsoon season, you will need a pair of good raincoats and/or plastic that can cover your body and backpack.
- Backpack: Depending on how much stuff you want to carry, you will need a good backpack that won't wear or tear too soon. If you are carrying a porter to carry your stuff, a small size backpack of 20 ltr that can accommodate a water bottle, photography pieces of equipment, someday snacks and chocolates, some light clothes, and a little bit of extra space are enough. But without porters, you will need a minimum of 50-70 ltr backpack to put all your essentials.
- Sleeping Bags: Most of the teahouses on the trekking trail provides you good bed yet you may not feel comfortable completely relying on them. So it's better to carry your sleeping bag for comfort.
- Trekking poles: Though the same may not need trekking poles it eases your trek considerably, especially while going steep downhills, steep uphills, walking on loose gravels and sands, etc. It lowers the pressure on your feet and back.
- Head torch: If you are planning to watch a good sunrise from the mountain regions, you need to wake up very early and make your way through the dark to the viewpoint. Walking in such an area in the dark without lights is very dangerous. So you will need a good, long-lasting head torch for your safety while walking in the dark.
- UV protection sunglasses: The sun in upper Himalayan regions is too bright which can cause temporary blindness. It is better to use colorful UV protection sunglasses.
- Crampons: Most of the time crampons are not needed especially when you are not traveling in winter but who knows, the trail may be filled with black ice that your boot grips cant hold. It is better to have detachable crampons, especially while walking in snow and icy areas
- Camera, extra battery, extra memory card, small folding tripod.
- Mobile, mobile charger, power banks
- Water bottles
- Some high-energy protein snacks like dark chocolates to eat while resting
- Tents: For those who want to sit in camp instead of local lodges.
- Sleeping mat: You will need sleeping mats while sleeping at camp.
3. Toiletries
- Toilet paper rolls
- Toothbrush and tooth-paste
- Soap
- Quick dry hand-towel and body towel
4. Medical supplements you need to carry
- Altitude sickness Medicines: Acetazolamide or Diamox is used to prevent and reduce the symptoms of altitude sickness. This medication can decrease headaches, tiredness, nausea, dizziness, and shortness of breath that can occur when you climb quickly to high altitudes.
- Sunscreen lotion with 50+ SPF value: The sunrays in the upper Himalayas are scorching that can give you sunburn. To prevent those sunburns you need a sunscreen lotion.
- Lip guard/moisturizers: The cold dry air in the mountains can give you chapped and dry lips. So better use lip moisturizer before you hit the trail.
- Pain relief sprays: Walking up and down continuously for 5-6 hrs a day may give you muscle ache at the end of the day. The pain-relief spray provides you with comfort and eases your pain.
- Pain killer tablets: Tablets of paracetamol (flexon) are much needed when trekking through high altitudes. The cold and thin level of breathable oxygen may give you a severe headache.
- Hand sanitizer: Whether you are trekking or not, using hand sanitizer is a healthy practice
- Antibacterial powder: You might find some bruises here and there while trekking. antibacterial powder helps you to stay free from bacteria that may infection to the bruises and wounds.
- Insect repellent cream: Since you will be trekking through forest and bushy areas. You may encounter a lot of insects and parasites that may bite you. To avoid those bitings, you may use insect repellent cream.