Kilimanjaro Packing List
Despite that of the "Seven Summits" - highest climbs on all seven continents - Kilimanjaro is considered the easiest, this expedition shouldn’t be taken lightly.
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Packing your Kilimanjaro kit is one of the most important steps on the way to a successful climb. The Web is full of travel recommendations, however, most of them inevitably fail to explain why a certain piece of equipment is a must-have while others may be left at home.
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We have compiled our packing guide so that even a complete novice could use it as a reference, though some recommendations might be obvious to seasoned mountain climbers. Also, you can find more information about Kili climbing in this article.
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Most items mentioned in this article are absolutely necessary.
Your main gear will be carried by a porter (up to 15kg) .You will need to carry your own daypack. 30-40L is sufficient
To carry your main gear we recommend using a 80-90L duffle bag. Large rucksacks (>65L) can also work
You will need a 4-season or -20 Deg C sleeping bag and compression sack.
Trekking poles can reduce the impact on your joints by up to 20%. They are great for going down Kili
Capacity to carry 3 litres of water. Options: 2 x 1.5 litre wide mouth nalgene bottles or 2 litre platypus + 1 litre water bottle
It can get dusty on Kilimanjaro. We recommend bringing a neck gaiter or bandana
Go for a version of a beanie that is either knitted or fleeced for extra warmth
Preferably go for a hat that is wide-brimmed for protection, and has a neck cover if you aren’t going to be wearing a neck gaiter
Choose a pair of high UV protection glasses as sun intensity above 4,500m is very high
You will need a headlamp with good light output for any late night toilet journeys, and importantly for summit night.
For the cold nights and for the summit push we recommend heavyweight, insulated, preferably water resistant gloves
For lower slopes we recommend lightweight, fleece or quick drying fabric gloves.
We recommend using a mid-weight trekking boots with good ankle support
To wear around camp after a day’s trek we recommend bringing a pair of training shoes or sandals
3-4 pairs of outer socks and 2-3 pairs of liner socks. We also recommend bringing 1 x thick thermal socks for summit night. Merino wool is the best material
Help keep your trousers clean in wet and muddy or dusty conditions
Go for a light or medium weight, moisture wicking long sleeve shirt (x2)
2 x lightweight, moisture wicking short sleeved shirts
A mid-weight polartec fleece jacket is ideal for Kilimanjaro
1 x thermal base layer, ideally made from merino wool
A water/windproof hard shell outer jacket to protect you from the elements
A good quality and warm down or primaloft jacket is required for the cold nights and summit push
Thermal or fleece base layer for your leg.Merino wool is preferable
Light or medium weight (x1) trekking trousers. Convertible trousers are an option
To protect yourself from the elements you need a good pair of waterproof / windproof hard shell trousers