Clothing and Gear We Recommend for Women's Trekking
Hiking Boots – Your most important piece of gear! Sore feet can ruin a trip quickly, so it’s worth being really picky here. You want to make sure your boots are VERY WELL broken in before you arrive in Nepal. Seriously. You want to spend lots of time in these on varied terrain to make sure they’re just right before you get here. As far as what kind of boots to get, there’s a wide range of options. You’ll probably want them to be high tops so that you have some ankle support. The trails can be quite rocky and we don’t want you rolling an ankle! You may want waterproof in case it snows or rains, although this is a matter of personal preference. If you tend to have hot feet, waterproof shoes can get soggy when it’s warm out. If you have any questions at all, go speak to the people at your local outdoor outfitter or give me a call to discuss! I definitely don’t want you to be uncomfortable while we’re hiking!
Moleskin/Band-Aids - Just in case it turns out your boots aren’t as broken in as you thought they were!
Baselayer Tops and Bottoms – You’ll want one set that’s heavyweight for when it gets cold and one set that’s midweight for when it’s chilly and we’re on the move
Day Pack – This is what you’ll use while we’re trekking. You’ll need it to be big enough to pack a couple bottles of water, some snacks, an extra layer in case it gets cold, a pair of gloves, some sunscreen, sunglasses and rain gear. We typically recommend backs between 21-35L
Rain Cover - For day pack
Clothes to wear during down time/yoga - By the time we get to the village for the night, we’re usually pretty sweaty and gross! It’s good to have a set of clothes, including a pair of socks, that are just for hanging out/doing yoga in. They don’t need to be terribly warm, you can layer up!
Gloves
Warm Hat
Sun Hat/Baseball Cap
Headlamp - With fresh batteries and an extra set of batteries
Comfy Shoes - For when we’re not hiking - sneakers or Uggs are a nice break for your tootsies! Regardless, these should be lightweight.
Hiking Pants - I usually hike in leggings, but really anything will work as long it’s fairly quick drying.
Short Sleeve Shirts - Synthetic
Long Sleeve Shirts - Synthetic, lightweight
Hiking socks - Need to be wool or an equivalent synthetic. Your feet get cold quickly.
Insulated Jacket - Down or synthetic. Keep in mind that if down gets wet it won’t keep you warm. That being said, down tends to be more compressible and you’ll have a rain coat with you. Your call. I use a Patagonia Down Sweater.
Fleece Jacket
Rain Jacket - Hooded, lightweight, totally waterproof, breathable
Rain Pants - Lightweight, waterproof, breathable…you don’t need snowpants. You can toss a pair of leggings or long underwear underneath and you’ll be good to go!
Sleeping Bag - 15 degree bag at least, lightweight, compressible
Gloves – A pair of Power Stretch gloves and a pair of insulated/waterproof gloves or mitts
Gaiters – Just in case we encounter snow. These can also help to keep dust out of your boots on the trail.
1L Water Bottles - Or equivalent hydration system for your day pack, if applicable
Undies/Bras
Sunglasses
Sun Block - Make sure you have plenty and that it’s a high SPF – the sun is STRONG!
Lip Balm - With SPF (bring 2 just in case!)
Toiletries - Remember that your porter will be carrying this stuff, so please try to limit what you bring! Travel sized shampoo etc. I like to bring a small bottle of Dr. Bronner’s Peppermint soap, which does triple duty as face and body wash and shampoo and leaves you feeling really clean.
Tampons/pads - These are not always easily available outside of Kathmandu.
Toilet paper – The tea houses don’t provide guests with toilet paper, so we’ll each carry our own rolls. These can be purchased in Kathmandu and at the tea houses on the trek.
Camp Towel - Quick drying
Luggage Locks
Phone/Charging Device
Camera/Batteries
Personal medications
Passport
Trail Snacks - These can be purchased in Kathmandu and in villages along the way
You are welcome to store a bag at the hotel in Kathmandu if you have things with you that you don’t want to bring with you on the trek. If this sounds like something that you’d like to do, please bring an extra bag and luggage lock with you.
You may also want to consider bringing the following optional items:
Small Journal/Sketch Book – We’ll have down time in the afternoons and on acclimatization days; journaling is a great way to remember your trip!
Kindle – I prefer real books, but a Kindle (or equivalent) weighs much less and you can fit lots of books on them!
Bandana/Buff – The trails can be dusty, so this can double as a mouth cover/headband/neckwarmer
Liner Socks – Some people love ‘em, some people don’t. Bring them if they help keep your feet comfortable!
Stuff Sacks - To keep things organized in your duffel bag
Throat Lozenges - The dry/cold air can sometimes leave you with a bit of a scratchy throat.
Tissues
Trekking Poles – Can be helpful, particularly on the downhills, if your knees tend to get sore. Plus, these make you look badass in photos.
Gold Bond – This is a little trick that I learned on a three month backpacking trip I took in college. A sprinkle of gold bond on the feet at the end of a long day of hiking feels like heaven and freshens you up in no time. The kind in the blue container tingles the most and is my favorite!
Hand Sanitizer
Body wipes
Money Belt – Some people feel more comfortable keeping their money and passport with them at all times.
Ear Plugs – The walls in the tea houses on the trek are very thin. If you’re a light sleeper, you may want to bring ear plugs.
Headphones
Electrolyte powder - Or tabs. Some people find that this helps them to stay hydrated.
Solar Charger/Portable Battery – Please consider how much this weighs before bringing it along
Loperamide - AKA anti-diarrheal medicine. Just in case.
Small personal first aid-kit - We’ll carry one for the group, but some people prefer to have their own as well.
A Quick Note on What Not to Wear
People in Nepal are quite modest in the way that they dress so please refrain from wearing lowcut tops, tank tops, crop tops, shorts or other revealing clothing (short sleeves are fine). I’m all for smashing the patriarchy and freeing the nipple, but my philosophy when traveling is that it’s best to dress in a way that’s respectful to the customs and culture of the country I’m visiting. Thank you for understanding!