Trekking gear checklist

This list is for a typical week-long Himalayan trek with an organiser who provides tents, food and kitchen gear. It draws on the kit lists published by Indiahikes and Bikat Adventures. For a short Sahyadri day trek, take the water, food, rain gear, first aid and footwear sections, and leave the rest.

Indiahikes’ golden rule: do not pack for “if” situations. Extra “just in case” clothes are what make a backpack too heavy.

Clothing layers

Wear layers you can add or remove as the weather changes, which in the mountains happens every few hours. Indiahikes uses a simple count of warm layers: 3 in summer (March–September), 4 after the monsoon (September–November), and at least 5 in winter (December–March).

• 3 T-shirts, full-sleeved and quick-dry (wear one, carry two). Full sleeves protect your arms and neck from sunburn
• 2 trek pants, quick-dry, not cotton or jeans
• 1 light fleece (all seasons), plus a second fleece after the monsoon and in winter
• 1 light sweater
• 1 padded jacket with a hood that keeps out wind and cold
• Thermal inners (winter)
• Rain jacket or poncho
• Sun cap, ideally with a neck flap
• Woollen cap or balaclava that covers your ears
• Gloves: waterproof outside with a padded lining, or a fleece glove worn inside a synthetic one
• 3 pairs of socks: 2 synthetic sports socks and 1 woollen pair for night

Cotton soaks up sweat and water and takes a long time to dry. Choose synthetic fabrics for anything you will sweat in.

Footwear

• Trekking shoes with ankle support and a good grip. Most sports shoes do not have the ankle support, grip or water resistance a Himalayan trek needs
• Light sandals or slippers for camp
• Break your shoes in on training walks before the trek

Backpack

• Backpack: Indiahikes suggests 50–60 litres for a week-long trek, Bikat suggests 60–70 litres. Look for good hip and shoulder support
• Rain cover for the backpack. A cut plastic sheet tied with string works if your bag has none
• Daypack of 20–35 litres if you offload your main bag to a mule or porter. It should hold water, rain gear, a warm layer, snacks, medicines and a headlamp
• 3–4 old plastic bags to keep clothes dry inside the backpack and to separate wet or used clothes. Reuse old ones rather than buying new
• Headlamp with spare batteries
• Sunglasses with UV protection, preferably wrap-around
• A pair of trekking poles (Bikat calls them optional but highly recommended)

Sleeping

Most organised treks include tents and sleeping bags. Indiahikes lists them in its trek fee. If you trek on your own, you must carry or hire them yourself.

• Thermals or a dry set of clothes kept only for sleeping
• Woollen socks for the night, which Indiahikes says keep you warm in your sleeping bag
• Woollen cap for the night
• If trekking on your own: a tent, a sleeping bag rated for the coldest night you expect, and a sleeping mat

Water and food

• 2 one-litre water bottles, or a 2-litre hydration pack. Most Himalayan trek days have about six hours of walking
• One lightweight thermos (optional) for warm water on cold mornings and evenings
• A leak-proof lunch box, a mug and a spoon. Indiahikes suggests steel because it is easier to wash in cold water. Wash your own
• Trail snacks: dates, nuts or energy bars
• ORS sachets

First-aid kit

Ask your doctor what to carry, especially for any regular medicines or altitude medicines. Do not take medicines on the trail that your doctor or trek leader has not cleared.

• Your regular prescription medicines, with extra
• Altitude medicine only if prescribed (see our altitude sickness guide)
• Paracetamol for fever and mild pain
• ORS sachets
• Plasters, blister patches and antiseptic cream
• Pain-relief spray
• A small roll of duct tape (for blisters and gear repairs)
• Knee brace if you have knee trouble
• Sunscreen and lip balm with SPF
• Toilet kit: toothbrush, small toothpaste, small soap, toilet paper, hand sanitiser
• Ziplock bags to carry out sanitary waste
• Original government photo ID plus photocopies, and a medical certificate if the organiser or forest department asks for one, in a waterproof cover

Monsoon extras

• Poncho (light, and covers you and your backpack) or a rain jacket
• A backpack rain cover, plus everything inside packed in plastic bags
• Quick-dry pants and T-shirts. Avoid jeans and cotton, which stay wet
• Shoes with a deep, grippy sole for wet rock and mud
• A spare pair of dry socks kept sealed for camp or the drive home
• Antiseptic and plasters for leech bites. Remove a leech by sliding a fingernail or card under its mouth end and flicking it off. Do not pull it, burn it or put salt on it, which can make it empty its gut into the wound

Winter extras

For winter Himalayan treks, Indiahikes suggests five warm layers: a pair of thermals for the night, two sweaters, one fleece jacket and one padded jacket.

• Thermals (top and bottom)
• Two sweaters or fleeces, and a padded jacket with a hood
• Woollen cap, neck warmer and woollen socks
• Waterproof gloves with a padded lining (or fleece gloves worn inside waterproof ones). Indiahikes calls gloves mandatory whenever there is snow
• Microspikes and gaiters for snow (Indiahikes provides these on its own treks, so ask your organiser)
• UV sunglasses. Indiahikes warns that even about half an hour of exposure on snow can cause snow blindness, so never take them off on a snow section
• A thermos for hot water