Trek Guide
Exactly what to pack for the Everest Base Camp trek in 2026. The complete EBC-specific checklist — clothing for -20°C, gear, the Lukla weight limit…
By Travel Himalaya Nepal · Jun 8, 2026
Pack for genuine sub-zero cold: a warm down jacket and a -20°C sleeping bag are essential even in peak season. Respect the Lukla flight weight limit (~10kg checked + 5kg carry-on); your porter carries your duffel. Bring your own broken-in boots and base…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Everest Base Camp reaches 5,545m at Kala Patthar , with nights well below -15°C even in peak season and serious sun and dust. This EBC-specific list covers exactly what you need — and the Lukla weight limit you must respect. (For general principles, see our…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Base layers: 2–3 sets merino/synthetic tops and bottoms Mid layers: 1–2 fleeces or a light insulated jacket Insulation: 1 warm down jacket (rentable in Kathmandu) Shell: waterproof/windproof jacket and over-trousers Trousers: 2 pairs trekking + thermal…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Best overall
Black Diamond Spot 400
Bright enough for a pre-dawn pass and simple enough to fix in the dark with cold hands — it runs on AAAs, which is heavier than a rechargeable and is exactly why we recommend it.
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Bright enough for a pre-dawn pass and simple enough to fix in the dark with cold hands — it runs on AAAs, which is heavier than a rechargeable and is exactly why we recommend it.
Not for: Weight-counting fastpackers. Take the rechargeable and accept that a flat battery at 4,800 m is your problem.
Check price on Amazon Read the full reviewIf you buy through that link we earn a commission. It costs you nothing and it does not change what we recommend — the rental and advice-only entries in our gear guide earn us nothing at all.
Broken-in waterproof boots (the most important item) + camp shoes -20°C sleeping bag (rentable) + liner 35–45L daypack; 60–70L duffel for the porter Trekking poles (vital for the long descents) Headlamp + spare batteries; power bank 10,000mAh+ 2x 1L bottles…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Category 3–4 sunglasses , SPF 50+ sunscreen, SPF lip balm Personal first-aid kit, Diamox (consult a doctor), rehydration salts, blister plasters Passport + copies, permits (agency arranges), insurance with heli-evacuation USD and NPR cash in small…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Your duffel goes with the porter, and the porter walks ahead of you. You will not see that bag again until you reach the evening's lodge. So anything you might want between breakfast and dinner has to be on your back — and every year people put their down…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Best overall
Nitecore NB10000 Gen 3
The best capacity-per-gram you can buy and it clears every airline limit without a conversation — 10,000 mAh is about two phone charges, so on a fortnight above the solar line you will…
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The best capacity-per-gram you can buy and it clears every airline limit without a conversation — 10,000 mAh is about two phone charges, so on a fortnight above the solar line you will still be paying a lodge occasionally.
Not for: A camera-heavy trip or a group sharing one bank. Take the 20,000 mAh instead.
Check price on Amazon Read the full reviewIf you buy through that link we earn a commission. It costs you nothing and it does not change what we recommend — the rental and advice-only entries in our gear guide earn us nothing at all.
A bag sold as "-20°C" is usually quoting its limit rating, which is the temperature at which a warm sleeper survives a curled-up, uncomfortable night. The comfort rating — where you actually sleep well — is often 8–10°C higher. For EBC in peak season, ask for…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Rental shops in Thamel have everything from excellent to exhausted, at much the same price. Three checks before you pay: Squash it. Good down springs back within a few seconds. If it stays flat, the fill is dead and it will not keep you warm at Gorak Shep…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Hydration bladders freeze. The tube ices within the first hour of a cold morning and the whole system becomes useless. Carry bottles; keep one inside your jacket overnight and it will not freeze. Batteries die in the cold — phones, cameras, headtorches and…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
Cotton anything — it soaks up sweat, stops insulating and takes days to dry in cold air. Jeans, heavy books, spare electronics, and full-size toiletries. Every kilo counts twice: once against the Lukla limit, and once on the back of the person carrying it for…
Travel Himalaya Nepal · News
What most people should do
Four-season down bag (−15 °C), rented
A bag you would buy costs several hundred dollars and you need it for perhaps five cold nights. Kathmandu and Pokhara rent good ones for a couple of dollars a day, and we make nothing from…
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A bag you would buy costs several hundred dollars and you need it for perhaps five cold nights. Kathmandu and Pokhara rent good ones for a couple of dollars a day, and we make nothing from telling you that — take your own silk liner and the hygiene question answers itself.
Not for: People who camp at home, or anyone doing three Himalayan trips. Then buy once, properly.
Rental shops in Kathmandu and Pokhara carry this — about USD 1-2 per day in Thamel or Pokhara Lakeside. We take nothing from that.
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