Packing for Kilimanjaro can seem overwhelming. You are traveling halfway around the world and will be on the mountain for several days. So how do you know if you brought enough gear? Will you be warm enough? Can your feet handle all those days of walking? Did you bring enough batteries to last your entire trip? Don’t worry. That is what we are here for.
Below is a list of items that Peak Planet recommends for your Kilimanjaro climb. Keep in mind that you can rent some of the equipment through us by requesting it here.
Recommended Gear List
| NUMBER | QUANTITY | ITEM | DESCRIPTION |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Waterproof (Gortex) Hiking Boots | For snow. Make sure they are broken in |
| 2 | 1 | Light hikers / Running shoes | Lower elevation hiking and around camp |
| 3 | 1 | Fleece | For warmth |
| 4 | 1 | Quick-Drying Camp Towel | Optional, but nice to have. |
| 5 | 1 | Beanie | For warmth, fleece or wool |
| 6 | 1 | Snow Gloves | Snowboarding, ski or any other winter sports gloves can be used as long as they are water-resistant and warm |
| 7 | – | Toilet Paper and a waterproof bag | I recommend putting your TP in the waterproof gallon size Ziploc bag. It can also be used to store snack trash |
| 8 | – | Headlamp and Extra Batteries | For moving around in the dark. |
| 9 | 1 | 30-35 Liter Pack | This is your daypack for clothes as you remove/add them and for water, snacks and camera equipment. Also, use it as your carry on bag. |
| 10 | 1 | Waterproof trekking pants | Waterproof pants for the rainforest and if it is raining. |
| 11 | 1 | Convertible hiking pants | Removable leg bottoms to adjust for temperature. Prana makes a good, durable pair (Zion material). |
| 12 | 1 | Top and bottom base layer | The bottom layer for warmth |
| 13 | – | Shemagh / Balaclava / Buff | This is optional, but it is a very versatile scarf to keep your head, neck, and face warm. |
| 14 | 1 | Fleece Gloves | For added warmth |
| 15 | 1 | Shell | Water and windproof. This can also be rented. |
| 16 | 1 | 1 pair of Trekking Poles | These can also be rented. |
| 17 | – | Solar Charger or Power Bank | To charge cell phone/other electronics (optional). We have found that power banks work better. |
| 18 | 1+ | Long Sleeve Pullover | For added warmth |
| 19 | 2-3 | T-Shirts | Either long or short sleeve depending on how cold you get. Moisture-wicking. No cotton |
| 20 | 1 | Medium weight gloves | For warmth and stopping wind |
| 21 | – | Sunglasses / Cards – optional | Maybe bring a second pair. Deck of cards (optional) |
| 22 | – | Toiletries | Deodorant, eye care (extra contacts, saline, glasses, etc) dental floss, toothpaste, toothbrush, sunscreen, nail clippers, lip balm |
| 23 | – | Medications | Pain meds, sleeping aids, anti-diarrhea, etc. Make sure they are in labeled bottles |
| 24 | – | Snacks (optional) | You can bring some if you like, but it is not necessary. If you have dietary restrictions you can bring gluten or dairy-free snacks. Pictured: caffeine GUs. |
| 25 | 1 / 1 / 1 | Water bottle / Bug Repellent / Passport | Bring an extra water bottle in case of failure / Optional: Bug repellant |
| 26 | 1 | Hydration bladder | It makes drinking a lot easier. Even though you are at elevation drink plenty. |
| 27 | 1-2 | A good camera and extra lenses | How often do you travel to Africa? Make sure you can take all the pictures you want |
| 28 | 1-4 / 100GB / 2 pair | 1-4 camera batteries /~100gb of SD cards for the camera / 2 pair of earplugs | Batteries can fail, so can SD cards, bring extras. Earplugs are optional |
| 29 | 1 | Sunhat / baseball cap | To keep the sun off |
| 30 | 2-3 | Underwear | Preferably dry weave to wick moisture away to avoid chafing. |
| 31 | 3-5 | Socks | Example: 2 pr of injinji base socks, 2 pr ankle-high Thorlo socks, and 1 pr REI socks |
| 32 | 1 | Puffy Jacket | This can come with the jacket as a 3-in-1 or separately. It can be rented. |
Additional Items
In addition to the list above, you may also want to bring
- Duct tape or a blister kit.
- Diamox is good for elevation, talk to your doctor.
- Malaria pills—they are optional.
- Bring gaiters. Threy are nice to keep water and skree out of your boots and your pant legs dry.
- Hand warmers if you get cold easily.
- Extra shoelaces
- Duffel bag 70-90 liters. Waterproof is best.
- Ziploc and dry bags for waterproofing
- Pee bottle, to avoid leaving tent at night
- Hand sanitizer
- Disposable wipes
- Gatorade or Nuun tablets for your Nalgene type bottle
- Paperwork: Booking form, Insurance paperwork
- Cash
- Microspikes or Yaktrax: These are only required if we email you before your trip and recommend them.
Rentable Gear
To keep the cost down on all of the gear you may need to purchase, you can rent some equipment from Peak Planet. Below are the items we rent.
- Trekking Poles
- Synthetic Jacket
- Sleeping Bag (Synthetic)
- Sleeping Pad (included)
- ALTOX Personal Oxygen
Items You Will Not Need
Furtherrmore, now that we told you what you will need, here are a ferw items you will not need.
- crampons
- rope
- carabiners
- ice axe
- harness
- waterfilter – we proved all the water on the mountain
We hope this helps you with your trip preparation. With this gear list you should be well prepared to climb Kilimanjaro. If you want more information you can watch the video below.
