Kilimanjaro Gear List

Your boots are the most important item on your Kilimanjaro gear list. Choose waterproof, mid to high-cut hiking boots with good ankle support and grippy soles for muddy rainforest trails and loose volcanic scree. Break them in with several long walks before your climb, as new boots are a common cause of painful blisters on the mountain.

Pack four to five pairs of thick wool or synthetic trekking socks, plus a few pairs of thin liner socks to reduce friction and blisters. Keep one warm, dry pair just for summit night and sleeping. Avoid cotton socks, which hold moisture and cause cold, sore feet. Change into clean, dry socks at camp each evening.

Gaiters fit over your boots and lower legs, keeping out mud, rain, dust and small stones. They are especially useful in the wet rainforest zone and on the loose scree of the upper slopes during the summit climb and descent. Lightweight, breathable gaiters are best, and they also help keep your trousers clean throughout the trek.

After a long day of hiking, lightweight camp shoes, trainers or sandals give your feet a well-deserved break and let your boots dry out. Choose shoes you can wear with socks, as camps become cold in the evenings. They are also useful for walking to the toilet tent at night and around camp in the morning.

You carry a daypack each day with the items you need while hiking, such as water, snacks, rain gear, warm layers, sunscreen, a camera and personal medication. A 30 to 40 litre pack with a padded hip belt, chest strap and good back support is ideal. Add a rain cover to keep everything dry in the rainforest.

The rest of your gear, including your sleeping bag, spare clothing and toiletries, goes into a soft, water-resistant duffel bag carried by a porter. Kilimanjaro National Park sets a maximum load for porters, so most operators limit climbers' duffels to around 15 kilograms. Avoid hard suitcases and rucksacks with rigid frames, which are difficult to carry.

Rain and damp are common in the lower forest zone, so pack clothing and your sleeping bag inside dry bags or waterproof liners within your duffel and daypack. Compression sacks save space and keep your gear organised. Separate dry clothes from used items, and always keep your summit night clothing well protected and easy to find.

Anything you do not need on the mountain, such as travel clothes, safari gear and valuables, can usually be stored safely at your hotel in Moshi or Arusha until you return. This keeps your duffel light and within the porter weight limit. Pack a separate small bag for items you leave behind before the climb begins.

A warm sleeping bag is essential, as temperatures at the higher camps can drop well below freezing. Choose a bag rated to about minus 10 to minus 20°C, ideally filled with down for the best warmth-to-weight ratio. A hood and draught collar keep heat in. Good sleeping bags can be rented in Moshi or Arusha if needed.

A sleeping bag liner adds several degrees of extra warmth and keeps your sleeping bag clean, which is especially useful with a rented bag. Silk liners are light and compact, while fleece or thermal liners provide more warmth. A liner also lets you adjust your sleeping comfort on warmer lower camps and colder high camps.

A sleeping mat insulates you from the cold ground and improves sleep quality, helping your body recover each night. Many operators provide a foam mattress in your tent, so ask what is included before packing your own. A lightweight inflatable or self-inflating mat can add extra comfort if you prefer a softer surface at camp.

Change into dry thermal layers and warm socks before bed, wear a hat and keep tomorrow's clothes inside your sleeping bag so they stay warm. Put batteries, your phone and water bottles in the bag too, as cold drains batteries and can freeze water. Eating a warm meal and drinking hot fluids before sleeping also helps.

On summit night you start climbing around midnight and face the coldest temperatures of the trek, often well below freezing with wind chill. Wear thermal base layers, a fleece, an insulated jacket and your heavy down jacket, with waterproof trousers over thermal leggings. Keep a spare dry layer in your daypack for the summit and the descent.

Cold hands are one of the biggest challenges on summit night. Pack thin glove liners plus insulated, waterproof gloves or warm mittens, which are warmer than gloves. Chemical hand warmers placed inside your mittens make a big difference. Keep your hands dry, and avoid removing your gloves for long periods to take photographs at the top.

A warm wool or fleece hat, a balaclava or a buff protect your head, face and neck from freezing wind and dust on the summit slopes. A buff can also be pulled over your mouth and nose to warm the air you breathe. Pack a sun hat too, for the strong sunshine on the descent after sunrise.

Summit night begins in darkness, so a bright, comfortable headlamp is essential, along with spare batteries or a fully charged rechargeable lamp. Cold drains batteries quickly, so keep spares in an inside pocket close to your body. Your guides set a slow, steady pace by headlamp until the sunrise, which usually arrives near Stella Point or Gilman's Point.

Drinking enough water is one of the most important ways to help your body acclimatise. Carry capacity for three to four litres a day, using water bottles, a hydration bladder or both. On summit night, insulated bottles or bottle covers stop water from freezing, as bladder tubes can freeze. Your crew provides treated drinking water at every camp.

Meals are prepared by your mountain cook, but personal snacks such as energy bars, nuts, dried fruit and chocolate provide quick energy between meals and on summit night. Electrolyte tablets or powders help replace salts lost through sweating. Choose foods you really enjoy, as appetite often decreases at high altitude and familiar snacks help you keep eating.

Bring your personal medication, blister care, pain relievers, anti-diarrhoea tablets and rehydration salts. Speak to a doctor or travel health clinic before your trip about altitude sickness medication and other preventive treatments. Your guides carry emergency first aid equipment and monitor your health daily, but your own personal kit lets you manage minor issues quickly and comfortably.

The sun is intense at altitude, so pack high-SPF sunscreen, SPF lip balm, a sun hat and category 3 or 4 sunglasses. Water is limited for washing, so bring biodegradable wet wipes, hand sanitiser, toilet paper, a small towel and basic toiletries. Small reusable rubbish bags help you carry all your waste back down the mountain.

Many larger items can be rented in Moshi or Arusha, including sleeping bags, down jackets, trekking poles, gaiters, waterproof trousers and sometimes daypacks. Renting saves money and luggage space, especially if you are travelling on to a safari or beach holiday afterwards. Ask your operator for a full rental list and current prices before you travel.

Some items are better owned and broken in before the climb, especially hiking boots, base layers, socks, underwear and gloves, for comfort, fit and hygiene. Your own daypack should also fit well and feel comfortable. Personal items such as medication, sunglasses and toiletries should always come from home, packed safely in your carry-on hand luggage.

Before accepting rented gear, check it carefully. Make sure sleeping bags are clean, warm and have working zips, jackets are the right size and waterproof, and trekking poles adjust and lock properly. Report any problems straight away so they can be replaced before your climb begins. Your guide can help check gear at the briefing.

Rental equipment is limited during the busy climbing seasons, so tell your operator which items you need when you book. This ensures the right sizes and quality are reserved for you. Your gear is usually checked and handed over at the pre-climb briefing in Moshi or Arusha, the day before you start your trek up the mountain.

Keep your duffel within the weight limit by packing only essential gear and leaving extra clothing, valuables and safari items in storage. Choose lightweight, multi-purpose items, such as a buff that works as a hat, scarf and face cover. A lighter load is fairer to your porter and makes your own daypack more comfortable to carry.

Test all your gear before you travel, especially boots, daypack, headlamp and waterproofs. Walk several long hikes in your boots, wear your full daypack on training walks and check your waterproof jacket in the rain. Knowing your equipment works well and fits comfortably removes stress and helps prevent avoidable problems high up on the mountain.

Tanzania banned single-use plastic carrier bags in 2019, and they are not allowed in Kilimanjaro National Park. Use reusable dry bags, stuff sacks and packing cubes instead. Small reusable bags for rubbish are useful, as all waste must be carried back down the mountain, helping to keep Kilimanjaro clean and beautiful for all future climbers.

Leave cotton clothing, jeans, heavy books, valuables and unnecessary electronics at home or in storage. Cotton stays wet and cold, while extra items add weight to your porter's load. Bring only what you will really use, and remember that warm, dry layers and good boots matter far more than any extra gadgets on the mountain.