Gear and packing

Which headlamp to take on a Nepal trek and why: the pre-dawn climbs on Poon Hill and Annapurna Base Camp, the before-dawn starts on Thorong La, Larkya La and the Three Passes, batteries in the cold, red light, and what else to carry in the dark.

Practical gear advice for women trekking in Nepal: boots, packs and sleeping bags that fit, layers and sports bras, hygiene supplies and how to pack out waste, toilets on the trail, and modest clothing that works in villages.

How to navigate a Nepal trek without a signal: download offline maps before you leave, what GPX files are and how to use them, why a paper map still belongs in your pack, where trails and jeep roads diverge, and how to stay found.

How to leave bags in Kathmandu while you trek: asking your hotel, what to put in the stored bag, locks and photographs, what to do if your trek ends in Pokhara or Jomsom, and the questions that prevent a lost bag.

What to bring and what to ask your agency to supply on a camping trek in Kanchenjunga, Upper Dolpo or Dhaulagiri: sleeping bag and mat, clothing for minus 15 C, gaiters, a day bag for when porters are hours behind, and how the crew, cook and tents work.

What to leave at home or in your Kathmandu hotel before a Nepal trek: cotton and jeans, a wheeled suitcase, a second pair of boots, valuables, a drone, sweets for children and a long list of small extras that cost weight and give nothing back.

How to stop blisters before a Nepal trek: boots and socks that fit, breaking in, how many pairs to pack, spotting a hot spot early, what the NHS advises for blisters, and when an infected blister needs a doctor.

Filter or tablets on a Nepal trek? A plain comparison of boiling, microfilters, chlorine dioxide, chlorine and iodine, using CDC Yellow Book guidance, plus bottle choices, plastic waste and what to do on teahouse and camping routes.

What camera kit makes sense on a Nepal trek: phone versus camera, the one lens that does most of the work, protection from dust, cold and rain, batteries and memory cards, best light, and rules on drones and photographing people.

How to keep a phone and a camera charged on a Nepal trek: how lodge charging works and why it gets slower and dearer with altitude, how to size a power bank, whether a solar panel is worth carrying, and how to save battery.

What to rent in Pokhara Lakeside before an Annapurna trek, what to bring from home, how to check a jacket, bag and poles in daylight, and how to schedule shopping around permits and the drive to the trailhead.

How to rent trekking gear in Thamel without wasting a day or a deposit: what to rent and what to bring, how to inspect a down jacket and sleeping bag, what to ask about deposits and returns, and when to shop.

How to dress for a Nepal trek in layers: base, mid, insulation and shell, how many of each, how to adjust through a day that runs from warm climbs to freezing dawns, and what to add by altitude.

What bags to bring on a Nepal trek with a porter: a 25 to 35 litre daypack, an agency duffel or your own soft bag, a dry bag liner, a weight plan for porter and Lukla flight limits, and what to leave in Kathmandu.

Do you need trekking poles in Nepal? What they do for knees and balance, where they help most (stone steps, long descents, snow), where they get in the way, how to use and rent them, and how to share the trail with mules and yaks.

Boots or trail runners for a Nepal trek? Support, grip, weight, water, snow, drying time, blisters and rental, with advice by route: trail shoes can work on low treks, boots are the safer choice on high passes.

How to stay dry and sane on a monsoon trek: rain shell and overtrousers, pack covers and dry bags, gaiters for leeches, quick-dry clothing, and which rain-shadow routes such as Upper Mustang need less of it.

What to pack for a winter trek in Nepal: warmer sleeping bags, insulated boots and gloves, a hooded insulated jacket, sun and snow protection, and which low routes such as Poon Hill make sense when many lodges close.

What to pack for the Annapurna Circuit in October and November: kit for a route that runs from 1,190 m to 5,416 m, with a warm sleeping bag, pass-day layers, dust and wind protection, and what to rent or leave behind.

For one Nepal trek, rent your down jacket in Thamel or Pokhara; for a second trek or a cold-season route, buy. Includes a fill-power guide and a decision table.

How to read sleeping bag temperature ratings, match them to the coldest night of your Nepal route, check a rental in Thamel or Pokhara, and what liners, clothing and mattresses change.

A layer-by-layer Nepal trek packing list, with what to add for each altitude and season, what to rent or buy in Kathmandu and Pokhara and what to leave at home.

Most trekkers need microspikes, not full crampons, on Nepal high passes like Thorong La and Cho La. How the two differ, how to fit them and when to carry them.

A packing list for Everest Base Camp in March to May, organised by what you wear, sleep in and carry, with what to rent in Kathmandu, weight limits and what to leave at home.