Minimum gear for a first Nepal trek: what you actually need

For a first teahouse trek that stays below about 3,300 m, such as Poon Hill, the minimum kit is broken-in boots, a layered clothing system with a rain shell, a warm hat and gloves, a daypack, a sleeping bag and down jacket (both rentable), a headtorch, sun protection, a water bottle, a small first-aid and blister kit and a power bank. That is all. Everything else is comfort, and every extra item is something a porter carries up the stairs. This guide lists what you need, what to rent in Kathmandu or Pokhara, what to leave behind and the common mistakes, aimed at the four-day Poon Hill trek and similar short routes.

What kind of trek this list is for

The list is for a teahouse trek, with lodge beds and meals, no camping and no high passes. On the Poon Hill plan the highest point is 3,210 m, on day 2 you sleep at Ghorepani at 2,860 m and the sunrise walk goes up to the viewpoint. Nights at Ghorepani are cold enough for a proper warm layer, and mornings at the viewpoint are colder still, but you are not at a height where you need an expedition-grade bag or jacket. If you go for a higher route, such as Annapurna Base Camp or Everest Base Camp, you will need more; see our full packing list and the guides on sleeping bag ratings and renting or buying a down jacket.

The essentials: what to buy and bring from home

Boots. Good, broken-in boots or sturdy trail shoes with grip are the one item you should not leave to Kathmandu. Buy them early, walk in them on hills with your trekking socks and treat any hot spots before you go. The photograph of a pair of hiking boots above is a reminder that boots are a personal fit, not a generic item. Wear them on the plane to avoid losing them in luggage.

Socks. Three or four pairs of synthetic or wool trekking socks, plus a pair of liners if you are prone to blisters. Cotton socks hold sweat and cause blisters.

Base layers. Two or three moisture-wicking T-shirts and one long-sleeved top. Avoid cotton for anything you will sweat in.

Mid layer. A fleece or light synthetic jacket for evenings and cold mornings.

Rain shell. A waterproof, breathable jacket and, if you trek in spring or autumn, a pair of lightweight rain trousers. Rain can come at any time, and on lower sections of the Poon Hill route the forest is damp.

Trekking trousers. One or two pairs of quick-drying trousers, and shorts if you like them, kept modest in villages.

Warm accessories. A warm hat, gloves, a buff or scarf and a sun hat. Mornings at the viewpoint are cold.

Down jacket. For the nights at Ghorepani and the sunrise, a down or synthetic puffer is welcome. You can rent one.

Sleeping bag. Many lodges provide blankets, but a bag is cleaner and warmer. Rent one rated for the season, and use a thin liner.

Daypack. About 25 to 35 litres, with a rain cover, comfortable straps and a hip belt. It carries your water, layers, camera, snacks, documents and money.

Water bottle. One or two litres, and purification tablets or a filter bottle if you plan to avoid buying water.

Headtorch. For the pre-dawn Poon Hill climb and dark lodges, with spare batteries.

Sun protection. Sunglasses with good UV protection, sunscreen and lip balm with SPF. The sun is strong even when the air is cold.

First-aid and blister kit. Plasters, blister dressings, tape, pain relief, oral rehydration salts, any personal medication, antiseptic wipes and hand sanitiser. NHS Fit for Travel's Nepal page and the CDC Travelers' Health page for Nepal list vaccinations and travel health advice worth checking with a doctor before you go.

Power. A power bank and a universal adaptor. Lodges charge a fee for charging, and power can be unreliable.

Documents and cash. Passport, permit copies, insurance details and rupees in small notes. Cash machines are rare on the trail.

What to rent in Kathmandu or Pokhara

Rental shops in Thamel and Pokhara's Lakeside rent sleeping bags, down jackets, trekking poles and sometimes duffel bags. If you trek once, renting saves carrying bulky items from home and costs less than buying. Check zips, seams and cleanliness before you pay, and ask for the temperature rating. Do not rent boots; fit matters too much. Our rent or buy guide for down jackets lists what to check.

Shops in Thamel and Lakeside sell jackets, boots and other gear. Quality varies, and many items are copies; buy only what you need and test fit and zips.

What to leave at home

• Cotton jeans and heavy clothes. They are heavy and slow to dry.
• Many pairs of shoes. One pair of boots, one pair of light shoes for the lodge.
• Hair dryers and large toiletries. A small kit is enough.
• Valuables you cannot afford to lose. Leave them in the hotel safe in Kathmandu.
• Too many gadgets. A phone and one camera are plenty.
• A tent and stove. Not needed for teahouse treks.

Your main bag should be soft, such as a duffel, because porters tie bags together. Ask your agency for the weight limit, which they set for porter welfare. Pack it the night before and weigh it.

A packing outline for four days

Common gear mistakes

New boots, cotton clothing, too many clothes, no rain shell, a daypack that is too small for layers and water and no headtorch for the sunrise climb. A thin liner in a rented bag is a good idea. Wear the heaviest items, boots and jacket, on the plane. Keep your passport, money and medication in your daypack, not in the duffel, and put a spare set of socks and a base layer in a plastic bag in the daypack in case the duffel arrives late.

Fit, fabric and care: getting the basics right

Gear choices matter less than getting the basics to work together. Boots that fit with the socks you will wear, a base layer that wicks, a shell that actually keeps rain out and a warm hat are worth more than an expensive jacket you never test. Try everything on a long walk before you leave, and notice where it rubs, leaks or gets heavy. A pack that digs into your shoulders after an hour will be miserable after six, so load it with the weight you expect to carry and walk uphill in it.

Care for your kit on the trail. Dry socks and boots near the dining room stove, but not so close that leather cracks or soles melt. Keep your sleeping bag dry and fluffed, and your down jacket out of the rain. Keep a small repair kit: a few safety pins, a length of cord, a roll of tape and a needle and thread. A zip that fails on day two is easier to fix than to replace in a village, and tape around a worn heel can prevent a blister.

Weight, bags and the porter

Your main bag is carried by a porter, who is often carrying more than one bag at once, so a soft duffel with sturdy handles and a strap is easier to tie on than a rigid case. Ask your agency for the weight limit and pack under it, because a heavy load is hard on the person who carries it up the stairs. Weigh the bag at home on a luggage scale, and again before you leave Kathmandu after adding any rented items. Everything you keep in the daypack should be what you would be happy to carry for the whole day: water, an extra layer, rain gear, sun protection, snacks, a camera, documents, a first-aid kit and the headtorch. Keep money, passport copies and medication with you, not in the duffel.

If you are travelling with a partner, split shared items sensibly: one first-aid kit, one set of water purification and one adaptor between you can save weight. Agree who carries what before you pack, and keep the loads similar.

Beyond the minimum

If you decide to go higher, on Annapurna Base Camp or Everest Base Camp, you will want a warmer sleeping bag and jacket, poles, goggles for glare, insulated gloves and more sun protection, and our guides on Everest Base Camp packing in spring and crampons and microspikes for high passes cover that. For a first short trek, keep it simple.

For related reading, see the first-time trekking guide, short treks from Pokhara and the first-timers hub. To plan a trip with a partner, use the Poon Hill partner page or the Australian Camp route page.