Embarking on the journey to summit Mount Kilimanjaro is a dream for a lot of adventurers, however the correct gear could make all of the distinction between a profitable climb and a difficult battle. From hydration options to protecting headgear, every merchandise performs a vital position in guaranteeing your security and luxury all through the expedition.
So, what gear do it’s worthwhile to climb Mount Kilimanjaro?
On this complete information, we’ll break down the important gear it’s worthwhile to pack to your Kilimanjaro journey, together with must-have objects, non-obligatory equipment, and suggestions for taking advantage of your gear.
What Gear Do You Must Climb Mount Kilimanjaro?
With the correct gear and preparation, you’ll be able to deal with the problem of Mount Kilimanjaro and create lasting recollections of a lifetime. Keep in mind, whereas it’s important to pack correctly, keep away from overpacking to stick to weight limits imposed by porters.
Right here’s our full Kilimanjaro gear checklist:
Baggage
- A hydration bladder (or “camel bag”) is very really helpful for this journey. In case your daypack is suitable with one, having one will certainly add consolation to your trek. You ought to be very cautious and select solely high-quality fashions. Be sure that the pipe is insulated; in any other case, it would freeze on the summit night time. 1.5—and 2-litre variations will probably be good to your journey.
- Journey bag organizers (non-obligatory). A extremely really helpful merchandise that makes it comfy to get your whole gear sorted inside a duffle bag. Additionally, utilizing such organizers is useful for protecting soiled and moist garments other than the clear ones.
Footwear is among the most necessary objects in your Kilimanjaro pack checklist. That is the place try to be notably attentive and selective. Selecting your mountain climbing boots and/or sneakers is a activity of supreme significance. A fallacious selection right here may end up in damaged toenails, corns and blisters. For this journey you will have high-quality mountain climbing boots, trekking sneakers (non-obligatory) and trekking socks.
Climbing boots
Selecting applicable mountain climbing boots might be of utmost significance. There are numerous choices in the marketplace, and typically it‟s onerous to search out the correct one. Ideally, your mountain climbing boots ought to meet the next standards:
- Boots ought to have good ankle assist.
- Boots needs to be of medium weight.
- After all, your boots needs to be waterproof to maintain your toes dry all the best way as much as the highest. It’s particularly necessary within the summit space for those who climb Kilimanjaro throughout the wet season. Sporting high-quality trekking socks will present further safety, so it’s at all times really helpful to have a pair.
Ideally, laces ought to get fastened to the velocity hooks for higher consolation and safety. It’s critically necessary to interrupt in your boots earlier than the beginning of your Kilimanjaro journey. Taking a pair of brand name new boots will trigger discomfort, sore soles and calluses. Subsequently, it’s extremely really helpful so that you can put on your boots for about 5-6 days earlier than the beginning of the trek. It’s critically necessary to interrupt in your boots earlier than the beginning of your Kilimanjaro journey. You must take a minimum of two lengthy hikes to get them prepared.
The manufacturers of mountain climbing boots that we advocate embody: La Sportiva, Zamberlan, The North Face, merles, Asolo, Salomon and Scarpa. Any of those manufacturers will probably be good for Kilimanjaro.
- Sneakers Elective
On some routes, the primary days of your hike received’t be very steep, making it attainable to make use of easy trekking sneakers as an alternative of trainers. On the next days, after arriving at your camp, you’ll most likely need to take off your mountain climbing boots and let your toes relaxation. That’s when sneakers may turn out to be useful. They’ll be good for exploring the camp environment and to maneuver between your tent and eating tents.
- Trekking socks
Trekking socks are a should on hikes like this. Don’t pack cotton socks, as they may retain sweat and provide you with blisters. In distinction, woolen socks are an excellent choice for Kilimanjaro – they may guarantee quick and efficient wicking. A model to select from is Bridgedale.
- Thermal socks Elective
Thermal socks are non-obligatory, however extremely really helpful, particularly for climbs throughout the summer season months. There are a whole lot of manufacturers out there in the marketplace. Those with flat seams, not fabricated from cotton, will swimsuit completely! Merino wool is a superb different.
- Gaiters Elective
Using gaiters on Kilimanjaro shouldn’t be necessary, however throughout the wet season they’re completely indispensable to forestall mud, snow or pebbles from getting contained in the boots.
Hikers usually suppose that gaiters are of little worth. And but, they do assist to maintain your trekking pants and boots clear throughout the trek, making your clothes extra nice to placed on. Additionally, the gaiters assist to guard your dearer membrane and trekking pants from the edgy rocks that are ubiquitous on Kilimanjaro.
Head-Gears
Like different trekking gear classes, Kilimanjaro headgear has each necessary and non-obligatory objects.
- Solar hat
A solar hat is a will need to have in your packing checklist. Ideally, it also needs to have a neck cowl (like this one). This headgear will defend your face from sunburns and overheating.
- Beanie
Taking a beanie is critical for this journey. At greater elevation you’ll begin feeling chilly, so with the intention to maintain your head and ears heat you will have an excellent beanie. It needs to be heat sufficient for the low temperatures and snowy situations of the summit space.
- Balaclava Elective
Balaclava is a useful resolution for hikers who’re notably vulnerable to chilly temperatures. A woolen balaclava will defend your chin, nostril, cheeks and brow from wind on the summit night time. It’s unlikely that you can be utilizing it anyplace else.
- Neck hotter Elective
Many climbers discover neck heaters very helpful as they supply good safety to your neck and face if it will get very chilly. It‟s additionally an excellent resolution towards mud.
- Sun shades
In relation to sun shades, there are some key factors to concentrate to. Firstly, sun shades ought to present good UV safety. On the elevation of 6,000 m above the ocean degree UV radiation is way greater than at sea degree. Secondly, when selecting sun shades, you must keep in mind that snow within the summit space displays gentle, thus placing further pressure in your eyes. As soon as close to the summit, you must put your sun shades on even whether it is cloudy. In any other case, you may develop a situation often known as snow blindness. It is rather harmful and will trigger everlasting harm to your imaginative and prescient. Thus, be certain to decide on a high-quality mountain mannequin with 3 or, higher, 4-level of UV safety.
- Headlamp
You can’t hike Mount Kilimanjaro and not using a headlamp. Firstly, you’ll want it for shifting across the camp after sundown when discovering your tent can grow to be fairly a activity. Moreover, for those who determine to go to the lavatory at night time and not using a headlamp on, you would encounter the tent ropes. Secondly, a headlamp will probably be needed throughout the summit. Usually, hikers begin at midnight, aiming to succeed in Uhuru Peak by dawn. So a headlamp will probably be an important assist in seeing the trail.
Please take note of the next factors whereas selecting a headlamp to your journey:
- Examine the standard of sunshine. The brighter your headlamp, the extra appropriate it’s for the trek. Optimally, the sunshine output needs to be greater than 90-100 lumens and the beam distance needs to be a minimum of 40-50 m.
- Purchase good batteries. Ideally, the energetic mode needs to be round 30 hours. In any other case, don’t forget to take spare batteries or you should purchase it right here.
- Lastly, your headlamp shouldn’t be too heavy. Since it’s worn on the top, it needs to be comparatively gentle. Thus, don’t contemplate something above 120 g.
- Keep away from shopping for headlamps with rechargeable batteries. Their battery life is way shorter, and, most significantly, there are not any energy retailers on Kilimanjaro to recharge them.
PETZL supplies good choices – verify them out.
Trekking poles
Trekking poles are a extremely really helpful merchandise in your Kilimanjaro packing checklist, not solely as a result of it’s a matter of consolation, however due to well being issues. Excessive-altitude trekking is a strenuous exercise that places nice pressure in your knees and joints. The common each day mountain climbing leg on Mt Kilimanjaro is 7-10 km, which takes 4-8 hours to finish.
The terrain is rugged and, at some factors of the trek, rocky. That is the place the trekking poles will assist you to to maintain stability, including two further supporting factors. The hikers additionally say that the trekking poles are useful on the summit night time, particularly when fatigue takes over them. That’s the reason some individuals who don’t use trekking poles complain about sore legs throughout and after the journey.
Good trekking poles will reduce the affect of a prolonged hike on joints, since a part of your weight will probably be moved upon your arms and again, relieving your knees and different joints from further stress.
Whereas deciding on the trekking poles to your Kilimanjaro hike take note of the next:
- Ideally, your trekking poles ought to weigh round 400 g—not too heavy and never too gentle. Sturdiness additionally issues—they need to be capable of endure prolonged hikes.
- As for supplies, aluminum is essentially the most optimum choice to make the poles sturdy. Additionally, verify the grip supplies – in a high-quality pair of poles, grips are fabricated from cork or foam. Cork is at all times a greater choice, because it feels extra comfy within the palm and doesn’t harm the palm pores and skin.
- Additionally, keep in mind that the trekking poles ought to match your peak. Aside from adjustable fashions, there are particular fashions for tall individuals and for teenagers.
Black Diamond is understood for having the best assortment of trekking poles. Good trekking poles are precisely what it’s worthwhile to reduce the affect of a prolonged hike in your knees and joints.
Gloves You’ll need two kinds of gloves for this journey – gentle interior gloves and hotter outer gloves for the summit night time. Each kinds of gloves are important to your Kilimanjaro journey.
Light-weight gloves are supposed to maintain your arms heat ranging from the second day of your expedition. Most hikers put on them till the summit camp after which placed on their outer gloves. Internal gloves needs to be fabricated from good-quality supplies, the perfect choices being wool, polartec or synthetics. Keep away from shopping for cotton gloves—they aren’t appropriate for Kilimanjaro due to their poor wicking capability.
Additionally, you will want heat gloves or mittens for the summit night time. They need to be heat and waterproof, whereas comfy to make use of. Mittens are higher – the summit normally takes round eight hours, and on a regular basis you can be holding trekking poles in your arms. Due to that, it’s crucial to maintain them heat at -15°C / 5°F (lowest temperature within the summit zone).
Sleeping bag for Kilimanjaro
Irrespective of which season you’re climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, a sleeping bag will probably be needed in any camp and on all routes.
Your sleeping bag needs to be heat. To start with, your sleeping bag has three temperature ranges.
- “Consolation degree” means the temperature at which you’ll sleep comfortably in your sleeping bag with solely your thermal underwear on.
- “Restrict degree” stands for the temperature when you should use your sleeping bag whereas sporting some layers of additional garments. Sleeping luggage shouldn’t be utilized in situations past that temperature restrict.
- “Excessive degree” means the temperature at which a sleeping bag can be utilized as an emergency measure to save lots of a climber from hypothermia till the emergency providers arrive.
It is rather chilly at night time within the higher camps of Kilimanjaro. Thus, the consolation degree of your sleeping bag needs to be a minimum of -10°C / 14°F. If you will get a sleeping bag hotter than that, you received’t remorse it! Nobody has ever complained that it was too sizzling in his or her sleeping bag.
Ideally, your sleeping bag ought to have a hood to cowl your head for higher sleep at night time. Our Kilimanjaro suggestion is Lamina Z Blaze (Consolation Stage -15°F / -26°C) by Mountain Hardwear and The North Face sleeping luggage.
- Sleeping bag liner Elective
A sleeping bag liner will add further heat on the ultimate days of your climb. Mummy-shaped liners are higher than rectangular ones. Both a fleece or an insulated liner will probably be nice to your Kilimanjaro hike. liner can add from 3 to eight°C to your sleeping bag consolation degree, which allows you to take your personal sleeping bag if it doesn’t match the -10°C consolation degree requirement.
- Inflatable pillow Elective
An inflatable pillow will probably be of nice use for individuals who like studying in a tent. On the identical time, nevertheless, it’s possible you’ll put your again pack or some garments below your head to make an improvised pillow.
- Private & Medical objects Elective
Moist wipes will assist keep private hygiene for those who determined to climb Kilimanjaro with out hiring a private transportable bathe. Take two packs – put a small one into your daypack to make use of on the best way, and a bigger one will go to the duffel bag for use for the night hygiene. Suncream. With out it the open components of your arms and face will simply get sunburnt. Private remedy – you must undoubtedly convey any drugs it’s possible you’ll require akin to nausea, headache, stomachache, and so forth. Do not forget that among the drugs you can simply purchase within the house international locations could be unavailable in Tanzania.
Elective Devices
A number of the devices that will probably be helpful in your Kilimanjaro journey are:
- Digital camera
The surroundings opening from Mt Kilimanjaro is really spectacular! Taking nice photos is among the important causes individuals join this journey. Chances are you’ll take a smartphone with an influence financial institution or a Go-Professional digicam with spare batteries to seize essentially the most implausible moments of your journey. - Energy banks
As stated above, if you’re taking any devices with you, taking an influence financial institution is a should. There are not any energy retailers on Kilimanjaro, and it’s the solely strategy to maintain your smartphone, e-reader or different units charged. - E-book
For individuals who prefer to learn earlier than going to sleep, it’s a must-have merchandise within the packing checklist. - Mp3 Participant
This may make your Kilimanjaro Trek really nice, particularly on the summit night time. Your favourite songs will definitely sustain your spirits and make the moments on the highest of Africa much more fantastic. (Elective)
REMEMBER: Communal gear (tents, meals, utensils, and so forth.) is supplied. You’re liable for bringing the required, really helpful and non-obligatory private gear and gear listed. The most typical mistake that climbers make is that they overpack. Be selective in what you’re taking with you. Our porters are restricted to carrying 33 lbs. (15 kgs) of your belongings.
NOTE: This stuff may be rented on location – payable in USD money solely. There’s a basic ban on plastic luggage in Tanzania, however Vacationers are permitted to make use of Ziploc-type luggage.
Guide Your Mount Kilimanjaro Climb with Kili Climb Africa Safaris
As you put together to your Kilimanjaro journey, contemplate reserving your climb with Kili Climb Africa Safaris, one among Africa’s main journey specialists. With a status for reliability and a deep understanding of Western tradition and desires, Kili Climb Africa Safaris is dedicated to offering distinctive personalised providers at an reasonably priced funds.
Based by a workforce {of professional} safaris and mountain consultants, Kili Climb Africa Safaris gives genuine cultural experiences based mostly on native data and Tanzanian sensibilities. Our guides, born and raised in Africa, present true narrations and deep insights that enrich your journey and make it really unforgettable.
While you select Kili Climb Africa Safaris, you join instantly with educated guides who’re consultants within the locations you’ll discover. Whether or not you’re touring solo, with associates, or as a household, we will customise a visit to fit your preferences and supply an genuine native expertise.
With climbs on numerous routes starting from 4 to 9 days, Kili Climb Africa Safaris ensures a secure, memorable, and rewarding journey to the summit of Kilimanjaro. Guide your journey with us and embark on the expertise of a lifetime.
Get in contact with Kili Climb Africa Safaris to ebook your Kilimanjaro Climb:
