Kilimanjaro Gear Questions

I should also say that I have some uninsulated Lowa trekking boots (jannu lo). they are meant for warmer weather, but I love them and bought some extremely thick socks. Will they be ok?

The sleeping bag is an important thing. A good night sleep has more value than anything else, when you're hiking day after day. Make sure you bring good quality waterproof clothes for every part of your body, as the weather gets really humid and nothing dries up there. Really, waterproof everything, even your backpack! Also, the weather gets really really cold, especially the night of the summit attempt, therefore bring a very warm jacket, good gloves and hat. Make sure to dress in layers, and no cotton. Any material that wick sweat away from your skin will do. Make sure to break your hiking boots before getting to Tanzania, as a simple blister can make your climb a living hell! Walk slowly and try not to stop every few minutes. Every time you stop, you lose your rhythm, and you make it really hard to get up and walk again.

As long as you get name brand gear, you will be fine. Patagonia, Northface, Mountain Hardwear, REI, Arcteryx, Marmot, etc. all make high quality clothing, including baselayers. The brand you pick is up to you and your personal preference. Good Earth should provide you with a gear list. In my opinion, the most important items are 1) waterproof gear, 2) boots and 3) sleeping bag. Don't skimp on these.

The shoes you have may or may not work well. It all depends on whether you are used to hiking in low trail shoes (and don't need the ankle support) and how wet/cold it will be on the mountain. Wet feet are miserable. If it were up to me, I'd get boots.

Hi

I have a list of equipment that I used in my trip report. Maybe you can find some useful info there.

Gard,

Thanks!

Nick

I just got back from trekking Mt. Kili this October. I agree with everyone's suggestions above. Here are some other things that I found really helpful to have:

- babywipes: great for cleaning your feet at the end of the day (they will be smelly without a shower for 6 days!)
- antibacterial gel: nice to have cause you only wash at the end of each day
- individual tissue packs: good for the outhouse & using the bush during your hike
- powerbars: great for summit day for energy

I hope this helps and good luck with your climb!

very good advice from vancouverluvs2travel.
those are items I wish I had had up there.
:)

My group of six just got back from Kili (Oct 23-28). The first night, it was 10C (50F). Second night it was 0C (32F). Third night -2C (28C), it was hailing!! Fourth night, it was -10C (14F) not including wind chill.
Bottom line: Get a good mummy sleeping bag. This is SO important. Mine was rated -20C & I was so toasty!!

Waterproof Boots are very important too. My husband just used day hiking shoes & was happy with that, but I was even happier with my Salomon Revo gcs gtx. And like it says above, you must break them in beforehand. Wear them to Tanzania on the plane, in case your luggage goes "missing" especially if you're flying thru Nairobi ("Nai-robbery"). That happened to one of my five friends.
It helps to have good hiking socks, I love my merino wool trail running socks...

Babywipes/Hand wipes & Antibacterial Gel are awesome! I have never been so dirty in my life (it's extremely dusty up there).
We brought a couple rolls of toilet paper each, in ziploc bags, with the cores removed (and you pull from the middle). The outhouses do not have toilet paper.

We took granola bars, power bars, and even Power Gel for Summit Night. We had 1L water bottles, but we also had bladders (Camelbaks). It's sooo much more convenient drinking from a Camelbak, especially when they want you to drink 3-4L per day! (that's a gallon a day for you Americans!)

Your luggage (that the porters carry) should ideally be in Waterproof Dry-Sacs. We each had two 30L Dry sacs. The sleeping bag alone takes up at least 50% of one of these sacs.... I took (& had to use) my Raincoat, Rainpants, and extra ponchos. It's extremely miserable when it's raining & it's 10C (50F). It will definitely hurt your chances of reaching the summit if you're cold &/or wet.

Clothing: on summit night, I wore my thermal base layer, a thin fleece layer, then my Couloir hooded ski jacket & pants. Balaclava & wool hat on my head. Even goggles (to cut the solar radiation & the wind, boy was it windy up there!). I even had an extra fleece jacket in my backpack, which I had to put on at Gilman's point.

OH! Another important item: Lip protection. Our lips were so busted up from the sun at the top of the mountain. Don't forget, you are 19,341 feet closer to the sun than you are at home!

to add to the camelbak idea, remember that the tube needs to be insulated. It absolutely is great to have a camelbak since, on summit night/morning, it will be too cold and way too much of a pain for you to stop and dig a water bottle out of your backpack. And it would not work to have it in an outside pocket as it would freeze. Same goes for camelbak tube, as it will freeze if left exposed. It should be insulated and you should still blow the water back atfter each drink. Mine was insulated but because I forgot to blow it back one time, it froze in this little one inch space that was exposed and blocked up the works until I got to Gilman's at which point I was finally able to have a drink again.

Not sure of your gender, but for women I suggest considering a "feminine urinary director." Not kidding, this thing was useful!

One last thing. Take lots of extra baggies or ziplocs to put your toilet paper/tissues in and dispose of properly at the end of the day. I can't tell you how sad I was to see toilet paper laying around behind may bushes and rocks (as well as unburied human solid waste. So inconsiderate!). I don't know if the Leave No Trace ethic hasn't reached that mountain yet or what, but to me it's unacceptable to leave dirty toilet paper behind laying right out in the open. It's so easy to keep a small baggie in your pocket or pack and put it in the trash bag at camp at the end of the day!