Gear for our 10 Day Lemosho Route Trekking Adventure

Never have I agonized so much on a packing list! We watched dozens of YouTube Videos, read other blog post to figure out what to bring on the the climb. In the end we packed based on the recommendation of our guide company Summit Expeditions and Nomadic Experience or SENE (https://www.nomadicexperience.com/).

The table below has the original list in the left hand column. What we brought and we we thought about what we brought are in the right hand column. Our trip was in September of 2022 – the dry season – what you need will most definitely depend on the time of year. We had nothing but sunshine on summit day – other friends who did the climb in March summited in the snow. If your guide company provides a list start with that.

If you just want the packing list, I have a PDF version without all the commentary for download here:

Bob and Lynn’s Complete Kilimanjaro Packing List PDF

Clothing and Equipment

Duffel bag (60 to90 cu. liters) – Waterproof	This one is important. I purchased the 90 liter ALPS Mountaineering Monsoon Duffle and it worked out great. It was big enough for all my things (and some of Bob’s things) and was easy to open, close and rummage through. This bag needs to hold all your personal gear (excluding your sleeping bag and pad).
Sleeping bag rated to 0°F (-18°C)	We don’t own sleeping bags rated for below freezing temperatures so rented ours from the expedition company. The quality was fine and I think we were as warm as anyone else on those very cold nights above 15,000 feet.
Sleeping pad	We made a mistake here. We rented sleeping pads from the guide company but didn’t think to ask what type there were. They were foam. Foam sleeping pads provide minimal insulation against the cold and are not super comfortable – especially on the rocky campsites of Kilimanjaro. The folks that brought inflatable sleeping pads faired much better. If I had it to do again I’d purchase the Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xtherm Sleeping Pad for comfort and warmth. Alternately, check with your guide company before you book. Some of them offer sleeping cots which would have been amazing.
Sleeping bag liner	Another important item – it gets cold on the mountain. I brought the Litume All Season Sleeping Bag Liner and it worked great. The side zipper made it easy to get in and out and the fleece helped keep me warm.
Hiking day pack (15-20 cu. liters)	This pack needs to hold everything you will need during the day: water bottle, rain coat, rain pants, snacks. Also, you can go from too hot to too cold pretty quickly so the pack should have room for your layers and ideally your puffy jacket for summit day. I brought my Osprey Tempest 20 Women’s Hiking Backpack and it worked just fine although it barely held my puffy jacket when I got too warm. I sometimes wished I brought something a little larger but then you run the risk of just packing more stuff you don’t need. I regret not using the water bladder so I would be sure your pack has that capability. Other things to consider – how do the side pockets work with your water bottles? Is there enough room in the snack pockets (that is what those pockets on the belt are called, right?) Also look at how the pack handles trekking poles. The smaller Osprey wants you to carry the poles so they are running under your arms which didn’t seem too comfortable. Lucky for me our guide knew another option and it worked out just fine. You won’t be using you poles on Barranco wall day so be sure you are comfortable with how your pack holds the poles.
Hiking Boots	Clearly one of the most important items and this is a personal choice. I loved my La Sportiva Nucleo High II GTX Hiking Boots they were lightweight with good ankle support. I purchased these 9 months before the climb so they were well broken in. No problems with blisters on the trail. Both Bob and I left our boots with the porters at the end of the trip – I will just buy the exact same boots again.
Water repellent outer shell jacket	This should be made of a water-repellant and breathable fabric (such as Gore-Tex®). I brought an older Gore-Tex® jacket that was couple of sizes to big which I thought was brilliant as it would fit over my puffy jacket. What I had not considered was that you will be carrying your rain jacket and rain pants every day in your daypack – pick something light. I wish I had bought a newer, lighter weight jacket.
Pile or down jacket, or 2 layers of medium weight polypropylene	I brought the Outdoor Research Super Alpine Down Parka – at 800 fill power down insulation it may have been overkill but I sure did appreciate it on summit day and those two very cold nights at Kosovo camp (I slept in the puffy jacket). The only downside was the size – this is a big puffy jacket and fitting it in my daypack was a challenge. Other folks has less bulky jackets and seemed to survive the cold – so I guess this is just a “know yourself” type purchase. I hate being cold and this was a terrific option for me. Bob had a lighter weight synthetic puffy jacket that worked well for him. My other warm layer was one of my favorite items on the trip: the Patagonia Micro D Quarter-Zip Fleece Pullover. I wore this ever single day. It is lightweight but provides enough warmth when there is a slight chill. It is small enough to easily fit in your day pack.
Rain/wind pants with leg zippers for easy on/off	I brought my REI Co-op Essential Rain Pants – they don’t have leg zippers and I had bought so many things already I decided to go with what I already owned. The lack of zipper was no issue – I could easily take the pants on and off with my boots on. We were fortunate and it never rained but we did wear the rain pants on summit day to protect us from the wind. These go in your day pack every day so choose something light. Bob has the men’s version of the same pant – also worked well.
2-3 Hiking pants or Fleece/Pile pants	I brought three pairs on hiking pants and one pair of fleece pants. I only wore the fleece pants around camp and on summit day and wished I had brought one more pair of hiking pants. This was a dusty ten day trek and I would have appreciated one more clean pair of pants. All of my pants came from Eddie Bauer, my favorite being the Rainier Pant – the fabric was a little heavier which helped with the cold. I also wore my fleece pants AND my polypropylene base layer to bed once we were over 15,000 feet and it was so, so cold. I think Bob picked up all of his hiking pants at Costco. Has anyone else noticed that Costco has a terrific select of tech fabric shirts and pants for men but the women’s section seems to be pretty much fleece joggers? And don’t get me started on the lack of zipper pockets on women’s pants.
2-3 Polypropylene tops and bottoms – medium weight	Both Bob and I packed the 32 Degrees Heat Pants and Tops available at Costco. I wore one set at night and saved the second set for summit day. Would recommend.
2-3 T-shirts	I brought on short sleeve merino base layer t-shirt and 3 long sleeve 3/4 zip similar to this Brooks Dash Half-Zip Running Shirt. I was never warm enough to wear the t-shirt during the day but the running shirts were exactly right.
1 Pair sturdy hiking shorts (for days 1-2)	Brought one pair, was never warm enough to wear them.
Wool hat/balaclava	Picked up a wool hat with ear flaps specifically for this trip – who wants cold ears? It is fleece lined so it wasn’t itchy. I wore this when we were above 13,000 feet or so and it got cold – love this hat but unfortunately it’s no longer available. We picked up the BULA Polartec Convertible Balaclava from Costco. Only wore it on Summit day but appreciated the extra layer.
Shade hat	This is a critical item and I wore my Columbia Bora Booney almost every day. It worked OK, but was kind of floppy, I did long for something nicer like one of the Tilly sun hats.
Sunglasses that block UV rays	Both Bob and I wear glasses so brought a pair of prescription sunglasses that we purchased at Costco. At higher elevations the UV rays are more intense and we both wish we had purchased darker lenses (category 3 or 4) and a frame with more coverage – in particular a good side wrap. Our Costco did not offer these options so we will need to shop elsewhere should we attempt another high elevation adventure.
Wool or Gore-Tex mittens or gloves	We really only needed these on summit day. I picked up a pair of Mountain Equipment Sentinel Mittens and had no problem with cold hands.
Glove liners – lightweight material such as silk or Capilene®	I did not bring liners but instead picked up a pair of HEAD Women’s Touchscreen Running Gloves at Costco. They worked great – in addition to keeping your hands warm you will also wear gloves on the Barranco Wall to protect your hands.
6-9 Pairs socks, including thick wool socks for higher elevations (a clean pair for each day)	Yes, bring lots of socks. I brought a mix of liners and wool socks and used them all on the trail. Here are all the socks: – REI Co-op Merino Wool Liner Crew Socks – REI Co-op Silk Liner Crew Socks – REI Co-op Merino Wool Lightweight Hiking Crew Socks – Darn Tough Bear Town Micro Crew Socks
Light walking shoes or sneakers (for lower elevations and evenings).	Both Bob and I brought our Altra Lone Peak Trail-Running Shoes – selected for the comfort of the wider toe box. We did not bring camp shoes for evenings – several others on the trip brought their crocs which worked well but I was particularly envious of someone who had a pair of The North Face ThermoBall Traction Mules – they looked so cozy.
Gaiters	These are for extra warmth, and to prevent snow, stones, and dirt from entering your boots. No snow in September but we did wear our Pike Trail Leg Gaiters every day to keep the dust out of our shoes. It was really, really dusty every day.
Bandanas or buffs	I packed 1 bandana and never used it. We also each packed one buff – mine was wool, Bob’s was something lighter weight. For hiking in September the lighter weight option was the best. Pack several if these – the trail is so dusty they get dirty. Anything like this BUFF Original would work great.
Small towel and washcloth	One of the delights of evenings at the campsite was a bowl of warm water for a sponge bath. These PackTowels work great. We also brought some BAR-D Biodegradable Body Wipes – great to a quick clean up. Pro-tip: if you sleep with a pack in your bag they will be warm in the morning.
Headlamp with extra batteries and light bulbs	Not only will you need this for evenings at camp – you will need this on summit day. If you are staying at Mbahe Farm before the hike and you arrive after dark you will need a headlamp for the 20 minute hike to the cottages.
2-3 One liter wide-mouth reusable water bottles	Nalgene is the only plastic allowed on the mountain. These REI Co-op Nalgene Wide-Mouth Water Bottles are all you need. We didn’t stop often for water breaks on the trail, folks with a water bladder in their pack were able to go through a lot more water which is better for your at high altitudes. The Nalgene only rule applies to everyone including the porters. Nalgene is expensive in Tanzania, if a porter doesn’t have a Nalgene bottle he or she does not have water. Consider leaving your bottles with your porters at the end of your trip. Or bring extras and give them out in advance.
Trekking poles	Another important piece of equipment especially on the descent where you are navigating scree, boulders, and slippery trails. We have Black Diamond Trail Cork Trekking Poles and have no complaints. Despite plenty of research we are not clear on the rules for putting trekking poles in your carry on back. Not willing to risk ours went in our checked bags.
Not on the official list but recommended:
Multi-sport Watch	We don’t have a Garmin Multisport GPS Watch but someone else did and it was fun to know our altitude gain/loss along the way.
Packing Cubes	With such a large duffle bag these really helped keep everything organized.
Laundry Bag	Something lightweight. If you are traveling as a couple be sure you have something for each of you as consolidating into a single bag bag may cause your duffle to exceed the weight limit.
Power Bank	Your phone and/or camera is going to go through a lot of power in the cold. My power bank ran out of juice the day before we summited but lucky for me the low power mode on my iPhone made it through the rest of the trip. I don’t have a power bank to recommend and I don’t know if solar is necessary – if I do another trip like this I’d just head to my local REI and seek their advice.

Energy Snacks & Sports Drinks

Energy and snack foods that you will eat even when not hungry

We were told you’d lose your appetite at high elevations and that was not our experience. Here’s what we brought: – PROBAR – Bolt Organic Energy Chews – Honey Stinger Organic Energy Chews – M&M’S (plain for Lynn, Peanut for Bob) – Beef Jerky (from Costco, small individual packs) – Assorted protein bars. I love gummy snacks on the trail – the provide a quick burst of energy, are not messy, and so tasty. M&Ms because chocolate is the best and M&Ms wont melt and make a mess. Beef jerky for a salty, high protein snack. We did not bring any trail mix but someone else brought Dot’s Homestyle Pretzels and I was full of envy.

Powdered sports drink mixes

We brought Liquid I.V. from Costco. Tasty but took up some space and weight. Something in tablet form like NUUN Sport Hydration Tablets might have been a better choice.

Personal First Aid Supplies

Sunscreen (SPF 30 or higher)
Lip balm with sunscreen
Hand wipes or hand sanitizer
Aspirin, ibuprofen, or Tylenol	Ibuprofen is also an anti-inflammatory
Moleskin, Second Skin blister pads, or Bodyglide lubricant to prevent blisters
Moisturizing cream
Band Aids
Topical antibiotic
Ace bandage or elastic supports for weak knees, ankles, or sore joints
Pepto-Bismol tablets for stomach problems
Feminine protection
Contact lens wearers also bring a pair of glasses for back-up
Antibiotic, such as Cipro
Diamox – effective against the symptoms of altitude sickness	Be sure to get the 250 mg tablets – you will take one in the morning and one in the evening.
Not on the official list but recommended:
First Aid Kit for Backpacking	I packed our things in a mix of zip lock and cloth bags and it was hard to find what I needed when I needed it. Someone had a nice first aid organizer with pockets and pages that I cannot find on the internet – he could get to what he needed quickly.
Anit-Nausea medicine such as Zofran (ondansetron)

Also, be sure to ask your guide company what first aid and medical supplies they carry. Do they have extra Diamox or something to treat high altitude sickness? How are the guides trained to treat medical conditions that are common on the climb? Two of our group of ten had medical issues that prevented them from summiting – stuff happens.

Optional Items

Thin rope and clothes pins or safety pins for hanging clothes
Money belt/neck pouch
Small mirror
Urine bottle (for use at night in your tent)	Women may also wish to consider using a feminine urination device (FUD) – I used a Tinkle Belle and had no issues. We had portable toilets at our campsite but on the trail you had to find some brush or rocks to hide behind. I was pretty concerned about how this would work before the trip but the guides knew all the best (hidden) places to stop along the way and it wasn’t near as bad as I feared. If you want to avoid leaving paper waste on mountain you can also use a Kula Cloth. For the bottle in the tent, keep in mind plastic bottles other than Nalgene are not allowed in the park. I never used a bottle in the tent – just put on some clothes and made my way to the portable toilet.
Reading material (paperbacks only)	We brought our Kilimanjaro Trekking Guide and read it daily to see what was in store for the next day. We did read this book before the trip but it had a bit more meaning while we were on the mountain.
Journal, pens, writing paper	I did bring a journal, pens and some drawing pencils. I wrote every day but only managed to draw one picture.
Deck of cards or other travel game	We brought a deck of cards but never played any games. We were tired at night and there was very little down time during the day.
Camera	Other than the camera that is part of your cell phone I do no recommend bringing a fancy camera on the climb. I brought by DSLR – it was heavy and awkward to use on the trail and after just a couple days I stopped bringing it with me.

** The links above are to a variety of sites. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases on Amazon.com. The other links are to help you see exactly what we used on the trip.

Our Luggage Strategy

In additional to all the things listed above we needed to pack for the extra 5 days we spent a Mbahe Farm and the final day we would spend in Moshi after the climb. For the farm and Moshi you just need a selection of pants and shirts but we didn’t want to take dirty clothes up the mountain and wanted something clean put on for the last day and the flight home. This meant leaving some things behind with the guide company – there are all set to handle that so it was no problem.

What we carried on, what we checked

As with all trips, you carry on the items that are the most critical and would be difficult to replace if lost. For this trip that was our hiking boots, water proof duffle bag, medicine, snacks, and puffy jacket. We saw a lot of people wearing their hiking boots on the plane and that would have freed up a lot of space but we had a 24 hour flight so put the boots in the carry on suitcase and let our feet enjoy themselves in our trail runners. Our other carry on item was our day pack. We did not pack anything in the duffle bag because we we concerned about it getting lost or damaged – it rolled up reasonably small and fit in the carry on luggage as well.

For our checked bag we each used a suitcase that was large enough to hold our carry on suitcase so we only had to leave one thing with the guide company.

Fortunately for us all of our gear arrived with us at Kilimanjaro Airport. One person at the farm with us was not as lucky – his bag was delayed one day which I understand is not too unusual as the plane is smaller and people have so much gear. His bag did arrive the following day but was missing a couple items. Another great reason to arrive a few days before the trip. There are places in Moshi where you can purchase supplies and the guide company had some extra items as well.