Build Your Trek Medical Kit — Personalized List
Pick your trek route and how long you'll be out — get a personalized medical kit list covering altitude meds, GI, wound care, and the stuff people forget. This is what our physicians recommend for your specific itinerary.
The Weight-Function Trade
Every gram in the pack is carried up every meter of elevation — the item that seemed essential in Kathmandu becomes the burden that slows you on the pass. The packing list is an exercise in exclusion: what do you need versus what is comfort insurance? The right kit is lighter than you think; the wrong kit is heavier than you can carry comfortably.
Packing priorities
- Layers — base, insulation, shell for the variable mountain weather
- Broken-in boots — not new boots on the trail
- Sleeping bag — rated for the trek's lowest temperature
- First aid — the trail pharmacy that does not exist
- Water purification — the source water is not safe untreated
The Porter Math
If using a porter, the duffel carries the bulk and your daypack carries the essentials — the water, the layers, the camera, the emergency items. The porter carries 15–25kg; you carry 5–8kg of daily needs. The split makes the trek possible for those who could not carry full packs — the porter is not a luxury, it is the infrastructure that makes trekking accessible.
The Weight
Packing weight — the Lukla's 15kg limit that forces the selection. For the packing, the essential that is prioritized and the excess that is eliminated.
The Layer
Packing layer strategy — the base (the moisture- wicking), the mid (the insulating), and the shell (the waterproof) that cover the conditions. For the variable weather, the layer that is packed.
The Buy vs Rent
Gear buy vs rent — the rental (the Thamel shop that offers the sleeping bag, the down jacket, the pole at ~$1-3/day). For the one-time trek, the rental that saves.
The Kathmandu Purchase
Kathmandu gear purchase — the budget knockoff (the cheap that varies in quality) vs the genuine (the branded store that is limited). For the purchase, the quality that is inspected.
The Over-Pack Cost
Over-pack cost — the excess baggage ~$2-5/kg + the porter weight limit (the carried that is charged). For the packer, the cut that saves.
The Kathmandu Fill
Kathmandu gear purchase — the ~50-70% cheaper than home (the counterfeit-aware that is bought). For the underpacked, the Thamel-shop that supplies.
The Baggage Fee
Packing baggage — the airline ~$50-150 (the extra- weight that is charged). For the heavy, the cut that saves.
The Kathmandu Budget
Kathmandu gear budget — the ~$100-300 (the filled- gaps that is bought). For the underpacked, the stocked that is the option.
What should I pack for a Nepal trek?
Layered clothing (base, insulation, shell), trekking boots, sleeping bag (rated for your trek's temperatures), first aid kit, water purification, headlamp, sun protection, personal medications, and the documents (permits, insurance, passport). The specific list varies by route, season, and whether you are teahouse or camping trekking.
What weight should my pack be?
Teahouse trekking: 8–12kg for your daypack if using a porter for main gear; 15–18kg if carrying everything yourself. The pack that is too heavy injures the knees and exhausts you — the ultralight approach is not just comfort, it is injury prevention.
What is the most forgotten essential?
Water purification (the trail water is not safe untreated), blister care (the prevention that saves the trek), and backup power (the electricity that is unreliable at altitude). The items that seem optional in Kathmandu become essential on the trail.
Should I buy or rent gear?
Rent the bulky items (sleeping bags, down jackets) in Thamel — good quality, reasonable prices, no carrying them home. Buy the personal items (boots broken in before the trek, base layers, the things that need to fit). The rent-vs-buy decision depends on whether the item is personal-fit or generic.
What do I not need to bring?
Camping equipment for teahouse treks (lodging exists), excessive clothing (laundry is possible), camping food (teahouses feed you), books/electronics beyond what you will actually use (weight matters), and the "just in case" items that add kilos without adding value. The packed-everything trekker suffers; the minimalist enjoys.
