The Alpine Trilogy refers to three of the most famous mountains in European mountaineering: Mont Blanc, the Matterhorn, and the Eiger. Together, these three mountains came to represent the full arc of Alpine climbing: height, exposure, and technical difficulty. All three are…
Looking for gear to fill your Kilimanjaro packing list? Mount Kilimanjaro is a giant stratovolcano, with its peak touching the sky at 19,340 feet above sea level. To climb it, you’ll need the right clothing, accessories and equipment to stay safe, warm,…
Ask any climber what he or she is most concerned with when climbing Kilimanjaro and the majority of the time the answer is the midnight summit attempt. While every other night on the mountain is spent sleeping in tents, this night is…
If you’re planning to climb Kilimanjaro, then you should know that you need to have the proper gear for the high altitude adventure. There are three types of jackets required to protect you from wind, rain and cold in the alpine environment….
How do I keep warm while climbing Kilimanjaro? At higher elevations, Mount Kilimanjaro can be brutally cold. A down jacket is a heavy mid layer used for chilly to extremely cold weather. They are usually worn at camp in the evenings, during…
Which rain jacket and rain pants should I bring to climb Kilimanjaro? Almost every Kilimanjaro routes begins in the rainforest (Shira is the one exception). One can assume that the rainforest tends to receive rain. It is important to be prepared. Being…
What are the Best Boots for Climbing Kilimanjaro? Having the right footwear is very important. Because you are spending many hours each day hiking in your boots, if they don’t fit right or work as expected, they can be the source of…
On Kilimanjaro, it is acceptable to wear boots, trail shoes or both, as we discussed here. Compared to boots, the main advantage of wearing shoes is that they weigh less. This conserves energy in the long run, which you will need to…
The primary purpose of a mid layer is to provide warmth. Fleece jackets, soft shells and down jackets are all considered mid layers. It’s basically any garment which provides insulation and is worn between a base layer and outer layer. The Ultimate Kilimanjaro® gear list includes…
Shirts that are made for hiking are pretty different from everyday casual wear. Unlike regular shirts, hiking shirts are made with technical fabrics and have specific features that serve functional purposes when spending time in the great outdoors. In this article, we’ll…
What is the best backpack for climbing Kilimanjaro? Everyone is familiar with backpacks. After all, we lugged around our things in classic book bags as children as we walked from classroom to classroom and traveled to and from school. There are many…
What are the best pants for climbing Kilimanjaro? Actually, you will need several types of pants to be fully prepared on the mountain. We will go through each individually to make sure you have the right gear. Our gear list has the…
What gloves do I need for climbing Kilimanjaro? Wearing gloves in the outdoors serves multiple purposes. They provide insulation to keep hands warm in cold weather. They shield your hands from harsh elements like wind, rain, snow, and sun exposure. And they…
Can you recommend socks for a Kilimanjaro hike? You can have the best gear, but if you choose the wrong sock, it can all be for nothing. Your socks can mean the difference between a miserable and painful expedition or a wonderful…
What are the best hats for climbing Kilimanjaro? Hats perform two basic functions on Mount Kilimanjaro. One, a hat acts as a shield against the sun. And two, it insulates your head to keep it warm. You will need two hats for…
Trekking poles are an optional item when it comes to our gear list. However, they are very helpful when climbing Mount Kilimanjaro. The Benefits of Using Trekking Poles The purpose of using poles is three fold. One, they ease the stress on your…
