What Gear Brands are Best?

Outfitting yourself for Kilimanjaro does not have to be expensive. If you have seen our comprehensive gear list, you know that there is quite a bit of gear and equipment needed to climb Kilimanjaro. This is a given because of the extreme weather conditions one can encounter on the way to the summit and back.

While you may be tempted to go to REI and get new things for your upcoming adventure, you might have most of what you need already at home. If you have any questions about whether your current gear will suffice, just ask us. We love talking about outdoor apparel!

Now, if you have decided to upgrade or replace, or buy your first items ever, you might wonder which brands are the best?

It truly comes to preference.

There are some very pricey (overpriced) brands out there. Arcteryx, Canada Goose and Icebreaker come to mind.  Though they do make high quality items, we do not believe that their prices are justified.

The brands we favor are those you are probably already familiar with, as they are found in your local outdoor shops. As long as you get name brand gear, the specific brand doesn’t matter much. The brands that offer a fair price for quality are: Patagonia, The North Face, Mountain Hardwear, Marmot, Mammut, Outdoor Research, Salomon, and Black Diamond.

Outdoor brands with a lower price point but offer a good value include: Sierra Designs, REI brand, Smart Wool, and Columbia.

Certainly you can also use gear from your favorite sport brands as well: Nike, Adidas, Under Armour, etc. Just because they don’t carry the same outdoorsy image doesn’t mean they can’t be perfect for Kilimanjaro.

Remember that the most important items in your gear bag are:

  1. waterproof jacket and pants
  2. boots or trail shoes
  3. sleeping bag.

Don’t skimp on these things.

You can find all your favorite brands of outdoor gear at these retailers:

REI, Backcountry, Moosejaw

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See Ultimate Kilimanjaro® Gear Recommendations.

See What Should I Wear to Climb Kilimanjaro?

See How Do I Dress for Summit Night on Kilimanjaro?