Khumbu Icefall Editor · June 17, 2026
Most first-time trekkers to Everest Base Camp pack too much of the wrong things and too little of the right ones. Porters carry duffels with weight limits, and every extra kilogram matters on acclimatisation days. Here is what earns its place.
The Core Layering System
| Layer | Item | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Base | Merino or synthetic tops x2 | No cotton |
| Mid | Fleece or light down | Worn most mornings |
| Insulation | Down jacket, hooded | Non-negotiable above Dingboche |
| Shell | Waterproof jacket | Wind matters more than rain |
| Legs | Trekking trousers + thermal bottoms | Thermals for Lobuche onward |
Small Items People Forget
- Water purification tablets or a filter bottle — bottled water gets expensive and wasteful with altitude.
- A power bank — charging above Namche costs money per hour.
- Sunscreen and lip balm with SPF — UV at 5,000 metres is brutal even in cloud.
- Earplugs — teahouse walls are thin plywood.
What to Leave at Home
Heavy DSLR kits with multiple lenses, jeans, more than two changes of trekking clothes, and technical climbing gear of any kind. The EBC trail is a walk, not a climb, and everything you carry above Namche you will feel.