#packing#gear#planning
The honest Uttarakhand trek packing list
12 July 2026 · Parvatpath trek leads
The rule: 8 kg on your back, everything else stays home
A well-run Uttarakhand trek needs less kit than the internet suggests. This is what we hand out at our Dehradun briefing.
Layers — three, not five
- Base layer: one full-sleeve merino or thermal top. Not cotton.
- Insulation: one fleece plus one down or synthetic jacket rated to −10 °C.
- Shell: one waterproof-breathable jacket. A poncho does not count.
Two full sets of trek clothes are enough for a six-day trek. You are not going to a wedding.
Footwear — one pair, worn in
- Boots: ankle-height, waterproof, worn on at least three practice walks before the trek. New boots equal blisters, and blisters end treks.
- Camp shoes: any lightweight sneaker or crocs.
- Socks: three pairs of merino or synthetic. Cotton socks freeze wet.
The head, hands and eyes
- Wool cap that covers the ears
- Sun cap with a brim
- Insulated waterproof gloves plus a thin liner glove
- Category 3 UV sunglasses (Category 4 for snow treks above 4,000 m)
The four things we provide, so don't bring them
- Tents
- Sleeping bags and liners rated to the trek's altitude
- Sleeping mats
- Micro-spikes and gaiters on snow treks
The one thing most trekkers forget
A one-litre insulated flask. Regular bottles freeze overnight and go slushy by mid-morning. A flask with hot water at 6 AM is the single biggest morale lever on a cold-weather trek.
Documents and personal medical
- Government photo ID (original — Aadhaar or passport)
- Two passport photos
- Personal medication for at least three extra days
- Basic strip: paracetamol, Diamox 125 mg tablets, ORS, band-aids, blister plasters
- Trekking insurance printout with helpline number
What you do not need
Trekking poles are useful but rentable. Solar chargers rarely work below 4,000 m. Fancy hydration bladders freeze — a wide-mouth Nalgene is more reliable. Cotton anything (T-shirts, jeans, hoodies) has no place above the tree-line.