
What Safety Gear should I bring to Climb Mount Kilimanjaro?
When climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, it is essential to have the right personal gear to ensure your safety, comfort, and successful ascent. Some of the important personal gear items include Headwear items, headlamps, Handware, Clothing jackets and pants, Foot ware, Equipment, and Accessories. Keep in touch with Mateys Wild Tours to know about it.
Headwear
To climb Mount Kilimanjaro, you’ll need to cover your head with a hat or cap and your nose and mouth with a neck gaiter or balaclava. There are different types of caps you can use, like a sun cap or trekking cap, and a watch cap will also work. Our 7 recommended headwear are Bonnie Hat, Bucket Hat, Sun Cap, Trekking Cap, Watch Cap, Neck Gaiter, and Balaclava.
Bucket Hat Bonnie Hat Trekking Cap Balaclava
NOTE: When climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, you don’t have to wear a mask, but it’s a good idea to wear a neck gaiter instead. It’s more comfortable and easier to use as a face covering.
Headlamp
This tool is great for lighting up your tent without having to hold a flashlight. You can use it when you need to go to the bathroom at night or when hiking in the dark. It’s really helpful for navigating your way up a mountain during a midnight climb. When climbing Kilimanjaro, it’s best to have a headlamp that is easy to use and not too heavy. Look for one that has a bright light and a long battery life of 50 hours or more. You’ll need a light that shines in a straight line so you can see where you’re going. A red-light option is also a good feature to have and bring an extra set of batteries. We suggest using the Petzl Tikka Headlamp for climbing Kilimanjaro.
Petzl Tikka Headlamp
Handware
We recommend using two gloves on climbing Mount Kilimanjaro one pair of thin fleeces and one pair of waterproof warm gloves. You’ll want to use them when the temperature drops or high humidity
waterproof warm gloves
NOTE: When you’re heading out on a trek, it’s important to have the right gear. You’ll definitely want to bring the Mountain Hardwear Power Stretch Glove. These gloves fit really well and let you move your fingers and hands easily, so you can easily open and close your backpack and grab things. You can even use your smartphone without taking the gloves off! Plus, the gloves have extra padding on the palms to keep them from wearing out when you’re using trekking poles.
Mountain Hardwear Power Stretch Glove
Clothing
1: Rain Jackets
If you’re planning to climb Kilimanjaro, most routes start in a rainforest (except for Shira). Because it’s a rainforest, it’s safe to assume it gets a lot of rain. It’s important to be ready for that. You need a rain jacket, also known as a hard shell. When it starts raining, you’ll want to make sure you stay dry. One good way to do that is by wearing rainpants. They should let your skin breathe and keep the water out. There’s a special kind of fabric called GoreTex that’s really good at keeping you dry. Some other good options for jackets are the Marmot PreCip, The North Face Alta Vista, Columbia EvaPouration, and Mountain Hardwear Exposure.
Marmot PreCip
2: Down Jacket
To stay warm while climbing Mount Kilimanjaro, you’ll need a good insulated jacket. It’s important to choose the right one, as the higher you go, the colder it gets. Many people make the mistake of bringing the wrong type of jacket, so be sure to do your research and choose wisely When selecting a down jacket, it is important to consider both fill power and fill weight in order to find the best jacket The term “fill power” describes how fluffy the down material is inside a jacket. The higher the fill power number, the more warmth the jacket provides. This applies when comparing jackets with similar materials and designs. When we talk about fill weight, we’re talking about how much of the fluffy stuff is inside a jacket. If there’s more of it, the jacket will be heavier, but it’ll also be warmer. Our recommended Down Jacket Marmot Guides Down Hoody, The North Face Sierra Peak Pro Hoodie, and Eddie Bauer First Ascent Peak XV Jacket.
Down Jacket Marmot Guides Down Hoody
NOTE: It’s not a good idea to leave your insulated jackets squished for too long. Instead, hang them up or lay them flat so they keep their fluffiness. However, it’s okay to squish them when you pack them in your bag for a day hike or when climbing Kilimanjaro.
3: Soft Jackets
To stay warm while climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Meru, you’ll need two jackets. They should be mid-layer jackets, which means you’ll wear them between your base layer and outer layer. The two types of jackets you need are called fleece jackets and soft-shell jackets. Softshell jackets are stretchy and protect you from wind and water, while fleece jackets are warm and keep you dry. Our recommended soft Jackets are Mountain Hardwear Keele Ascent Hoody, The North Face Canyonlands Hoodie, Mountain Hardwear Monkey Fleece Grid Hooded Jacket, and The North Face Borod Full Zip Hoodie.
Mountain Hardwear Keele Ascent Hoody
NOTE: We recommend getting jackets with a full zipper and hood.
4: Shirts
When choosing a shirt for hiking, you can pick between short sleeves or long sleeves. But the most important thing to consider is how well it protects your body, keeps you warm, and most importantly, keeps you dry by moving sweat away from your skin. The common material for shirts for climbing is polyester/polyester blends and merino wool. Our recommended Hooded shirts offer the additional benefit of covering the head and neck and monkey thumbs shirts as the best gear for Kilimanjaro.
5: Hiking Pants.
When you go hiking, you need pants that are comfortable, easy to move in, and can handle different types of weather. Most hiking pants are made from materials that are strong but lightweight, like nylon or polyester. Some have a little bit of stretchy material added in, like spandex or elastane. All of these materials work well for hiking on Kilimanjaro. It’s a good idea to bring two pairs of pants with you.
1: North Face Paramount Convertible Pant
The North Face Paramount Convertible Pant is a versatile piece of clothing that can be worn in various weather conditions. It is made of a stretchy fabric that provides protection from the sun and is covered with a special finish that helps repel water. You can easily convert the pants into shorts by removing the legs. It’s perfect for hiking, camping in Kilimanjaro. Other recommended are Mountain Hardwear Compressor Pant and Prana Stretch Zion Straight Pant.
Mountain Hardwear Compressor Pant
2: Fleece Pants
When it gets cold at night on Kilimanjaro, wearing a pair of fleece pants can keep you warm and cozy. We recommended The North Face TKA Glacier Pants for your overnight in as the best gear for Kilimanjaro.
The North Face TKA Glacier Pants
3: Long Underwear
Long underwear is a snug-fitting piece of clothing that helps keep your legs warm. It goes by different names like tights, leggings, thermal underwear, or long johns. They’re made of light, tough, quick-drying, and breathable materials like polyester, wool, spandex, or nylon. If you’re climbing Kilimanjaro, you’ll need to wear them on your legs to stay warm on the night you reach the summit. We recommended Icebreaker 260 Tech Leggings as gear for Kilimanjaro.
The North Face TKA Glacier Pants
4: Shorts
When hiking on Kilimanjaro, you can wear either shorts or full-length pants. However, it’s recommended to wear pants that cover your entire legs to protect yourself from the sun, bugs, and scratches. We recommend Kuhl Ambush Cargo Short.
5: Underwear
When climbing Kilimanjaro, it’s important to wear underwear that keeps you dry and comfortable. Avoid cotton and choose synthetic materials like polyester or merino wool. Whether you prefer briefs, boxers, or boxer briefs is your choice. We recommend Smartwool Merino Sports Briefs and Exofficio Give-N-Go Sport Mesh Boxer Brief.
Smartwool Merino Sports Briefs
Footwear
1: Hiking Boots or Shoes.
Regardless of whether you choose to use boots or shoes (both are acceptable), you want to be sure that they won’t cause blisters. Sturdy, well-fitted, and waterproof hiking boots with ankle support are crucial for tackling the varied terrain and preventing injuries.
Here are the things to look for in a boot as the gear for Kilimanjaro:
Room for your toes – the foot should be held secure with wriggle room for the toes. The toes should not bump or touch the sides or the front tip of the shoe. Wiggle your toes and make sure they are not cramped. You need space for your toes, from ½ inch to one inch of space between your toes and the front of your shoe.
Snug, but not tight – the boot should be comfortable, and fit securely around your ankle and instep. It should not pinch or constrict. The arch should be well-supported and the sides of your foot should be snug as well.
Flexible – the boot should have enough flexibility to enable the foot to move a bit inside, but not so much that the foot can slide back and forward.
Sized correctly – The main mistake people make is buying boots or shoes that are too small. One study showed that one-third of men are wearing shoes that do not properly fit them. The same study reported that half of women are wearing shoes that do not fit. If you’re unsure, get them professionally fitted at an outdoor shop.
NOTE: When it comes to hiking, we suggest going for synthetic boots instead of leather ones. Why? Well, heavy boots can make you feel more tired, especially if you’re hiking for several days. So, it’s best to choose footwear that’s as light as possible to conserve your energy. Our 5 recommended boots Asolo TPS 520, Salomon Quest 4D 3 GTX, Asolo Fugitive GTX and Lowa Renegade GTX, KEEN Targhee III.
2: Hiking socks
It’s important to choose the right socks for a comfortable outdoor experience. Even if you have the best equipment, the wrong socks can make your trip really uncomfortable and even painful. So, it’s important to pay attention to your sock choice for a great time. We suggest you pick socks that go up mid-calf or over the calf. Choose lightweight socks and merino wool or synthetic socks for both warm and cold weather hiking.
3: Gaiters
When climbing a mountain, gaiters can be helpful for extra protection from the weather. However, they are not necessary. About a quarter of the people who climb Kilimanjaro wear them.
Gaiters
Equipment.
1: Sleeping bags.
As Kilimanjaro’s weather is volatile and unpredictable you can get surprised by how cold Kilimanjaro it gets as you ascend high increasing the altitude. Just on day two from the Moorland zone, the night temperature can drop below freezing point. we recommend the warmer bags be on the safe side because the temperature can always be regulated by wearing less clothing while inside the bag and unzipping the bag partially. Our recommended sleeping bags are Mountain Hardwear Lamina -30F, The North Face Inferno -20F.
Mountain Hardwear Lamina -30F
2: Sleeping Mat/ Pads
This creates a layer between you and the ground either inflatable pads or foam pads, Inflatable pads use air as a cushion. Some pads require the user to manually blow into the mattress using a valve. There are also self-inflating pads that mostly inflate and deflate on their own, but still require the user to top it off with breath to achieve the right firmness. Our recommended gear for Kilimanjaro sleeping mats/ pads are Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite Sleeping Pad, NEMO Tensor Ultralight Insulated Sleeping Pad, Sea to Summit Ultralight Insulated Sleeping Pad.
NEMO Tensor Ultralight Insulated Sleeping Pad
3: Pillow.
A camp pillow is an optional item on our gear list because you can make one with your clothing and a gear bag. If you need more comfort here is what we propose, Therm-a-Rest Compressible Pillow and NEMO Fillo Pillow.
4: Trekking Poles
We highly recommend using trekking poles as the best gear for Kilimanjaro, especially for the summit and descent, and aluminum poles are superior due to price and strength therefore we highly recommend it over the cousin poles of Carbon which are very easy to break when exposed to stress.
aluminum poles
5: Duffel Bag/ Gear bag and Backpack.
For a comfortable climb to Mount Kilimanjaro, you will need two bags a daypack/backpack and a duffle bag. Climbers are only advised to carry what they need in their backpack and the rest of the belongings (sleeping bag, toiletries, extra clothing) should be stored inside a duffel bag which our porters will carry from the campsite to the campsite. And we suggest a duffle bag with a capacity between 50 to 90 liters of space. Our suggestion is The North Face Base Camp 95L Duffel, The North Face Base Camp 95L Duffel.
The North Face Base Camp 95L Duffel
Accessories.
1: Sunglasses.
The sun is really strong at the equator. It’s important to always protect your eyes from its harmful rays, but it’s especially important to have the right kind of sunglasses when climbing Kilimanjaro. Good sunglasses can help prevent eye problems like cataracts and cancer, and they can even help improve your vision as the best gear for Kilimanjaro. Our recommended Sunglasses for Kilimanjaro are Sport Sunglasses, Shield Sunglasses.
Sport Sunglasses
What to consider when choosing your sunglasses?
They protect the eyes from 100% of ultraviolet rays
They have an appropriate tint to block enough light
They sufficiently cover the area around the eyes
They are comfortable, even when worn for many hours on consecutive days
They are durable and won’t break from being dropped or banged around in your pack.
2: Water bottlers and Water Bladders.
Staying hydrated is important when climbing at high altitudes to help reduce the effects of altitude sickness. It’s recommended to drink 4-5 liters of water each day during the climb to help your body adjust to the altitude. To make sure you stay hydrated during your climb, it’s important to have both a water bladder and a water bottle. Water bladders are great because you don’t have to use your hands to drink and they hold a lot of water. But it’s also a good idea to bring a water bottle for extra capacity. You’ll also want to bring electrolytes to mix with your water to give you more energy, especially for climbing and summit night. Just be aware that water bladders can sometimes freeze, so it’s best to use your water bottle on those really cold nights.
Water Bladders Water bottlers
3: Pee bottle
Get the largest pee bottle and find the one with the largest opening mouth as possible.
Pee bottle
How to use the Pee bottle in Kilimanjaro?
Position your body away from your sleeping tent and find a stable position where you can secure the bottle below you and pee into it. Have a tissue to dab up any errant drops Once you relieve close the bottle tightly and put it in a safe spot where it won’t be accidentally knocked around or crushed. In the morning, empty the bottle on the ground away from the campsite or in the public toilet and we recommend it as the best gear for Kilimanjaro.
Can women use a pee bottle in Kilimanjaro?
Females can use a urination funnel, also known as a “she wees.” The funnel is placed under the body to create a full seal and directs the pee into the bottle. This device can also be used to urinate on the trail without having to expose your bare bum. To use while standing up, undo the zipper on your trousers and place the funnel against the body.
Urination funnel
What are the best snacks to have when climbing Kilimanjaro? Read here
You can find all your outdoor best gear for Kilimanjaro at our preferred retailers (Click here to ask)
okay.. that was useful.. i will be sure to remember that when planning my tour. Thank you.
Your safety its our great pleasure, welcome again Nyabweke.
Hi! Sorry i just curious, what template did you use for your website? I want to use it on my website at https://www.gdiz.eu.org
Thank you for taking the time to read our blog post! We’re thrilled to see your interest in our content. We invite you to stay tuned for more insightful posts in the future. For an unforgettable safari experience, don’t hesitate to book with Mateys Wild Tours. We look forward to welcoming you on an adventure of a lifetime! getintouch with us WhatsApp +255 692 706 078
I simply could not go away your web site prior to suggesting that I really enjoyed the standard info a person supply on your guests Is going to be back incessantly to investigate crosscheck new posts
Thank you for taking the time to read our blog post! We’re thrilled to see your interest in our content. We invite you to stay tuned for more insightful posts in the future. For an unforgettable safari experience, don’t hesitate to book with Mateys Wild Tours. We look forward to welcoming you on an adventure of a lifetime! getintouch with us WhatsApp +255 692 706 078
Great job, it is very interesting but ı think you write from only one perspective therefore ı wrote. ı will write my full idea future
Thank you for your kind words about the article! We’re thrilled to hear that you found it informative and easy to follow. At Mateys Wild Tours, we strive to provide valuable content that showcases our expertise in the field. We encourage you to stay tuned for our next blog post, which will offer even more insights and exciting updates. Thank you for your support!
Best regards,
Mateys Wild Tours
It’s a great job, I liked it very much. Some areas are normally a little longer, the language is quite understandable. I will come back to this page and share. Thanks for the content
Thank you for your kind words about the article! We’re thrilled to hear that you found it informative and easy to follow. At Mateys Wild Tours, we strive to provide valuable content that showcases our expertise in the field. We encourage you to stay tuned for our next blog post, which will offer even more insights and exciting updates. Thank you for your support!
Best regards,
Mateys Wild Tours
It’s a great job, I liked it very much. Some areas are normally a little longer, the language is quite understandable. I will come back to this page and share. Thanks for the content
Thank you for your kind words about the article! We’re thrilled to hear that you found it informative and easy to follow. At Mateys Wild Tours, we strive to provide valuable content that showcases our expertise in the field. We encourage you to stay tuned for our next blog post, which will offer even more insights and exciting updates. Thank you for your support!
Best regards,
Mateys Wild Tours
! It’s informative, well-written, and really easy to follow. The author’s expertise shines through
Thank you for your kind words about the article! We’re thrilled to hear that you found it informative and easy to follow. At Mateys Wild Tours, we strive to provide valuable content that showcases our expertise in the field. We encourage you to stay tuned for our next blog post, which will offer even more insights and exciting updates. Thank you for your support!
Best regards,
Mateys Wild Tours
Such a great read! This article is packed with valuable information and written in a way that’s easy to follow. I learned a lot from this. Well done
Thank you for your kind words about the article! We’re thrilled to hear that you found it informative and easy to follow. At Mateys Wild Tours, we strive to provide valuable content that showcases our expertise in the field. We encourage you to stay tuned for our next blog post, which will offer even more insights and exciting updates. Thank you for your support!
Best regards,
Mateys Wild Tours
I’m so impressed with this article! It’s informative, well-written, and really easy to follow. The author’s expertise shines through
Thank you for your kind words about the article! We’re thrilled to hear that you found it informative and easy to follow. At Mateys Wild Tours, we strive to provide valuable content that showcases our expertise in the field. We encourage you to stay tuned for our next blog post, which will offer even more insights and exciting updates. Thank you for your support!
Best regards,
Mateys Wild Tours