New Year Trek Packing List: Gear to Rent for a Winter Himalayan Trek

A winter trek over New Year is one of the best ways to start the year, and one of the easiest to over-pack for. People buy a full set of cold weather gear for a six day trip, wear it once and then keep it in a cupboard for years. This guide is a packing list for a winter Himalayan trek, with a clear split between what is worth renting and what you should carry from home.

Start with the cold, not the list

Most popular winter treks in the Himalayas see night temperatures well below freezing, and the cold at camp matters more than the cold on the trail. While you walk, you generate heat. When you stop, the heat goes quickly. So plan your clothing in layers you can add and remove, instead of one thick jacket that is either too hot or not enough.

A simple layering plan works for most people:

• Base layer: thermal top and bottom, close to the skin, no cotton.
• Mid layer: a fleece or a light insulated layer for rest stops and mornings.
• Outer layer: a down or padded jacket for camp, plus a windproof shell if the forecast needs it.

Gear worth renting for a winter trek

Rent the bulky, expensive and seasonal items. These are the things you use for a few days a year. Here are the current day prices on Rentux:

• Quechua SH 100 down jacket (-5 C): Rs. 50 a day
• Quechua SH 500 down jacket (-10 C): Rs. 65 a day
• Quechua MH 120 fleece jacket: Rs. 30 a day
• Quechua SH 100 trek pant: Rs. 40 a day
• Wedze GL 100 gloves: Rs. 20 a day
• Forclaz MT 100 trek pole: Rs. 15 a day
• Non-slip spikes: Rs. 100 for 1 day, Rs. 200 for 3 days
• Gaiters for snow and mud: Rs. 50 for 1 day, Rs. 100 for 3 days
• Sleeping bag: Rs. 200 for 1 day, Rs. 400 for 3 days
• Sleeping mat: Rs. 50 for 1 day, Rs. 100 for 3 days
• Forclaz Travel 100 backpack: Rs. 40 a day

Prices change from time to time, so check the product page for the number on the day you send an enquiry.

A worked example: a 5 day trek

Take a five day winter trek where you rent a down jacket, a fleece, trek pants, gloves, a pole and a backpack. At day prices that is Rs. 50 + 30 + 40 + 20 + 15 + 40 = Rs. 195 a day, or Rs. 975 for five days. A similar set bought new would cost many times that, and most of it would sit unused until next winter. Add a sleeping bag and mat for the nights and the total is still a small part of the cost of the trip itself.

If your trek organiser already provides tents and sleeping bags, skip those and rent only the clothing. Ask them before you pack, because the gear list differs from one operator to another.

What to carry from home

Some things you should own or bring yourself, because fit and hygiene matter more than saving a few rupees:

• Thermal base layers and wool socks (at least three pairs)
• Your own medicines, lip balm and sunscreen
• A water bottle or flask, and a few energy bars
• Sunglasses or UV glares if you would rather rent them at Rs. 30 a day
• A head torch (Rs. 10 a day to rent) with spare batteries
• Photo ID and any trek permits or documents your organiser asks for

Footwear: rent or own?

Shoes are the one item where we suggest you think twice. Waterproof trek shoes such as the Quechua TREK 100 are Rs. 105 a day to rent and are fine for most moderate trails. If you have a pair that already fits well and is broken in, use your own. A new, unbroken pair causes blisters on day two. If you rent, rent in your correct size and wear them for a short walk before the trip.

Packing tips that help in the cold

1. Keep your sleeping layers dry. Put them in a separate bag, and never wear the clothes you walked in to sleep.
2. Keep your phone and power bank close to your body at night. Cold drains batteries fast.
3. Carry your water bottle upside down, so the cap does not freeze first.
4. Pack your daypack in the order you need things: rain layer and snacks on top, spare layer below.
5. Keep one set of dry socks for camp only.

A simple day-by-day clothing plan

On a typical trek day, start the morning in your base layer and fleece, and carry the down jacket in your pack. Take the fleece off after the first twenty minutes when you warm up. At the lunch stop, put on the jacket for the wait, and take it off again before you walk. At camp, put everything on, add gloves and a cap, and keep the sleeping bag ready before the sun drops. This routine keeps you warm without sweating through your clothes, which is the real cause of feeling cold.

Fit and sizing: get it right before you travel

Rented clothing only works if it fits. Down jackets should sit comfortably over a fleece without pulling across the shoulders. Trek pants should let you lift your knee high without tugging at the waist. Gloves should leave a little room at the fingertips, because tight gloves restrict blood flow and make hands colder. When you send your enquiry, write down your height, weight and usual size for each item, so the right size is picked. If you are between two sizes, go one up for the jacket and keep your usual size for the pants.

Altitude and safety basics

Warm clothes are only part of a safe winter trek. Drink water through the day even when you do not feel thirsty, walk at a pace where you can still talk, and tell your guide at once if you get a bad headache, nausea or dizziness. Do not push through those signs. Cold and altitude together tire the body faster than most first time trekkers expect, so sleep well the night before you start and do not skip meals on the trail.

Also think about the return. Wet gear should be dried and packed before you hand it back, and anything that gets damaged should be reported when you return it, not hidden. This keeps the rental simple for you and for the next trekker.

How long to rent for

Count your days from the day the gear reaches you to the day it goes back, not only the days on the mountain. If you travel a day before the trek and a day after, those are rental days too. Many winter treks need two to three travel days on each side, so a six day trek can mean a rental of eight or nine days. Planning this up front stops surprises on the final amount and lets you pick the multi-day price where it applies.

Where to browse the gear

Everything above is on the Rentux trekking gear collection, which you can also open for Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Gurugram and Pune. If you are camping rather than trekking, see the camping gear collection. Our guide to essential gear to rent for your winter Himalayan trek goes deeper on the cold weather items.

How to send an enquiry

Pick your items, note your trek dates and your city, and send an enquiry from the product page. Do it a few days before you travel so you have time to check sizes. Rentux works with vendors across India, so the same list applies whether you start from Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru or another city. Have a great trek, and start the year well.