India summer trek gear

The crux of knowing what take is knowing what to expect. Above, atop a 5600m pass, Lobsang with the big backpack, and do look through trek photos to see what people are wearing.

This list is for our wonderful Indian summer Ladakh treks and please discuss with us anything you are not sure about.

Snacks and nutrition

Before we get into gear, lets discuss something I have realized is so important, that it should be stressed before the gear list...

You will feel your best with plenty of good food, some snacks and by keeping hydrated. We provide good, nutritious food (plenty, all you can eat, lots of veg and fruit!) and filtered water, and boiled water too. However, inevitably you want some snacks for that 10am stop and midnight munchies. Since we are exercising hard for several weeks, it is worth focusing on healthy, nutritious snacks. Nuts and dried fruit are perhaps the healthiest and are readily available in Leh. Do bring some ziplocks from home. Leh's dried apricots are the best!

You are demanding a lot from your body with 4-7 hours exercise a day and I still find vitamin-packed "healthy" energy bars (and the occasional protein bar) feel good on the trail, so bring your fav from home such as Clif Bars/Power Bars or buy some health-focused India-made bars in Leh.

We usually carry Tang (which is mostly sugar) and medical electrolytes however if you regularly use sports electrolytes, bring your favourite. We also suggest multi-vitamins. In normal life, supplements are not necessarily recommended, however we are pushing our bodies hard and occasional multi-vitamins do mean less sickness and better recovery.

We serve a wide array of meals but 'surprise' snacks to share with the group provide a welcome variety during the trek.

Lobsang with our simple but delicious lunch.
At 5000+m, we are mostly wearing a thermal top or t-shirt with jacket over the top for the lunch break.

Pre-trek

For your Delhi transit, wear long, lighter coloured pants for protection against insect bites.

If leaving Delhi airport, during the day it is almost always scorching hot so bring light, loose and cool clothes.

Summer in Leh is dry and hot during the day - a sun cap, longer shorts and an airy shirt are enough - and pleasantly cooler in the evenings. We sometimes throw on a thermal top or light jacket for dinner on a cooler evening outside, or perhaps a light down jacket in early September, as summer ends.

On trek

We trek between 3300m/10,000ft and over 5000m/16,400ft so we can expect a variety of weather conditions. Even mid-summer, you must be prepared for sleet, snow, dust storms AND dry heat with hot sun. River crossings can be easy but after rain they can be up to waist deep, and pass crossings can be under awesome blue skies or whipped by an icy wind. 

Like the days of yore, we may get a blistering summer, no snow, indeed not even a cloud for weeks; however with global warming and increasing extremes, there have been summers seasons featuring incredible cloudscapes, July snow and rare sudden rain with flash flooding. So, we should be prepared for all eventualities.

Tsomoriri generates spectacular storms, here we didn't get a drop despite the fearsome clouds.
Arabella is wearing a merino t-shirt with a light Goretex jacket as protection from the wind and sun.

Comparing with Nepal

We are comparing Ladakh's summer with Nepal's autumn. While the weather is variable, Ladakh is significantly warmer than the Nepal high country, and pleasantly so. Watching the sun set outside with a fleece or light insulated jacket is comfortable, even with a single layer for pants. Sunny days mean just a light top and shorts or if crossing a pass in sunny weather, a light jacket and trekking pants instead (with backup gear in your day pack).

During summer, it is rare for the night temperatures to drop below freezing, even at our higher trekking camps, and so rather different from the frost-encrusted tents in alpine Nepal. While a down jacket is the trekker's best friend, a light down jacket or good Primaloft jacket is fine for Ladakh whereas camping in Nepal really demands a substantial down jacket. Insulated "base camp" pants are too warm for Ladakh and instead some thicker trekking pants, fleece pants or waterproof shell pants are more appropriate for cold pass crossings and cooler evenings.

Who carries what

You carry a day pack with your camera/phone+power bank, jacket, water and snacks, trekking pole/s and sometimes river crossing crocs/sandals. The horses and mules carry everything else. A duffel/kitbag is best and fits well on the ponies. The hotel safely stores left luggage.

Ponies carrying the kitchen boxes and wrapped trekker's kitbags

Camping treks - what you are planning for

Basically you should plan with 5 specific climates/functions in mind:

+ warm/hot summer days in Leh and on the trail

+ fine weather trekking in the cooler high country

+ cold, windy conditions and possibly some cold drizzle

+ river crossings - on most treks

+ cool high country evenings

It can help to visualize what you will wear in each scenario. Obviously, much of your gear will fulfill multiple roles, and we can wash clothes on rest days (or you can pay the crew to wash them). See what trekkers are actually wearing over a variety of conditions in with these captioned photos (and what we eat!):

India gear discussion

Now with the range of gear available, choosing becomes a choice of layers that combine together; taking a holistic approach works the best. Note that rain is rare, even if it threatens often, and so having good wind layers, eg a windproof but only semi-waterproof softshell, is more comfortable, with a light rain jacket as the last resort.

Kitbag (duffel bag / duffle bag)

Your trek gear is carried by the ponies and we provide a protective outer bag for your kitbag. A simple design without frames or wheels is essential. You can buy relatively cheap knockoffs in Leh. My favorite is the Patagonia Black Hole duffel, 120L (or 90L if you are a compact packer).

Sleeping bag

A down bag is best. For a pure summer trek (mid-June to end of August), a down-filled bag or quilt with a T-comfort rating of 0C/32F or slightly below is ok, see the graphic below. This T-comfort rating is the warmest of the numbers displayed on labels, ie a comfortable sleep for a woman (even if you are a man). In practice this means your sleeping bag will have a minimum of 400 grams of the best quality down if new, and that is still a bit on the edge, you need to have a warm metabolism to go that light. So, 500 grams is getting better, and 550-650 grams is ideal, although a slightly heavier/warmer sleeping bag works also. To cope with a range of temperatures, the bag should have full length zip, ie from the ankle to the neck.

You can always wear your down jacket or put it on top of your sleeping bag and use a hot water bottle to boost warmth for that coldest night or two. However, do plan with comfort in mind first.

The lighter you go with your sleeping bag, the better your sleeping mat/air mattress should be, ie a higher R value. This is where you will lose more heat.

If your bag is tired or not quite warm enough, add a thermal/fleece sleeping bag liner (available in Leh). Do bring a warm enough sleeping bag to be comfortable, to recover well; it is best your sleeping bag is rated beyond the expected temperatures. Lobsang has some for rent too.

Sleeping bag liner

Cotton, silk or fleece; a silk liner is definitely the most luxuriously comfortable. This saves washing your sleeping bag and adds warmth.

Air mattress

Bring an inflatable air mattress with an R value of 2 or higher and on the shoulder seasons an R value of around 4 or more. We provide an additional one inch sponge mattress or closed cell foam mat to help protect your air mattress. 

Daypack

28-40 litres. This should be comfortable with a good waist band that transfers some weight to the hips. It needs to be big enough to take a rain jacket, fleece, water, camera/phone and odds and ends. Erring a bit on the larger side is better as most packs cinch down. If the trek includes a peak climb then bring a larger day pack, 35-50 litres.

Boots

For a happy trek you need comfortable feet. We are trekking on rough unmade trails, sometimes even just cross country without a trail. There are sharp stones underfoot so you need tough hiking shoes or boots. If you are used to hiking in shoes then approach shoes/trail shoes/trail runners work, however, they will take a beating. Most people should trek in light boots for Zanskar and longer treks. Trail shoes are good enough for the two week Markha trips.

Good boots have good ankle support, plenty of toe room for long descents, a stiff sole to lessen twisting torsion, and are light because with every step you lift your boot up.

All footwear should be broken in, so a few country walks are in order. Check the Scarpa range or the La Sportiva range a starting point. My current favourite though, are the La Sportiva Trango TRK GTX hiking boots, very light and comfortable, no stitching to wear out and tougher than trail running shoes such as the Salomon XA series (which I have also used extensively).

Socks

Much of the time your feet will be warm or even hot while walking so quality cotton mix sports socks are a good option, although many trekkers default to mid-weight wool socks. Four to five pairs are enough, try mixing them around. Thicker wool trekking socks are better for higher up and cool evenings, so a couple of pairs. Modern trekking boots fit snugly so wearing two pairs of socks at the same time is mostly impractical, and we recommend against, especially in the warmth of Ladakh.

Crossing a chilly stream - zip-off pants can be handy

River sandals

For treks with just the occasional crossing then crocs or basic sandals will do. However, for canyon treks then proper river sandals with toe protection and a heel to hold them on are essential, as suggested on the itinerary page. If you are sensitive to the cold, consider neoprene socks for the sandals or neoprene booties with a tough sole.

Camp shoes

Crocs and cheap knock offs work well however your river sandals or backup cross trainers can double as camp shoes. For longer treks, the locally available fleece-wool apartment socks are great in the dining tent, although thick socks work just as well.

Warm mid layer jacket/vest

We endlessly swap between just a single layer and a second slightly more protective layer so this mid layer top is particularly important.

Most trekkers consider some sort of fleece jacket essential but alternatives are a mid weight thermal top or a mixed fleece and Primaloft jacket that can go under a waterproof/windproof layer or under your main warmer down/Primaloft jacket. A fleece vest or jacket is easy to carry in your daypack, and layers well over a T-shirt and long-sleeved mid-weight thermal shirt.

Wind/rain jacket

High passes are often windy and a semi-waterproof softshell or breathable (aka Gore-Tex) jacket are essential. Since it doesn't often actually rain, bringing a comfortable softshell with a thin real rain jacket as backup is a good combination.

Plastic ponchos or non-breathable raincoats are not suitable.

Thermal shirts

Good mid-weight thermals are one of the secrets to travelling light yet warm. Zip-T (ie high neck) tops are great for changeable weather, either as a base later for crossing passes, or as a light mid-layer in the warm country.

Insulated jacket

Essential for the cool evenings, a Primaloft jacket or ultralight downie is enough until September.

A jacket is the best option, although a vest with a good fleece jacket could work for July and August treks.

An overnight dusting of snow, something that happens a couple of times every summer

Nightwear

A silk-weight to mid-weight thermal top is great for overall comfort and for keeping the top of the sleeping bag clean.

Fleece/sweatpants

These are useful for the very high camps where it might be slightly chilly in the evenings. They are not necessary for a Markha trek.

Day-wear shirt

There is now quite a choice even in this simple category. T-shirts are the standby, or sun shirt-style with long sleeves, and made of technical synthetics, light merino wool or the less versatile cotton. A travel shirt is looser than a t-shirt and therefore harder to layer however the collar protects the back of your neck and the sleeves can be rolled up or down. Bring two tops so you can swap damp for dry.

Trekking pants/trousers

You will live in these. For warm conditions get the lightest material available. Bring a couple of pairs of long pants, perhaps one thinner and one more normal weight, and a pair of hiking shorts for hot days and river days. Runner leggings are OK on non-village days.

Wind/rain pants

If your trekking pants are reasonably windproof then special wind pants/waterproof rain pants are not needed. If you do bring a pair, it is not necessary to have heavy Gore-tex; being windproof is enough so the light versions will be better.

Underwear

They're light, so bring enough to wash only every week or so.

Sun hat

Runner's caps are the lightest and the coolest, a desert cap with neck protector are popular as are wide-brim sun hats although bring an additional cap for when it is a little blowy. Bring a wide brim hat AND a sun cap.

Sun gloves

In July and August, light, protective sun gloves are really handy to have. OR (Outdoor Research) make a good pair.

Gloves

Some relatively light gloves are useful on a particularly cold or windy pass. If you feel the cold then proper windproof gloves are best.

Buff/bandana/scarf

A buff (an adaptable, thin neck gaiter) is generally useful for occasional neck or face protection and breathing through occasionally if you find the air particularly dry.

Alternatively, a bandana is perfect for keeping the harsh sun off the back of the neck, and a scarf is ideal for the Lawrence of Arabia look in the often desert-like conditions of Ladakh. All are locally available.

Beanie/warm hat

Essential for the evenings.

Trekking pole/s

Essential; you must have a trekking pole (or stick) for river crossings, and they are definitely useful on steep trails as well. They save your knees and lessen the risk of twisting an ankle. For use in snow a pole must have a basket, even if small.

One or two? This really depends on your habits. Jamie uses one as he has a camera to look after with the other hand. Most people bring two but some people only use one for the steeper ups and downs. Junk ones are cheaply available in Leh.

Trekking to Dat/Dadgo on our remote end to the Markha Valley

Sunglasses

Bring a good pair with UV protection, and an perhaps a spare pair just in case.

Water Bottles

These should be one liter or more in capacity, able to take boiling water and be leak-proof, and it is better to have a wider opening. Nalgene or a similar brand are best however aluminum bottles also work. You need at least 2 water bottles, although one can be a leftover soft drink bottle (that can't take hot water). We don't recommend Camelbacks or hydration systems (they often spill) however if you love yours, bring it and another water bottle that takes boiling water.

Pee bottle

Useful on cold nights or to save effort however it is no problem to have a quick star gaze just outside your tent (no need to go to the toilet tent).

Headtorch

Almost essential; the Black Diamond range seem the best although there are plenty of other brands. The ones with a red light option save your night vision. It is summer and the sun sets late so on a late June-July trip, a light on your phone is enough.

Tent lantern

Useful; Black Diamond now make a series of small lanterns that hang in a tent. We use a couple in the dining tent.

A warm camp in the Markha Valley

Toiletries/odds & ends

Essentials for the trek only, and in Leh single use sachets of shampoo and laundry powder are readily available. There are a surprising number of campsites where we can wash up, and simply ask the crew for some warm washing water. We provide toilet paper, but you might want to bring tissues for the nose.

Towel

Bring only a small one trekking, or a camp towel. The Leh hotel provides towels.

Sunscreen/lip balm with SPF

The sun is strong at altitude, especially after snow. Bring good sunscreen and lip balm (with SPF 15+), plus a spare. Blistex is one of the best brands. Good sunscreen is cheaply available in Leh but NOT lip balm.

First aid kit

We carry one with paracetamol, ibuprofen, decongestants, lozenges, various antibiotics for local varieties of diarrhoea and chests infections, Diamox (an acclimatizing aid drug), antiseptic, antihistamine cream, rehydration, bandages and band-aids, tough blister tape (but not moleskin) and the book Medicine for Mountaineering.

You should bring any personal medicines that you need.

Water Purification/filters

We provide filtered water in the morning and afternoon at camp, and the guide carries a more basic filter for lunchtime, although sometimes we prioritise the view and there is no water available for lunch, other than what you are carrying.

Camera and memory cards/phone and powerbank

The sun is often very bright so a phone screen is hard to see. Bring a powerbank and we can recharge on sunny afternoons and rest days. If you are a dedicated user, bring your own solar panel. Ladakh & Zanskar are extremely photogenic!

Books

E-readers work or bring a real book or three. We have a small 'library' with historical books and a wildlife book that we bring with us on treks lead by Jamie.

Money belt / travel pouch

Most people find wearing one while trekking is a hassle, and keep it buried in their daypack or duffel.

Resealable plastic bags

Bring a few Ziplocks or similar for passport, phone/small camera etc, and if making your own trail mix.

Snow gaiters

Not needed.

Crampons and ice axe / microspikes

Not needed on our summer treks; see the specialist gear section for a climbing trip.

Evening camp wear

Evenings are a wonderful time for relaxing. We have rugs on the dining floor and shawls/throws for the legs, and backchairs (the Crazy Creek-style camp chairs). Dinner is wholesome and healthy, served on a low table or boxes.

Around camp, you can wear camp shoes, crocs, sandals (with or without socks) or boots. Some evenings are warm enough for just one thin jacket but many evenings will be a little cooler and avoid getting chilly with good, warm gear:

+ a Primaloft or down jacket, light or medium or a down vest

+ fleece pants or sweatpants

+ fleece/warm softshell jacket

+ silk to mid-weight thermals

+ warm beanie

+ thick socks

Our dining tent setup with backchairs and box tables

Daywear: what Jamie wears

As an example, I wear a synthetic t-shirt or the long sleeve more protective version, sometimes throw over a mid-weight thermal zip-T, or sometimes a proper windproof softshell jacket - or combine all three in cold, windy conditions. On colder treks, the mid-weight thermal is replaced by a light fleece top.

What is available in Leh

You can find a variety of cheap Chinese knockoff boots, running and hiking shoes and sandals in in Leh, but be aware that they break easily and sometimes have weird issues, so buying locally is a last resort. There is a range of basic India- or Nepal-made trek clothing, quite serviceable, however there is no brand name, well designed technical clothing available. Trekking pants, sun shirts, fleece jackets, pants, gloves and hats are readily available however the range is limited. Decathlon has arrived in India, so occasional gear is available in Leh however the stores are only in Delhi.

Slightly gratuitious, however that is our dining tent outside - copyright Jamie (image with Getty)

What you DON'T need

You don't need a mosquito net; we stay in good hotels where there are no mosquitoes and there is very little chance that you will ever get bitten. Although some of India is a malarial area we recommend that you DON'T take malaria prophylaxis because Leh, Manali and the trekking regions are NOT malarial areas. For a night or two transiting Delhi, the risks are minimal and most travel doctors will say don't bother with prophylaxis. Do wear long pants and perhaps long sleeves while transiting Delhi.

What we provide

Our camping trips are full-service, with tents, thin sleeping mat to go under your sleeping mattress, dining tent, cutlery, mug, plates, cook tent, all supplies and food, ponies and a fantastic staff and guides provided. You just need to bring your personal gear and a happy spirit.

Old gear

If you have old outdoor clothing/gear that you are loath to throw out but could do with a new home - our crew will use, particularly smaller sized boots or hiking shoes and day packs!