Clothing for Kilimanjaro
On Kilimanjaro, you’ll experience a fascinating range of climates as you traverse through four distinct zones: the lush rainforest, the expansive moorland, the picturesque alpine meadows, and the breathtaking Arctic desert. Prepare yourself for the contrasting weather conditions, with the lower altitude rainforest being hot and humid, and the summit zone boasting freezing temperatures, accompanied by strong winds. Daytime temperatures tend to be elevated, but be aware that they can plummet to freezing levels during the night. It is crucial to equip yourself thoroughly to tackle these variable conditions.
Jackets
For this trip, you’ll need three types of jackets:
Clothing for Kilimanjaro
On Kilimanjaro, you’ll experience a fascinating range of climates as you traverse through four distinct zones: the lush rainforest, the expansive moorland, the picturesque alpine meadows, and the breathtaking Arctic desert. Prepare yourself for the contrasting weather conditions, with the lower altitude rainforest being hot and humid, and the summit zone boasting freezing temperatures, accompanied by strong winds.
Daytime temperatures tend to be elevated, but be aware that they can plummet to freezing levels during the night. It is crucial to equip yourself thoroughly to tackle these variable conditions.
Jackets
For this trip, you’ll need three types of jackets:
A fleece jacket provides insulation.
Fleece jackets can be worn separately or over a trekking shirt. They are ideal for use at night while camping. A fleece jacket is essential; you’ll be wearing it for the majority of your Kilimanjaro trek.
Polartec-200 fabric is preferred over all others for Kilimanjaro trips. The greatest fleece jacket brands are The North Face, Red Fox, Mountain Hardwear, and Patagonia. Hooded fleece jackets provide more warmth and comfort. We recommend packing 2-3 items for your trip.
The North Face, Red Fox, Mountain Hardwear, and Patagonia provide the best fleece coats for Kilimanjaro treks.
Rain jacket with a membrane hard shell
You’ll probably need a hard shell rain jacket from the moment you leave for your trip.
The purpose of this garment is to shield you from the wind and light rain before you arrive at the summit camp. It would be your third layer, following thermal underwear and a fleece jacket, for the majority of Kilimanjaro days.
Warm jacket or Down jacket
In camp, a warm jacket is used for summiting and for keeping you warm on chilly evenings. It is a vital component of your equipment.
At -15°C / 5°F, a thermal jacket should be comfortable to wear and neither too heavy nor too light.
Verify that the warm jacket you’re wearing has a hood.
The down jacket’s waterproofness is an additional crucial consideration. Since rain and snow are common on Mount Kilimanjaro, it is advised that you wear warm coats with an outer material that is water-resistant to protect yourself from light precipitation. You’ll need a specific rain jacket to provide extra coverage in the event of heavy rain or snowfall.
Trousers
For this trip, you’ll need three types of trowser:
Trekking trousers.
Generally, adequate trekking pants will suffice for a journey to Mount Kilimanjaro. Even if you like to hike in shorts, you’ll still need pants for the colder nights in the camps and the higher altitude areas of Kilimanjaro.
Membrane rain pants.
Membrane pants are essential for any Kilimanjaro adventure, especially during the wet season. When worn with trekking pants, they provide excellent wind and rain protection, enhancing your overall experience.
Warm trousers or ski pants.
Warm trousers or ski pants are another essential item for your packing list. They are required for the top portion of your trip, when the weather is very chilly. These trousers should be water resistant, lined with fleece on the inside for warmth, and wrapped in strong hard shell insulation to defend against the elements. Ideally, these pants should be comfortable to wear in temperatures below -15 CO/5°F. If you are not used to chilly weather, you will appreciate wearing warm pants in Kilimanjaro’s higher camps.
Duffle bag.
The majority of your Kilimanjaro clothing and gear will be kept in a duffle bag, including hiking boots (unless you’ve opted to wear them right away), a sleeping bag, and other items. A porter will be carrying it at all times. Porters typically carry duffel bags on their heads, hence soft variants are required for their comfort.
A porter carrying your duffle on his head will travel around 40-50 kilometers (depending on route).
According to Kilimanjaro National Park regulations, your fully laden duffle bag should not weigh more than 15 kilograms.
- Have a minimum capacity of 90-120 liters. Otherwise, you will be unable to fit the whole Kilimanjaro outfit.
- It should be manufactured from waterproof materials.
Along with a duffel bag, we recommend bringing several large dry bags to pack your gear in individually. This strategy will give additional protection and keep all of your goods dry in the event of heavy storms.Leaders Expedition can provide you with a suitable, water-resistant duffle bag before your journey begins.
Water Flask.
A water flask is an absolute necessity. Unlike some low-quality hydration bladders, it will not freeze over night. You must drink at least 3-4 liters of water every day, so a flask is an essential equipment for this trip.
You should pack 1-2 water flasks (one liter each) for your Kilimanjaro expedition.
Aside from a water flask, it is also advisable to have a thermos for hot tea or coffee. Though the guides usually carry one thermos each for the hikers to have a hot drink on the route, bringing your own means having extra supplies, which are never unnecessary on Kilimanjaro. greater tea or coffee equals greater energy, which you will undoubtedly need.
Trekking Boots.
Choosing the right trekking boots is certainly crucial. There are numerous possibilities on the market, and it might be difficult to select the appropriate one.
Ideally, your hiking footwear should meet the following requirements:
- Boots should provide enough ankle support. To avoid injury, buy a strong model with adequate ankle support.
- Boots should be medium weight. Avoid choosing boots that are too hefty; they will reduce your comfort and cause your feet to tire soon.
Of course, your boots should be waterproof so that your feet stay dry all the way to the summit. It is especially critical at the peak if you are climbing Kilimanjaro during the rainy season. Wearing high-quality trekking socks will provide additional protection, thus it is always advisable to include a pair.
Trekking poles
Lightweight gloves are designed to keep your hands warm beginning on the second day of your excursion. Most hikers wear them until they reach the summit camp, after which they put on their outer gloves. Inner gloves should be constructed of high-quality materials, preferably wool, polartec, or synthetics. Cotton gloves are unsuitable for Kilimanjaro due to their limited wicking capacity.
Lightweight gloves
Lightweight gloves are designed to keep your hands warm beginning on the second day of your excursion. Most hikers wear them until they reach the summit camp, after which they put on their outer gloves. Inner gloves should be constructed of high-quality materials, preferably wool, polartec, or synthetics. Cotton gloves are unsuitable for Kilimanjaro due to their limited wicking capacity.
