Trip Planning for Treks & Climbs | BY Elie Abi Akar | PUBLISH DATE: December 04 2022 | READ TIME: 7 mins | UPDATED DATE: September 29 2026
Gear Tips For First-Time Adventurers
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Check what your trip supplies before shopping. Decide what to buy, borrow or rent, then test the equipment you will actually use.
With every experience there’s always an adventure-specific gear list. And for every adventure that we lead, we always find a lot of wasted money on a lot of wasted stuff simply because, well, it’s likely this is the first time you’ve ever heard of half this stuff and that makes you a walking ATM to a store vendor tasked with telling you what you need when you don’t have a clue. So here are a few hints, tips and hacks to ensure that you get the right gear for your adventure and that the right gear you do get is actually useful to you when the time comes.
Before shopping, separate four decisions
Start with the kit list for your chosen departure, not a general list for every adventure. Mark what is supplied, what you already own, what needs testing and what still needs arranging. The aim is suitable equipment you understand how to use.
| Item group | First check | Buy, borrow or rent? | Before departure |
|---|---|---|---|
| Footwear and socks | Fit, condition and suitability for the terrain | Use a tested pair or allow time to fit and test a replacement | Walk in the full combination on hills and descents |
| Walking pack | Actual daily/overnight load and harness fit | Borrowing works only if the pack fits and carries the required load | Practise packing and walking with it |
| Waterproof and warm layers | Required protection and how layers fit together | Check existing clothing before buying; confirm any rental individually | Try the layers over each other and inspect closures |
| Sleeping equipment | What the trip supplies and the required personal sleeping kit | Ask about availability, specification, size and cost before relying on rental | Check that any sleeping item fits within baggage limits |
| Technical equipment | Exact operator list and instruction requirements | Use only the arrangement approved for that activity | Confirm fit, condition and who provides instruction |
| Small personal items | Headlamp, toiletries and other essentials on the list | Buy only what is missing or unsuitable | Test the headlamp and organise accessible items |
“Available to rent” is not the same as reserved in your size. Ask what is supplied on the particular departure, what the rental costs and when it must be arranged. For borrowed items, check their condition and give yourself time to test them.
Complete your kit decision sheet
For each required item, record: item / already own / supplied by trip / arrange separately / fit or condition checked / tested / outstanding question. Put unknowns in the question column rather than assuming they are included.
- ☐ I have the correct trip and departure kit list.
- ☐ I know which items are included and which are personal.
- ☐ Any rental or borrowed item is suitable, available and confirmed.
- ☐ My pack and footwear have been tested together.
- ☐ My packed bags meet the relevant transfer and flight limits.
- ☐ I have asked about unfamiliar technical equipment before using it.
Start with choosing the right backpack, then read five preparation mistakes to avoid. Ask LHO what is supplied on your shortlisted trip before making a large purchase.
Headlamp
A headlamp is not a face projector! You don’t need a 1 KG lighting system attached to your forehead. It should be functioning lamp that enables you to easily wear it, pack it and see what’s in front of you with it. Make sure it’s actually working and you that you have spare batteries. An additional portable lamp can also be very handy on trips like Kilimanjaro or Aconcagua that you can hang in your tent or use in case the headlamp is not working or lost.
Gloves
Contrary to popular belief, gloves don’t come as a one size fits all. You need to try them on before you actually urgently need them. Some people don’t and then find they have a glove big enough to almost cover just their thumbs and BAM; hello frozen fingers and a miserable experience. Try them on before you buy!
Water Bladders
Test it before you need it. Fill it with water and try the tube several times. Check for any water leaks at the connections and around the bladder. Try it inside your backpack and make sure it doesn’t leave when a little pressure is applied because not doing this means discovering you have no water when you need it and also discovering that the water you had has now damaged other vital gear in your pack.
Thermal Layers
Just because it’s called merino wool doesn’t mean it won’t give you a skin rash. Try on your thermals. See how your body reacts. It may well be that synthetic fabrics are the only thing that don’t cause an allergic reaction forcing you to relive your itchy childhood chicken-pox trauma. There’s only so much we can do when it’s freezing and all you have is an allergy-generating warm layer.
Snacks
Take snacks that your stomach is used to. 5000 meters above sea level is not the place to try out a carbohydrate gel or a protein-packed bar for the very first time. Doing so may might trigger an upset stomach and may end your adventure all together. When in doubt, stick to the natural stuff like nuts, dates and chocolate.
Layering
Your layers need to work together. If everything fits you perfectly, chances are they won’t fit you perfectly when layered one on top of the other. When buying your layers, try them on together as you would do on the mountain. Wear your pants over your base layer. Try on your down jacket over a sweater or fleece layer. Your layers shouldn’t only fit. They should be comfortable and not restrict mobility. Slim fits aren’t a thing in the outdoors except maybe for your stretchy base layers.
Duffle Bags
Pack everything in the duffle bag once you’ve bought or rented all your gear. Get dividers and organize your things in a way that makes sense to you. Packing and unpacking is a fact of life on adventure trips so make sure buy a duffle bag that is easy to open and close and practice repacking your bag so that you know where you’d like to put things. It’ll save you tremendous energy when you already have a plan for you duffle bag rather than trying to figure it all out in your tent on Kilimanjaro whilst missing out on the great things happening outside.
Wet Wipes
Wet wipes can be convenient where washing facilities are limited, but bring a way to contain used wipes until appropriate disposal. Do not leave them on the trail or put them into toilets, including wipes labelled biodegradable. Check the guide’s or accommodation’s disposal arrangements and keep the quantity proportionate to your needs.
Sunscreen
If wipes are Gold on the trail, sunscreen is platinum. Make sure you have enough for the entire trip and don’t skip an opportunity to apply and reapply. Spots missed are usually the nose, behind the ears and the neck. A nice addition would be lip balm as well with SPF protection. It’ll prevent cracks and burns.
It’s the small hacks that can make all the difference on an adventure trip. Going on an adventure is meant to take us out of our comfort zones and expose of to new things that we aren’t already familiar with. And we will all make amateur mistakes. It’s part of being new to something. But, with these small tips, you can elevate your experience and maximize your you time.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Elie Abi Akar
Elie is the Base Camp Chief at Life Happens Outdoors, orchestrating every adventure from first step to summit. He believes the outdoors offer something essential which is a space to disconnect from routine and reconnect with what truly matters. His mission is simple: to make every journey feel meaningful and unforgettable.
