Required equipment

Normal and Polish Glacier Traverse Climbing Expeditions

Required Personal Equipment and Clothing

Head

• Glacier glasses (100% UV filter and side protection)
• Ski goggles
• Sun cap or hat (with bandana and visor)
• Ski hat (wool or fleece)
• Light balaclava (Polypropylene or Capilene)

Upper Body

• 1 Fleece pullover (like soft polaretec 100 or 200) 
• 1 Fleece jacket (mid to heavy weight)
• 1 Parka with hood - for -30°C / -22°F - (down or synthetic), expedition type (needs to fit over all insulation layers).
• 1 Rainproof or windproof breathable jacket with hood (we suggest Gore-Tex)
• 2 Thermal baselayer shirts (Polypropylene or Capilene)
• Cotton T-shirts or shirts
• 1 Turtleneck or multifunctional headwear of synthetic material (Buff or similar)

Hands

• 2 Pairs of inner thermal gloves (Polypropylene or Capilene)
• 1 Pair of insulated finger gloves
• 1 Pair of insulated mittens (fleece, down or polar guard)
• 1 Pair of over mittens (Gore-Tex, in case your mittens are not made of waterproof material)

Legs

• Light weight long underwear (tops and bottoms)
• Expedition weight long underwear, Polypropylene or Capilene (tops and bottoms). No cotton blend
• Fleece trousers (light weight). Full length side zippers recommended (bibs are not recommended due to its extra weight).
• Wind pants (breathable and waterproof). Full separating side zips required (we suggest Gore-Tex).
• Trekking trousers
• Shorts (optional)

Feet
• 1 Pair of comfortable hiking boots or trekking shoes
• 4 Pairs of outer socks (thick wool or polypropylene)
• 3 Pairs of inner socks (thin silk or polypropylene)
• 2 Pairs of cotton socks (for approach to base camp
• 1 pair of sandals for river crossings (or Neoprene booties with sole)

Mountaineering Equipment

• 1 Pair of plastic boots (double plastic boots), -40ªC / -40ºF. We recommend Asolo AFS 8000, Koflach Artic Expedition or Scarpa Vega.
• Gaiters (Gore-Tex + Cordura). We recommend Outdoor Research Crocodiles
• Crampons with ‘step-in’ bindings (recommended Charlet Moser Super 12). Not Grivel Rambo, Footfangs or Simond Scorpions.
• 1 pair of trekking poles (collapsible preferred)
• 1 ice axe. We recommend Grivel

Backpacks - Duffel Bags

• Expedition backpack: internal frame pack (80 liters / 5000 cubic inches) with crampons attachment points and ice axe haul loops (we recommend The North Face and Low Alpine)
• Day pack (for approach to base camp)
• 1 extra large and strong duffel bag with lock (large enough to fit in all your equipment) to be carried by the mules.
• 1 smaller duffel bag with lock (to store excess gear in the hotel)
• Plastic bags to keep clothing dry
• Toiletry bag

Sleeping Gear

• Sleeping bag, expedition quality (for at least -20ºC – -4ºF,). 1 kg. of down preferred (only 650/700 cu. in. fill, very high quality)
• Sleeping mat (Thermarest or similar, full length recommended)
• Foam pad (only if you bring a Thermarest, to avoid a burst)

Others Recommened

• Head lamp (spare batteries and bulb)
• Dish, glass, spoon, knife and folk (unbreakable set to be used at the upper camps)
• 1 one-liter stainless steel thermos
• 2 one-liter water bottle (wide mouth). Water bottle insulated needed. We recommend Nalgene
• 1 pocketknife
• 6 Hand warmers (for summit day)
• 1 one-liter pee bottle (wide mouth)
• 1 pee funnel (women). We recommend Freshette
• Personal first aid kit (simple)
• Sun screen (30-40 solar protection factor)
• 2 Lips screen (20-40 solar protection factor).