Women’s Kilimanjaro Packing List for the Machame Route (Real Gear & Tips from Summit Night)
Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro was one of the most challenging and rewarding experiences of my life. I did the Machame Route in August 2021 with a full heart, a lot of layers, and, yes, on my period.
I’ll never forget the moment I reached the summit exhausted, emotional, and stronger than I ever thought possible. It wasn’t just about the peak; it was about every step, every cold night, every tear, every laugh around the dinner tent, and the incredible people who walked beside me.
If you’re wondering what to pack for Kilimanjaro as a woman, especially on the Machame Route, you’re in the right place. Whether you're planning your solo summit or joining us on one of our upcoming adventures, Trekking Pals Kilimanjaro, this guide is packed with honest insights, tested gear, and hard-won lessons from my time on the mountain
Let’s get into it, so you can show up prepared, powerful, and ready to submit.
Please keep in mind that these are items that I packed and worked for me and my expedition. Your gear list may look slightly different depending on the nature of your expedition, the time of the year, the length, etc. If you are joining Trekking Pals to summit Kilimanjaro via the Machame route, we will send you a customized packing list specific to your adventure.
The 2 Essential Bags You’ll Need for Kilimanjaro
90L Duffel Bag (Carried by Porters)
This is your main bag, and it’s carried by porters. This is the bag that will be carried by the porters throughout your trek up Kilimanjaro. You only get to see it when you get to camp at the end of every day. Mine was a North Face Base Camp 90L waterproof, sturdy, and just the right size.
The are three things to think about when choosing your main duffle bag.
Waterproof material
No less than 90L (or it won’t fit everything. Your sleeping bag must fit into your duffle bag. All-weather sleeping bags can get bulky. Expect your sleeping bag to fill a large space inside your duffle bag. It was a bit of a tug of war to get everything to fit into my 90L duffle bag.
Sturdy bag
30–40L Day Pack (You’ll Carry It Daily)
I chose the REI Trail 40 Women’s backpack, which was a great decision. This is the same bag I used to backpack around the world for 9 months. It had enough space for my layers, water bladder, snacks, and small essentials. What I loved most was how easy it was to open it fully and grab what I needed without dumping everything out.
Bonus bag: I also packed a Sea to Summit 20L collapsible backpack. On acclimatization hikes (from the campsite), I’d clip it to my main day pack, then use it for lighter walks for snacks, water, and emergency meds. It’s honestly one of my favorite travel gears and I pretty much take it with me on every trip.
Your Water System on the Mountain
Hydration is very important while climbing Kilimanjaro. So, not only is staying hydrated crucial, but also having easy access to your water. I used a 3L Osprey water bladder daily, which fit snugly in my daypack. I also carried a 1-liter Nalgene bottle.
Pro tip: I used my Nalgene bottle specifically to drop electrolyte tablets into the Nalgene for extra hydration. My system was to keep plain water in the bladder and electrolytes in the bottle. Having both made it easier to access water without having to make stops and to stay hydrated.
Each morning, our porters filled water containers with filtered, clean drinking water for us, one of the many behind-the-scenes acts of care that made the trek up Kilimanjaro so smooth.
Sleeping System on Kilimanjaro: What You Actually Need
Tents and sleeping bags are typically provided, but it’s always a good idea to ask. In addition to the tents and sleeping bags, here’s what I packed:
A Sea to Summit inflatable pillow (This is optional, but I liked having one for extra comfort)
Fleece pants and merino base layers for sleeping (One clean set just for sleeping. If your sleeping layers and sleeping bags aren’t enough to keep you warm, you can wear your hiking fleece jackets on top of your sleeping layer)
Warm set of socks for bed
Some nights, it got very cold. I was happy to have hand warmers to tuck into my socks and my hands.
As women, our sensitivity to cold isn’t just about the environment we are in, it can shift based on our hormonal cycle. During the luteal phase (the week or so before your period), progesterone levels rise and your core body temperature slightly increases, which can make your skin feel colder, especially at night or in high-altitude environments.
In my case, I got my period right before summit night, and I felt noticeably more chilled and irritable than earlier in the trek. That experience taught me to be extra mindful with what I pack for sleep and summit day for future treks.
Pack more layers than you think you’ll need, especially thermal base layers, warm socks, hand warmers, and an emergency blanket.
Don’t underestimate the emotional and physical load that can come with trekking while menstruating or during PMS. Your body is doing a lot, respect that, and pack to support yourself fully.
Best Hiking Boots & Trekking Poles for Kilimanjaro
The Black Diamond trekking poles I brought were my trail MVPs. I didn’t expect the downhill to be so rough; loose scree after the summit was brutal. The poles helped me stay upright when my legs were jelly and ready to be done.
For boots, I wore Salomon mid Gore-Tex; they were waterproof and had great grip. But I’m so glad I broke them in before the trip. I hiked with them weekly for a few months, and it paid off.
My camp shoes were good to have. I’d slip into them the second we reached camp. My feet needed a break from my hiking boots.
One item that surprised me? Gaiters. They are typically used for rain protection, but I used them for summit night for some extra warmth, but specifically for the summit descent. Tiny rocks were flying into everyone’s boots. My gaiters saved me from having to end up with a boot full of rocks or stop every 10 minutes.
Women’s Kilimanjaro Clothing List: Layer Like a Pro
Lower Body:
I packed 3 hiking pants
Merino wool base layers (Smartwool) for sleeping and to wear on summit night
REI fleece pants (sleeping + summit)
Waterproof shell/rain pants
Enough pairs of underwear (I packed breathable, quick-dry ones)
Upper Body:
Long-sleeved button-up for Day 1 (I liked rolling sleeves for airflow)
2 Smartwool base layers
Patagonia fleece sweater
Puffy jacket from REI (bought on sale under $40!)
Rain jacket with hood (doubled as windbreaker)
Clean merino wool base layer for sleeping
A T-shirt or two
Sports Bras:
I only brought one Patagonia sports bra, and it was enough. I have a small chest and don’t usually wear sports bras daily on treks, so I didn’t need much support. That said, everyone’s comfort level is different. My advice? Skip underwires and anything too tight. Go for something soft, breathable, and easy to move in. Comfort is key when you're hiking for hours every day.
Socks:
4 wool hiking socks
3 liners
1 pair of thick mountaineering socks (summit day heroes + for bed if it gets very cold)
Head & Hands:
Sun hat
Buff (multi-use!)
Merino wool beanie
Lightweight balaclava
warm hat
Smartwool liner gloves
Summit gloves (mountaineering gloves, insulated with an outer shell)
Hand warmers (enough for cold nights and summit night)
Toiletries & Hygiene: To Stay Clean(ish) on the Trail
There are no showers on the trek up Kilimanjaro. I used bathing wipes every single night; one pack of 8 lasted the whole trip. I'd start with my face, then armpits, then feet. I also packed My “down there” wipes to stay clean.
Toiletry highlights:
Toothbrush, toothpaste, travel-size hair brush
Coconut oil or moisturizer (multi-purpose: skin, hair, even lip balm)
Lip balm (This is very important at high altitude and especially summit night with long exposure to the sun and snow)
Sunscreen (very important throughout the trek)
A small mirror in my Sea to Summit toiletry bag can be useful if you need to insert contacts
Toilet paper
Pads
Getting my period just before summit night was hard. I doubled up on supplies, knowing that it was a possibility, and I was so grateful I’d packed more than I thought I needed.
Personal Medications & First Aid
I brought:
Diamox to help with symptoms of high altitude sickness (Your physician will tell you when to start taking your pills)
Malaria pills
Painkillers (headaches hit differently at around 13,000 ft)
Tums (lifesavers for altitude stomach cramps)
Nuun tablets for electrolytes
Water purifier (never used it because porters handled all that)
Compact first aid kit (alcohol wipes, gauze, blister pads, etc)
2 Emergency blankets
Essential Gear & Electronics
Headlamp with red mode (A headlamp is a must-have to use around camp at night and for summit night. I used a Black Diamond head lamp. The red mode)
Spare batteries for your headlamp
Power bank (Anker 20,000 mA, it lasted the whole trip for me)
GoPro (perfect for cold mornings when pulling out a phone was too much)
Sunglasses (I used Julbo — mountaineering grade, didn’t fog)
Pee bottle (YES freezing cold nights + needing to pee = lifesaver)
Snacks, Extras & Food on the Mountain
I packed:
Protein bars
Chocolate (a good boost for morale!)
Salty snacks
There were hot meals every day: soup, rice, veggies, meat, and our guides even accommodated dietary restrictions. But I had some tough days where I lost my appetite completely (This is very common at high elevation), our guides tried to get me to eat, but I just couldn't, which is why it was really helpful to have some familiar snacks that I couldn't pass on no matter what.
What I Wore on Summit Night: The Full Breakdown
Summit night is the most difficult part of the trek. It was a very long, emotional day.
We left camp at midnight. It was cold and dark. I tried to get a few hours of sleep, but it was very hard to get any good sleep at elevation, and my period cramps and fatigue made everything feel 10x harder. But it was the part of the trek that I came to Tanzania for; there was no turning back. Here’s what I wore:
Lower Body:
Merino wool base layer
Lightweight hiking pants
Fleece pants
Waterproof shell pants
Upper Body:
Sports bra
2 Merino wool base layers
Patagonia fleece
Puffy jacket
Rain jacket (final layer)
Accessories:
Merino Balaclava
Warm hat
Liner gloves + heavy mountaineering gloves
Liner socks + mountaineering socks
2 hand warmers per glove
Headlamp
Gaiters
How to Keep Electronics Warm on Kilimanjaro
The cold on Kilimanjaro is no joke, and it can drain your electronics fast if you’re not careful. Here’s what worked for me:
During the summit night, I kept my GoPro batteries and phone inside the inner pocket of my Patagonia fleece, close to my body. Keeping them warm under my layers helped prevent them from dying mid-hike.
At night, I stored all electronics (phone, batteries, portable charger, etc) inside my sleeping bag or wrapped in clothes, so they stayed insulated and functional by morning.
If you're using a hydration bladder, the hose can freeze easily in cold temperatures, especially on summit night. That’s why I recommend bringing an insulated hose cover or blowing air back into the tube after each sip to help keep it clear.
Never leave your electronics or batteries on the ground or exposed overnight, even inside your tent. Cold temps will drain them fast.
A little preparation goes a long way when you're trying to capture summit memories or just keep your headlamp working at 3:00 AM.
Final Packing Tips for Kilimanjaro
Use packing cubes or compression sacks to organize gear
Don’t pack your fears, you really don’t need that 6th pair of leggings
Arrive early in Tanzania and allow yourself time to adjust and get ready.
Label your gear, especially if you rent any.
Want to Summit Kilimanjaro with a Group of Empowered Women?
If this packing list made you feel excited and ready, imagine how it’ll feel standing on the summit surrounded by other women cheering you on.
Trekking Pals is returning to Mount Kilimanjaro via the Machame Route in August 2026.
We train, support, and encourage one another every step of the way. It isn’t just a trek. It’s a sisterhood and It’s about showing yourself what you're capable of.
