Trekking gear is one of the most important aspects of trekking and good trekking gears make your trek enjoyable. Streets of Thamel in Kathmandu are lined with a plethora of shops catering for trekkers with different trekking style and budget. You will find a wide range of trekking gears ranging from expensive big brands to local Nepali brands to suit your budget. If you don’t want to make a big investment and rent gears, then you will get the facility of renting gears in Kathmandu as well. We have brought to you a comprehensive travel guide with all the information on buying and renting trekking gears in Kathmandu.
Where to buy or rent trekking gears in Kathmandu?
Thamel in Kathmandu is a tourist hub and caters to the needs of tourists especially trekkers. You will come across luxurious hotels to guest houses. There are cafes, and restaurants serving various cuisines. If you want to buy souvenirs or gifts for your loved ones, you will get lots of options in Thamel.
Moreover, Thamel is filled with shops selling and renting trekking gears. You can buy your own gear if you plan to trek frequently. A money-saving option will be renting trekking gears if you don’t trek frequently. It will be easy to find a rental store but a rental warehouse will be difficult to spot. Ask your guide or travel agency for recommendations on renting gears as they can help you find a quality place.
Buying Popular Brands in Kathmandu
Big names in manufacturing outdoor gears like The North Face and Mountain Hardware have stores in Thamel. Buying good quality down jackets, Goretex jackets and backpacks will last for a lifetime and is a good investment if you trek often. In terms of price, it won’t make much of a difference as it is just as expensive as anywhere. Moreover, you will find outlets of trendy brands like Black Yak, Anta, Black Diamond, and others in Thamel.
Buying Knock-off Trekking Gear at Cheap Price
You will see counterfeits of branded products in shops of Thamel and it’s difficult to tell the difference in terms of quality. Most of the items are made using sewing machines similar to those used in Chinese factories for brand-name products. However, if you have an eye for detail you will notice differences in quality like the stitch, fit might not be great, zippers and others. Nevertheless, buying these products is a good deal from a price point though we don’t encourage to do so.
Thamel features a plenty of shops with products that differ in terms of quality. Usually, the shopkeepers will tell you the prices out of thin air. Also, there isn’t a standard price of a product and you will hear a different price for the same item in different shops. So, you might need to bargain and it’s better to let the shopkeeper know that you are aware of the prices. Being aware of prices indicates a willingness to buy a product which will increase the chances of getting the best deal. If your bargaining skills are good, then you will get a good deal.
Here are the prices of some trekking gears to give you a general idea. Keep in mind that these were the cost while preparing this guide and prices are subject to change.
| SN | Trekking Items | Price (Approx.) |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Down Jacket (Local Product) | US $50 to US $80 per piece |
| 2 | Warm fleece set | US $ 20 to US $40 per set |
| 3 | Hiking shirt | US $15 to US $20 |
| 4 | Hiking short | US $20 to US $25 |
| 5 | Trekking pants | US $30 to US $50 |
| 6 | Trekking socks | US $2 to US $6 per pair |
| 7 | Thermal set | US $10 to US $30 per set |
| 8 | Warm hat | US $4 to US $10 |
| 9 | Windproof gloves | US $10 to US $20 per pair |
| 10 | Sleeping Bag | US $60 to US $90 |
| 11 | Daypack (25L to 35L) | US $30 to US $50 |
| 12 | Backpack (55 L to 65L) | US $50 to US $80 |
| 13 | Trekking Stick | US $10 to US $60 |
| 14 | Sunglasses | US $5 to US $20 |
| 15 | Headlight | US $15 to US $50 |
| 16 | Water bottle | US $5 to US $20 |
Renting Trekking Gear in Kathmandu
Everything which you need for trekking in Nepal is available for hire in Thamel, Kathmandu. Some of the commonly rented hiking gears are sleeping, down jacket, trekking poles, and hiking boots.
Sleeping Bags
You will find 3 kinds of sleeping bags in most trekking gear rent shops; normal, medium, and high quality sleeping bags. A normal quality sleeping bag can withstand weather from -5 to -10 degrees. You will be paying around US $1 per day for a normal quality sleeping bag. A medium quality sleeping bag is suitable for weather ranging from -10 to -15 degrees Celsius. It costs around US $1.5 per day to hire a medium quality sleeping bag. A high-quality sleeping bag is water-proof and features fur to keep you warm and it cost around US $2 per day to rent.
Down Jacket
A down jacket from a popular brand will cost a few hundred dollars so don’t expect those to be available for hire. Instead, you will get a good quality down jacket at a reasonable price for hire. You will be paying approximately US $1 per day for a down jacket.
Trekking Poles
Trekking poles is most likely to become your best friend during your trek. It will help you in putting less pressure on your knees. You will be paying around US $1 per day for hiring trekking poles.
Hiking Boots
It is best to trek in your hiking boots which are broken in and sturdy. But if you don’t want to buy hiring trekking boots are possible. You can rent hiking boots of almost all sizes for US $1 per day.
The famous renting stores in Thamel are Kalapatthar Trekking Store and Goreto Gear Traders. Moreover, you do not require any deposit or advance payment to rent different items. But independent trekkers may be asked to provide the location of your hotel.
Tips for Buying and Renting Trekking Gears in Kathmandu
It is better to rent gears than buying if you do not trek frequently.
Give utmost importance to your hiking boots since your foot is going to take you everywhere. It is better to buy hiking boots and break in before coming to trek in Nepal.
Products of international brands cost just as expensive as it would anywhere else.
If you wish to complete your gear set for a trek in Kathmandu, then at least keep a day aside to buy or rent the gears.
Prices of rental gears are mostly fair and fixed and the probability of haggling for the price is minimal.