You won’t be surprised to hear that it gets pretty cold on the walk in to Base Camp. Patagonia make some ultra-smart down jackets that are tailored to keep you warm without also making you look like a cut-price Michelin Man. Their Ultralight Down Hoody is as at home on cold morning commutes as it is on the mountain.
Patagonia Ultralight Down Hoody, £241.10, shop.epictv.com
While we’re talking about the cold, a pair of gloves is a must-have. Warmth is hugely important in the Himalayas but you want to make sure that your gloves don’t limit your movement. After all you don’t want to be crossing a crevice ladder in mittens!
The dexterous leather design of the Kingpin Black Diamond gloves make them a popular choice for professional mountaineers, the sort of people who climb mountains like Everest on a regular basis. If it’s good enough for them…
Kingpin Black Diamond gloves, £51.14, shop.epictv.com
You’ll need a day rucksack for the trail, but most of your kit will get transported in a travel duffel bag. The North Face Base Camp is the obvious (and aptly named) choice. It’s big enough for all your kit and the large opening at the top means that it’s just as easy to find your things as if you were using a suitcase. Built for the outdoors, it can easily stand up to a rough ride.
North Face Base Camp duffel bag, £56.25, shop.epictv.com
While you’ll need proper walking boots for the bulk of the journey, you’ll also want something that you can easily kick around in at camp. For Everest, your scruffy old Reeboks just aren’t going to cut it. These Salomon Wings are lightweight and incredibly comfortable. They also offer great ankle support for the rough ground you’ll be facing on the trek and in the Square Mile.
Salomon Wings, £81.83, shop.epictv.com
There’s no point in making this once in a lifetime journey if you don’t have something to document the trip and you might find yourself wanting something a bit more upscale than the classic iPhone and Selfie stick combo. I recommend the Sony RX100
It’s pocket-sized so it’s not a hassle to carry on the mountain and it is also Wi-Fi enabled, allowing you to transfer photos to your phone for speedy Instagramming. Oh and in case you absolutely have to take that selfie, there’s even a rotatable screen to help you frame up the shot!
Sony RX100, £546, shop.epictv.com
Adam Butterworth, climbing editor for the online action and adventure sports channel EpicTV, gives us his essentials to get there.
Click through the gallery above to view Adam's must-have items for trekking up Everest. Or for walking to the pub in winter…
