
IMG Elbrus Climb Gear List
This equipment list is meant to help you compile your personal gear specifically for our Elbrus expedition. Most items are required. Please consider each item carefully and be sure you understand the function of each piece of equipment before you substitute anything. Despite the reputation Elbrus has as one of the more straight-forward of the Seven Summits, the weather on summit day can be severe, cold and challenging. Cutting corners on your gear can have significant impacts on your summit experience and chances. We're happy to help you make selection and purchase decisions as you pull together the list below.
Item | Examples/Notes | |
[ ] | Climbing Backpack, minimum 40L | CiloGear Worksack 40 or Black Diamond Speed 40 |
[ ] | 2 duffel bags | Patagonia Black Hole or North Face Expedition Duffle |
[ ] | Small carry-on/travel bag | Jansport Hatchet Backpack |
[ ] | Ice Axe (50-60cm) | Petzl Glacier or Black Diamond Raven |
[ ] | Crampons | Petzl Vasak or Grivel G12's |
[ ] | Adjustable trekking poles | Black Diamond Trail |
[ ] | Lightweight Climbing Harness | Petzl Altitude or Black Diamond Couloir |
[ ] | Climbing Helmet | Black Diamond Half Dome |
[ ] | 1 locking and 1 non-locking carabiner | Petzl Attache and Spirit |
[ ] | Sleeping bag rated for 20°F or lower | Marmot Sawtooth or comparable |
[ ] | Inflatable sleeping pad | Therm-a-rest NeoAir |
[ ] | Double mountaineering boots | La Sportiva G2 SM or Scarpa Phantom 6000 |
[ ] | Gaiters (optional if wearing boots w/ integrated gaiter) | OR Crocodiles |
[ ] | Light hiking shoes | La Sportiva Lycan GTX |
[ ] | 2 sets of wool socks (fit these well with your climbing boots) | Smartwool PhD Outdoor Mountaineer |
[ ] | Short sleeve lightweight hiking shirt | OR Echo Tee |
[ ] | Long sleeve lightweight hiking shirt | OR Echo Tee |
[ ] | Light hiking shorts | |
[ ] | Light hiking pants | OR Equinox (men) or Ferrosi (women) |
[ ] | 2 Pairs of synthetic underwear | |
[ ] | 2 sports bras (ladies) | Patagonia Switchback Sports Bra |
[ ] | Synthetic base layer for legs (long underwear) | OR Alpine Onset |
[ ] | Soft-shell climbing pants (medium weight soft shell) | OR Cirque |
[ ] | Waterproof Gore-Tex pants with full-length leg zippers | OR Furio |
[ ] | 2 Synthetic upper body base layers | OR Echo Hoody |
[ ] | 1 or 2 medium weight insulating layers | OR Uberlayer or Patagonia NanoAir |
[ ] | Soft-shell jacket | OR Ferrosi Summit |
[ ] | Heavy weight insulated parka (must have hood) | Patagonia Fitz Roy Down Jacket or similar warmth parka |
[ ] | Waterproof Gore-Tex jacket | OR Optimizer |
[ ] | Wool/fleece beanie hat that fits under your helmet | OR Booster Beanie |
[ ] | Light weight gloves | OR Stormtracker |
[ ] | Medium weight gloves | OR Extravert |
[ ] | Heavy weight gloves | OR Alti Glove or Mitten |
[ ] | Buff | Original |
[ ] | Glacier glasses | Julbo Explorer |
[ ] | Goggles | Smith I/O |
[ ] | Sunscreen and lip balm (at least 30 spf) | Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry-Touch |
[ ] | 2 wide-mouth Nalgene water bottles | 1L bottles (Camelbak style bladders are not an acceptable substitute for the climb but will work for acclimatization days) |
[ ] | Water bottle insulating sleeves | |
[ ] | Headlamp with extra batteries | Black Diamond Spot |
[ ] | Camera | Keep it light and bring spare batteries or a power bank and cords for recharging |
[ ] | Power outlet adaptors | huts have outlets for charging |
[ ] | Toiletries | Toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, hand sanitizer, etc |
[ ] | Personal first aid kit:
| Consult with your doctor to acquire high altitude medications and to complete Form 5 in the application package. |
[ ] | 2 Large plastic compactor bags | We will use this to line our backpacks to protect our gear from precipitation. |
[ ] | Pocket knife | Victorinox Swiss Army Wenger |
[ ] | Alarm wrist watch | ideally an altimeter watch (Casio and Suunto make nice models) |
[ ] | Casual clothes | Make sure to bring some comfortable clothes for hanging out and going out to dinner. Leave the black tie/dress at home, but classier attire is appropriate at some of the restaurants where we will be dining. |
[ ] | Bathing suit | for the Russian saunas
|
Ski Expedition Climbers will also need: | ||
[ ] | skis and bindings with touring mode (preferably Dynafit) | |
[ ] | instead of double climbing boots: AT or telemark boots (must have walk mode) | |
[ ] | climbing skins | |
[ ] | ski crampons | |
[ ] | avalanche transceiver | |
[ ] | avalanche probe | |
[ ] | collapsible shovel | |
[ ] | day pack (with ski attachment points) |