What to pack for Elbrus: the full gear list

On the summit of Elbrus it can be −20° with wind even in July, while at the Azau meadow the same day it's +25°. So the main packing principle is layers you can add and remove through the day.

Clothing: the three-layer principle

First layer — moisture-wicking base layers (two sets: you hike in one, the second stays dry for summit day). Cotton T-shirts don't work — they soak and chill you.

Second layer — insulation: a fleece jacket and warm pants. Third — protection from wind and precipitation: a hardshell jacket and pants.

Over everything for the summit — a down jacket rated to −20° or below. For hands — thin work gloves plus warm down mittens. A hat, a balaclava and a buff cover everything that sticks out.

Footwear

Summit day needs double (two-layer) mountaineering boots — ordinary trekking boots don't work above 5,000, your toes will freeze. No need to buy them for one climb: they rent easily in Terskol, and the guide helps with fitting on day one.

For acclimatization hikes, broken-in trekking boots are enough. Plus 3–4 pairs of high trekking socks and snow gaiters.

Hardware

Crampons — fitted to your boots (rental).
Ice axe — you learn to use it at the snow training (rental).
Harness with a lanyard, and a helmet (rental).
Trekking poles — for every hike; strongly better your own.

The small things that decide

Category 4 sunglasses — not "fashionably dark" ones, proper glacier glasses. Snow blindness on a glacier takes a couple of hours to earn without them. Plus ski goggles for wind.
SPF 50+ sunscreen and lip balm — reapply every two hours, including under the chin: snow reflects the sun from below.
A headlamp and spare batteries: the summit push starts around 2 a.m.
A 1-litre thermos — hot tea on the push works better than any energy drink.
A personal first-aid kit: your medication, blister plasters.

Climber in a down jacket greeting sunrise above the clouds on Elbrus

What to rent and what to bring

Rentable in Terskol: double boots, crampons, ice axe, harness, helmet, down jacket, and a backpack or poles if needed. It all costs reasonable money and saves you six figures of purchases.

Your own should be whatever touches the body or can't be fitted in a minute: base layers, socks, gloves, glasses, sunscreen, your first-aid kit and broken-in trekking boots.

The checklist in one line

Base layers ×2 · fleece · warm pants · hardshell jacket and pants · −20° down jacket · mittens + gloves · hat, balaclava, buff · double boots · trekking boots · socks ×4 · gaiters · crampons · ice axe · harness · helmet · poles · cat. 4 glasses + goggles · headlamp + batteries · 1 L thermos · SPF 50+ · lip balm · first-aid kit · 40–60 L backpack · passport and insurance.

A detailed checklist for your specific departure comes after booking — together with advice on physical preparation. Dates and prices are on the program pages: south and north.