Kuari Pass Trek Packing List: What I Carried for Sub-Zero Nights

A Kuari Pass packing list comes down to two sets of clothing: light layers for walking and a full warm stack for camp. I finished the trek on 3 December 2025. There was no snow on the trail, but nights dropped below zero, to about -8°C, and I needed every layer I had once we stopped.

Below is exactly what I carried, what worked and what didn't, followed by a few Amazon.in options that match the roles of my gear. I have not used those options, and I say so each time.

The trek in brief

Indiahikes runs Kuari Pass as a 6-day trek from Rishikesh, with 4 days of walking and about 22 km in total. You start at Karchi (2,373 m), camp at Akhrotghetta and Khullara, cross Kuari Pass (about 3,815 m) on the long fourth day, and camp at Tali before finishing at Auli. Check their page for the current itinerary.

What the cold felt like

While walking, I wore only a fleece over a quick-dry T-shirt. That was enough. Climbing keeps you warm, so I did not need the puffer or thermals on the move.

The campsites were different. Once I stopped, the temperature fell fast, and I wore everything: thermals, T-shirt, fleece and puffer, plus beanie, neck warmer and gloves. It was cold enough that icy water dripped on our tents at night. If you pack for the walking temperature alone, the nights will be miserable.

Body layers I carried (all Decathlon)

Insulation

• Forclaz MT100 packable puffer jacket, rated -5°C. This was my camp jacket.
• Quechua MH100 warm fleece jacket. This was my main layer on the trail.

Base layers

• Wedze BL100 thermal top and Wedze BL100 thermal bottom, one set. I wore this under everything at night.
• 2 x Quechua MH550 full-sleeve dry-fit T-shirts.

Trousers

• 2 x Forclaz MT100 zip-off convertible quick-dry trousers.

The puffer is rated -5°C, and the nights went to about -8°C. So the jacket alone was never the whole answer. It worked because the fleece and thermals went under it.

Head, hands and neck

• Wedze Torsade 900 wool beanie
• Wedze Hug 500 neck warmer
• Forclaz Trek 500 stretchable winter gloves
• Decathlon MH140 Cat 3 anti-UV sunglasses

The neck warmer was the item I was most grateful for, especially on the windy stretches of the trail. The gloves were the weak spot. Once the temperature went below zero at night, they did not keep my hands warm enough. If I went again, I would take a warmer pair for camp.

Footwear and carrying gear

• Quechua MH100 waterproof mid-ankle shoes with 4mm grip studs
• Quechua NH50 quick-dry mid-ankle socks
• Forclaz MT100 adjustable trekking pole
• 55L trekking backpack

The MH100 shoes were perfect for this trek. They are waterproof, the grip was really good, they held up well, and as a bonus they look good too.

Other things I carried

• 1 L water bottle
• A small lunch box
• Headlamp
• My medicines, including ones for altitude sickness, plus general over-the-counter basics
• Government ID, kept on me

Amazon.in options for the same roles

These are the products I would point you to if you want alternatives to my Decathlon kit. I have not used any of them, so treat these as options to compare, not as tested picks.

Insulated jacket

The TRIPOLE Winter and Snow Jacket for Trekking and Hiking, Minus 5 Degree Comfort is a packable insulated jacket rated comfortable to -5°C. That is the role my Forclaz MT100 puffer, also rated -5°C, played at camp.

The same caution applies. Nights on Kuari Pass reached about -8°C when I went, so you will still need a fleece and thermals under it.

Trekking pants

The GOKYO Rio lightweight dry-fit trekking pants are lightweight, quick-dry trekking pants. They are the same kind of trouser I wore, though mine were Forclaz MT100 zip-offs. Carrying two pairs worked for me. One pair to wear and one spare means you are not stuck if a pair gets wet.

Sunglasses

The Fastrack black wayfarer UV-protected sunglasses offer UV protection for bright high-altitude sun. There was no snow when I went, but if you trek after a snowfall the glare is much stronger. My Decathlon MH140 sunglasses had Category 3 lenses. Check the lens category before you buy any pair, and do not assume UV protection means the same thing as a Category 3 rating.

How I packed the backpack

I packed in layers from top to bottom:

• Top and quick-access pockets: the things I needed during the day, like water, the headlamp, medicines and ID.
• Middle and bottom: camp-only things, like the puffer, thermals and spare clothes, that I did not need until we stopped.
• Heavy items close to your back, not towards the outside of the pack. This stops the bag swinging and saves your back.

What I would change next time

• Prepare for harsher weather. Sub-zero nights with icy drips on the tent are colder than they sound. Warmer gloves would be my first upgrade.
• Pack a bit lighter. I carried more than I needed this time.

The short checklist

• Puffer jacket rated to -5°C, worn over a fleece and thermals at camp
• Fleece jacket
• Thermal top and bottom
• 2 full-sleeve quick-dry T-shirts
• 2 quick-dry trekking trousers
• Waterproof mid-ankle shoes with good grip
• Quick-dry mid-ankle socks
• Wool beanie
• Neck warmer
• Warm winter gloves that work below zero
• Sunglasses with a stated lens category
• Trekking pole
• 55L backpack
• 1 L water bottle and a small lunch box
• Headlamp
• Your medicines, including for altitude sickness
• Government ID