Equipment to Climb Mount Aconcagua

For high altitude camps, choose one of the following:

• All-in-one | Best choice, great comfort
• Double heigh boots | Most commonly used
• Double plastic boots | Low-cost, heavier and rigid

All-in-one or triple boots

We recommend the following triple boots:

• Scarpa Phantom 8000
• La Sportiva Olympus Mons Evo
• The North Face Verto S8K

They are the warmest types available. They have insulated and integrated gaiters and offer more warmth and waterproofness than high altitude double boots.

Double height boots

We recommend the following double-height boots:

• La Sportiva Spantik
• La Sportiva G2
• La Sportiva Baruntse 20 GTX
• Asolo Manaslu GV

They can be worn with a soft synthetic or hard plastic exterior designed for use with a height-designed liner. These boots are warmer than single mountaineering boots. 

They are manufactured with a removable insulating lining in a durable and waterproof outer boot. They are made with fully rigid soles to climb flat to vertical terrain with or without crampons.

It is recommended not to walk with the double boot's interior since this provides shelter, and the rocky terrain of Aconcagua it usually breaks.

Double plastic boots

Low-cost option, low-performance, the most frequently used are:

• Asolo AFS 8000
• Scarpa Omega
• Scarpa Vega
• Koflach Artic

This plastic double boot option has a flexible plastic upper and a soft, flexible inner boot designed to fit inside the plastic shell.

They are heavier and colder than the previous ones; however, they are good enough for Aconcagua. If you opt for these boots, it is recommended to bring foot warmers or combine them with gaiters

Boots not suitable

Simple boots are not suitable to climb Aconcagua, some of them are:

• La Sportiva G5
• La Sportiva Batura
• La Sportiva Nepal Extreme
• La Sportiva Nepal Cube
• La Sportiva Trango Ice
• Scarpa Phantom Guide
• Scarpa Phantom 6000 (double but not suitable for 7000m)
• Scarpa Grand Dru
• Scarpa GTX
• Boreal G1 Lite
• Boreal Stetind
• Mammut Eiger Extreme
• TNF Verto S6K

Simple boots are rigid and haven't a removable sock. Climbers cannot use them in Aconcagua because they don't provide adequate protection against low temperatures.

They are designed for mountaineering or climbing below Aconcagua, generally ideal for use with crampons.

The use of these boots in Aconcagua implies the risk of frostbite. 

Are recommend shoes with a lot of space in the toe area and good support when approaching the base camp. Are ideal as it is a dry trail with a lot of sand and dirt. 

Trekking shoes or boots must offer excellent traction with a flexible sole that provides comfort and cushioned support underfoot. They are used to approach the mountain and to take shorter walks at low altitudes. Breathable and waterproof models are preferred.

Other footwear that can be worn as a complement, although they do not replace light trekking boots, and is useful to wear when there is a lot of snow at base camp. We suggest wearing only one of these optional shoes to avoid weight.

Warm and waterproof boots

These boots must be very comfortable and need not be technical; you will not walk or climb with these boots.

Weight and volume are not a concern for this type of shoe; the important thing is warmth and comfort.

Booties

It is recommended to be used for greater comfort around the base camp, in the high camps, and inside the tent. 

Synthetic models stay warm even when wet but are heavier and less compact than down boots.

Trekking shoes (optional)

Can wear sneakers or tennis shoes to walk comfortably during the rest days at base camp. 

They are also useful as a spare if your Trekking boots are wet and need drying.

Sandals (optional)

They can be water shoes, crocs, or similar footwear that fit the heel to cross rivers. Not flip-flops.

Not usually used by Normal Route (depending on the level of the rivers). The Polish Route requires them.

Crampons attach to boots for traction on slippery surfaces of snow, ice, and stones. Semi-automatic is preferably used, but it can also be automatic or tape.

We recommend 12-point steel crampons with anti-balling plates over 10-point aluminum or rigid crampons because the traction is superior. They stand up to the potential time spent walking on rocks, and they fit modern boots well. Testing the fixation of boots + crampons as a set is essential, as different double-layer boots may require different crampons.

Recommended

• Black Diamond
• Petzl
• Grivel G14

Not Recommended

• Foot Fangs
• Simond Scorpions
• Grivel model Rambo 

Avoid crampons with rounded or deformed points.

Most double boots require the use of gaiters. Gaiters are fabric tubes that you wrap over boots and are used to prevent snow and other debris from entering your footwear, allowing you to preserve the temperature in your calves and ankles.

They should be tall, durable, waterproof, and fit snugly to eliminate gaps between the gaiter and the boot without squeezing the ankle and calf, and size suitable for double-layer boots (bigger than for regular boots).

We recommend 6-8 pairs of socks. The more you have, the more comfortable you will be in clean, dry clothing, adding more weight to your personal gear.

Midweight socks

Midweight socks are designed to offer comfort and warmth at moderate altitudes in moderate to cold weather.

They should fit over liner socks without constricting blood flow and be constructed of merino wool or synthetic fiber (2 pairs). 

Thick warm socks

Thick, warm socks (Polar Tec) made of synthetic material. 2 pairs are recommended for cold days and one for summit day.

Liner socks

Very lightweight synthetic socks are designed to quickly move moisture away from your skin, reduce blisters' appearance by absorbing friction, and keep your feet dry.

Liner socks are typically constructed from synthetic materials, such as nylon or polypropylene, for the first skin. Three pairs plus one pair are recommended to wear on Summit Day. 

Foot warmers (optional)

Foot warmers may be worn to provide greater comfort. 6 pairs are recommended.

Trekking and mountaineering pants for diverse climates. Wind resistance. 

Light and breathable coat. For use on treks to base camp.

Base pants, also called leggings, are worn against the skin and are snug and comfortable. 

They are made of wool or synthetic materials and designed to fit the comfort of other layers. They should not be cotton.

These pants must be weather-resistant, air-permeable, elastic, and durable. Combined with a base layer to increase the heat or a hard layer when it rains, it is perfect for mountaineering.

A good option is the Soft-Shell Windstopper pants, which are highly versatile due to their fabric's elasticity or the polar type. They are reinforced in areas prone to wear. Prima Lof pants are also an option for Aconcagua.

They are Gore-tex pants designed to protect from rain, snow, and wind. They are used as the outer Layer. 

The layer must offer full-length or side zippers so that people can change clothes in changing conditions without removing their footwear. Regardless of their intended use, stiff pants should not be insulated to allow for a modular layer.

Extra Layer (opLayerl) | Prima loft

Waterproof, lightweight, and windproof pants make them an excellent option to reinforce the third Layer optLayerly.

A light and breathable T-shirt for warm conditions made of merino-light wool (more durable) or synthetic fabric. White or lighter models are preferred to absorb less sunlight. Cotton is not recommended because it costs a lot to dry when wet.

Two long-sleeve shirts and two short-sleeved shirts are recommended for replacement.

A short—or long-sleeved cotton shirt is suitable for resting days only and is not suitable for activity days. It provides greater comfort and well-being to the skin in permanent contact with synthetic clothing.

We recommend bringing 2 of the following jackets to be prepared for all weather conditions.

• Polar jacket or similar
• Diver or synthetic shirt
• Softshell jacket
• Wind shell

Polar jacket or similar

Hooded topcoat (optional but recommended) that adapts to your shape so you can use the rest of the base layers. Hoods are optional but recommended. 

The breathable mid-layer upper, made of lightweight, breathable fleece-like fabric, keeps warm in cold conditions or over the lightweight base jersey in icy conditions. Polar Tec Power Stretch, Polar Tec PowerGrid, or Patagonia's R1 can work well. A snug, contoured fit is always recommended.

Diver or synthetic shirt

A diver in fleece or thick synthetic shirt is unnecessary if you have a fleece jacket, but you can bring it, so you don't always wear the same jacket.

Softshell jacket

A softshell, breathable, wind- and weather-resistant jacket is key to the mountaineering layering system. We recommend a hooded model. It should fit nicely over your mid-layer top and base-layer tops. A breathable softshell jacket that is wind-resistant and constructed of woven or knit polyester & nylon.

Softshell allows you to avoid donning a hard-shell waterproof jacket until necessary, ensuring greater freedom of movement and keeping your body drier and more comfortable than inside a moisture-trapping hard shell. Softshell is preferred over fleece since it is less bulky, sheds moisture better, repels snow better, and has a more dynamic temperature comfort range.

Wind shell

A wind shell without insulation adds extra protection and weighs less than 8oz/230g. It is also helpful as a 3rd layer used in approaches.

It may not be enough on the summit day or cold days as a 3rd layer. Optional.

The Parka is the most important garment of the third Layer; it can be combined with any of the other two options and must fulfill the 3 functions:

• Coat (feather)
• Waterproof
• Windbreaker (Gore-tex)

Coat (Feather Jacket)

A lightweight insulated jacket filled with down or synthetic insulation. An insulated down or synthetic jacket. A synthetic model mimics down's insulative, air-trapping properties but is not susceptible to losing loft in damp conditions like goose down. Insulated synthetic jackets are crucial for summer mountaineering- especially in wet locations, as the synthetic insulation handles body moisture without any problem and dries quickly. Synthetic insulations are usually measured in grams of weight per square meter- this number helps indicate how warm a jacket will be. 

For example, a 180g insulated synthetic jacket would be warm enough for climbing as high as 5000m/16405 feet. Down jackets are lighter than expedition parkas but offer significant insulation for cold conditions or moderate altitudes. They are usually worn during breaks, around camp, and when climbing in freezing conditions. Knowing exactly how warm a down jacket is can be challenging since factors like down quality, construction method, and fabric choices significantly impact a jacket's warmth. We recommend contacting an expert resource when choosing a down jacket.

Waterproof Jacket

A non-insulated, waterproof, hard-shell jacket with a helmet-compatible hood. We recommend Gore-Tex Pro Shell or a similar event fabric since they offer more durability and weather protection. It must fit comfortably over your base layer, mid-layer, soft-shell, and lightweight insulated Layer. A hard-shell jacket made of Gore-Tex or similar material protects against rain, snow, and wind. 

 The hard-shell fabric must also be helmet-compatible, waterproof, and breathable. 3-layer jackets are more waterproof in extended use in wetter or more adverse conditions. For mountain travel, hard-shell jackets must have an uninsulated hood because dual-purpose, insulated hard-shell jackets do not allow for modular layering. A hard-shell jacket should never be worn unless extreme wind or precipitation requires it- it is better to use more breathable layers (like a mid-layer or soft-shell jacket) when possible to avoid trapping

Parka

An 8000m expedition parka is the warmest insulated jacket available, suitable for use anywhere in icy conditions. Expedition parkas are down insulated since synthetic insulation would be too heavy and bulky.

A more extended cut, an insulated hood, baffle box construction, and 800+ fill-power down are characteristics of the expedition-worthy parka. A Parkaparka should fit over a shell or soft-shell jacket.

The synthetic fine gloves offer a comfortable fit. Lighter colors are preferred since they absorb less sunlight and still provide UV protection. 

Two pairs are recommended.

Gel hand warmers (optional)

6-8 gel hand warmers are recommended to keep the fingers warm if extra heat is needed.  

Not only for comfort but also in case of any frozen issue. 

A pair of polar-type or similar warm gloves. The cold in the hands is vital to consider; they must be protected with the highest possible quality.

The cold in the hands is vital to consider; they must be protected with the highest possible quality.

Two pairs of gloves are required as a 3rd layer.

Waterproof thermal gloves

One pair of insulated warm shell gloves with removable liners. Expedition gloves are extra-warm gloves that allow dexterity in icy conditions and higher altitudes. They should have an insulated, waterproof, and breathable shell and have insulated removable liners.

You should look for gloves with a cinch strap at the wrist, a cinch cord at the gauntlet, wrist keeper leashes to prevent gloves from dropping in windy conditions, and curved fingers. These gloves allow maneuverability in the camps, although they are not as warm as mittens.

Mittens

For the summit day, expedition mitts with an isolated removable lining are required for maximum protection against low temperatures. We recommend buying the warmest model available. Expedition mittens are used to keep hands warm in the most extreme conditions.

They must be made for use on peaks at 8,000 m. Here, the three layers of gloves will be worn without restricting blood flow to the fingers. Models with synthetic or down insulation work well.

Mitt cover: In old models of mittens, the mitt cover was used to waterproof the gloves. In Gore-Tex models, the mitt cover is unnecessary because the gloves are already waterproof.

Our expeditions include meals and snacks. However, the climbers may bring the following items of their favorite flavors:

• Servings electrolyte replacement mix (Nuun, Skratch Labs)
• Servings instant coffee (if desired, a particular coffee) 
• Energy gels (Gu, Clif Shot Bloks)
• Energy bars (Clif Bar, Luna Bar)
• Candy bars (Snickers, Twix)
• Servings snack crackers (Austin Sandwich Crackers)
• A box of other crackers (Wheat Thins, Cheez-Its)
• A small assortment of hard candy, cough drops, etc.
• Special snacks in case of any food restriction
• Etc.

Telescopic poles

We recommend using three-section collapsible trekking poles.

Lighter-weight carbon poles offer a significant weight advantage, but many trail poles can work well. Snow baskets are not necessary.

Ice axe 

Its use in Aconcagua is subject to snow & ice conditions, so it's impossible to confirm whether the climbers will need it. Petzl Glacier is recommended.

It can pose a danger to mountaineers without proper experience, so the guide may prefer a good pair of boots with suitable crampons and poles to avoid using the ice axe. It's frequently left in the base camp.

We recommend a sleeping bag with a comfort temperature of -13°C to -30°C with a compression bag. Must have down insulation (synthetic material is too bulky and heavy), full side zipper, hood, pull collar, zipper pull tube, and head lanyard.

This is an example of the most common sleeping bag used in Aconcagua: Comfort temperature: -13°C. Limit temperature: -22°C. Extreme temperature: -48°C. This is the one available to rent in the stores in Mendoza. Although this is suitable for Aconcagua, if you are sensitive to the cold, a -30°C bag will be better. Very hot sleeping bags may cause you to wet at night until 4500masl, depending on weather conditions.

75-100 liters expedition backpack*

Many backpacks are suitable, depending on the personal gear of each climber. Black Diamond Mission 75 is a good choice.

35-liter daypack

It is not mandatory but highly recommended. It is used for approaches to base camp while the mules carry personal gear and for daytime walks.

*Is a 75L backpack mandatory?
Yes, although some climbers who hire porters may not need it during their expedition. 
In some circumstances, the group may need to change the itinerary due to weather conditions, a climber in trouble, or just guide criteria, and the porters will not be available to carry the loads. The porters don't go with the climbers; they go separately early in the morning or at another time. Their service needs to be scheduled the previous day, and the porter will pick up the loads the next day in the camp. 
For safety reasons, climbers must always have the chance to have all their gear with them if necessary, no matter when and where they are. Hence, the 75L backpack is mandatory.

This is a 150-liter waterproof duffel bag with backpack straps and a roll-top closure for easy portability in any environment. It also has a security padlock. 

It is optional but strongly recommended that the backpack and boots be kept safe, avoiding damage and loss when transported by mules, crossing rivers, etc. Also, leave part of the gear in the base camp when going to the summit.

Sunblock sun protection factor SPF 50+. Sun protector lips.

Hygiene kit

Wet wipes

Towel and shampoo for showers

Plastic bottle with a wide mouth for use in altitude camps

Funnel for women to use in altitude camps

First aid kit

Climbers should bring a small waterproof first-aid kit, including common drugs they usually may take, at least for a headache or stomach upset, and their prescription medications. In addition to bandages to treat small scratches, cuts, or blisters, disinfectant, triple antibiotic cream, etc.

The guides' first aid kits include an oximeter, band-aids and gauze, wound disinfectant, and basic medicines for altitude sickness. For legal reasons, our guides are not allowed to provide medicines unless under two conditions: a life risk and a doctor's approval; both conditions have to be accomplished simultaneously. We have oxygen in all camps for emergency purposes. Aconcagua Park has an authorized rescue patrol with doctors who take control if any medical situation occurs. 

Electricity power
If you want to recharge your batteries, we recommend bringing 110V to 220V power adapters, plugs, transformers, and chargers (electricity is available only at base camp 220V). Click here for information on world plugs.

Solar panels can also charge the batteries even in high-altitude camps with good weather conditions, where there is no electricity supply (they can be requested in advance before starting the expedition as an optional service with extra charge, subject to availability).