Category: climbing

 What Gear You Need to Climb Cotopaxi: The Ultimate Ecuador Volcano Packing List ✍️ Introduction Climbing Cotopaxi (5,897 m), one of the world’s highest active volcanoes, is no ordinary trek — it’s a high-altitude glacier climb. Having guided dozens of clients to the summit, we’ve refined the gear checklist to what really works in Ecuador’s unpredictable mountain conditions. Whether you're bringing your own equipment or planning to rent locally, here’s the full breakdown of what you’ll need — plus recommended brands and where to get them. 🌻 1. Clothing Layers Item Details Recommended Brands Base Layer (Top & Bottom) Breathable, moisture-wicking Icebreaker, Smartwool, Patagonia Capilene Mid Layer (Fleece or Light Puffy) Warmth without bulk Arc'teryx Atom LT, Patagonia R1 Insulated Jacket (Down or Synthetic) Very warm layer for summit push Rab Microlight Alpine, The North Face Summit Series Shell Jacket (Hardshell, Waterproof) Wind & waterproof Arc'teryx Beta AR, Outdoor Research Helium Softshell Pants Flexible, breathable Mammut Courmayeur, Black Diamond Alpine Insulated Pants For summit morning Mountain Hardwear Compressor, Rab Photon Gaiters To keep snow out of boots Outdoor Research Crocodile Gloves (2 pairs) Lightweight liner + insulated shell Black Diamond Guide Gloves, OR Alti Gloves Wool Hat / Buff / Balaclava Full head and neck protection Buff, Smartwool 🧲 2. Footwear Item Details Brands Mountaineering Boots Insulated, crampon-compatible La Sportiva Nepal Evo, Scarpa Mont Blanc Wool Socks (x2 pairs) Warm & breathable Darn Tough, Smartwool Camp Shoes (optional) Lightweight for refuge Crocs, Teva 🚷 3. Climbing Equipment (Often provided by your guide — but some bring their own) Item Recommended Provided? Crampons Grivel G12, Petzl Vasak ✓ Provided Ice Axe Petzl Summit, Black Diamond Raven ✓ Provided Climbing Harness Black Diamond Momentum, Petzl Corax ✓ Provided Helmet Petzl Boreo, BD Half Dome ✓ Provided Carabiners / Rope / Belay Guide-managed