I am a first time Kili climber and will be doing it in September 2009. I have been reading these blogs over and over and have gotten more confused as far as apparel. I am basically trying to find out what I need to pack and pack! I am trying to purchase my footwear as well as jackets and clothes and am trying to find out what is the appropriate dress for that time of the year? Also, what type hiking shoe should I purchase? Is it very cold in that time of the year? Lastly, was type of sleeping bag should I purchase? Would a -20F bag work, or is a bag that warm not necessary? Thanks!

I just got back from climbing Kili in mid October. The weather was not terribly cold (although I'm from Canada
The first day we were wearing moisture wicking t-shirts and shorts...the rest of the time I was wearing a mixture of base layer long johns/thermal shirts (medium weight), warm fleece jacket and hiking pants. One thing I cannot recommend enough is gore-tex...I skimped out and bought imitation stuff by ORAGE clothing, thankfully we were only caught in the rain one afternoon, but I got soaked! I did manage to dry out my stuff though the next morning/afternoon at camp by laying my stuff out on rocks/hanging on my hiking poles in the sun. You may not be so lucky though...by all other reports I got before I went, people told me I would not be able to dry my stuff out, would be too cold and rainy...I guess I had great weather. For summit night you will want down jacket...it was -15c (whatever that is in F)I had a great one and was cooking in it, but better to be too hot than freezing your nards off...for bottoms just wore fleece pants under my hiking pants...good ski gloves/windproof hat...balaclava would have been nice, but not necessary...sleeping bag, I had a MEC Pharaoh bag http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCT%3...&bmUID=1228952830492 rated to -12c, again, was cooking in that, slept in my undies, never used my fleece liner, but I suppose it was worth bringing for insurance...footwear, bring good sturdy boots that have been well broken in, going down is the hardest part on your feet! Good moisture wicking socks with liners are key! You only need 2-3 pairs of socks if you bring liners to change into every day...no matter what you do you will stink anyways... Any other questions don't hesitate to ask! Enjoy and Good Luck! It will be the greatest experience of your life! One last thing...really try not to bring too many clothes...think of the porters...they will have to carry whatever you don't use/wear and they carry A LOT! Hopefully you can leave whatever you don't want to bring back home with you...

We also went in September. We had great weather with no rain, lots of sun, and very little wind. We found that when the sun was up it was very pleasant the whole way, even on the summit. But once the sun went down it got very cold very fast. Of course there is no guarantee you will have the same weather... I personally packed too much but the outfitter we used, and many others, will look over your gear before the trek, if there are good, and make sure you have what you need. Then rent or lend you what you are missing. I packed a pair of liner and hiking socks for each day. I like dry feet! I brought a -20 F sleeping bag and a silk liner. I never used the liner and the bag was more then warm enough. I got it on a close out sale at the Sierra Trading Post web site for $75. Just make sure your boots are WELL broken in and waterproof. Even if you see no rain you’ll see lots of mud on the lower mountain. I also recommend gaiters to help keep the mud, rocks, sand, scree, silt, dusk, etc. out. Make sure you have a waterproof outer shell and warm layers to add and remove as needed. I over heated on summit night with 4 layers on bottom and 5 on top. One other note on boots, make sure they hold on steep downhill. I ended up on my a$$ 5 or 6 times going down. I found it harder to go down then up. You mix steep, and rock with small gravel or scree on top and its like walking on marbles, if you don’t have good traction.

Good Luck!

BTW many outfitters post equipment lists on their web sites. This can help you with your choices. Here's one example:

http://www.alpineascents.com/pdf/kilimanjaro-gear.pdf

Plus Bootsnall has a couple of links to help:

http://www.mtkilimanjarologue.com/gear/kilimanjaro-packing-list.html

http://www.mtkilimanjarologue.com/recommendations/compl...st-for-trekking.html

there is actually a good way to lace your boots up for doing alot of downhill, as in descending the summit. your guide may know and be able to show you. if not, you tighten the laces a good deal as the boot curves up an around the ankle. this reduces slipping to the front of the boot.the only casualty i had was my poor big toes after summit day,they were purple under the nail by the time we got into camp from coming down. i eventually lost booth nails (gross)

Take a look around my site at Trek Kili