Renting Gear in Kathmandu 2026: What to Rent, Where & How Much It Costs

Walk into Thamel any morning during trekking season and you will hear the same sound from every doorway: the soft compression hiss of a rental down jacket being stuffed back into its sack. Kathmandu's gear district is one of the best-value outfitting hubs in the world, and for most trekkers, renting the bulky, expensive items here makes far more sense than hauling everything from home or buying it new.

Many trekking agencies in Kathmandu regularly assist clients with gear rentals, and we have tracked the prices, the quality traps, and the deposit games shop by shop. This guide breaks down exactly what to rent, what to buy, where to go, and what it should cost in 2026.

Where to Rent Gear in Kathmandu

The vast majority of trekking gear rentals happen in Thamel, Kathmandu's tourist core, with a dense cluster of shops along Jyatha and the lanes around the Kathmandu Guest House. A smaller secondary hub exists in Pokhara for Annapurna-bound trekkers. Rentals are cash-based and almost always require a refundable deposit.

Thamel is compact enough to compare five or six shops on foot in under an hour. Prices are negotiable, especially for multi-item, multi-day rentals. We always advise clients to bundle their down jacket, sleeping bag, and trekking poles in one shop to win a better daily rate.

If your trek runs through the Annapurna region, you can also rent in Pokhara before heading to the trailhead. Read our guide to Pokhara to plan that side of the trip.

What You Should Rent vs Buy in 2026

Rent the bulky, expensive, infrequently used items: down jackets, four-season sleeping bags, down booties, and crampons. Buy anything that touches your skin or must fit perfectly: boots, socks, base layers, and a hat. This split saves money without compromising comfort or hygiene on the trail.

The logic is simple. A high-quality down jacket might cost hundreds of dollars to buy but rents for NPR 100 to 200 per day. If you only trek once or twice, renting wins clearly. But blistered feet from rented boots can end a trek, so personal-fit items are non-negotiable purchases.

Best Items to Rent

• Down jacket (rated for cold, often brand copies)
• Sleeping bag rated -15C to -20C for high-altitude treks
• Trekking poles (collapsible aluminium pairs)
• Down booties and sleeping bag liners
• Crampons and ice axe for winter treks or snow-covered passes such as parts of the Three Passes Trek.
• Duffel bags for porter loads

Items You Should Always Buy

• Trekking boots (break them in before Nepal)
• Wool hiking socks and liner socks
• Base layers and underwear
• Reusable water bottle and purification system
• Sun hat, buff, and quality sunglasses (UV at altitude is intense)

For a full breakdown of what to pack, see our complete trek packing list.

2026 Kathmandu Gear Rental Prices

Rental rates in Thamel are charged per item, per day, with a refundable deposit held in cash or via a passport photocopy. As of 2026, expect down jackets and sleeping bags at roughly NPR 100 to 200 per day each. Deposits vary widely by shop and item. Some shops accept only a passport photocopy, while others request refundable deposits ranging from NPR 2,000 to 10,000.

The table below reflects realistic ranges our team sees across reputable Thamel shops. Prices fluctuate with season and demand, so treat these as a planning baseline and confirm live rates in person.