Kilimanjaro Gloves and Walking Poles

Mark Whitman

There are two types of gloves you should take on your Kilimanjaro trek – inner and outer gloves.

Like base layer clothing, inner gloves provide the next-to-skin insulation that is critical when trekking in cold temperatures (and it will get really cold on the upper reaches of Mount Kilimanjaro). See our guide on Kilimanjaro temperatures and weather.

Outer gloves are thicker, waterproof and provide the shell protection needed to prevent freezing hands.

In addition to gloves you will also need to take trekking poles.

Below we provide glove and trekking pole recommendations.

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Kilimanjaro Gloves

Inner Gloves

Under Armour Men's UA Armour® Liner 2.0 Gloves MD Black

In terms of inner gloves, you want to make sure to get a pair that has great wicking properties (synthetics, merino wool or even silk) are good.

Do not go for a cotton inner gloves as these will restrict moisture transfer. You should also make sure that the gloves provide a good thermal lining and are lightweight.

We like using trail running gloves like these. We also recommend New Balance Gloves.

Outer Gloves/Mitts

Cevapro Winter Gloves -30℉ Waterproof Thermal Gloves Men Women, Deerskin Suede 3M Insulated Gloves for Driving Running Hiking Skiing in Cold Weather

We cannot stress the importance of having good outer gloves or mitts. Your hands will be the first to start freezing on summit night. Cold hands are super debilitating and painful.

The perfect outer gloves provide warmth and are waterproof, without being cumbersome or too bulky. Essentially you want gloves that provide some dexterity, whilst also providing exceptional warmth, water resistance and durability.

Based on these criteria here are some recommend insulated gloves (Men's and Women's) - I specifically like insulated gloves from Outdoor Research or Black Diamond.

Trekking Poles

Trekking is one exercise that puts serious strain on your major leg joints and knees. This is particularly true on Kilimanjaro where the average trek length is 7 days, with 5-8 hours of hiking each day. Add in the rough terrain that undulates frequently and you can see why most people complain of sore legs.

The best way to reduce the impact of long-distance trekking on your knees and joints is by using trekking poles. In fact good trekking poles can reduce the impact on your knees by up to 25% – as assessed in a 1999 study by The Journal of Sports Medicine.

We recommend using trekking poles as a mandatory hiking accessory on Mount Kilimanjaro, as they offer better balance on trails and reduce stress on joints during ascents and descents

Key characteristics to look for in a pair of hiking poles are:

  • Weight: Medium-weight poles (~350 grams) tend to be better at enduring long and sustained treks across rough terrain as they are often more durable.
  • Adjustability: Good trekking poles should be fully adjustable. There are two main adjustable systems – lever-locking or twist-locking. We recommend lever-locking systems as they are easier to use, and more durable (despite being slightly heavier)
  • Grip: Pole grips are usually made from cork, rubber or foam. Cork is a good grip material and super durable, but not as good as rubber in terms of insulating warmth (which is a factor on Mount Kilimanjaro). Foam is the least durable type of grip but the best at wicking moisture away from the grip and hands. If we were pushed to recommend a grip type for Mount Kilimanjaro we would say rubber or form, for their warmth / wicking properties, but cork is still our overall favourite for its durability and lower susceptibility to chaffing the hands and causing blisters.
  • Material: The Pole itself is usually constructed from lightweight aluminium or carbon fibre (which is lighter than aluminium). We don’t have too much of a preference here, as long as the structure is sturdy and mid-weight.

Recommended Trekking Poles

Cascade Mountain Tech Trekking Poles - Carbon Fiber Walking or Hiking Sticks with Quick Adjustable Locks (Set of 2),Green

For a quality trekking pole that comes at an affordable price, we recommend the Cascade Trekking Poles. 

The Cascade poles come in two variations - Carbon Fiber and Aluminium). The former is lighter than the latter but a little more expensive. Both come with a quick-lock system and use a combined cork and EVA grip for superior durability.

Alternatively, if you have a larger budget then it’s worth checking out the Black Diamond trekking poles or the LEKI trekking poles.

REI often have some great deals too - see here.

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    1. We recommend any of the warm glove / mittens (up to -20 degrees) from brands like The North Face, Dakine, Eider or Black Diamond.

  1. I’m climbing Kili with my GF in September. We have merino thermals, merino long sleeves, 200 fleece and goretex shell jackets. Will we need a down jacket also? Or will that layering combo do? Cheers

    1. Hi Jordan, I would recommend taking a winter jacket as well. It doesn’t need to be down, a good synthetic jacket will do the job just fine. All the best!

  2. Hello and thank you for this!
    Do you think the Mountain Hardwear Returnia Gloves would suffice for summit night, with inner wool gloves ?

  3. Hi,
    Would you recommend two walking poles? I usually use just one, as I like to have a hand free, but would consider getting a second pole, if it would make a significant difference.
    Thanks

    1. Hi Elizabeth, It is really up to you. Going up you will find that poles aren’t that necessary, or indeed one pole will be sufficient. But coming down it’s useful to have two as the scree can be pretty slippery and two poles provide added support. I would recommend taking two and you can always keep one folded up and attached to your daypack if you don’t need it. All the best!

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