Let’s be real. You are not going to feel fresh on the Everest Base Camp trek. Showers are rare, water is icy, and every gram in your backpack counts. But that doesn’t mean you have to fully surrender to the funk.
We went deep into hiker forums, gear lists, and real trekkers’ stories to find out what hygiene products are worth their weight on the trail — and what you’ll wish you’d packed when your nose won’t stop running or your scalp turns into a biology experiment.
Spoiler: If you’re the type who brings a full-size hairdryer to a camping trip… you’re going to need a reality check. Let’s dive in.
The Absolute Essentials
These are your baseline. Don’t even think about trekking without them.
1. Toothpaste and Toothbrush
Self-explanatory. If you’re looking to save space, try toothpaste tablets. No water needed to brush and no chance of exploding tubes at altitude.
2. Toilet Paper
Yes, you can buy it along the trail, but you’ll pay 10x the price and it’ll feel like wiping with tracing paper. Pack your own. Two rolls is a solid start.
3. Wet Wipes or Compressed Towels
Body wipes or no-rinse shower wipes are lifesavers between showers. If you’re eco-conscious (and you should be), go for compressed wipes that expand with water. Lighter, cleaner, less waste. Bonus: they double as emergency TP.
4. Hand Sanitizer
Tea house bathrooms rarely have soap. Keep a small bottle of sanitizer in your pocket or day bag — your stomach will thank you.
5. Sunscreen and Lip Balm
The sun at altitude is unforgiving. You’ll need:
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SPF 50+ for face and body
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Lip balm with SPF (buy two, you’ll lose one)
What You’ll Be Glad You Brought
1. Moisturizer (Face + Hands)
Your skin will dry out like a raisin in a desert sauna. A small bottle of good face cream goes a long way, especially around lips, nose, and hands.
2. Deodorant (Roll-on or Crystal)
Most people go a few days between wipe-downs. Having a small roll-on or crystal stick keeps things less offensive — for you and everyone sharing your tea house room.
3. Pocket Soap or All-in-One Bars
A Sea to Summit pocket soap or all-in-one bar works for your face, body, and even your socks. Great if you actually get brave enough for a bucket shower.
4. Hair Care
Dry shampoo was a hit for some, but one trekker had the genius idea of getting her hair braided before the trek and said it stayed clean the whole time. If your hair is longer, a small brush and a few hair ties are a must.
5. A Small Towel or Collapsible Bowl
A travel towel is useful for the occasional shower, but the real pro tip? One trekker brought a foldable dog bowl to mix hot water and wash in-room. Genius.
For the Ladies
Some essentials that came up again and again:
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Toilet wipes (gentler and smaller than baby wipes)
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Menstrual products — Plan ahead with cups, pads, or tampons. Disposal options are limited, so be ready to pack it out.
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Mini razor, if you care, though most didn’t bother
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Small mirror, especially handy when wiping with your eyes closed at 2 am
Don’t Bother With…
Full-size products. They’ll weigh you down and won’t get used.
Wet wipes you’ll toss on the trail. Unless you’re 100% sure you’re packing them out or handing them to a porter to burn (which still smells awful), skip them or go with a more eco option.
Fancy scented stuff. You won’t smell it after day three, and if you do, it might just attract flies.
Trail Wisdom from the Pros
“Toothpaste. That was all. I did not wash until I got back to Kathmandu.”
“Toilet training toddler wipes. Best thing I brought.”
“I cut a bar of soap in half… wish I’d just taken a quarter.”
“Baby wipes. Two packets. Dry shampoo. Tiny deodorant. All the SPF. And don’t forget your hair ties.”
Final Thoughts
You won’t feel clean. You won’t smell clean. And honestly, that’s part of the adventure. But bringing the right hygiene products can make the difference between roughing it and suffering unnecessarily.
Pack smart. Be eco-aware. And for the love of the Himalayas, don’t leave your wipes behind.
Got your own weird but wonderful hygiene hack from the trail? Drop it in the comments. We’re always collecting tips that help keep EBC funky-free.
