1. No category

Equipment List
Denali Mountaineering
Welcome to NOLS! We look forward to having you with us this summer in Alaska.
This list will help you decide what to bring with you to Alaska. The NOLS Alaska outfitting department can provide you with
all the equipment on this list other than those items designated “must bring” or “bring if you want.” We recommend that
you only bring gear that you already own. The actual gear needed for your course may vary slightly, depending on
instructor judgment, course location, season and recent weather.
Here are three options to help guide your gear purchasing process:
1)
Purchase or rent from us. We have a full retail store with experienced staff that can outfit you completely, tailoring
your options according to route, weather and time of year. You will get only the equipment you need with no extra
purchases.
2)
Already have items? Bring them along! Your instructors will inspect your gear and determine if it is suitable for your
course. If an item is not approved, you can leave it with your luggage in our storage lockers.
3)
Want to shop before your course begins? Browse the NOLS online store at http://www.nols.edu/store/home.php
Or you can find Preferred Retailers in your area at
http://www.nols.edu/about/partnerships/preferred_retailers.shtml
We recommend renting gear from NOLS rather than purchasing expensive gear specifically for your course. While
you do not have to rent gear from us, there are several reasons why we suggest it. Our rental gear is high quality, chosen and
maintained specifically for the use it receives on our courses. The rental prices are reasonable given the wear the equipment
receives. Also, if you plan to eventually purchase gear, you will have a better understanding of your future needs and
preferences after the course. Finally, even if your equipment is appropriate, it will receive lots of hard use. Students are often
surprised at the amount of wear put on their personal gear during a course. If you still wish to buy gear before your course,
please read our equipment descriptions carefully and contact us if you have any questions.
NOLS Alaska strives to find appropriate lightweight gear for our courses. If you purchase gear before arriving, you should
strongly consider the weight of each article. Every ounce counts towards the total weight of your pack. Do research, read
labels and ask questions. Have a lighter pack and a more enjoyable trip by bringing only necessary items while hiking.
In addition to your course tuition, you have been billed an equipment deposit, which will be applied to the charges you incur
for rental, cleaning, purchase of personal items and any loss or damage to our gear. Total charges will vary depending upon the
amount of equipment that you rent or purchase from us. Please note that rental prices in the table below cover the entire
course. Please use the worksheet provided on the final page of this list to estimate your equipment charges. Please note that
ALL PRICES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
If you have any questions, or if you would like more information regarding any of the items in the equipment list, please
contact our staff in Palmer at (907) 745-4047; or email [email protected]; or visit our web site at www.nols.edu
The availability of each item is indicated as follows:
Rental –the item can be rented from NOLS.
Purchase Only – the item can be purchased from NOLS.
Must Bring – the item is not available from NOLS, but is required.
Bring If You Want – the item in not available from NOLS and is optional for your course.
den.el.14 rev. 10/08/2013
© National Outdoor Leadership School
1
Upper Body Clothing
You need at least four insulating layers, a wind-proof layer and a rain layer. Make sure your layers fit comfortably over
each other. One layer must be a fleece or insulated jacket and one must be a hooded down parka.
Rental
Purchase
Check
Equipment
Quantity
Comments
Price
Price
List
Mid- or expedition-weight synthetic or
performance wool is best. Mid-weight only
Base Layer (Long
Purchase
constitutes half a layer while expedition$30-$110
1-2
Underwear Top)
Only
weight counts as a whole layer. (Examples:
Mountain Hardwear Extend, Patagonia
Capilene, Ibex wool, Icebreaker wool)
A vest can supplement other upper layers,
Fleece or Insulated
Bring If
Bring If
which is good for folks who get cold easily.
1
Vest
You Want You Want
(Examples: Patagonia Synchilla Vest,
Mountain Hardwear Mountain Tech Vest)
Light- to mid-weight fleece jacket that fits
Purchase
Fleece Jacket
$50
1
over your base layers. (Example: Mountain
Only
Hardwear Microchill)
A warm, synthetic-filled jacket that fits over
your base layers. (Examples: Mountain
Insulated Jacket
$30
$190
1
Hardwear Compressor, Patagonia Nano
Puff Hoody)
A down parka with a hood that fits
Hooded
comfortably over base layers and your
$40
$350
1
Insulated Parka
insulated jacket. (Example: Mountain
Hardwear Hunker Down Parka)
To wear on warm days. We strongly
Purchase
recommend lightweight a wool or polyester
Synthetic T-shirt
$60
1
Only
top (not cotton). We have Icebreaker wool
for sale with the NOLS AK logo.
Nylon wind shell, roomy enough to fit
Wind Shirt
$20
$65
1
comfortably over your base layers. Excellent
protection from bugs and bright sun.
Your rain parka should be roomy enough to
fit comfortably over all upper-body layers.
Rain Parka
$30
$195
1
Coated nylon or waterproof/breathable
parkas are acceptable.
Lower Body Clothing
You will need two to three lower-body insulating layers that should fit comfortably over each other and underneath your
wind or rain pants. Example combination: Expedition-weight long underwear + fleece pants.
Equipment
Base Layer (Long
Underwear)
Bottoms
Rental
Price
Purchase
Only
Purchase
Price
$30
den.el.14 rev. 10/08/2013
© National Outdoor Leadership School
Quantity
1-2 pair
Comments
Check
List
Mid- or expedition-weight synthetic or
performance wool is best. (Examples:
Mountain Hardwear Extend, Patagonia
Capilene, Ibex wool, Icebreaker wool).
Cotton and Duofold are unacceptable.
2
Lower Body Clothing (Continued)
Equipment
Rental
Price
Purchase
Price
Quantity
Insulated Pants
$20
$50-$180
1 pair
Snow/Rain Pants
$30
$175
1 pair
Wind Pants or Soft
Shell Pants
$20
$65-$75
1 pair
Comments
Check
List
Fleece or synthetic-filled pants that fit over
your base layers. (Examples: Sherpa Jaaro
Microfleece Pants, Mountain Hardwear
Compressor Pants)
We rent Gore-Tex Pro Shell rain pants.
We rent durable nylon shell wind pants.
(Example soft shell pants: Patagonia Alpine
Guide)
Miscellaneous Clothing
Purchase
Price
Quantity
Sun Hat or Baseball
Cap
Rental
Price
Purchase
Only
$20-$25
1
Fleece or Wool Hat
$8
$30
1
Balaclava or Fleece
Hood
Bring If
You Want
Bring If
You Want
1
Glove Liners
Purchase
Only
$10-$20
1 Pair
Fleece or Wool
Gloves
Purchase
Only
$15
1 pair
Underwear/Bra
Purchase
Only
$35-$40
2-3 Pairs of
Underwear;
1 Bra
Mitten Shells
$10
$45
1 pair
Insulated Overmitts
$15
$75-$90
1 pair
Buff
Purchase
Only
$25
1
Equipment
den.el.14 rev. 10/08/2013
© National Outdoor Leadership School
Comments
Check
List
Should be wide-brimmed to protect from
sun.
Any fleece hat that will fully cover your ears.
A wool ski hat is fine.
Offers almost total head protection and
insulation. Lightweight Capilene or silk is fine
when paired with a heavy fleece or wool hat.
Lightweight polypropylene gloves may be
layered with heavier gloves for warmth or
worn alone for sun protection.
Durable gloves made from fleece, Ragg wool
or mid-weight polypropylene.
Undergarments made from merino wool or
polypropylene wick moisture away from your
skin and are highly recommended.
Nylon shells to cover your mittens and/or
gloves. Gore-Tex is acceptable. Modular
glove and mitten systems work well and will
substitute as your mitten shells and one hand
layer.
Must fit comfortably over a pair of mittens. A
modular glove or mitten system may work
well. (Examples: OR Alti Gloves, Black
Diamond Mercury Mitts)
Synthetic polyester fabric tube. Use it as a
headband, neck gaiter, balaclava, cap, face
mask, wristband, or scrunchy.
3
Footwear
Equipment
Rental
Price
Purchase
Price
Quantity
Plastic Boots
$85
$350
1 pair
Hiking Socks
Purchase
Only
$15- $20
3-4 pairs
Insulated Booties
$15
$75
1 pair
Overboots
$25
$150
1 pair
Gaiters
Purchase
Only
$60
1 pair
Comments
Check
List
We do not recommend purchasing boots
before your course. If you already own plastic
mountaineering boots or can easily borrow
them, please bring them. We stock Asolo
AFS Evoluzione, Koflach Degree and Scarpa
Inverno plastic boots in Men’s size 5-16. If
you wear a larger size please let us know
immediately.
Must be 75% to 100% wool, merino wool,
heavy ragg type, or thick polypropylene. No
wool/cotton blends.
Polyester or down-filled insulated bootie.
Must fit inside your boot shell and so cannot
have a hard sole. We rent down filled booties.
(Example: 40 Below Camp Booties)
Insulated boot cover that fits over plastic
mountaineering boots. (Example: Forty
Below Purple Haze)
Full gaiters provide protection while in deep
show. Any gaiters with a double closure (both
zippers and snaps) or 2" Velcro are also
suitable. (Example: OR Verglas, Mountain
Hardwear Ascent Stretch Air Perm)
Sleeping Gear
Equipment
Rental
Price
Purchase
Price
Quantity
Sleeping Bag
$75
$610
1
Sleeping Pad
$5
$60-$100
1-2
Sleeping Bag
Stuff Sack
$8
$28-$35
1
den.el.14 rev. 10/08/2013
© National Outdoor Leadership School
Comments
Check
List
Synthetic- or down-filled bags are acceptable;
down is recommended. Your bag must have a
temperature rating of at least -20 degrees. We
rent 800-fill down bags with Gore Dryloft
shells rated to -25 degrees.
We rent closed-cell foam pads; however, we
recommend and sell ¾ length self-inflating
sleeping pads. We do not rent self-inflating
pads. (Example: Therm-a-rest Pro-Lite Small
or Regular) Many instructors recommend
bringing both a foam and a self-inflating pad.
A compression stuff sack makes your sleeping
smaller to pack (example: OR Ultralight
Compression Sack) A no-compression stuff
sack is fine too and weighs less (example:
Granite Gear Air Compressor Stuff Sack).
4
Packs & Bags
Equipment
Rental
Price
Purchase
Price
Quantity
Internal Frame Pack
$90
$300-$500
1
Small Stuff Sacks
$1-$4
$5-$15
1-2
Waterproof Bag
Liners
Purchase
Only
$0.75
2-3
Comments
Check
List
Internal frame backpack with a volume of 90
to 110 liters is ideal (6,000-7,000 cubic inches).
Used to organize items in your pack.
Lightweight drysacks are convenient (example:
eVent Sil DrySack). Non-waterproof are fine
too and they weigh less (example: Outdoor
Research Ultralight Stuff Sack).
Durable, sturdy, plastic trash compactor bags.
These can be found in most grocery stores.
Miscellaneous Items
Equipment
Bandana
Lighter
Eating Gear
Eyeglass Retainer
Lip Balm
Rental
Price
Purchase
Only
Purchase
Only
Purchase
Only
Purchase
Only
Purchase
Only
Purchase
Price
Quantity
$3
1-2
For multiple uses.
$1.50
1-2
Used to light stoves. Do not bring a zippo.
$5-$10
1 Bowl
1 Spoon
Tupperware type bowl, 1-2 pints, with a lid.
Lexan/plastic spoon.
$5-$10
1
Good brands are Chums and Croakies
$2.50
1
Stick or cream with sun protection.
Notebook and
Pen/Pencil
Purchase
Only
$6-$12
1 of each
Prescription Glasses
and Contact Lenses
Must
Bring
Must Bring
NA
Sport Sunscreen
Purchase
Only
$5-$7
1 tube or
bottle
Sunglasses
Purchase
Only
$60-$70
1 pair
Toilet Articles
Must
Bring
$2.50-$6
NA
Watch
Must
Bring
Must Bring
1
den.el.14 rev. 10/08/2013
© National Outdoor Leadership School
Comments
Check
List
A small spiral notebook is fine. Avoid
hardcover. We sell a durable notebook with
waterproof pages.
If you wear prescription glasses or lenses, you
should bring a spare set. Even if you wear
contact lenses daily, plan to carry a pair of
glasses into the field.
A tube or bottle of 2-4 oz. should be plenty.
A sun protection factor of 30 or greater is
necessary. A physical sun block such as zinc
oxide is strongly recommended for people
who burn easily.
Durable with 100% UV protection. “Glacier
glasses” are not required. If you wear
prescription lenses, bring your own
prescription sunglasses or look for a quality
pair of clip-on shades. We sell Optic Nerve.
(Other good brands: Julbo, Native)
Toothbrush, toothpaste, comb/brush,
moisturizer, prescription meds, tampons.
Sample sizes of 2 oz are preferable. No
deodorant or excessive items. We have basic
toiletries available for sale in case you forget
something at home.
Bring a waterproof watch with an alarm even
if you do not normally wear one.
5
Miscellaneous Items (Continued)
Equipment
Rental
Price
Purchase
Price
Quantity
Water Bottle or
Water Bladder
Purchase
Only
$10-$25
1-2
Goggles
Purchase
Only
$90
1 Pair
Comments
Check
List
Wide-mouth quart- or liter-size. A
lightweight bladder system also works well.
We sell Platypus SoftBottle and Nalgenes.
Protection from wind, sun, and cold. 100%
UV protection.
Climbing Gear
PLEASE DO NOT PURCHASE ANY OF THESE ITEMS FOR YOUR COURSE. We have found that it works
best if everyone uses NOLS-issued climbing gear. If you have your own already, bring it to Alaska and your instructors will
examine it to see if it is suitable for use on the course.
Rental
Purchase
Check
Equipment
Quantity
Comments
Price
Price
List
Snowshoes
$25
$175
1 pair
We stock MSR snowshoes.
50 to 70 cm mountaineering ice axe suitable
Ice Axe
$15
$100-$120
1
for steep snow and ice climbing.
Purchase
Cordalette
$8
20 ft
This 6 mm cord is needed for your glacier rig.
Only
10- or 12-point crampons with horizontal
front points. Either strap-on or step-in types
Crampons
$15
$100-$140
1 pair
are fine. We rent Petzl Vasak Leverlock
crampons. (Other good brands: Grivel, Black
Diamond, Lowe and Chalet Moser)
A sit harness. If you have a high-quality
harness with adjustable leg loops, which you
Climbing Harness
$15
$100-$140
1
think might be appropriate, bring it along.
Your instructors will examine it and decide
whether it is adequate.
We do not allow the use of personal
No
Helmet
NA
1
helmets on our courses. We will provide
Charge
helmets at no extra cost.
Optional Items
Equipment
Camera
Book
Vitamins
Knife
Insect Repellent
Mosquito Headnet
Rental
Price
Bring If
You Want
Bring If
You Want
Bring if
You Want
Bring if
You Want
Purchase
Only
$5
Purchase
Price
Bring If
You Want
Bring If
You Want
Bring if
You Want
Bring if
You Want
Quantity
Comments
1
Digital cameras are great! See camera notes
below for some things to consider.
1
A small book for pleasure reading.
NA
Some folks prefer to supplement their diet
with a multi-vitamin.
1
A small pocketknife or multi-tool.
$6
1
A small bottle, 2-3 oz
$12
1
You can rent this if bugs will be a problem
on your course.
den.el.14 rev. 10/08/2013
© National Outdoor Leadership School
Check
List
6
Equipment
Rental
Price
Optional Items (Continued)
Purchase
Quantity
Price
Trekking Poles
$8
$65-$80
1-2
Neoprene Face
Shield
Bring If
You Want
Bring If
You Want
1
Neoprene Nose
Guard
Bring If
You Want
Bring If
You Want
1
Compass
Bring if
You Want
Bring if
You Want
1
Boot Liners
Bring if
You Want
Bring if
You Want
1 pair
Comments
Check
List
Single or double telescoping poles with a
basket are best. We sell adjustable trekking
poles and rent heavy-duty ski poles.
Fits over your face to reduce skin exposure to
sun, wind, and cold.
Fits over your sunglasses frame to reduce
sunburn on your nose. Highly
Recommended.
We issue one compass per tent group.
However, if students bring their own more
map reading practice is possible for everyone.
This optional item makes plastic boots
warmer and more comfortable. Highly
recommended. (Example: Intuition Denali
Liner)
Shared Group Equipment—NOLS will supply
Expedition members share both the use of and the responsibility for the group gear that NOLS issues. NOLS charges only for
group equipment lost or damaged. Keep in mind that NOLS evaluates gear from a number of perspectives beyond those that
an individual user might consider. Performance, durability and simplicity are all contributing factors towards our gear selection.
Tents
Stoves, Fuel Bottles & Fuel
Bear Spray
Cooking Gear/Spice Kits
Carabiners/Slings
Snow Shovels
Compass
Maps
GPS
Avalanche Transceivers
Climbing Ropes
Avalanche Probes
Trowel or Shovel
Fishing Gear
Repair Kits
Soap and Hand Sanitizer
Climbing Hardware
Snow Saws
First Aid: Our instructors carry adequate first aid kits. There is no need to bring you own.
den.el.14 rev. 10/08/2013
© National Outdoor Leadership School
7