Planning to Work from the Mountains? Pack these 17 Must Have Items
Work from Home in the Mountains – The Ultimate Packing List
With Work from Home having become the new normal, ever since the Pandemic stuck our lives back in 2020, if you too are looking to temporary shift your base to a quaint location in the Himalayas, such as Bir-Billing (one of the most promising Digital Nomad hotspot in India), or simply take a month long Workcation (A Major Post Pandemic Travel Trend) in the Himalayas, then this article is for you !
I have managed to list down 17 such items, that you should definitely keep in mind, when packing for your Work from Home stint, in Himalayas.
Backpack
Yes, you can always carry a suitcase, but when it comes to travelling to the mountains, it’s more convenient to have a backpack on you, instead of a suitcase.
And Backpacks come in all shapes and sizes, so make sure to get one that suits all your needs.
If you are travelling for 7 – 10 days, the 35 – 40L should do, however if you are travelling for 2-3 weeks, then its recommended to have a 50 – 55L one. If it’s more than 3 weeks of travel time, then the 60-70L is what you need.
However, from personal experience, I found a combo of a 35-50 L backpack and a 20 – 30 L backpack that doubles as a daypack too, to be the most convenient option.
PS – If you are looking for a multipurpose rucksack, something that can be the perfect partner for your hikes and treks in the Himalayas, then look out for those that are designed to hold a tent, a yoga mat, a trekking pole and other hiking gear, like the one I use, as can be seen in the picture below.
Sunglasses / Shades
Having sunglasses or shades is less of a style statement, more of a health requirement in the mountains. Glares / Shades protects your eyes from direct exposure to UV Rays especially in the winters, when the glare from the sun bounces off from the snow.
PS – Order your new pair of UV Sunglasses from Lenskart.com using the SimplyCLICK SBI Credit Card and get 10x Reward Points.
Electronics
If you are planning to Work from Home in the Himalayas, don’t forget to pack your laptop, a portable power bank, a spare set of cables, a portable hard drive (to keep all your photos and important data backed up), your camera and/or GoPro (am sure, there’ll be plenty of amazing scenes that you’ll want to capture), a WiFi Dongle (after all the work shouldn’t get disrupted), and a multi-point extension board – which I’ve found to be extremely handy specially in the mountains.
Don’t forget to check out these 10 Best Cameras for Backpacking, that’ll turn out to be an asset while you Work from Mountains.
PS – Try to keep electronic items like the chargers and cables, batteries and power banks in zip lock bags. Doing this, not only protects them from accidental water damage, but also keeps your electronics organized.
Thermals
It goes without saying that you should pack a good quality pair of thermals with you. It shouldn’t be too body hugging, but at the same time, shouldn’t be too loose either. The material should be able to breathe easily.
Fleece
Rather than packing bulky hoodies and woolens, a fleece is what you should be taking to the mountains, especially when you have constraints of space and weight.
The best part about a fleece is that it’s lightweight, warm and can be easily rolled up. It saves a ton of space and is as warm as any other hoodie or sweater.
Down Jacket
In the mountains, it’s all about wearing clothes in layers. And the topmost layer is the down jacket, something that can be easily taken off and put on.
A Down Jacket is essentially a quilted, padded jacket filled with down feathers, which is used to insulate an outer layer made up of some synthetic fiber such as nylon or polyester.
These down jackets are lightweight and can be rolled up to save space as well.
PS – A rolled up down jacket, also makes for a comfy makeshift pillow, if you plan to sleep in a tent for the night.
Poncho / Raincoat
A good quality Poncho or a raincoat is definitely worth having on you, in the mountains. It’s compact, lightweight and extremely handy as the rains can come anytime unannounced.
Multipurpose Cargo Pants
I have seen plenty of people wear Jeans while travelling to the Himalayas, but I find cargo pants to be far more comfortable and convenient, specially in the mountains.
Waterproof ankle support shoes
Ankle support shoes are a must, especially in mountains, as the terrain can be a bit uneven at times. The ankle support reduces the chances of you twisting your ankle while hiking in the mountains.
If the shoes are waterproof, it’s even better, as at times you may have to cross some water streams while hiking, and these shoes might just keep your feet dry.
Warm Socks
When travelling to the Mountains, it’s recommended to have at least 3-4 pairs of socks.
If it gets too cold, you can simply put 2 pairs of socks on.(It worked for me during my Chadar Trek experience in Jan 2020)
Re-fillable Water Bottle
This is like a no brainer. If you must travel, you have to be a responsible traveller. And having a re-fillable and re-usable water bottle is the least you can do, to not contribute to the already existing waste management issues in the sensitive ecosystem of the Himalayas.
Tent and Sleeping Bag
If you are planning on going on some hikes and treks, then you might need a tent and a sleeping bag.
PS – Most of the time these can be rented out locally, but if you know you are going to be using it more than once or twice, that owning a tent and a sleeping bag makes sense.
I own a Quechua Arpenaz 2 tent and have had it for more than 4 years now. Have used it a couple of times, so definitely worth the investment.
I also have a Quechua Forclaz Light 15 sleeping bag, and it’s one of the most compact ones you can get. Also, it’s hardly 740 gms in weight, so carrying it is never a hassle. Which is why, I always have it on me whenever I am headed to the Mountains, and it has come to the rescue, when I least expected it.
Quick Dry Towel
A Quick Dry Towel is something that every traveller should have, no matter where they are going. It’s lightweight, extremely compact and very convenient. As the name suggests, it dries off quickly, which makes it very handy to use it on the go.
Swiss Knife
There are plenty of swiss knives available these days, in different shapes and sizes but get the one that meets your requirements.
Headlamp
Yes, you can always use the torch on your mobile phone, but there might be times when it’s not practical to hold the mobile and walk, such as hiking in the dark. A headlamp comes in very handy, as it’s totally hands free.
First Aid Kit
Having few essential medicines, such as a pain relief ointment, medicines for headache, fever, common cold, and specially some medicines for motion sickness and altitude sickness; in a zip lock bag, is something that everyone who plans to travel to the Himalayas, should have with them.
PS – Order your medicines from Netmeds.com using the SimplyCLICK SBI Card and get 10x Reward Points.
Toiletries
Last but not the least, don’t forget to pack your toiletries, including a Toilet Roll (It comes in handy for a lot of purposes).
PS – Avoid taking any single use sachets of shampoos, rather pack small refillable bottles.
The best part?
Most of these items can be ordered online from the comforts of your home from Amazon.in
That’s what I did!
I made all the payments using my SimplyCLICK SBI Card and in the process earned 10x Reward Points, which is one of the USP of this credit card. You also get 10x Reward Points on online spends at BookMyShow, Cleartrip and Urban Company as well, and 5x Reward Points on all other online spends.
In case you are interested to know more about other credit cards offered by SBI Card such as SimplySAVE SBI Card, SBI Card ELITE & others, click here.
Well, I hope this checklist works out handy for you in case you are deciding to shift to the mountains for some time & work from there. Don’t forget to Pin the image below !
Safe Travels!
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Haven’t thought of working from mountains. Earlier it wasn’t needed since I used to visit mountains so that I could come out of the corporate life. But now things have changed.
Nicely written blogpost.
Hey Arnav… your area man of experience and every item on the list spoke of that… bookmarking the article to cross check the things i pack when travelling next.
Thank you so much Nidhi !
Well-compiled post about travelling gears. Everything mentioned here is very much needed and without any of them work from home might not much easy for long term purpose.
This is a complete update on how one should travel to the mountains.
Very elaborate and helpful.
Apart from every other item, adding fleece, a poncho and headlamp perhaps is very important. Thanks for the information. I wish I could be able to go in the mountains and work but that’s just a dream.
TBH, its not that difficult, as it’s pretty easy to work on the go in Manali. The internet is pretty good.
I have all of these….all i need is a mountain to work from! Nice read and very comprehensive.thanks for sharing
Backpacking and travelling during Corona times is a courageous act. It’s good to be positive and brave. Actually, I too want to travel now. It’s been so long.
Well as long as one takes all precautions, is mindful of the surroundings, travelling is pretty safe these days.
Whether you are going for hike or climbing Mount Everest, these are essential items you should have. What a great informational checklist. I am bookmarking this post for future reference. Thanks for sharing the useful article.
Well-compiled piece. I fully agree for mountains we need waterprood padded socks which can provide padding to the ankles. This often helps in preventing injuries. I liked all the suggestions.