Complete Pico de Orizaba packing list: what to pack for climbing Mexico’s highest volcano

sports bra/shirt + underwear

I’m not going to tell you what undergarments to pack, but just consider you’ll need something to layer under your climbing ensemble.

wool base layer: Smartwool Classic Thermal Base Layer Top (women’s) / (men’s)

This was my first layer for summit day, and it worked well under my fleece + insulation. It’s warm, breathable, and resists odour even after a tough climb.

lightweight fleece mid-layer: Arc’teryx Rho LT Hoody (women’s) / (men’s)

I wore this second layer from hut to summit and back. It was just warm enough to retain heat while climbing, and the built-in face panel and balaclava-style hood were great for extra coverage under a helmet.

synthetic insulation: Arc’teryx Atom Hoody (women’s) / (men’s)

This was my third layer and stayed on for the entire climb. It adds warmth without overheating and breathes well on the move, making it critical for high-output effort in the cold.

mid-weight down jacket: Arc’teryx Cerium Hoody (women’s) / (men’s)

I wore this as my outermost layer from the hut to the base of the glacier, and it felt warm enough while we were still sheltered from the wind— as soon as we reached the open glacier, I was freezing. The Cerium worked well as an inner down layer, but it’s not enough alone for the summit climb, so plan to pair it with something heavier above.

heavyweight down jacket: Arc’teryx Thorium Hoody (women’s) / (men’s)

I added this over my Cerium as soon as we hit the windy glacier, so this layer is 100% essential. It served as my outermost insulation for the summit push, but in the winds we had (40km/hr), it was absolutely not enough. Ideally, I would have had a shell overtop!

shell jacket: Arc’teryx Beta SL Jacket (women’s) / (men’s)

I brought this for wind and weather protection, but didn’t end up wearing it on the glacier because it wasn’t big enough to fit over both of my down jackets without compressing the insulation— once you compress down, it loses warmth fast. If you want to use a shell on summit day (which is a smart move in bad weather), make sure it’s sized to layer comfortably over your full insulation system.

wool base layer bottoms: Arc’teryx Satoro Merino Wool Bottoms (women’s) / (men’s)

These were my next-to-skin layer on summit day—soft, warm, and breathable. They handled sweat well and never got clammy, even under multiple insulation layers.

fleece mid-layer bottoms: Arc’teryx Kyanite Base Layer Bottoms (women’s) / (men’s)

I wore these over my merino base, and they made a huge difference in warmth, especially as we climbed higher. These are absolutely essential for cold summit days like Pico.

soft shell pants: Arc’teryx Gamma Pants (women’s) / (men’s)

This was my outermost layer for the climb, and they handled the rocky moraine and glacier slopes well enough— but as the wind speed approached 40km/hr, they just weren’t enough on their own. I’d absolutely recommend adding a hard shell layer on top (below).

hard shell pants: Arc’teryx Beta Pants (women’s) / (men’s)

The wind on the glacier was brutal and a pair of hardshell pants over my soft shells would’ve added critical protection and helped trap warmth. Next time, this would 100% be part of my summit kit.

glacier glasses: Julbo Vermont

At over 5,600m, the combination of thin atmosphere and reflective snow means you’re exposed to extreme UV radiation, even on cloudy days. Glacier glasses are specifically designed with dark, full-coverage lenses and side shields to block light from all angles, unlike regular sunglasses. I wore mine from sunrise through descent, and they were essential for protecting against snow blindness, eye fatigue, and wind exposure on the upper glacier.

2x neck gaiters: Buff Original + Buff Polar

I wore both my Original Buff + Polar Buff for summit day— the thicker fleece version offered solid insulation and wind protection on my neck and face.

balaclava: Seirus Ultra Clava

On Pico, I wore a Buff as a balaclava and it basically froze to my face— the moisture from my breath instantly turned to ice, and it made breathing harder while offering minimal warmth.

I upgraded to this Ultra Clava for Aconcagua and it was a total game-changer! The built-in breathing vents kept my face warm and dry, without fogging up my glacier glasses or restricting airflow, so for Pico’s windy, freezing summit push, this is essential!

beanie: Arc’teryx Mallow Toque

Wore this under my helmet from hut to summit— warm, low-profile, and stayed put even layered with a hood and balaclava.

insulated mittens: Black Diamond Super Light Mitts

I didn’t have these yet on Pico— just leather mountaineering gloves— and I couldn’t feel my fingers by the time we hit the upper glacier, which made handling gear really difficult (and frankly unsafe). I’d absolutely recommend insulated mitts to keep your hands functional and frostbite-free in the brutal pre-dawn cold.

liner socks: REI Co-op Silk Liner Crew Socks

I wore these under my expedition socks for blister prevention and moisture wicking. They made layering more comfortable and helped with temperature regulation.

expedition socks: REI Co-op Merino Wool Expedition Hiking Crew Socks

Summit day calls for extra-thick, ultra-warm expedition socks designed for extreme climbing conditions.

high-elevation double boots (recommended to rent): La Sportiva G2 SM Double Boot

This was the weakest point in my entire gear system— I didn’t have proper insulated double boots, and my feet were freezing in my lightweight mountaineering boots. Pico is a serious glacier climb, and you’ll be on snow and ice for hours in extreme cold, so rent proper double boots (G2 SM or similar) for summit day!

daypack (25–35L): Osprey Tempest 30 (women’s) / Osprey Talon 33 (men’s)

This was the perfect size for summit day— plenty of space for layers, snacks, water, safety gear, and crampons, without being bulky or heavy. Look for a close-fitting pack with external attachment loops for your ice axe.

helmet: Black Diamond Half Dome Helmet (women’s) / (men’s)

Between rockfall risk on the approach and ice chunks kicked loose on the glacier, I wore this from the hut to the summit and back. Lightweight, adjustable, and comfortable with a beanie underneath.

ice axe: Black Diamond Raven Ice Axe

I used this from the glacier toe to the crater rim— the slope angle steepens significantly as you approach the upper mountain, so an axe is your primary tool for balance and self-arrest. Make sure you know how to use it!

harness: Black Diamond Couloir Harness

Lightweight, compact, and easy to wear over bulky layers and boots. I wore this on summit day as part of our glacier travel setup, clipped into the rope + with glacier prusiks. Definitely necessary if you’re roped up, but if you’re climbing with a guide, they may provide this for you.

glacier rope: Black Diamond 8.9mm Dry Rope (40m)

We climbed as a 3-person rope team, and a 40m dry-treated rope gave us enough spacing for crevasse fall protection while staying light. If you’re climbing with a guide, they’ll likely handle this— but for independent groups, it’s essential glacier gear.

crampons: Black Diamond Contact Strap Crampons with ABS Plates

Steel crampons are far more durable than aluminium, offer better grip on ice, and are much safer for mixed snow/rock terrain, which you may encounter depending on the season. And don’t forget: ABS plates are non-negotiable— they prevent snow from balling underfoot, which can turn your crampons into ice skates on the descent.

gaiters: Outdoor Research Expedition Crocodile Gaiters

Gaiters helped keep snow out of my boots and protected my soft shells from crampon spikes— not 100% essential, but definitely a nice add to improve warmth on the climb!

trekking poles: Black Diamond Trail Trekking Poles

I used both poles on the approach to the glacier, then stashed one and used the other with my ice axe on the glacier itself. Helpful for balance, pacing, and saving energy during the initial climb and long way down.

PLB/SOS: Garmin InReach Mini 2

A Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) is your lifeline in the outdoors and it is essential for EVERY SINGLE SUMMIT. I carry a Garmin InReach Mini 2, which allows me to send messages, get weather updates, track location, and place an SOS call in an emergency, even without phone service. It does require a subscription (starting at $12/month), but it’s worth every cent and has literally saved both of my parents’ lives in the backcountry!

GPS: CalTopo app on mobile

The absolute best GPS resource is the smartphone you already own, paired with a reliable, low-cost GPS mapping app that allows you to access detailed offline Topo maps and navigate via GPS satellites, even without mobile service.

My go-to is CalTopo, which costs just $20/year and is by far the most feature-rich, affordable, and accurate mapping tool out there.

First Aid Kit: Adventure Medical Ultralight .5

The climb may be short, but altitude and exposure make even small injuries feel serious fast. I carried a compact kit with essentials for blisters, GI distress, altitude headaches, and any cuts or scrapes from rocky terrain near high camp.

headlamp: Black Diamond Spot 400-R

Essential for cooking in the hut and safely navigating the steep glacier ascent— we left Refugio Piedra Grande at 1am and climbed nearly 5hrs in the dark before the sun finally hit the glacier. I highly recommend a rechargeable headlamp with at least 300 lumens to light the way up Orizaba’s icy slopes and avoid missteps in the dark.

powerbank: VRURC Portable Charger with Built-in Cables, 10000mAh

On a short, intense climb like Orizaba, you don’t need much— but you do need something. I relied on my phone for GPS and my headlamp for nearly 5 hours of climbing in the dark, so having power was non-negotiable. I carried a 10,000mAh powerbank, which covered the essentials for this fast push.

👉🏼 Want to see how we capture photos and videos on our adventures? Peak inside our camera bag!

sleeping bag: Sea to Summit Spark 0

Even though you’re sleeping inside a hut, there’s no bedding provided, so you’ll need to pack a warm sleeping bag.

sleeping pad: Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite NXT Sleeping Pad

Choose something comfortable, those wooden planks can be unforgiving! I love the short version of this cushy yet compact sleeping pad and use it on all of my adventures.

camp pillow: Sea to Summit Aeros Premium

This pillow packs down smaller than a fist and makes sleeping on wooden bunks feel positively luxurious.

hut shoes: Mountain Hardwear Down Bootie

Remove your boots indoors as a courtesy to other climbers and bring a pair of lightweight shoes or sandals to wear around the hut— think Crocs, slides, or down booties.

toiletries

Toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, deodorant, medications, contact solution… whatever you need to stay clean and comfortable overnight!

camp stove (+ fuel): Jetboil Zip

The best quick and dirty way to boil water in the hut for dinner and maybe a hot beverage in the morning. Remember that you also need to bring all of your own cooking water to the hut!

cup + spoon: Frontier Ultralight Collapsible Cup + Toaks Titanium Long Handle Spoon

Plan to bring your own bowl and cup to enjoy dinner and hot drinks in the hut. 

2x water bottles: Nalgene Wide Mouth

Depending on your own water consumption, pack 2-4L of water in large bottles for the climb. Even with an insulated hose, your bladder WILL freeze, so it’s not a good choice for this climb! 

To keep the water in your bottles from freezing completely (they will freeze a bit no matter what), store them inside your pack wrapped in wool socks or other warm layers OR in an insulated thermos that will not freeze.

insulated water bottle: Hydro Flask Wide-Mouth Vacuum Bottle 32oz

Your only access to drinkable (non-frozen) water during the coldest part of summit day is going to be from an insulated bottle— this is SUPER important, do not expect any sock liner or upside-down storage trick to keep even a trickle of liquid water in a bottle at these temps!

electrolytes

Altitude, sun exposure, and sweat can lead to dehydration fast, so add electrolytes to the water that you’re drinking on summit day.

Best overall: Liquid IV

freeze-dried meals + snacks

Boil-only meals are the name of the game for easy dinner prep at the hut!

Favourite brands: Peak Refuel; Packit Gourmet; Backpacker’s Pantry; Real Turmat (European brand)

👉🏼 Check out this post for a breakdown on how we pack backcountry food for multi-day mountaineering trips