Several people have been asking what is possible to buy in Kathmandu. There is a minor manufacturing industry here now for outdoor equipment. Much is copied, using quality materials from China or Korea. Several companies make their own items for export. Famously Sherpa Adventure Gear is made in Kathmandu, so fine quality items are made here, if expensive.
On the cheaper side of this, a friend Uday has a small factory nearby and produces a range of equipment that certainly does the job at low cost. Is the quality as high as you can buy at home? Probably not, but it is not bad either – the down is of good quality, the fabrics are standard. I would not buy a waterproof jacket here, and sometimes fit can be an issue, and of course you’d have trouble taking it back to shop if you had problems 6 months on, but then you’ll just have to figure out how to use a needle and thread. Obviously you want to be well equipped for the race, but we’re not going to the moon. If you are about to invest in something you don’t see yourself using much in future, shopping around Thamel could be an option. And if that doesn’t work, then many international brands (Sherpa, Mountain Hardwear, North Face, Salewa etc) have stores here.
If you are looking for jackets in quantity, try Raiko here.
Some further cost guidelines. Rs 1000 is very roughly US$10 dollars
- Sheet sleeping bag– always useful for keeping the sleeping bag clean and as your own sheet in hot, less sanitary places as a clean bed sheet:
- Silk – Rs 1800 (XL 2000)
- Cotton / silk mix – 750
- Cotton – Rs 500 (XL 600)
- Fleece – Rs 950 (XL 1100)
- Space blanket – Rs 500 / 600
- Windproof gloves – Rs 350 to 1200
- Compression sack – Rs 350
- Iodine tablets – Rs 600 makes 50 litres