On this page, you will find our suggested general equipment lists for summer, fall and overnight mountaineering. Please see the individual course page for your course’s specific gear requirements, as some specialty courses may require additional equipment. If you own mountaineering equipment, feel free to bring it so you can practice with your gear. Please see below for UMA-provided gear and equipment available for rent.
Summer, Fall & Overnight Mountaineering Gear Lists
- Non-cotton top and bottom base layers
- Light puffy overcoat and or other insulation layer (fleece, synthetic or down)
- Comfortable and flexible pants (no jeans) and top
- Waterproof/windproof outer shell jacket
- Light rain pants (optional)
- Leather gloves (lightweight)
- Baseball cap
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- 2 liters of water (water bag/bladder recommended)
- Lunch and quick energy snacks
- Approach shoes, rock climbing shoes, hiking boots (discuss footwear with your guide)
- Collapsible trekking pole(s) (optional)
- Backpack (25-40 liters)
- Small 2nd pack recommended for Olympus and other multi-pitch routes
- Harness
- Belay/rappel device
- Helmet
- Comfortable and flexible pants (no jeans) and top
- Waterproof/windproof jacket and pants
- Light puffy or fleece jacket
- Wool socks (1 pair for each day)
- Fleece gloves and a warm hat
- Sun hat or baseball cap
- Sunglasses
- Sunscreen
- Sticky rubber approach shoes, hiking boots, rock climbing shoes (discuss footwear with your guide)
- Collapsable trekking poles
- Helmet
- Harness (if needed for objective)
- Locking carabiner and belay device (if needed for objective)
- Backpack (55-70 liters)
- Small water bag backpack (depending on objective)
- Inflatable sleeping pad
- Sleeping bag (20°F or warmer)
- Mug, bowl and spoon
- Toiletries
- 2 liters of water
- Water filter
- Lunches, snacks and drink mixes
Books
Mountaineering: The Freedom of the Hills by The Mountaineers
Utah Mountaineering Guide by Michael R. Kelsey
Maps
Hiking The Wasatch: The Official Wasatch Mountain Club Trail Map for Tri-County Area by the Wasatch Mountain Club & University of Utah Press
Local Gear Rentals & Retailers
Salt Lake City is a mecca for the latest and greatest, with access to top-notch gearheads. While we prefer UMA’s rental gear for certain circumstances that benefit traveling guests, we encourage guests to demo or rent from local retailers because there are so many great options to try out, and everybody’s gear preferences vary. We recommend connecting with local gearheads at Backcountry.com, Black Diamond Retail, Wasatch Touring, IME Utah or REI to learn about your rental or buying options.
UMA-Provided Gear & Rentals
NOTE: UMA DOES NOT rent boots. We highly recommend renting or purchasing boots elsewhere (see local rental locations).
If you need to borrow or rent gear from UMA, please reserve it through your account in the UMA portal.
To borrow or rent from UMA, log in to your account and navigate to “Trips”, then select the specific trip and choose the items you need. Please indicate the size, if suggested, and be sure to save your entries.
Your guide will deliver and adjust your UMA rental gear for you on the morning of the trip. All guides conduct a gear check at the trailhead or meeting place to ensure everyone has what they need. Please arrive prepared with everything on the gear list. Guests are expected to provide their own lunches, water and snacks.
SAFETY & BELAY DEVICES
First things first: safety equipment. UMA can provide a harness, helmet, belay device and large carabiner at no charge.
Harness: Black Diamond Vario Speed or Singing Rock Harness
Helmet: Black Diamond Half Dome
Belay Device & Large Carabiner: Black Diamond ATC
NO CHARGE
Rock Climbing Shoes
UMA loans rock climbing shoes. Our fleet includes a variety of models.
When indicating your size, please specify youth, women’s or men’s size.
Shoes:
Black Diamond Momentum Climbing Shoes
Black Diamond Momentum Women’s Lace Climbing Shoes
Black Diamond Kid’s Momentum Shoes
NO CHARGE
Day Pack & Trekking Poles
UMA loans backpacks if you don’t have your own.
Pack: Patagonia Snowdrifter (30L) & BCA Stash Pack (20L)
Trekking Poles
We recommend using trekking poles if appropriate; they alleviate knee pain on non-technical descents.
No Charge
Utah Mountain Adventures Proudly Partners With
