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The Gear Question — Bring or Buy?
If you’re planning trekking in China, you face a strategic decision: bring everything from home, buy it all in China, or find the optimal split. The answer depends on where you’re trekking, your budget, and whether you have access to China’s excellent and affordable outdoor gear market before your trek begins.
The good news: China manufactures most of the world’s outdoor gear, and domestic prices are often 30-50% lower than Western retail prices. The better news: Chinese outdoor brands have improved dramatically in quality and now offer genuinely competitive products at remarkable prices.
The challenge: sizing can be different, quality varies, and finding specific technical gear in rural Chinese towns is difficult.
This guide gives you the definitive answer for every category of gear.
What to Bring from Home
Footwear — Non-Negotiable
Bring your hiking boots from home. This is the single most important piece of advice in this guide. Your boots need to be broken in before you arrive. Chinese boot sizing can be inconsistent, and the wrong boots on a multi-day trek will ruin your trip.
What to bring:
- Hiking boots (broken in, waterproof, appropriate for your trek difficulty)
- Trail runners (for easier treks or rest days)
- Quality hiking socks (3+ pairs)
If you MUST buy boots in China: Major cities have Decathlon, which stocks European sizes and has consistent sizing. Prices ¥200-600 ($28-83 USD).
Technical Clothing
Bring from home:
- Waterproof shell jacket: Essential for unpredictable mountain weather. Chinese domestic brands have improved, but Western brands (Arc’teryx, Patagonia, Marmot) still lead in waterproofing technology.
- Down jacket: If you have a high-quality, lightweight down jacket, bring it. If not, China is actually a great place to buy one — Chinese down products are excellent value.
Can buy in China:
- Fleece mid-layers
- Base layers (merino wool available but expensive; synthetic much cheaper)
- Trekking pants and shorts
- Rain pants
Specialised Gear
Bring from home:
- Trekking backpack (50-65L): Fit and comfort are critical. Bring your own, properly fitted.
- Sleeping bag: If you need a specific temperature rating. Chinese sleeping bags are available but quality varies.
- Trekking poles: If you’re particular about your poles. Otherwise, Decathlon sells adequate poles for ¥100-200.
What to Buy in China
Decathlon — The Treasure Chest
Decathlon (迪卡侬) is a French sporting goods retailer with over 300 stores across China. It’s the single best resource for foreign trekkers needing gear in China.
What Decathlon is great for:
- Trekking pants: ¥80-200 ($11-28 USD)
- Fleece jackets: ¥60-150 ($8.30-21 USD)
- Base layers: ¥50-120 ($7-17 USD)
- Trekking poles: ¥80-200 ($11-28 USD)
- Water bottles and hydration: ¥20-80 ($2.80-11 USD)
- Headlamps: ¥30-100 ($4.20-14 USD)
- Rain covers for backpacks: ¥30-60 ($4.20-8.30 USD)
- Gaiters: ¥40-80 ($5.50-11 USD)
- Trekking socks: ¥15-40 ($2.10-5.50 USD) per pair
Locations: Every major Chinese city. Stores are large, well-organised, and have English-speaking staff in tourist areas.
Sizes: Decathlon in China stocks Asian and European sizing. Larger sizes (European L-XL) may be limited in smaller stores.
Chinese Outdoor Brands — Worth Considering
Kailas (凯乐石): China’s premium outdoor brand. Legitimate technical gear — rock climbing hardware, mountaineering clothing, trekking packs. Quality comparable to mid-range Western brands. Prices 30-40% less than Western equivalents.
Toread (探路者): Mass-market outdoor brand. Adequate for general trekking. Available everywhere. Prices ¥100-500 for most items.
Ozark (奥索卡): Another domestic brand with improving quality. Good down jackets and trekking clothing.
Where to Buy Gear in China
Decathlon: Best overall option. Major cities.
JD.com and Taobao: Online shopping. Massive selection, competitive prices. Requires Chinese delivery address (use your hotel). Quality varies — stick to official brand stores.
Physical outdoor stores: Every Chinese city has clusters of outdoor gear shops. Quality and authenticity vary enormously — buy only from stores that look established and professional.
Mountain towns: Towns near popular trekking areas (Daocheng, Tagong, Lijiang) have gear shops selling and renting basic equipment. Quality is variable but convenient.
Gear for Specific Chinese Trekking Challenges
Altitude Treks (Tibet, Sichuan, Qinghai, Yunnan)
Special considerations:
- UV protection: At 4,000+ metres, UV radiation is extreme. Bring SPF 50+ sunscreen, UV-protective clothing, and glacier glasses.
- Temperature swings: 25°C between day and night is common. Layering is essential.
- Cold sleeping: Bring a sleeping bag rated 10°C colder than you expect. A -10°C bag is the minimum for most high-altitude treks in China.
- Hydration: The dry air dehydrates you rapidly. Carry 2-3L capacity.
Humid Subtropical Treks (Guangxi, Guizhou, Fujian)
Special considerations:
- Moisture management: Everything gets damp. Quick-dry clothing is essential.
- Leeches: Common on trails in wet season (June-September). Bring salt or leech socks.
- Slippery terrain: Trails can be muddy and treacherous. Grip on your boots matters more than waterproofing.
Stair Treks (Huangshan, Zhangjiajie, various sacred mountains)
Special considerations:
- Knee protection: Chinese mountain treks often involve thousands of stone steps. Trekking poles are essential for descent.
- Footwear: Stiff boots are actually disadvantageous on stairs — flexible trail runners or approach shoes may be better.
- Weight: Pack as light as possible — every kilogram matters on 10,000+ step ascents.
Price Comparison — China vs West
| Item | Western Price | China Price (Decathlon/Domestic) |
|---|---|---|
| Hiking boots | $150-300 | ¥300-800 ($42-111) |
| Waterproof shell | $200-500 | ¥200-600 ($28-83) |
| Down jacket | $150-400 | ¥150-500 ($21-69) |
| Fleece jacket | $50-150 | ¥60-150 ($8.30-21) |
| Trekking pants | $60-120 | ¥80-200 ($11-28) |
| 50L backpack | $150-300 | ¥200-500 ($28-69) |
| Trekking poles (pair) | $60-150 | ¥80-200 ($11-28) |
| Sleeping bag (-10°C) | $150-350 | ¥150-400 ($21-56) |
| Headlamp | $20-60 | ¥30-100 ($4.20-14) |
Rental Options in China
Many trekking destinations offer gear rental:
Jiuzhaigou/Huanglong area: Down jackets, sleeping bags, and trekking poles available. Down jacket rental ¥30-50/day.
Huangshan: Coats and walking sticks for rent at the base. Coats ¥30-50/day, sticks ¥10-20/day.
Tibet/Lhasa: Down jackets, sleeping bags, and oxygen equipment available for rent. Down jacket ¥50-80/day.
Daocheng Yading: Full trekking gear packages available. ¥100-200/day for complete set.
Quality of rental gear: Variable. Rental down jackets are often adequate but not particularly clean. If you have hygiene concerns, bring your own.
Packing Strategy
The Optimal Split
Bring from home:
- Hiking boots (broken in)
- Waterproof shell jacket
- Trekking backpack
- Sleeping bag (if specific rating needed)
- Quality hiking socks
- Any prescription items
Buy in China (Decathlon):
- Fleece layers
- Trekking pants
- Base layers
- Trekking poles
- Headlamp, water bottles, accessories
- Rain pants
- Gaiters
Buy in China (if needed):
- Down jacket (Kailas or Decathlon — excellent value)
- Trekking shoes for rest days
- UV protection items
Weight Considerations
If you’re flying to China, bringing full trekking gear adds 5-8 kg to your luggage. Consider:
- Wearing your bulkiest items (boots, shell jacket) on the plane
- Packing trekking poles in checked luggage (they can’t be carried on)
- Buying consumable items (sunscreen, insect repellent) in China
Conclusion
China is one of the best countries in the world for buying outdoor gear — it manufactures most of it, after all. The optimal strategy is to bring your boots, shell jacket, and backpack from home, and buy everything else at Decathlon or from Chinese brands after you arrive. You’ll save money, reduce luggage weight, and still have quality gear for your trek. And if something goes wrong with your equipment mid-trek, replacement gear is available in every major city and most trekking base towns.