Gear for UNAM’s Basic Mountaineering Course
Updated: Dec 1, 2022
Thinking about getting started in mountain sports? This is the gear you’ll need.
If you haven’t read the guide to UNAM’s Basic Mountaineering Course, check it out before continuing!
Taking the course was one of the most interesting experiences we’ve had. We were exposed to a whole new world of adventure sports in a safe environment. We loved how affordable the course was... Initially🙄.
One thing we didn’t know was how much gear we would need to purchase over the course of the five modules: orienteering, rock climbing, canyoneering, caving and alpine climbing.
If you’re thinking about enrolling in the course, I bet that you want to know in advance the mandatory gear as well as any additional equipment. In our case, because we didn’t own any outdoor gear, we had to buy a lot of stuff.
This is also a good list to have for anyone planning to take part in mountains sports because a lot of it is essential mountaineering gear.
I’m including the approximate price that we paid for our gear between 2017 and 2018. I know prices have changed a lot since then, but it should still give you an idea of how much to budget for. Also, keep in mind that the brands and models influence the price – we didn’t always choose the cheapest options, so don’t be too afraid of the prices you see here...
Mandatory Individual Mountaineering Equipment
(A list we were given on our first day)💸.
Rock climbing harness
Specifications: CE/UIAA certified.
Petzl Luna (Women’s)
-Cost: Around 2,800 MXN
Petzl Adjama (Men’s)
-Cost: Around 2,800 MXN
Mountain helmet
Specifications: Not white or blue because they aren’t easily seen outdoors, CE/UIAA certified.
Black Diamond Half Dome
-Cost: 1,398 MXN
Two identical HMS carabiners with lock.
Specifications: CE/UIAA certified.
Mad Rock Hulk HMS screw lock
-Cost: 198 MXN each
One asymmetrical carabiner without lock
Specifications: CE/UIAA certified.
Mad Rock Super Tech Keylock Straight
-Cost: 135 MXN
Hiking boots
Specifications: They should cover the ankle, waterproof (Gore-Tex)
-Cost: It varied so much depending on the brand. Our Salomon boots were about 4,500 MXN. However, I know that other brands, especially in Decathlon were much cheaper.
PLUS
I really don’t remember how much we paid for the bits of rope below 🙈, but it wasn’t much, maybe around 200 – 300 MXN for everything.
- 3 meters of 10mm dynamic rope
- 2 meters of 7mm cordino
- 2.5 meters of seat belt
- 1.5 meters of 1-inch flat, tubular rope
If after reading this you’re feeling like this:
I feel your pain... And it’s not over yet, I’m afraid!
Additional Camping Gear
(It wasn’t listed it but it’s still necessary)
When we started the course, we didn’t have any camping gear, so we also had to buy a lot of it. Because we were already planning a long-distance hiking trip in Canada, we decided to invest in good gear that would make things easier and more comfortable. Once we were in Canada, we didn’t regret investing in this equipment (mostly).
HOWEVER!
A lot of people already had some gear or they borrowed it from friends, so you might not have to spend too much on camping gear. .
Three season tent, maximum weight of 3 kg
We had a hard time finding a tent in Mexico with the specifications that we wanted. We knew we were looking for something for our upcoming trips, so we got a two-person tent with a porch. We couldn’t find one we liked in Mexico City, so we bought it from Amazon UK and shipped it to Mexico.
Vango Hydra 200 Pine
-Cost: Around 4,000 MXN
Sleeping bag
We were very happy with the sleeping bags we bought at Ruben’s in the Historic Center. We used them throughout the entire course, in our Canadian hiking trip and Patagonia. I think it is made for up to -2°C/28°F.
Texsport Cedar Pass Mummy Sleeping Bag
-Cost: Around 500 MXN each in Ruben’s (maybe less)
Sleeping mat
We have had two inflatable sleeping mats but most people got the foldable ones that look like yoga mats. We actually regretted this purchase! We wanted an inflatables, packable and comfortable sleeping pad but this one had very weird grooves and it never felt good. Plus, Dexter’s had two punctures, so the quality wasn’t great... (I still think he wasn’t very careful because mine is fine :P).
Klymit Inertia inflatable sleeping pad
-Cost: Around 2,000 MXN each on Amazon
Cooking gear
Our cooking gear has evolved over time. Ruben’s was also a great place to get basic and affordable camping utensils but they weren’t very light or portable.
-Cost: I don’t remember exactly how much we paid, but maybe around 500 MXN in total
Headlamp
Specifications: Waterproof
We bought a cheap option in Ruben’s as a “spare” but invested in better one we bought in Vertimanía.
Black Diamond Storm LED headlamp (250 lumens + IP67 waterproof and dustproof)
-Cost: 1,298 MXN
Coleman CHT7 Headlamp (70 lumens + IPX4 Water resistant)
-Cost: Around 300 MXN (I think we bought it in Ruben’s)
Hiking backpack (50-70 liters) with rain cover
This was a topic of much debate. The choice is completely personal and there are many affordable backpacks out there. However, because we wanted a backpack that would be good for long-distance hikes and backpacking trips, we invested in Osprey backpacks.
As a woman, I have come to understand the value of having a backpack designed specifically for women’s bodies—it makes such a difference!
Osprey Aura AG (Women's) and Atmos AG (Men's) 65 liters
-Cost: Around 6,500 MXN each at Vertimanía. We were able to pay them in 12 interest-free installments with our credit card.
Thermal blanket
The actually ask for two types, a big one that we bought in Ruben’s that is about the size of an A4 folder and about 1 inch thick. The second one is the really small one, like the size of a wallet and super thin, like the ones you see in big races.
Big one
-Cost: Around 400 MXN in Ruben’s
Small one
-Cost: around 150 MXN in Vertimanía
First aid kit
You can buy small ones in a pharmacy and they are very well-equipped.
-Cost: Around 100 MXN
The Best Outdoor Stores in Mexico City
Here are our thoughts on the stores for outdoor equipment in Mexico City 🤔:
We prioritized buying our equipment somewhere that would give us the option to pay with our credit cards in interest-free installments. Back in 2017, Vertimanía was the only store that offered that option, so we bought most of our stuff there. We also like that they had a rewards program, so we earned points for every purchase. We were able to redeem them for products at later dates.
Our second option was Ruben’s because we found a lot of cheaper alternatives for equipment that didn’t need to be high-end quality. They also sell those fancy brands but they didn’t offer interest-free payments.
Our third option was Amazon, especially for equipment that we couldn’t find in Mexico City.
Decathlon was just arriving to Mexico City when we took the mountaineering course, so we didn’t go there very often. However, because I lived in France for a while, I knew the store... And I don’t love the quality of many of their products, especially clothing. We did notice that a lot of people bought a lot of stuff in Decathlon because it was certified equipment at much cheaper prices.
We visited Séptimo Grado back when they were in Condesa. We loved the store but without the option of interest-free payments, we couldn’t afford to buy our stuff there.
As you can see, there is a lot of equipment involved in adventure sports. Should that deter you from getting involved? Absolutely not! Think of it as an investment in life: experiences, stunning landscapes, great travel tales and friendships. If you plan it right, it’s affordable. Talk to the staff in all these stores and ask the instructors at the mountaineering course, they will always offer you good advice.
Have you taken this course? Where do you recommend purchasing equipment? Let us know if you have money-saving tips!