u/Heorh1i

I’m completely new to hiking and mountaineering and I’m trying to buy my first proper basic gear without wasting money on the wrong things.

For shoes, I really like the Salomon XT-6, but I’m not sure if they’re actually a good choice for mountain hiking or if there are better options for the same price.

I also need recommendations for:

a good wind/rain jacket
hiking/mountain pants
anything else you think is essential for a beginner

For now I’ll mostly be doing day hikes and easier mountains while gradually gaining experience.

I don’t need professional expedition gear yet — just reliable equipment that will be useful as I progress.

What would you buy if you were starting from zero today?

Hi everyone,

My name is Heorhii. I’m from a small village in Ukraine, and I’m currently a complete beginner when it comes to mountaineering.

But I have a very big goal:

I want to spend the next 4 years building the experience, fitness and skills necessary to become capable of attempting Mount Everest.

I know Everest is not something you simply decide to climb. I know money alone isn't enough, and I don't want to be one of those people who reaches Everest without the experience necessary to be there.

That's why I want to build up gradually.

My current rough plan is:

🏔️ Moldoveanu — 2,544 m
🏔️ Rysy — 2,501 m
🏔️ Gran Paradiso — 4,061 m
🏔️ Mont Blanc — 4,805 m
🏔️ Kilimanjaro — 5,895 m
🏔️ Island Peak — 6,165 m
🏔️ Aconcagua — 6,961 m
🏔️ a 7,000+ m peak
🏔️ Manaslu — 8,163 m
🏔️ Everest — 8,848.86 m

This isn't a fixed checklist. If I'm not ready for the next mountain, I'll wait, train more and gain more experience.

Safety and actually becoming competent matter more to me than completing the challenge in exactly four years.

I want to learn proper mountaineering skills along the way: crampons, ice axe, rope work, glacier travel, crevasse rescue, acclimatization and how to make good decisions in dangerous conditions.

I also understand that my current list may not be the best progression.

That's actually one of the reasons I'm posting here.

For those of you who have climbed Everest, other 8,000ers, or have serious high-altitude experience: what would you change about this progression?

What mountains should I add?

Which ones should I remove?

What skills should I have before moving from 4,000 m → 6,000 m → 7,000 m → 8,000 m?

And most importantly:

Do you think four years is realistically enough if I dedicate myself seriously to training and climbing?

I'm going to document the entire journey from zero — including training, courses, equipment, costs, mistakes, failed attempts and hopefully the summits.

I don't have sponsors or a large budget, so I'm also slowly saving and trying to fund the journey myself.

For anyone who genuinely wants to follow or support the project, I've started a Patreon:

Road to Everest:
https://patreon.com/heorhiiroadtoeverest

But I'm mainly posting here because I want advice from people who know much more about mountaineering than I do.

Don't be afraid to criticize the plan.

I'd rather have experienced climbers tell me what I'm doing wrong now than discover it at 7,000 meters.

Four years is the goal. Everest is the dream. Becoming a capable mountaineer is the priority. 🏔️

Salomon XT-6 for a beginner, or should I get something else?

I’m starting from zero. Is 4 years enough to become ready to attempt Everest?