What to bring:
Raincoat, warm clothing, windbreaker, a bottle of drinking water, insect repellent, sun block, cap, cloves, warm socks, camera, lip balm, toilet paper, good flashlight or headlight, personal toiletries, towel and other items of personal use. Take some high energy food (chocolate, power bar, nuts, raisins, and glucose sweets). Walking stick (ski pole) may be useful.
Take lightweight cotton shirts, short/long pants recommended. It may rain at the mountain, so bring spare for items that are important to you in case they get wet in the rain. Travel light. Carry a light overnight backpack. Make backpack waterproof by covering contents with large plastic bags. Carry spare plastic bag for wet items in case or rain. Use good trekking shoes.
You will experience variations in atmospheric pressure and unpredictable weather. Bring some headache tablets, diarrhea and vomit pills. Some plaster for cuts or blisters is all useful.
Note:
All mountain climbers are required to produce their passport (Non-Malaysian) and/or identity card (Malaysian) during the registration process at the Kinabalu National Park Headquarters. A climbing permit will be issued to climbers.
Fitness:
No special skills or equipment are needed to climb Mount Kinabalu. However, climbing requires average fitness and some basic trainings such as brisk walking, swimming, and climbing steps will be useful. Climbers should be healthy and with no history of suffering from the following ailments:
1) Heart disease
2) Hypertension
3) Chronic asthma
4) Peptic ulcer
5) Severe anemia
6) Diabetes
7) Arthritis
8) Epileptic fits