Scotland Kit List

Scotland Kit List

Scotland can get incredibly cold on the mountains! It is essential that you read the kit list below and ensure you either have everything on this list OR MESSAGE the Mountain Secretary (Rosie Coward). Despite it being a tad gear intensive, the club helpfully provides most of the expensive bits of kit you'll need for the trip.

The Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity Secretary runs the club kit share which contains a small selection of personal kit which you can borrow.

On the hill you should be wearing no cotten clothing. It absorbs water/sweat and does not wick it way from the body. Thus you lose heat faster and are at increased risk of hypothermia, amoung other downsides.

  • Boots (need to be B2 or B3 rated) - These are essential for the trip.
    The main investment you'll need to make will be a pair of sturdy B2 Winter Mountaineering Boots. Brand new, a pair of La Sportiva Trango Towers or Scapra Mantas can cost more than £300 now!
    However, you can also acquire a used, but good condition pair for less than £130. Search EBay, OutdoorGear Exchange (FB Group), OutdoorKit Exchange (FB Group) and ask around the club for anyone who is selling. If you are sturggling to find boots please reach out to other members to help you source a pair second hand.
    Its worth noting that B2's are also great for hiking and scrambling all-year round, so they're worth getting! And they will get you into summer alpinism too!
    Read more: https://www.absolute-snow.co.uk/buying-guides/the-absolute-guide-to-mountaineering-boot-grades-b0-b1-b2-b3 and https://www.ellis-brigham.com/mountaineering/mountaineering-boot-buying-guide as for the boot stye section you need a single style boot.
  • Warm Socks - Bridgedale Summit socks are optimal but a bit pricey, go outdoors do plenty. SealSkins are very cool as they are waterproof! Smartwool socks are delux
  • Thermal Top AND Bottoms - These dont need to be very Gucci, Aldi and TKMaxx, Mountain Warehouse and Sports Direct do some great deals. Merino wool will keep you toasty if you hate the cold but synthetics are also great (and a bit cheaper).
  • Trousers - These need to be NON-Cotton and stretchy so that you can walk and climb in them. Ideally winter walking or mountainering trousers. Craghopper do a brilliant pair for very cheap at GO Oudoors.
  • Waterproof jacket and trousers - These are essential. Please make sure you check with the Mountain Sec if you are at all unsure whether your jacket is waterproof or water resistant! If it is only water resistant you will get very very wet.
    I would not recommend buying expensive waterproof trousers or even using a pair if you already have some. Especially if you new to winter mountaineering, you will put a crampon hole in them specially if they are baggy. Baggy waterproofs can be constrained by gaiters but it doesn’t guarantee anything.
  • Gaiters - These are optional but keeps the snow out your socks and your boots dry! Trekmates sell them for a very reasonable ammount.
  • Fleeces - Bring mutliple are spares and get Thin and Thick ones to give you options. Also make sure they are sized so you can layer them up.
  • Warm hat & buff, and/or balaclava - A buff/Balaclava is one of the best things you can get to cut the wind out. Your hat needs to fit under a helmet.
  • Gloves - It's important that you get this one right because your fingers will be the first things to get cold if you don't have suitable gloves. Your main pair of gloves will need to be waterproof and insulated. Simond do reasonably priced, effective winter gloves.
    Then one thin pair to go underneath (within, also know as liner gloves, make sure the main pair fit with them on).
    You will also need a spare main pair for if you loose your main one or the get soaked for the walk off. If you get super cold then a pair of mitts are a good choice for this!
  • Rucksack for climbing - 35l-50l. A mountaineering rucksack is ideal but not required. Again Simond does a great pack - otherwise look for cheap second-hand alternatives from brands like Berghaus, Osprey, Lowe Alpine, Mountain Equipment etc. (see picture below for some of the things you would carry with you in the rucksack).
  • Down/synthetic jacket - optional but warm. If you get very cold then this could be useful. HOWEVER, if you can't afford to get one simply layering more fleeces will do the same job!
  • Head torch and spare batteries - They will be an essential item just incase you end up in the dark on the mountains
  • Goggles - Exactly the same as ski goggles. Aldi sell them in the random aisle for a tenner. Make sure you stay away from CAT 4 lenses if you want to see in low-light. But as long as they keep the snow out of your eyes you'll be fine. Bring one pair of goggles and then a pair of sun glasses as a spare.
  • Compass - If you don't have one the club will be bring some.
  • Thermos flask/Water bottles - Sometimes it is cold enough for the waterbottle in your bag to turn to ice so having your water in the form of a hot drink can be a real energy boost and a good way to keep it from freezing.
    1 or 2 litres in bottles. E.g. a nalgene or other. I would caution agains hydration packs as the pipe will freeze, the bag may, and you could puncher it with your campons stuffed in your bag.
  • Orange/tinfoil survival bag - These are super cheap and light and a great way to keep yourself warm if an emergency occurs. Not optional.
  • Roll top dry bag(s) or other solution - Either get specific dry bags however they are pricy, or thick bin bags or a rubble sack as they also work really well and are very cheap.
  • Harness, belay plate/carabiner, iced axes, crampons and helmet - These can all be borrowed from the club so don't worry, if you did not put these on the sign-up form, you need to tell the Mountain Sec or there won't be any for you.
  • Personal first aid kit - This should include any personal medication you need, lip balm, the survival bag, blister plasters etc
  • Normal clothes/Pyjamas - It isn't a fashion show just bring comfortable clothes
  • Sleeping bag - The hut is heated so you don't need to get a sleeping bag which is any bigger than you would normally take on a club trip but bringing 3 or 4 sesson bag may open up opotunities with a potential Bothy trip or bivving.
  • Teddy bear - a range of technical climbing teddy bears to meet your needs can be found here at a great price https://ubmc.uk/teddy

Places to look

  • Ebay
  • UKC
  • Sportpursuit
  • Go Outdoors (Good prices and 10% price match if you find it somewhere cheaper)
  • Cotswolds (15% discount, see below)
  • TKMaxx (Just drop in regularly, they often have Craghoppers, Berghaus, and Mammut at a ridiculously low price)

BMC Discounts Pages

As part of your UBMC membership, you have British Moutaineering Council membership and insurance. This entitles you to a number of discounts at selected retailers. Page 1, Page 2, Page 3

Optional items

Other optional items that have been discussed:

  • Sleep mask
  • Earplugs
  • Inflatable pillow (and case)
  • Single bed sheet (don't get too excited)
  • free-trial on the Outdoor Active app
  • sleeping bag liner
  • any climbing kit you own

Food

Food (bring your own or buy it there at the local Aldi):
Breakfast : individual, most go for porridge
Lunch: stuff for snacks on route or a packed lunch
Dinner: people will get into groups to cook and will buy food as such