Following on from my two recent topics covering an activation report, I thought I would upload an equipment list for my multi-night SOTA expeditions, so here is. I would be interested in any comments you might have on alternative items that you prefer to use.
MAIN ITEMS
Backpack – Osprey Kestrel 58
Recently moved to using Osprey backpacks, previously have used an Exped Lightning 60 for winter walking. The Exped is much lighter than the Osprey kestrel, but can be lacking in comfort. On balance I now prefer the heavier Osprey Kestrel due to the additional comfort and the convenience of extra features.
For 3-season walking I use an Osprey Exos 48
Tent – Hilleberg Akto (with additional guy lines added for winter use)
I’m on to my second Akto, having worn out the first over a period of 10 or more years of Walking and Cycling with several hundred nights spet in it. Ihae used the Akto is seriously foul weather, and only bent the pole once – in conditions where it was impossible to stand up. The fabric remained intact despite the bent pole, so I fully trust this tent.
For summer backpacking I use either a Clone Trailster Tarp; 3F UL Gear lanshan 1 or 3F ULGear lanshan 2 (the extra space is absolute luxury), I also occasionally use a rectangular Sil-nylon tarp and Rab Survival Zone Bivy Bag.
Sleeping Bag –PHD Minim 600 (drishell fabric, 800 fill power down) with Rab silk liner
Purchased in 2012 and still going strong, higher fill-power down is now available, the drishell fabric is waterproof (with a proper sub-membrane – not just a spray coating on the outer surface). The bag remains warm and lofted in even if the inner tent becomes sopping wet with condensation.
I use a PHD minimus bag in summer/autumn and Rab 400 down bag in spring.
Sleeping Mat - Thermorest Neoair Xtherm
I use the standard Neoair for three season camping. I also use a TREKOLOGY Ultralight Inflating Pillow and carry a NeoAir pump sack to inflate the Xtherm (this avoids condensation forming on the inside of the pad from your breath – which would raise the thermal conductance of the pad, and also lead to nasty mould growth).
COOKING
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Titanium pot with a MSR pocket Rocket and winter gas mixture. I also carry a White-Box meths stove as backup (meths is easier to buy from just about any service station and hardware store). During summer I use a Caldera Cone plus home made Pepsi-can meths stove.
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Titanium Spoon/Fork (not a spork though – a I can’t stand having the serrations cut the side of my lip often each time I use them!)
CLOTHING
Night:
- Army-surplus style nylon thermal undergarments; PHD Minimus down pullover (drishell outer with hood); balaclava
Day:
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Buffalo special-six mountain shirt - I have great trust in this to keep me warm in any weather and have used Buffalo shirts for many many years in all sorts of weather - much more sited to British weather than fancy down jackets; Haglofs L.I.M MTN WaterProof Half Zip Jacket - I only use half-zip or quarter zip jackets due to weight-saving and the fact that if the zip breaks it is still useable as a jacket. I dont wear the waterprrof jacket much as teh Buffalo is sufficient.
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Ronhill Leggings; Montane Pertex waterproof overtrousers
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Smartwool Socks
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Thermalite Wooly hat; Thermalite gloves; Gardening Gloves; Spare Gloves
WINTER EQUIPMENT
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Petzl Snowalker – Long shaft Ice Axe
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Grivel G10 Crampons
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Altberg Mallerstang B1 Boots (wide fitting) with Superfeet Green insoles
I use Altberg Tethera for walks not requiring crampons.
EMERGENCY AND UTILITY
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Ocean Signal Rescueme Plb1 Personal EPIRB (satellite emergency locator beacon)
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Basic first aid kit – pain relief; allergy tablets; tick remover; super glue (useful for all sorts – from split toenails and nasty cuts to broken gear); Zinc-oxide tape (for blister protection); Duct Tape; Thermarest Fast-and-light repair kit.
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Victorinox Mini-Champ
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Ear Plugs – stormy weather does not sound so threatening in the tent when wearing ear plugs.
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Whistle; backup miniature phone (weighs next-to-nothing)
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Spare laces
LIGHTING
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Pertzl Aktik Head Torch
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BLF A6 1600 lumens torch (using 18650 batteries) – for providing broad beam illumination when I have lost the route!
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Lumintop tool AAA torch attached to a tritium light– spare-spare torch with tritium light to aid location in the dark – if you drop your head torch and it breaks, finding your backup torch can be difficult.
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5 sets of AAA batteries for the Petzl; Litl Kala 18650 charger powered by USB for the BLF.
FOOD
Home made daily ration packs typically containing:
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Adventure foods dehydrated meal
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200g Chocolate Bar
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200g bag of nuts
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200g dried fruit (mango, dates, figs, raisins – to keep regular!)
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Flapjack; cereal bars
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Jelly Babies (lots)
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Kendal Mint cake (150g chocolate covered) – a useful provision in the event of an unsettled stomach as the peppermint is quite soothing
In order to save on carrying fuel I generally do not make hot drinks, or cook at breakfast or lunch.
WATER
Sayer Water Filter
Chlorine Dioxide Tablets as backup (or sometimes I carry a Steripen as backup); spare hose washers to replace the Sawyer Squeeze washer which always goes missing.
RADIO
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Yaesu VX6 plus ruibber duck
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RH770 SMA
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RH770 BNC (with SMA adapter) as backup
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Rite-in-the-rain notepad with Uniball PowerTank pen
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5200 mAH 3S LiPo (with 12V-5V buck coverter to allow USB charging)
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Quick-charge-3 compliant USB powerbank and Quick-charge-3 compliant 240V mains adapter (to allow rapid replenishment of power in a café stop if required)
I have also carried an FT818 during warmer weather, when I don’t need to carry winter gear.
NAVIGATION
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Harvey BMC map of the Lake District (1-40k) – I prefer Harvey maps to the OS maps.
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Garmin Etrex 20x (loaded with SOTA summits as POI)
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Silva expedition Compass (with Clinometer and Slope Card)
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Backup compass (old Silva compass)
OTHER
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Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Trekking Poles
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Backpack Liner; Various sil-nylon dri-bags to hold gear
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Sunglasses; ToolFreak Rip-Out glasses (great as clear mountain goggles)
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Fleece Buff
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Kindle E-reader
