Snowdonia Backpacking My Gear List
Note that the items listed below are what I use in the mountains in September. They should also be suitable for late spring, but I suppose a little of the warm clothing, and the lantern, could be dispensed with if I went in summer. Note also how many items are in plastic bags to keep them dry.
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Carry:
Rucksack (Karrimor Jaguar 6, 75 litre), containing all of the following items:
Sleeping bag (Rab 800g down-filled), in its stuffsack, & in a strong plastic bag.
Tent (Ultimate Tramp 1): flysheet, poles & pegs packed down one side of rucksack in a black
bin bag that doubles as a kneeling pad in the porch, and inner & groundsheet packed
down the other side,
Thermarest mattress (3/4 length lightweight model), in its nylon bag.
Anti-slip matting (100 cm x 30 cm roll) - added 2009, see 4th paragraph of that trip report, .
Thermal long-sleeved vest & longjohns (Snow+Rock), in a plastic bag with:
Pair Meraklon inner socks (Bridgedale), used as bed socks.
Insulated jacket (Snugpak Sleeka), in its stuffsack.
Fleece hat (Lowe Alpine).
Sun hat (Craghopper, synthetic material).
Mittens (GoreTex outer, pile inner).
Gaiters (Outdoor Designs, eVent).
Waterproof jacket (Mountain Pass Wasdale).
Waterproof overtrousers (Vander Maelstrom).
Spare underpants (Lowe Alpine Dryflo) & handkerchief, in plastic bag.
Gas stove (Snow+Rock Gigapower) & a new 250-size cartridge.
Gas lantern (Snow+Rock Gigapower) & a new 110-size cartridge.
Small billycan and lid, with a strong elastic band to hold them together in rucksack.
Large plastic microwave bowl.
1/2 pint plastic mug, marked in gradations for measuring water for freeze-dried meals.
Plastic teaspoon.
Plastic dessert spoon.
Sponge/scourer, in a little plastic bag.
J-cloth, used as teatowel etc.
Roll-up water carrier (Field & Trek).
1 litre wide-mouth flask (Nalgene).
"Easy Sipper" for flask.
Water prefilter (Steripen Prefilter).
Water sterilizer (Steripen Adventurer).
Small penknife (Swiss Army Pocket Pal).
Shaver (Hitachi) with lithium batteries (a heavy "luxury" but I dislike being unshaven).
Small flannel, small hotel soap, sample-size toothpaste, travel toothbrush, small comb & nail
file, in a plastic bag.
Pertex towel, in its plastic pouch.
Toilet paper (a big handful removed from a roll), in a plastic bag.
Paperback book (a small one!), in a plastic bag with:
Extra O.S. map (if needed).
Small Flora tub containing spare lantern mantle, a banknote or two in a bank coin bag,
& car key.
Digital compact camera, in padded pouch threaded onto rucksack waist strap.
Folding map case containing 1:25,000 O.S. map & route guide, clipped with a karabiner onto
rucksack shoulder strap.
Wear:
Underpants (Lowe Alpine Dryflo).
Microfleece shirt (Paramo Trail Shirt).
Walking trousers (Sprayway Lifewear Gritstone Pant) & webbing belt (Rohan).
Fleece pull-on (Lowe Alpine Aleutian) - or pack if warm.
Thin-to-medium loopstitch wool socks (Bridgedale).
Waterproof socks (SealSkinz) worn over the wool socks.
Walking boots (Meindl Borneo Pro MFS).
Carry in trouser and shirt pockets:
Handkerchief.
Tube of glucose tablets.
Whistle (Karrimor) & mini torch (Princeton Pulsar LED) together on a short cord.
Lens cleaning cloth (Pentax) for glasses.
Compass (Silva Ranger 3), with a long cord around neck.
Hold:
Walking poles (Leki Makalu).
Food carried for 4 - 4.5 days [for 3 - 3.5 days in italics]:
Powdered energy drink: carry enough for 8 drinks [6 drinks].
Muesli: carry 12 oz [9 oz] with a little sugar mixed in.
Powdered milk: carry enough for 4 x 1/2 pint [3 x 1/2 pint].
Instant coffee: fill a 35mm film pot.
Sweetener: 12 tablets for 4 mugs of coffee [9 tablets for 3 mugs], in a tiny plastic pill box.
Cup-a-Soup: 5 [4] packets.
Energy bar: 9 [7] bars.
Yorkie bar: 5 [4] bars.
Freeze-dried dinner: 4 [3] packs.
Glucose tablets: 1 1/2 to 2 [1 to 1 1/2] tubes.
Measure muesli, powdered drink & milk into plastic bags, secure with tiewraps, & put each
in a 2nd bag for security.
Pack a spare plastic bag & tiewrap to put empty packets & wrappers in.
Packing is extremely important. All of your kit must go in the rucksack so that the items that weigh the most are close to your back in the upper part. This is achieved by putting the sleeping bag in first, which will fill the base of the sack, and then keeping the heavy items held in place up the back by stuffing light items such as clothing down the front of the sack. Save the heaviest things (food, usually) for last, and keep them near your spine, not either side. The same applies to side pockets; put anything heavy nearest your back. I know from experience that this really helps to improve load carrying, stability and comfort. Pack your things any old how and you will constantly be aware of your pack pulling away from you while you are walking. Strangely, though, as I use my food up during my trip, my rucksack never feels any lighter, which it should do. Finally, don't let anything rattle or clunk in rhythm with your stride, because it becomes very irritating.
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