Kit

Having the appropriate kit for the hill is vital to safety in the mountains. A comprehensive introduction to the most suitable equipment for day hikes can be found in the clubs Kit List. We don't recommendany particular manufacturer, but there are certain Tried and Tested Designs that you will see a lot of club members use.

Clothing
Clothing is very similar to that taken on a day trip. The length of the walk will dictate the amount of spare clothes you will need. Becuase in remote locations you may have to rely on your kit more then for a day long excursion, the value of quality gear is greater. This is particularly important for waterproof kit and footwear.

Tent
When multi-day walking the most obvious addition to your pack will be a tent.


 * One man tents


 * Two/three man tents

Fully Geodesic tents are free standing tents that typically have 4 poles that cross to form a free standing design. Fully geodesic tents tend to be used for high mountain expeditions as they are very stong. The extra poles increases the weight.

Semi Geodesic tents are a good alternative to geodesics. They are typically a three pole designs (also free standing).

Tunnel tents are another popular alternative. These tents have two or more poles that do not cross to form a long tunnel. These tents rely heavily on the pegging out of both the tent and the guy lines for their strength. They are easier to put up than the geodesic type tents and are not necessarily any weaker.

Sleeping Bag
There are two choices for sleeping bag material, Down and Synthetic.


 * Synthetic

Synthetic sleeping bags are cheaper than down bags. They are heavier than an equally rated down bag. There are less prone to the damp than down bags and thus have there use in this wet country in which we live.


 * Down

Down bags are lighter and more expensive than synthetic bags. They also pack smaller, important when space is at a premium.

Stoves
Some stoves have built in igniters however these cannot be relied upon and have been know to break.


 * Multi-fuel

These stoves are the biggest, heaviest and most expensive stoves you can buy. These stoves are good if travelling into areas where gas canisters are hard to find. They are also good in cold climates as pressurized fuels have a lower tendency to freeze over.


 * Gas

Gas stoves provide a light and powerful cooking option. These very light stoves bring water to the boil very quickly and allow a range of temperature control for simmering.


 * Alcohol/meths

Also known by the leading brand name, Trangia. A windshield covers a brass container where meths burns. They are very simple stoves that are almost impossible to break and have a loyal following.

Rucksacks
A bag around the 60/70 litre size should fit everything that you require for a number of days in most conditions, although some people find this excessive and opt for much smaller bags.

It is important to weight a rucksack when testing it in a shop.

Food and Drink
Water can be purified by boiling but this is time consuming and uses fuel. Chlorine tablets are widely used to purify water, although iodine is recommended for areas with very contaminated water (or at least it was till the EU, in its infinite wisdom, saw fit to ban iodine for water purification in 2009).
 * Water

Standard day food should be taken and multiplied by the number of days going. Suggestions for evening meals are in the Recipes section.
 * Food

- For the ultimate in light weight live off protein shakes and snickers bars. it's f**king horrible, but it keeps you going.

Other

 * Roll Mats

A huge amount of heat is lost through contact with the ground, and so an appropriate roll mat is essential. Inflatable mats are light and pack small, but simplest close-cell foam mats offer the same insulation at a fraction of the price, without the risk of failure.

Don't forget them. Some swear by combined spoon/forks (sporks). However, there are some unforseen dangers associated with these.
 * Knife, fork and spoon

A torch is essential, and the new generation of L.E.D torches are lighter and have a better battery life then traditional tungsten bulbs. It is difficult to carry out tasks like pitching/striking camp and cooking without a headtorch.
 * Torch

For a comprehensive list of walking advice and equipment, download this printable pdf guide from Great Outdoors Superstore