Clothing & Equipment Checklist

The weather is generally colder, wetter & windier on the summit of a mountain than it is at ground level, so you need outdoor specific clothing to stay warm & dry. Please pay attention to the no-no’s i.e. no jeans, no trainers, no cotton t-shirt etc.

I’ll contact you with the forecasted weather on the lead up, so you’ll know what conditions to expect.

To be worn:

• Base layer: tight fitting, sweat wicking top. Long sleeves recommended, even on hot days. Not cotton.

• Mid / warm layer: usually a fleece type top.

• Trousers: lightweight, fast drying trousers or leggings - ideally wind resistant. No jeans.

• Socks: thick wool or wool mix socks.

• Boots: ankle length waterproof walking boots. Must be broken in / proven comfortable. No trainers.

On cold days:

• Hat: beanie style.

• Gloves: ideally windproof.

On sunny days:

• Sun hat / cap

• Sunglasses

• Sun cream: high SPF (30+) & SPF lip balm.

I don’t recommend shorts in the mountains, but on hot days, it’s up to you. However, I recommend packing trousers in your rucksack. Please bear in mind:

• It can get seriously cold & windy when you get up high.

• Ticks can lead to Lyme disease + midges bite everywhere!

• Some routes have sharp / barbed foliage that cut you.

• If any scrambling is involved, bare legs can lead to cuts & scrapes.

To be carried in your rucksack:

Everyone should carry their own 20-30 litre rucksack. Everything apart from your waterproofs & water bottle should be in one large dry bag or smaller individual dry bags. Thick carrier bags can be used. Nothing should be on the outside of your rucksack except walking poles and a water bottle.

Make sure that you have space in your rucksack for any clothing that you’re wearing in case you get hot and layers need to come off.

• Waterproof jacket: Gore-Tex or similar.

• Waterproof trousers: Gore-Tex or similar.

• Water bottle / hydration bladder: at least 1 litre (32oz) - take an additional bottle on hot / long days.

• Extra layers: if the temperatures are low, some extra layers are recommended.

• Thick warm layer: ideally a synthetic jacket (Primaloft), down jackets are not recommended in wet conditions.

• Hat & gloves: if not worn. Pack spares on wet & cold days. Ideally one set of waterproof gloves.

• First aid kit: personal medication, plasters, blister pads, pain killers etc.

• Tissues: for runny noses on cold days. Women should take plenty for the toilet plus a strong zip lock bag to take tissues/sanitary products off the mountain.

• Food: I have a separate guide for recommended food.

Optional clothing & equipment:

• Walking poles: can reduce the load on your legs by 25%, plus provide safety & stability. One pole is good, two is better.

• Softshell jacket: lightweight, wind resistant outer layer that breathes better than Gore-Tex*.

• Flask: of tea or coffee.

• Head torch: only in certain circumstances - if you need one, I’ll let you know beforehand.

* your waterproof jacket can be worn as a windproof layer if you don’t have a separate softshell jacket.

The dreaded Scottish Midge

From May to September the midges can be quite bad. It’s worth having a midge net and pocket Smidge or whatever spray you prefer in your pack. Watch out for anything with DEET as it burns Gore-Tex. If you react to bites then it’s worth taking some antihistamine tablets before the walk and pack some with you.