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.
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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 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 the trip report, .
Thermal long-sleeved vest & longjohns (Snow+Rock) in a plastic bag with:
Pair Meraklon inner socks, used as bed socks.
Insulated jacket (Snugpak Sleeka) in its stuffsack.
Fleece hat (Lowe Alpine).
Sun hat (Craghopper, synthetic material).
Mittens (pile inner, GoreTex outer).
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) with a new 250-size cartridge.
Gas lantern (Snow+Rock Gigapower) with 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 little, leakproof plastic bag.
J-cloth, used as teatowel etc.
Water sterilizer (Steripen Adventurer).
Water prefilter (Steripen Prefilter).
1 litre wide-mouth flask (Nalgene).
"Easy Sipper" for flask.
Roll-up water carrier (Field & Trek).
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 some money in a bank coin bag, car key & spare lantern mantle.
Digital compact camera in padded pouch threaded onto rucksack waist strap.
Folding map case containing 1:25,000 O.S. map & route guide, clipped 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.
Waterproof socks (SealSkinz) worn as inner socks.
Loopstitch wool socks (Bridgedale) worn as outer socks.
Walking boots (Zamberlan, model now forgotten).
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 round 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].
Coffee: fill a 35mm film pot.
Sweetener: 12 tablets for 4 mugs of coffee [9 tablets for 3 mugs], carry 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: 1.5 - 2 [1 - 1..5] tubes.
Pack muesli, powdered drink & milk in plastic bags secured with tiewraps, & each in a 2nd bag for security.
Pack a spare plastic bag & tiewrap for empty packets & wrappers.
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 in improving load carrying, stability and comfort. Pack your things any old how and you will soon feel the difference. 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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