- B2 Mountaineering Boots. These are warmer than standard boots, and are much stiffer, critical for being able to securely attach crampons to your boots. These can be hired. If you are interested in this, please contact the tour sec who can help suggest companies.

Without B2 rated boots you will not be allowed on tour.

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- Walking Socks. You will require thicker socks than in summer, however you may prefer to wear multiple pairs consisting of an inner and outer sock. Be aware that these will occupy more space than a summer configuration, however most walking boot manufacturers take into account and size their boots accordingly.

Try out whatever socks and boots you plan to use before going on tour to help prevent blisters by wearing your boots in.

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- Waterproofs (Coat & Trousers).  This provides your main protection from wind, rain and snow, ensuring you are reasonably warm and dry underneath. Other useful features include a hood that allows for decent visibility, pockets that can be accessed while wearing a backpack, and a pocket that is large enough to hold a folded map. Please consider whether the hood will fit over a helmet and whether the jacket allows for full freedom of movement. 

 

A nicer waterproof coat vastly improves your experience in the mountains, whereas waterproof trousers need to be waterproof and fit reasonably well, but beyond this are much less important. Generally, the brighter the better, as this helps you stand out amongst the clouds.

 

Without a suitable waterproof coat and trousers you will not be allowed on a tour with us.

 

- Bags. Please ensure your bag is suitable for tour. You will likely need a larger bag than usual (40l seems to be about right) to fit more layers and the winter gear in, and it is worth having extra space again to be able to have your hands inside the bag when reaching inside. You should be able to securely attach axes to the outside. It is worth considering how weather resistant the bag is, with some buckles being inoperable when filled with snow. You will want to ensure that anything that needs to remain dry, such as gloves, warm layers and car keys are in dry bags or similar. Please ensure that you pack your bag safely, with sharp objects such as crampons stored using spike protection. This will be discussed in more detail on the beginners course.

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- Suitable Base-Layers/Shirts. This is the first layer that you are wearing, for the purpose of wicking sweat, and providing some warmth. This should be thicker than for summer but not restrictive, and nice ones offer some warmth for your neck as well.

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- Midlayers. These are warm layers that you are happy to walk in, such as a fleece, or a thin coat. These should be adaptable, so it is recommended to avoid thick layers and instead wear multiple thinner ones so that you are able to remove and add on additional layers to adapt to the weather and ascending/ descending. Please also consider if you will still be warm in the scenario that you are soaked through. If you are truly cold you will be miserable so please bring enough layers accordingly. This applies even more so in winter.

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- Belay Jacket. This is a warm, weather resistant coat that ideally is worn over all other layers, including your waterproof. Ideally, it is synthetic, so remains warm when wet. Please ensure that this layer is kept in a dry bag until it is needed. This layer should ideally not be worn unless you are stationary, such as for lunch, or moving much slower such as on a technical section, or in a considerably more exposed section such as a ridge.

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- Suitable Trousers. Walking trousers should be durable, help block out some wind and rain, be breathable, comfortable and sufficiently warm (Base layers can help). You will want a warmer pair than in summer.

You might like to wear gaiters, or consider trousers that have a ‘kick patch’ (a much more durable section on the inside of the leg) that prevent holes forming from use of crampons.

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- Gloves. Gloves are especially important during winter, with it being recommended to carry multiple pairs for different temperatures and conditions, and in case they get wet (which is very likely when it is snowy). We recommend carrying a thinner, more dexterous pair (freezer gloves work nicely for this), as well as a thicker, more water resistant pair (such as ME guides). It is recommended that you carry a thicker pair again, as well as any spare gloves you own. Liner gloves work well at increasing the warmth of a pair, and if you get cold hands you might like to consider bringing mittens.

 

- Hats & Buffs. Similar to gloves, but it is likely that one of your midlayers also has a hood. It is recommended to also bring a hat as these fit better than most hoods, and provide extra warmth. Buffs are very versatile and hence popular, though can be a little redundant depending on what else you are wearing. Buffs are extra useful in winter from protecting you from spindrift (snow carried by wind), and if your face is exposed when it is windy you can get cold very quickly.

 

- Lunch & Snacks. What you eat is very important in the mountains.You should bring food which you enjoy eating, and also provides sufficient energy for what you are doing. Sandwiches are of course great, especially for lunch, but it is recommended that you supplement this with other foods to eat during the day such as bars or bags of percy pigs. Please ensure you have enough food for the day, and it is more than recommended to bring excess to ensure there is some left over at the end of the day in case you eat more than you anticipated. The correct amount to bring is personal preference, but is typically works out to be multiple (2 seems to be right) bags of sweets, bars, chocolate, or trail mix. This is something you’ll work out during the week.

You should also consider how your food acts when frozen: bars and fruit can and will freeze if it is sufficiently cold, phizzy pigtails become quite the delicacy, and you might not want to stop for lunch so should bring additional snacks and have a larger dinner. Small items can be kept warm and accessible in chest pockets.

 

We will have fridge space for you to store chilled food.

 

- Water.  Water remains important in winter, with it being preferable to carry a flask of tea or similar as well. Remember that water famously freezes when it gets cold, so it is recommended to avoid water bladders. Please be prepared to bring at least 1.5 Litres out with you on each day. It might also be a good idea to bring some form of electrolytes with you.

- Overnight Belongings. Simply put, we go away for multiple nights on Tour! Therefore, pack accordingly like you would for a small holiday: toothbrushes, towels, shower things, general toiletries, spare clothes etc. You may also want to bring clothes that are more comfortable to wear when in the bunkhouse, like a hoodie or different trousers. Keep in mind when packing that we use personal cars to get to Scotland, and therefore please pack efficiently and in soft bags to ensure everyone’s bags fit. 

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- Sleeping Bags. Some bunkhouses require you to bring your own bedding (sleeping bags), which can be borrowed from the club. This will be clearly stated in the information emailed to you.

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- Money/Food. On tour you do your own cooking, except on new years eve, where there is the traditional Haggis and crumble for dessert. A perfect predecessor to the evening’s festivities!

This year there are shops nearby (around 20 minutes drive away), but this is not always the case. It can be helpful to bring the first few days' shopping up with you, or collect it on the way to the bunkhouse, as convincing drivers to take you to the nearest supermarket after a 10+ hour drive to Scotland can be difficult. 

People usually split into prearranged cooking groups to avoid needing to do everything yourself. This is typically arranged during the winter tour social.

- Map and Compass. On tour there are no walk leaders, and so you must do your own navigation. As such, you will need a map and compass. Maps will be provided, but you will need your own compass.

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-Phone. In winter, your phone will lose battery at a much faster rate. As such, it is it is advisable to turn on power saving mode, keep your phone warm in an inside pocket, and carry a powerbank (with a cable).

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-GPS. If you have your own GPS and are happy using it then you are more than welcome to carry it. The club has a small number that can be borrowed.

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- Helmets. When using an axe and crampons, you must wear a helmet. These can be borrowed or you can bring your own.

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- Harnesses. For more difficult scrambles or for climbs, you must bring a harness. To avoid scavenging for one in the evening, please bring your own if you are interested in such an activity.

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- Winter gear. The club has an assortment of ice axes and crampons, or you can bring your own. Please note that the club has only C1 crampons, so if you want to do anything beyond walking it is very much worth having C2s.

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- Headtorches. It is always very good practice to bring a headtorch out in case you get caught out (or planned to be out in) the dark. This is especially the case on tour, as daylight hours are much less than in summer. Spare batteries (or spare headtorch) are also a very good idea. 

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- Sunglasses/Goggles. In the rare occasion that the sun is out, sunglasses are nice. In the more likely case where the wind (with rain/snow) is blowing, clear or lightly tinted glasses are extremely useful at keeping the wind out of your eyes. In extreme cases, goggles do the same and more, whilst also providing some warmth. You must bring goggles for tour (not swimming ones!!!).

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- Climbing gear. If climbing is a possibility this will be discussed in the tour social and all gear worked out ahead of time. In the interests of ensuring there is space in cars please avoid bringing excess gear. If you are interested in climbing on tour please contact an exec member.

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- Camping gear. You will either need to bring your own or share a stove/ cooking gear if you plan on leaving the bunkhouse overnight. There is usually a bothy night on tour (no tent needed), but you could bring a tent if you are interested in wild camping.

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- General safety kit. You will have a club first aid kit and emergency shelter amongst your group, but you are welcome to bring your own if it makes you feel happier. Please visit the safety page for more information.

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- Medicine. If you are required to take some sort of medicine or have an inhaler you must bring this with you. You will not be allowed out without them. There is a section on the information form to make us aware of any medical conditions you have, and if you have any medication, but please make sure the rest of your group is aware, and that you can quickly access the medication.

- The Basics. The club has a limited supply of gear that you can borrow however ideally if you need these items you should have your own. This includes:

• Waterproof Jackets

• Waterproof Trousers

• Rucksacks

• ​Sleeping bags

• A small supply of headtorches

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- Technical Equipment. For our more technical activities, the club has a limited supply of gear available to borrow. This includes:

• Helmets

• Crampons

• Ice Axes

• Ropes

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If you wish to borrow gear for tour please contact our current Gear Master, as soon as you can before the tour that you need the item for. As mentioned, items are limited, but providing you give us enough notice we should be able to accommodate you. You can also contact whomever is running the tour as well, and they will be able to arrange for you to borrow items too. Please note, it is your responsibility to ensure you have returned the gear you have borrowed, and you will not be allowed on any additional trips if gear has not been returned..