for scottish winter walking don't bin to much just because you don't use it. Remember to be prepared for the worst ie a night on the hill, maybe injured. I often think that I carry too much, however that's because I make it without any mishaps. As a solo walker I don't think you can be to careful. Hmm, yes, thanks. I've got a bunch of more experienced people to walk with who are showing me the ropes, though, so pretty well off for caveats and kit lists. The sort of thing I really had in mind is questions like how many layers I need for 'normal' walking and how much (non-emergency) food and water I'll want in a normal day, which are kind of physiology dependent so you have to figure them out for yourself to some extent...
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 Just thought I'd report.... ..... that having completed two Peak District walks this weekend, both of approx. 10 miles, we didn't see a single person brewing up on any kind of stove while we were out!!  But we did see plenty of flasks in evidence 
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Matt, they are all still scared of walkers armed with vaseline
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mmm yes to a fairly large extent I would imagine!
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 no-one seems to have mentioned crampons, some of the paths in the Peak District can be lethal in icy conditions. These can mostly be avoided, but if you don't want to cut your day short, or change your route they can be useful. I was in the right hand fork of Grindsbrook yesterday for a rescue, and it was very close to crampon conditions, it was only due to the fact that some rocks were ice free that the route was passable.
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Lol, good point Judith - if we hadn't been able to step onto the grass at the side we'd have needed them for the paving slab path up Mam Tor on Saturday!!
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 Aye, those slabs are as slippery as a butcher's prick all year round... 
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 Fwiw, crampons don't make much odds on verglas but fortunately, in the Peak at least, there's usually an alternative way round. I've been out on the track up Jacob's and past Edale Cross where it's been a stream of water ice before now though.
My personal take is to be cautious when you start off then, as you gain more experience and knowledge, you can make your own mind up as to what works for you. I generally travel fairly light in the Peak - which is my homeground - but it also depends on exactly where I'm going and what the weather/ forecast looks like.
Soome stuff is a given in winter - torch, nav, a Blizzard bag for me at the moment, whistle, phone - other things go in and out of the sac depending on conditions etc.
There's a basic winter pack kit list on the front of the site now btw. One of the points it makes is that a lot of people who die in the hills actually are found to have the kit they need to survive with them. It doesn't matter what you're carrying, if you make the wrong choices, it won't help you, so arguably your mind and hill skills are the single most important tool you have.
Of course it's easy to say that in a warm and comfy forum, but the reality is that people in the early stages of hypothermia or in a panic, do make bad choices, often pushing on when they should stop and call for help. Good planning, nutrition, fitness and clothing can all reduce the chances of that happening.
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CRAMPONS- good point. I don't have any at present, due to losing various items through a relationship breakup. But I do still have my trusty walking poles (but why do I have THREE of them?). So, as I plan to walk Pen Y Fan (plus a few others) on christmas eve, why don't you all keep an eye out for me. If it's slippery, I will be the one sliding past you at high speed waving my arms LOL
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Jon hit a key point regarding skills, was out on Kinder last year when the mother of all snow storms with accompanying fog dropped down. As we were just a few hundred metres from the downfall a group of girls equipped with maps and compasses approached asking for confirmation that they were close to (ie 100 mts) Jacobs ladder!
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 I've been on top of Helvellyn at -18 in a blizzard and started cooking Beef Stew and Dumplimgs, I did get some looks from others eating their Motorway service frozen sandwiches......Did I share it?............ Yea right!!! Then with the water I had a nice big mug of chocolate. This was from a Army 24 hour ration pack, highly recomended bit of kit to have in the bergen, they do last for years. There has been some good comments on here but the most imprtant thing 'imho' is to make sure the phone batt is fully charged, and to have 'Bear Grylls' with you!!!! Ray Who????? SMc
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DEEPINVET I agree totally about the army rat pack food (made by wayfarer, and is the same product..To non army types). But found the Bear Grylls comment really funny. I think you may find if you asked Bear who taught him what he knows, then IMHO a certain Ray Mears would be on the list! (yes this is the same Ray Mears that advises the Special Air Service, and whom they listen to on what kit to issue operators on training and actual service) On the other hand, Ray mears must be pretty good at food gathering...Look at the size of his belly lately LOL. PS. -18 soundesd tough, but it could have been much worse...You could have had the dreaded pears in chocolate sauce!! (me thinks your bergen would be tastier)
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Been out 6 or 7 times since I posted this thread and am still to see someone brewing up! But it must happen as so many have mentioned it. Bought an Aladdin flask as mentioned by Ian, which is quite heavy but well worth it as it keeps water red hot all day!
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 To be fair though every time I sit down to soak up the views and get the kettle/mytimug on for a brew I dont remember having anybody appear waving a flask at me either
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 I was always a flask sort of person, brewing up was for 'twats who just wanted to fiddle with something'. Now I find myself being a 'twat who likes to fiddle with something'..... It is quite ritualistic really; and gives you the time as sandy says ' to soak up the views'. I did it today in fact with my wife and little lad out for just a short walk up a fairly lofty Tor. I could have had a flask, but a small lightweight brew kit adds something to the experience - oh and a bit of bubble wrap to sit on.......
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Sometimes though there are times when a flask would make more sense i.e. an instant hot drink. Sometimes it can be difficult to get out of the wind to set up the stove etc. I currently carry a Rab survival zone as my survival bag. Yesterday I found myself contemplating a very small tarp that could be set up maybe in a "flying V" configuration. I could then set this up quickly to get somewhere out of the wind/rain if theres no natural cover to get some respite and a brew on. It would also serve as a usefull addition to the survival zone if the worst were to happen. Thing is though I dont carry walking poles. I sometimes contemplate getting ones from alpkit as they could be usefull at times i.e crossing streams, scree, fending off irate sheep/flask wavers but I feel they would probably spend most of the time strapped to the rucksac.
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Fossil you have just made me realise (as I'm a stove person), that I'm a twat as well LOL. But heres my confession for you all: I went out christmas eve to the brecons, and even though my friend and I had three soves between us (to test them in windy conditions), and a flask of coffee each, we didn't use any of it....Now that could be double twatty!!!! The whole walk was either in mist or cloud. So with absolutely nothing to see, we just didn't stop. Also Im not sure whether the MCDonands on the way back is PROPER trail food either.
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 This is where stoves really win against flasks, especially in warmer weather. With a flask you have to lug about the extra weight of the flask and contents as well as the water you normally carry. With a stove you just carry it all as water, so you have a choice as to whether you have a cold drink or a hot drink, as well as the option of a different hot drink for each person with you.
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