Mountain Travel Pack List

Clothing

Pretty crucial, I mean, you'll feel naked without it. What you take exactly will depend on just how extreme conditions are, but these are our starters:

• Shell jacket - try to keep it light

• Two baselayer tops - one if you're traveling really light and don't mind ponging

• Or one baselayer top and one long-sleeved microfibre-type shirt

• Two pairs of baselayer briefs or trunks

• One pair of leggings

• Pair convertible pants or shorts / pants in microfibre

• Pair very lightweight shell trousers (if it's a wet area)

• One microfleece - light and warm enough for most situations - and alternative would be the warmer, but still light R2 midweight Regulator fleece

• Three pairs of walking socks (wash in rotation)

• Warm hat - either fleece or shelled fleece

• Windproof lightweight fleece gloves

• Sun hat or baseball cap

Tips If it's going to be really cold in the evenings, think about either a down or synthetically insulated top. It'll be warmer for its weight than a heavier-weight fleece and the microfleece will still be much more versatile during the day.

Think about combining different layers to save weight. Rather than carry a pair of warm trousers and some thin ones for warmer weather and shorts, use convertible pants with baselayer leggings underneath for cooler conditions.

Boots My personal philosophy is to use the lightest boots I think are adequate for the terrain. In hot places, unlined fabric boots or even walking sandals can make a huge difference to comfort, but in any case, don't fall into the trap of thinking that going to the mountains means compulsory huge boots. If you like them stiff and tall, that's fine, but you may find lighter boots more than adequate and more comfortable too.

In all cases, lateral stiffness is important. The boot should bend from toe to heel, but shouldn't twist easily across the sole. It's this that makes boots stable or not rather than high, thickly padded ankles.

'Walking Equipment'

• Pack - ideally one that's versatile enough for either day walks or overnights

• Trekking poles - a very personal call, if you use them, take them. Great on rough ground with big loads

• That's it really...

Tips Your rucksac is important. You'll be using it a lot so you need one that's comfortable wth the loads you'll be carrying, so make sure it is. I also like to have a hydration system compatible pack, but if you don't use a reservoir, that won't really be a consideration. If it's rainy, consider a rain cover of some kind. A liner will keep the contents dryish, but the outside of the sack will be soacked. Yuck...

The more you're carrying, the bigger the pack you need, so save weight elsewhere and you can make do with a lighter, smaller pack.

Bits and Pieces in the Pack

• First Aid kit - don't go mad. You need to be able to bandage and treat minor wounds and deal with headaches etc. Include some rehydration salts in case you're stricken with dysentry and, if you're off to a giardia-infested area, consider packing some anti-giardia drugs (prescription only). At high altitudes, Diamox, which aids acclimatisation is also an option.

• Blister kit - just some Compeed or similar if you're at all prone to blisters

• Survival Bag / Shelter - if you're backpacking and have a tent, forget this, otherwise it could save your life

• Whistle - helps avoid appearances on 999

• Compass / Maps / Mapcase - all useful if you don't want to fall off the edge of the world

• Swiss Army knife or lightweight multi-tool plus basic sewing and repair kit. Throw some zip-ties and duct tape wrapped round a film canister in as well. Loads of uses.

• Headtorch - for mainly camping use go for one of the lightweight LED versions like Petzl's Tikka or Zipka. Batteries last forever and the light is adequate, plus they're very, very light.

• Sun glasses - there's a lot of UV light around, especially at altitude. Look for 100 per-cent UV protection and protect your eyes

• Sun cream - stick with high factor - 25 plus - and reapply frequently.

• Insect Repellant - follow the instructions and remember that very high Deet content doesn't necessarily mean better protection. Keep it out of your eyes.

Tips It's easy to weigh yourself down with loads of 'what if' gadgets - but you have to carry them and will you really need that inflatable armchair in Corsica? Be safe but not paranoid.

Eating and Drinking

• Water Purification - do some research and some thinking. Can you get by just boiling water? If not what's the best solution. Iodine is effective if you're on a shortish trip, filters are okay but don't kill everything, best option is a purifier which combines a filter and pump with an iodine microbe killer, but these are expensive and relatively heavy.

• Water Carrying - I like hydration systems, they're an efficient way of keeping hydrated and relatively light, but more difficult to fill from streams and harder to clean than a water bottle. Something like a one-litre Nalgene bottle plus a two-litre hydration system is a practical solution.

• Share cooking utensils and pots between a group if you are one. I like non-stick lined aluminium pans because they're light and easy to clean - MSR Blacklite are good, but use plastic utensils to avoid trashing the finish.

• Stoves are a question of geographical suitability. Gas is easiest, multi-fuel sometimes the only practical option. One tip though, forget the matches, carry four or so disposable lighters.

• Knife / Fork / Spoon: do you need them all? I usually get by with just a spoon and a Swiss Army knife. If you're really obsessive, there are titanium cutlery sets on the market at a price.

Tips Do some research into what fuel's available before going. If you're in doubt then a multifuel stove gives you insurance. You can always pack a very light gas stove like the MSR Pocket Rocket just in case, or choose a multifuel, that also burns gas (Primus Himalaya for example).

Washing and Stuff

• Some people simply don't wash, but I'd take a basic wash kit and a travel towel, which may not feel lovely but work - avoid the Pertex ones, they are deeply unpleasant

•Share or minimise toiletries - do you need a family-sized toothpaste for a week?

• Don't bother cutting your toothbrush in half. You save virtually no weight and make it a pig to hold. Minimise the soap instead.

• If you're trekking, consider one of the tubes of antiseptic handwash gel for toilet stops.

• Travel Wash is great for sock washing sessions and doesn't weigh much either - comes in a small tube. Nice.

Tips Curiously although you may think you smell okay on the trail, once you hit civilization, you'll realise that you are, in fact, a walking pile of dung. Don't know why, just is. Washing reduces the effect and makes the inside of the tent smell sweeter.

Camping and Sleeping

To be honest, the whole camping and sleeping topic is so relative to where you're going and what you're doing that it's virtually meaningless. The three things you'll need are:

• a sleeping mat - for comfort and insulation

• a tent - to keep you safe and dry

• a sleeping bag - for warmth

Tips Beyond that we'd just suggest that if you take an inflatable mat - eg a Therm-a-Rest - then you make sure you pack a repair kit as well. Use a liner to lengthen the life of your sleeping bag and count your tent pegs and other bits before you go as there's little worse than realising you've left your poles behind in the middle of nowhere...