What To Carry In Your Winter Pack

It's at about this time of year that things start to get cold and gnarly in the hills and with shorter days and more extreme conditions, it makes sense to think through what you're carrying in your winter pack.

Bear in mind that there are no absoutely correct answers here, your kit choice will vary with your experience, the conditons, your plans and the area you're walking in - what may make sense in, say, the Cairngorms could be overkill in the Dales.

In other words, use our suggestions as a starting point and take it from there. Remember the old mountaineering saying that going equipped for a bivvy often means you're carrrying so much kit that it's far more likely to happen.

There aren't any 'right answers' here. Historically winter daypacks tended to be around the 40 litre mark, but with lighter, more compact, modern equipment, you can often get away with smaller.

What you do need is the capacity to carry everything on your checklist plus, in snowy conditions, fixings for an ice axe, possibly two, and a set of crampons. Some packs come with crampon patches on the lid, but we'd suggest stowing them under the lid, where they're less likely to become clogged with snow.

A crampon bag will help too, but obviously adds extra weight. For winter climbing you'll also need to be able to stash a rope - it's best inside the pack to avoid snow and ice - and hardware as well, so in that case, 40+ litres is probably about right. For normal use, a 30-litre pack should be enough for most people using modern gear.

What spare clothing you carry will depend partly on your emergency shelter provisions and the clothing system you use.

We're assuming here that you're already wearing appropriate wind and wateproof shell clothing and possibly some extra insulation. Classic advice is to carry an extra lightweight fleece, but increasingly, walkers are using synthetically insulated jackets which pack smaller and have a good warmth to weight ratio.

Spare clothing is basically for stops when you'll cool down fast or, in a worst case scenario, for an emergency bivvy when you may have to stay out overnight.

In the UK, we'd suggest synthetic rather than down insulation because it withstands damp conditions better.

As well as extra torso insulation, you should also carry a hat and gloves. In full winter conditions, we'd also suggest spares of each just in case. You could do this on a group basis - just don't all lose your gloves at the same time...

It's a good idea to carry some form of emergency shelter - it could save your life. Steer clear of space blankets, they simply aren't tough enough. Instead we'd suggest either a basic polythene survival bag or, if you're a couple or group, then some for of group survival shelter.

The latter are generally a big bag made from wind and waterproof tent-type fabric with a drawcord. You sit on your pack and the base of the bag and bingo, instand protection. They have the big advantage of pooling body warmth inside the bag and can be improbably comfortable.

Bear in mind that neither of the above provide any insulation, hence the need for spare clothing to retain body heat.

Some groups do carry a spare sleeping bag, but it's a relatively heavy item to haul about for smaller parties. A better compomise is one of the excellent Blizzard Survival Bags which aren't much heavier than a normal survival bag, but trap enough air to be roughly as warm as a 2/3 season sleeping bag. In their packed state, they're about the same size as a video tape.

You burn calories just keeping warm in winter, so you'll need enough fuel for your day's walking - err on the generous side. On top of that, it's a good idea to carry a back-up emergency food stash in case you do find yourself benighted. Chocolate bars are a good way of carrying lots of calories in a small space. Or the dreaded Kendal Mint Cake, which has the advantage of being really unpalatable.

You'll also need fluid, particularly if you're working hard. Think a minimimum half litre per hour and preferably more. On top of that, a flash of hot soup or tea is a great morale booster. It's not a light option though, so you need to balance effort versus benefit. The same's true of carrying a stove for a brew-up. Are you really going to do it?

As a group, we'd suggest that you always have at least one spare map - they blow away all too easily - and compass at hand to back up your primary navigating gear whether it's another map or a GPS unit. If the latter, it's a good idea to carry spare batteries as well - in cold winter conditions, the reactions within batteries slow down leading to shorter life.

On top of the above, we'd also suggest you carry a headtorch with batteries, make sure it can't be switched on accidentally in your pack. A whistle to attract attention in an emergency situation and a basic first aid kit to cope with minor injuries and cuts. Something like a Swiss Army knife can also come in handy.

In full winter conditions where driven spindrift and snow could be an issue a pair of ski goggles - vented ones work best - and a balaclava or even a neoprene / fleece face mask can make the difference between a day of mild discomfort and one being painfully shot-blasted with driven ice particles. Nigh on essential in the Cairngorms, for example.

Last but not least a mobile phone is the single most effective way of calling for help, though remember, coverage in mountain areas can be patchy, so don't rely on being able to get through.

Many walkers and climbers who die on the hills are actually found to be carrying everything they would have needed to survive. Their mistake was often pushing on when they should have stopped, taken shelter and waited either for rescue or a break in the weather.

You can carry all the right gear, but you still need the judgement and knowledge to use it and to make the right decisions. That means honing your navigational skills, understanding your physiology and how your body works in bad conditions and sometimes, simply, staying calm when things turn nasty and making considered decisions.

Of course that's easy to say, but hard when you're tired, stressed and possibly mildly hypothermic and your judgement is possibly impaired. Thorough preparation, good fitness, an effective clothing system and good nutrition should reduce the chances of this happening though, and don't underestimate the importance of morale.

Last and not least, before you head out in winter, leave a note of your intended route and estimated time of return with someone you trust so that if you don't get back, they can notify mountain rescue by calling '999'. Remember to let them know you're back when you're off the hill as well.

 Like we said at the start, nothing is set in stone and with experience you'll develop your own ideas of what you need and don't need, but whatever you do, remember that while winter hills are beautiful, they're also potentionally deadly, so let's be careful out there and come back safe and sound.