What safety kit do I need?
In this audiobook Nick talks about safety kit, plus we give you our hills equipment list.
Equipment List – Hills
Whether you are training, competing or enjoying the outdoors its always important to have some basic fundamental kit. This will allow you to keep warm, dry and safe and at the same time provide that essential kit to someone else that might be in need and does not have the correct equipment.
The type of kit that you carry should reflect the areas you are going into and activity you are carrying out.
It’s always a good idea to let someone else know your location and route taken.
Here is a basic kit list for what you would want to carry and the kit to be worn, ensure that all items are at least dry bagged and all essential equipment is double dry bagged, EOF recommend Ortleib:
Equipment:
Boots
Well fitted comfortable boots, it might be that you want to consider waterproofness.
Clothing
Well fitted and comfortable clothing, it’s worth looking at layers and venting options to allow you to manage changes in heat and cold. EOF recommend that you wear synthetic materials to ensure you are protected from rubbing especially for underwear and top, a quality belt that will not break when you are climbing and working hard.
Hat and Gloves
Carry a hat and gloves in your pockets, the UK weather changes quickly and it’s a good way to ensure your extremities and head are warm and protected. EOF recommend lightweight waterproof windproof.
Nutrition
Carry at least two sources of nutrition in your pocket and possibly a stow away flexible water carrier that can hold 500ml.
Notebook and pencil
Can be stowed away inside but at hand
Essential life saving equipment:
Mobile phone
Fully charged and preferably with an additional source of charging such as a power bank. EOF recommend solar charger, what3words app and WhatsApp installed with knowledge of how to do live location.
Map and compass
On the tether and waterproofed. Make sure the map covers the entire area plus some, to ensure if you get lost or move away from your route you are still on the map
Watch
Waterproof watch
Bergen or day sack
Suitable to carry your kit, make sure that it is dry bagged and all equipment is at hand and water proofed.
Windproof lightweight Jacket
This will allow you to just take the edge off the weather and also take on the winds that are likely on ridges and high points
Waterproof lightweight jacket
This will allow you to also take the edge or light bad wet weather. Make sure its slightly over sized to allow you to wear warm dry kit over the top. EOF recommend you have an additional hat and gloves in these pockets and a food bar.
Fleece
Long arm fleece
Duvet Jacket
This is a jacket that is warm enough to keep you warm while static for long periods. They are lightweight and warm so make sure this is a quality jacket. This
is an item that you will normally only put on if you are unwell or getting cold, so water, additional hat, gloves, food bar and a head torch are a good idea for the pockets.
Water and Food
Enough water and food to sustain you for in the hills. You do not need lots of food so be sensible. EOF recommend that you take a warm flask of tea or coffee with sugar in it. EOF recommend you carry on of their steri tab containers with at least 10 steri tabs for sterilising water.
Spare clothes
Spare socks, lifa style top, underwear
Sleeping bag inside Gortex Bivi bag
Good quality sleeping bag out of it stow bag and inside a Gortex Bivi bag already, ready for deployment. A bag that would be suitable for an overnight sleep outside in an emergency, EOF recommend that you have a head torch, food bar and 3 x Lumi sticks inside the sleeping bag
Spare Para Cord
x 3 1m, .5m and .25m in length for emergency such as broken strapping, laces, boot strapping for ankle injury etc
Basic med kit
for self and others to include strapping, paracetamol and Bandaging
Poncho
Large square/rectangle poncho liner with Para cord x 98 around the edges to allow tie off onto trees
Cooker
Cooker and gas x 2, 2 x lighters gas and 2 x flint lighters
Non essential kit:
Extra Strobe light x 1 or LUMI Sticks x 3
Waterproof over trousers
Water filtration system
Electronic GPS handheld
Hexi block cooker for emergency use
Flint Striker
Bag of cotton wool and kindling waterproofed for fire lighting
Towel quick dry
Sun cream and Sun hat
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