Mountaineering Equipment

Mountaineering places big demands on your equipment; having the correct equipment for the day is essential for your own comfort and for reasons of safety. The following printer friendly downloadable lists cover the essential items for each type of mountaineering.

Mountaineering Kit Lists

Summer Mountaineering
Winter Mountaineering
Scrambling
Rock Climbing
Winter Climbing
Skye Ridge Traverse

Boots - need to give good ankle support and have quite a stiff sole. Three season boots are OK (e.g. Scarpa "SL") but stiffer soles are better for more technical use i.e. scrambling (e.g. Raichle "All Degree Lite"). For winter use a very stiff sole is needed, found on four season boots (e.g. La Sportiva "Nepal Evo" or Scarpa "Freney XT"). Plastic boots are OK but are very hard work to walk in. Mountaineering boots (Raichle "60 Degrees") can be hired from Ellis Brigham in Fort William. Two pairs of socks should be worn (one thin, one thick) to minimise rubbing and the chance of blisters.

Shell Jacket and Trousers - should be breathable and fairly heavy weight. The hood must fit over a helmet and chest pockets make your chocolate bar accessible when wearing a harness. Trousers must have side zips to enable them to be put on over big boots.

Rucksack - 40/45 litres for summer and 50/55 litres for winter use are ideal sizes. Gear loops and ice axe loops are helpful and a waterproof liner or stuff sacs are essential to keep your gear dry.

Survival Bag - 6' orange poly survival bag is essential.

Clothing - base layers should not be cotton; polyester or nylon are OK, a wicking base layer (e.g. coolmax or dryflo) is ideal. Fleece or wool trousers and tops keep you warm even if they are damp.

Hats and Gloves - bring lots of wool or fleece hats or balaclavas and waterproof gloves. Big red plastic gardening gloves are the only gloves that will keep your hands dry in winter, make sure they are big enough to go over your fleece gloves.

Other items - gaiters, head-torch, ski-goggles or sun glasses, sun cream, a blister kit, flask (essential in winter), O.S. 1;50 000 map numbers 41 and 34, compass, whistle, energy, enthusiasm etc.

Ice Axe - for winter mountaincraft courses a walking/mountaineering axe is required (e.g. Grivel "Munro" or "Airtech"), about 60cm long.

Crampons - must be suitable for your boots. Semi-rigid, 12 point crampons are ideal with a stiff boot. Step-in crampons are far easier to fit than strap-ons but need specific boots - ask for advice at your local outdoor shop.

Helmet - required for all winter courses, scrambling and climbing courses.

Harness - with adjustable leg loops to fit over big boots for scrambling and climbing courses.

Belay plate and big screwgate carabiner - for climbing courses.

Rock shoes - are a good idea for climbing courses.

Technical Ice Axes - a pair of technical ice axes is necessary for winter climbing courses.

Mountaineering boots, helmets, ice axes, crampons and technical ice axes can be hired from Ellis Brigham in Fort William. If you let us know we can collect your hire kit for you in case you arrive in Fort William after the shop has shut.

All ropes and technical items of equipment are supplied by Abacus Mountaineering.

If you have any queries, however simple, please contact us. We'd rather spend the time making sure you are prepared for your course than for you to arrive with the wrong kit.