What's Included?

Our instruction only courses include instructors fees and provision of communal safety equipment (ropes, karabiners etc). You will need to provide personal clothing etc as detailed on our kit list below.

If you require accommodation in North Wales then follow this link. 

Kit Lists

These are only a rough guide. Detailed course notes will be sent to you when you book with a comprehensive kit list for your course.

Hill Skills and Navigation Courses

Rucksack -40 to 50 litres
Waterproof jacket
Waterproof trousers
Torch
Walking Boots and Socks
Drink
Lunch
Hat and Gloves
1 x spare gloves
1 x spare warm layer
Spare food
Personal First Aid & sanitary supplies
Sunglasses and Sun Cream (weather dependant!)
Compass - We recommend a Silva Type 4

Photography Course:

To be added to the hill skills kit list:
Camera & kit
Double layer of gloves with very thin ones as the base layer so that you can remove the outer layer for fiddling around with your camera without getting cold hands.

UK Climbing Courses

Rucksack
Waterproof jacket
Waterproof trousers
Stiff approach shoes or boots (Dependant upon venue)
Trainers or Rock Climbing Shoes
Drink & Lunch
Hat and Gloves and 1 x spare gloves
1 x spare warm layer
Spare food & Personal First Aid & sanitary supplies
Sunglasses and Sun Cream (weather dependant!)
We will provide ropes, harnesses and helmets and all other specialised equipment. If you have any of your own gear then you are welcome to bring it along although we will only use our ropes.

Skye Ridge Kit List

Rucksack - 45 to 50 litres
Waterproof Jacket
Waterproof Trousers
Torch plus spare battery and bulb
Walking Boots – comfortable and broken in
Drinks bottle – 2 litre (or 2 x 1 litre bottles)
Lunch
Hat
Gloves
Thermal long johns
2 Thermal tops
Fleece jumper
Mid layer fleece
2 pairs of walking socks and liners
Mountain trousers – not cotton
Underwear – preferably not cotton
Personal first aid and sanitary supplies (We will provide group first aid kit)
Sunglasses and sun cream
Spare fleece jumper
Spare gloves
Sleeping Bag – Mummy style rated to minimum of +5 degrees and weighing no more than 1.5 kilo’s
Sleeping Mat – ¾ length thermarest ideal or Karrimat for budget version
Bivvy Bag – Goretex is best
Spoon
Mug
2 x drybags (One large enough to hold your sleeping bag and one for your spare clothes/gloves)

Do not wear cotton clothes, they absorb water and keep hold of it which means you get cold and clammy. They can also cause nasty chaffing! 

Scottish Winter Courses

The extremes of winter conditions in Scotland should not be under estimated. Shell garments in particular need to be of high quality, as do boots, gloves and other warm clothing. I have written the kit that I use as a general guide if you are buying new and want an idea of the sort of thing to look for.

Waterproof Jacket - full weight breathable model preferred.
I use Crux Flak Jacket
Overtrousers - with 3/4 or full length side zips.
I prefer salopettes and use Arcteryx Goretex XCR and Paramo
Rucsac 40-50l capacity - a plastic liner is a must.
I prefer an Alpine design without sidepockets as it will be better balanced. The lighter the sack the better – I use Mammut and Crux sacks.
Winter Mountaineering Boots suitable for crampons - need a rigid model for ice climbing courses. In Scotland I love my Scarpa Omega Thermos but these can be too rigid for some people.
Socks 2 pairs of warm loop lined ones.
Gaiters made from breathable material. (Goretex ideal)
Wicking thermal top not cotton please!
Merino wool is very good as it does not smell or itch.
2 Warm fleeces or equivalent.
I use Patagonia R2 fleece as it is a fibre pile fleece which gives great warmth for weight. I prefer a warm fleece to a windproof one for Scotland.
Thermal leggings or warm mountain trousers.
I wear Helly Hansen thermals under Mammut Base Jump Schoeller Trousers, often with my salopettes over the top as well. I am a skinny devil who feels the cold though!
Thin Inner Glove
Warm Ski Type Gloves
I use Mountain Equipment Guide Gloves
Hat or Balaclava must fit under a helmet.
I like bright colours with tassels!
Spare Mittens especially if you suffer from cold hands.
Spare Fleece
Water Container approx 1l, or .75l flask.
I use a Nalgene with a wide top as it can double as a bowl for eating from or a hot water bottle.
Headtorch + batteries
Map, Compass + Whistle (optional, but a good idea).
Personal medications + blister kit
Ski Goggles + sun glasses
#Long sling + locking karabiner
#Climbing Helmet
#Crampons with antiball plates
I use DMM Gladiators which are a C3 Crampon
#Ice Axe classic type for intro mountaineering.

If you are bringing your own crampons then please make sure they fit your boots.

# Items can be hired locally, we also have a limited supply which are available free of charge on a first come first served basis.  

We will provide ropes, harnesses and helmets and all other specialised equipment. If you have any of your own gear then you are welcome to bring it along although we will only use our ropes.
 
# Items provided free if ordered in advance on a first come first served basis as we have a limited supply.

For snowholing courses you will also need:

Sleeping bag rated to minus 15
I Use a RAB Summit 800 Down Bag
Goretex bivvy bag and thermarest for snowholing
I use a RAB Pertex bivvy bag but only because I have such a warm sleeping bag. If I know I will be out in the open I use a goretex bivvy bag.
Plastic bowl and a spoon

Scottish Winter Climbing

Bring along standard Scottish winter kit, with the addition of the following items:-

# Pair of Technical Axes - I recommend DMM Flys & Petzl Quarks for Scotland
Plastic Boots recommended - it can be a lot colder.
2nd Pair Goretex Gloves or equivalent, one pair will often get wet.
Light Duvet or Belay Jacket an extra fleece would suffice.
#Provided free if ordered in advance

Crampons with vertically orientated front points can also help a lot!