Gear

What you need on the mountain

The right kit is the difference between a brilliant day and a miserable one. This is the list I pack from myself.

Clothing

  • Shell jacket and trousers with taped seams
  • Merino base layers – two in cold conditions
  • Down or synthetic jacket for breaks
  • Hat, buff and two pairs of gloves (one kept dry)

Feet

  • Sturdy boots with a supportive sole
  • Gaiters for snowfields and wet ground
  • Spare socks in a dry bag
  • Poles – they save your knees on the descent

Safety & navigation

  • Map (Fjällkartan BD6) and compass – paper, not just a phone
  • Power bank and head torch
  • First aid kit with blister plasters
  • Emergency beacon or satellite messenger on longer trips

Eastern route & winter

  • Harness, rope and ice axe
  • Crampons or microspikes depending on conditions
  • Avalanche kit: transceiver, shovel and probe
  • A guide unless you have solid glacier experience