Recommended Hiking Gear for our Expeditions
Have you received the packing list for our hiking expeditions in Snowdonia, the Lake District or the Brecon Beacons and are feeling lost? Don’t worry we’ve got you!
We’ve put together some examples of the gear you’ll need to get you up (and back down) that mountain!
On all our hiking expeditions apart from the day hike option in Snowdonia, you will carry all your camping kit with you up the mountain, so we recommend keeping your pack as light as possible. We will provide tents (if required) and cooking stoves.
Remember to check with friends and family, they might have items you can borrow before investing in your own gear!
Please see these recommendations more as examples, there’s plenty of options out there to suit your budget!
HIKING BOOTS
We recommend waterproof boots with mid-level ankle support, with good grippy soles. Examples are the Salomon Women’s X Ultra 3 GORE-TEX Mid Boot or the Merrell Women's MOAB II Mid GTX Walking Boots.
NB: For your safety you will not be allowed to hike in trainers.
WATERPROOF JACKET
You will need a jacket that keeps you fairly dry and comfortable in prolonged rain but which is packable. The cheapest “waterproofs” don’t keep off much more than a short shower. Ideally your jacket should be made of what is known as a 2-layer technical fabric, such as Gore-Tex or eVent, which is both waterproof and breathable. It should have taped seams and storm flaps or waterproof zips, plus a hood and adjustable cuffs and hem.
An example is the Berghaus Women’s Maitland Gore-Tex Waterproof Jacket Or the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Jacket
WATERPROOF TROUSERS
These Berghaus Deluge Overtrousers are tough, waterproof and breathable and are ideal for year-round wet weather wear, with side zips making them easy to take on and off and an elasticated waist.
INSULATED JACKETS
(down or synthetic)
It cools off quickly at camp in the evenings so you will need a warm jacket (to wear underneath your waterproof if necessary). There are plenty of good down or synthetic options - down tends to pack down smaller for the warmth it provides but we appreciate it may not be for everyone!
This packable Women’s Mountain Trekking Padded Jacket or this Women’s Mountain Trekking Down Jacket are both good value options from Decathlon.
FAST DRYING T-SHIRT OR LONG SLEEVE
You will want to wear base layers which are quick drying and which wick moisture from your body; this helps to keep your temperature regulated even if you’re sweaty while the air is cool outside. The Patagonia Womens Capilene Cool Trail Shirt is a great example. Try to stay away from cotton as this gets cold when wet and takes a long time to dry.
60L HIKING BACKPACK
Please do not bring a bag smaller than 60 litres as you may not be able to fit the tent in your pack! This VANGO Contour 60:70 Rucksack is a good value and comfortable option with a padded hip belt and airflow increasing rucksack straps.
3 SEASONS SLEEPING BAG
A lightweight and compressible sleeping bag is important because you’ll need to fit it in your backpack, but you still need enough warmth. This 3 season VANGO Latitude Pro 200 Sleeping Bag is a good value option, providing warmth in a fairly small package.
PILLOW
A great hack for making yourself a pillow without having to carry one is to pack your padded jacket and/or any spare clothing into a dry bag to create a pillow for the night. If you really feel you need it and have space in your pack, you could buy a very small camping pillow such as this Drift camping pillow from Alpkit.
For the Day Hike option in Snowdonia, where you won’t be carrying your camping gear on the hikes, feel free to bring your normal pillow if you prefer!
SLEEPING MAT
Once again, you need a sleeping mat that will pack down small. We can recommend the Alpkit Cloudbase Inflatable Sleeping Mat which is surprisingly comfortable but very light.
DAY HIKE TRIPS ONLY!
For the Day Hike option in Snowdonia, where you won’t be carrying your camping gear on the hikes, feel free to bring something larger and more comfy if you prefer - like this Decathlon inflatable mattress (don’t forget a pump!)
WALKING POLES
These come highly recommended by both our guides and past clients, especially as you will be carrying quite a heavy pack. They really protect your knees, especially on steep downhills and can make a huge difference to your hike. Look for fairly lightweight ones, with comfortable grips and telescopic poles like these OEX X-Lite Trigger Trekking Poles
WATER BOTTLE
These 1 litre Nalgene bottles come highly recommended; they’re leakproof and take both cold and hot water (wrapped in a piece of clothing or sock they make a good hot water bottle at night time too!). The wide mouth makes cleaning easier and they are made out of BPA, BPS and Phthalate free plastic.
DRY SACKS
You can get a selection of dry bags of various sizes like this Lifeventure Ultralight 25L Dry Bag from most outdoor shops.
Our recommendations for ensuring your kit remains dry are:
Keep the next day and sleep clothes in a dry bag
Keep your sleeping bag in a dry bag
TOILETRIES
To save weight, you could use ziplock bags to pack only a few wipes for example, instead of bringing a whole pack. We also recommend a small, lightweight and fast drying microfibre trek towel, and a small personal first aid kit (bandage, tape, plasters, blister kit, painkillers) - you can collate your own easily, or buy a pre-stocked one like this small Lifesystems Trek First Aid Kit. You should also bring a small trowel for wild pooping - like this OEX Stainless Steel Folding Trowel
We also recommend these Kula Pee Cloths (Optional - 10% discount code sent at the time of booking) - a super hygienic quick drying pee cloth, for those of you that prefer not to “drip dry”!
And for insects and midges, try Smidge.