Mountaineering • Getting started • Your first mountain • Skills & techniques • Doing your TMC • Fitness • Food & nutrition • Equipment overview • Climb preparation • Gear check list • Joining an expedition • The effects of altitude • Navigation • Safety & first aid • Further reading • Trip research

Mountaineering
Gear check list

The following is a list of the equipment typically used for mountaineering. Of course it will vary from one expedition to another.

Personal clothing

• Plastic double boots/Thinsulate or leather mountaineering boots
• Trekking/hiking boots
• Thermal under socks
• Trekking/hiking socks 2-3 pairs
• Extreme weather socks 2-3 pairs
• Thermal balaclava
• Gaiters
• Climbing pants or 2 pairs of thermal long johns
• Thermal tops 2 pair
• Fleece jacket
• Down or synthetic vest/jacket or extra fleece jacket
• Warm hat
• Sun hat or viser
• Thermal liner gloves
• Mountaineering gloves
• Overmittens - preferably wind proof
• Waterproof Gore-Tex mountaineering jacket
• Waterproof Gore-Tex mountaineering pants or bib and brace with side zippers

Personal equipment

• 4 seasons sleeping bag
• Insulated sleeping pad
• Self inflating sleeping pad ie. Therm-a-rest
• Mountaining backpack - 60-70 litres
• Bivi sack
• Glacier glasses with side covers
• SPF 30+ sun screen and lip balm
• Headlamp with spare batteries and globe
• Water bottles - 3 @ 1 litre
• Map and compass
• Notebook and pencil
• First aid kit
• Small sewing kit
• Swiss army knife or Leatherman multi tool
• Abseil/belay device
• Ice-hammer
• Ice-axe
• Helmet
• Harness
• Ski goggles
• Crampons w/anti balling plates
• Karabinas - minimum 3 locking, 4 snap
• Prusik slings - 2 long, 2 short
• Avalanche transceiver, probe and shovel
• Trekking pole/s
• Altimeter/ barometer

Group and technical equipment

• Climbing rope/s, usually 50 metres
• Repair kit including crampon spares
• First aid kit
• Snow pickets
• Ice screws
• Slings 4-6
• Fuel stove
• Cooking equipment
• Tent/s
• Abseil rope

Joining an expedition >