We’ve looked at what you should take out with you on day trips but now you’re getting serious and need a wild camping kit list. Gone are the days when you get back to the B&B as it’s getting dark, now you’re in it for proper adventure. You may want to add a couple of things but below is the kit list I’ve use for wild camping for the last couple of years, and it’s never let me down.
Wild Camping Kit List
Now we’re going to get serious and look at the gear you’ll need with you to survive the night on a wild camping expedition. When I’m heading out into the wild with my tent or bivvy, I look at this photo or my list. Then I can check that each item is in my bag. If it is, I know 100% that I am not going without. I NEVER think, lying under my shelter, ‘Sh!t I forgot to bring…!’. It just doesn’t happen.
So here it is, EVERYTHING I took up Haystacks to camp right by Innominate Tarn at -1c.
My Wild Camping Kit List
I’ve spent years getting the weight down and the size small. A few things change each year but I’m very picky. I sometimes don’t take the pillow at all on a nice dry day, I’ll roll up my jacket or something.
The Silva Expedition is the best compass out there for your money but make sure you get the 360 (in degrees) instead of the military one (in millimetres), unless you’ve learned navigation using one of them.
Head lights are essential. It may sound like an overkill to take a head torch, spare battery AND a spare light but you never know when you’ll get caught out with technology so it’s a must. The E+Lite is only 26g so it stays in my first aid kit all the time, it’s always there if I find a cave on a day walk as well.
There are cheaper matresses than the XTherm, granted, but I’ve been through about a dozen now and I jsut wanted to get the best there is. When I sleep out in the winter on snow, I really appreciate being 2 inches off it. From Spring to Autumn I just use the foil roll-mat and rough it but would be happy on my Therm-a-Rest Trail Lite Pad.
- MLD Exodus Backpack or Osprey Kestrel 68L
- Map
- Silva Compass Expedition 4-360 – (Blog – What Do I Need For Navigation In The Mountains)
- Casio Pro Trek Watch
- Petzyl Actik COREHead Light
- Petzyl Case
- Petzl Rechargeable Battery
- Petzl E+Lite Headlamp (spare in first aid kit)
- WildFire beany (essential)
- Berghaus Hiking Gloves
- Kestrel 2000 Wind Meter
- Sawyer Water Filter and pouch
- Berghaus Deluge Waterproof Over Trousers
- Lifesystems Survival Shelter 2
- Anker 20100 Charger & charger cable (not in photo)
- Anker Case
- Lifesystems First Aid Kit – plus bits detailed in my last post.
- Foil Camping Mat
- Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm Matress
- Thermarest pump bag – got this with the XTherm
- Exped Dry Bag Set
- Alpkit SkyeHigh 700 sleeping bag (Blog – The Best Sleeping Bag For Wild Camping)
- Stormin stove or Jetboil MicroMo
- Trangia 300ml Fuel Bottle
- Clipper lighter
- Microfibre Towel – change option, from £3.99
- Pee tub, yes you read it right
- Pajama’s
- 300g Bivvy Bag
- Rab Sleeping Bag Liner
- DD 3x3m SuperLight Tarp
- Thermarest pillow
- Easton titanium stakes
- Shovel
I’ve just had a few conversations about some ‘Two Day Expeditions’ coming up. I’ve sent them this photo and they’ll be reading this blog and the kit list. This will be exactly what I will take and what I will check a client’s bags for.
Things you might omit from your kit list
If you wanted to sleep in a tent you would remove the tarp and bivvy, my preference in most weather or terrain. If you used a Jetboil it would replace the stove and pot, you should still carry a lighter but the fuel would be swapped out with the gas canister of course.
I think the titanium stakes are the best I’ve used on any terrain. I’ll use them when I camp on Scafell Pike and Great Gable this Summer. They can be hammered into any terrain, between rocks or bashed with a rock into hard ground.
My clients won’t need to take the wind meter or the shovel, we don’t need two. The ladies, unfortunately, won’t have much use for the ‘pee tub’, unless you go down the Shewee route.
Sawyer Water Filter
I don’t take water into the mountains if I know there’s a reliable source. I can filter all the water I drink, straight from the beck.
Please let me know if you would do something different or if you have any questions don’t hesitate to drop me a line.
Happy hiking.
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Check out our other Essential Kit List blogs.
