Hiking out in Winter and spending the night? Now we’re getting serious. Our Winter Wild Camping Kit List will have you fully prepared for sleeping out in the wilds of the Lake District or Scotland. Check you have everything before heading out.
Winter Wild Camping Kit List
To some of you guys, walking in Winter will be a triumph in itself; and fair play. Walking in the snow can be hard enough from your house to the car but the challenges forced on you when you’re out in the mountains can be cruel.
This blog and the kit list will make sure you have all the gear you’ll need for a Winter camp.
Get The Right Backpack
You’ll need more space in your bag for one thing, so, you MAY need a bigger bag! The top of my MLD Exodus bag rolls down so becomes the size of it’s contents. It’s 50L and that’s all I need to carry everything I need for Winter. My kit is now very compact and light, I’ve spent lots of time and money making it so. The average hiker will probably need 60-70L BUT whatever you do, don’t just go out and buy a bag for a Winter expedition without working up the rankings.
You really should spend lots of nights wild camping and getting comfortable with it. Work on the gear you need to survive Summer camping first – see my Wild Camping Kit List blog for gear tips. When you’ve mastered wild camping, head off in rain (more challenging than you might think) and work up to Winter wild camping.
If the phrase ‘Mine Field’ frequents your mind right now why not just book on one of my ‘Only The Brave’ or other wild camping events? I can teach you everything you need to know and take you out to experience it. On my two-day expedition you’ll have a real adventure and really learn how to survive in the mountains.
My Wild Camping Kit List
- MLD Exodus Pack
- Tent (recommendation would depend on budget) – Best budget tent has to be the Vango Banshee 200 if you can get one. If you’re coming on an expedition, I have a few to choose from.
- Winter down sleeping bag (Blog – The Best Sleeping Bag For Wild Camping)
- Thermarest Neoair Xtherm Mattress
- Thermarest pump (not essential if you have the pump bag you got with the mattress)
- Foil foam sleeping mat
- RAB sleeping bag liner
- Sea To Summit pillow
- Jetboil MicroMo stove (340 grams)
- Small gas canister
- Clipper lighter
- Map
- Silva Expedition 4 Compass (Blog – What Do I Need For Navigation In The Mountains)
- Fenix 6 Sapphire GPS watch
- Petzl Actik CORE head torch, Petzyl case and spare batteries
- Petzl e+LITE Headlamp
- Fleece hat (essential)
- Berghaus Spectrum gloves
- Kestrel wind meter/thermometer
- Sawyer water filter and pouch
- Berghaus waterproof trousers
- Lifesystems emergency shelter
- Anker Power Bank & charger cable (not in photo)
- Lifesystems First Aid Kit – I take the ‘Mountain’ version but you only need ‘Adventurer’
- Green ‘food’ dry bag
- Towel
- Pee tub, yes you read it right
- Pajama’s
- Easton titanium stakes
- Shovel
- Food – I check other sites out each year but always go back to Base Camp Food – check out the bulk packs and use the WildFire10 discount code.
Additional Winter Wild Camping Kit List
So here’s what I take on top of my wild camping kit discussed in the previous Wild Camping Kit List article.
- Lots more food and energy
- Twice as much fuel for the stove
- The Alpkit Skyehigh 700 Winter sleeping bag does it for me
- Kahtoola Microspikes
- Scarpa Charmoz B3 boots
- Grivel G10 Crampons
- Grivel Helix Ice Axe
- Goggles
- Mitts
- Mountain Equipments Liteline Down Coat
Using these items is another story! Doing a Winter skills course is very much advised, I know some good instructors so feel free to ask.
Extra weight, extra energy
This gear will add a couple of kilograms to your bag as well as a good bit more space. My bag on a Winter expedition weighs 8kg, yours will come to about 12kg!
Not only will you use an extra 10% of energy hiking in freezing temperatures BUT you will use more carrying the heavier kit. Bear this in mind when planning your route AND don’t underestimate the return journey.
Do you have any Winter wild camping stories you would like to share? If you have any questions about kit don’t hesitate to send me a message. Please drop me a comment and a like if you got anything from reading.
Take care out there.
Read Next…
Take a look at my Winter Walking articles, especially the ones on Gear You’ll Need and Sleeping Warm.
