Winter Gear List: Lake District

This is my 5-day Bob Graham Round-inspired walk and wild camping winter gear list. I’ve also included a run-down of how the gear performed.

	Winter Gear List

CATEGORY	ITEM	WEIGHT
Rucksack	Granite Gear Blaze 60L (inc. 81g Lid)	1578g
	Pack liner waterproof – Sea to Summit – small	80g
	Shoulder strap pocket – Gossamer Gear hipbelt pocket	34g

Shelter	Lightwave S10 Sigma Tent	978g
	Pegs – x12 various sizes including bag and spares	171g
	Cloth – for tent condensation	5g
	Bag for above – Sea to Summit 13L drybag	28g

Sleep system &	Sleeping mat – Thermarest Neoair Xtherm (winglock)	424g
emergency clothing	Pump sack for sleeping mat – Thermarest	55g
	Pillow – Exped UL	47g
	Sleeping Bag – PHD Ice Camp Expedition -25C comfort limit	1208g
	Baselayer – Icebreaker hooded one-piece 200gsm merino wool	418g
	Socks – M&S Ankle High merino	28g
	Socks – PHD Wafer K series	54g
	Jacket – PHD Yukon K series	370g
	Bag for above – Dyneema	12g

Cook bag	Stove – Vargo Titanium Triad multifuel stove	30g
	Vargo Windbreak and alloy base	43g
	Pot + Lid – Evernew 600ml	92g
	Mug – Titanium 400ml	62g
	Knife – Deejo Naked pocket knife	15g
	Spoon – Esbit titanium long handle	18g
	Gas Lighter	21g
	Bag for above – Sea to Summit small	15g

Outside pack &	Sitmat – Thermarest Z-Seat	57g
in pockets	Compass – Silva	34g
	Head torch – Petzl	88g
	Head torch – Spare – Petzl e+lite	27g
	Rubbish bag – Sea to Summit small	15g
	Water bottle – 2L Evernew	40g
	Wine bottle – PlatyPreserve	24g
	Waterfilter – MSR Guardian Water Purifier Pump	640g
	Bag for above – MSR	66g
	Phone/Camera/GPS/Mapping – Ulefone Armor waterproof phone	361g
	First Aid Kit bag + Mirror	217g
	Repair & Spares Kit bag	88g
	Wash Kit bag- inc. Towel and Soap Leaves	74g
	Drybags for above
	Face masks x 2 in bag (Covid-19)	8g
	Maps – Harvey Bob Graham Round map	31g

	Snow/sun glasses (inc. 22g case)	62g


Toilet bag	kitchen roll and Antibacterial wet wipes (for the day+)	56g
	Toilet trowel – The Duece 2	16g
	Dry bag for above – Dyneema 1L	12g

Clothing	Socks – Darn Tough Light Hiker	75g
often in my	Socks – EDZ Liner merino	64g
rucksack	Baselayer – Inov-8 at/c merino short sleeve t-shirt	112g
	Midlayer – Icebreaker Descender merino vest	252g
	Outerlayer – Paramo Torres Alturo jacket – synthetic insulation	668g
	Gloves – EDZ grip merino wool touch screen	41g
	Gloves – PHD Tiaga fleece slit mitts	58g
	Gloves – Extremities synthetic insulation mitts	89g
	Gloves – Extremities Tuff Bags waterproof mitts	71g
	Head Band	22g
	Balaclava – Outdoor Research	52g
	Stuff sack for above – Dyneema	13g
	Dry bag for above – Sea to Summit 13L	28g
	Crampons – Nortec Alp micro spike – including 66g bag	564g
	Ice Axe – Petzl Ride	250g
	Base Weight – TOTAL =	10061g


Gear worn or	Boots – Inov-8 Roclite Pro G 400 GTX (including Inov-8 insoles)	830g
carried in hands	Socks – EDZ merino wool boot socks	99g
	Gaiters – Rab	222g
	Underwear – EDZ merino boxers	90g
	Baselayer – EDZ zip collar long sleeve 200g 100% merino top	254g
	Midlayer – Paramo Bentu fleece jacket	417g
	Outerlayer – Paramo Bentu windproof jacket	433g
	Trousers – Paramo Cascade 11	481g
	Neck tube – EDZ – 100% merino	51g
	Hat – EDZ Beanie merino	44g
	Gloves – Rohan convertible mitts	69g
	Walking Poles – Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Z – 120cm – pair	460g
	Watch – Lorus	64g
	Wallet – Cash, credit/debit cards, ID. In plastic bag	100g
	Gloves – PHD Kappa synthetic mitts
	Total =	3614g

Consumables
(5 days)	Water – 1 Litre = 1kg	1000g
	Dehydrated/freeze dried meals – Breakfasts and Dinners	2900g
	Snacks and Lunch	2500g
	Fuel – Methylated spirit 500ml bottle 452g + smaller refill bottle 240g	692g
	Batteries for Head Torch – spare – 3 x AAA Energiser	37g
	Loo Roll/kitchen roll	50g
	Antibacterial wet wipes	124g

	Total =	7303g

	Base weight +	10061g
	Consumables	7303g
	Rucksack total weight =	17364g

	Winter means more hours in the tent because of the longer nights
	so I am taking more fuel, food and coffees than I would in the summer.

Wild camping winter gear list

Food

I needed to save weight on food on this trip, as I needed to carry at least 5 days of food from the start. Due to Covid restrictions (and my route), I wouldn’t be able to resupply during the walk.

I took dehydrated meals for all breakfasts and dinners, with another 5 dehydrated meals for lunches if I was able to stop. If not, they would boost my dinner rations once I’d camped. I carried extra calories on this trip because I burn more keeping warm in the winter, in the form of a number of dehydrated puddings.

Snacks were a large proportion of my food weight because when I’m walking high level in the winter, it’s not always possible to stop and heat water for a dehydrated meal for lunch. So I eat snacks to keep me going to the camp spot, and then cook out of the wind in the tent.

Stopping things freezing was my biggest problem during the walk. My boots and even the wet wipes were frozen solid by morning. I also had to keep water bottles in my jacket while walking to stop them freezing. But the most distressing problem was frozen chocolate bars. I am now an expert on which bars to take hiking in the winter: feel free to contact me for my definitive list!

Thoughts on gear taken

I’m not a particularly light weight hiker. I would rather carry more than I need to ensure I am safe and a bit more comfortable. Saying that, this winter gear list was perfect for the walk. I had extremely cold temperatures and everything I took was used and worked well. At no point was I overly cold or uncomfortable.

Tent

The Lightwave S10 Sigma Tent was great and handled the condensation as well as any tent could in the conditions. It stood up well in the wind and snow too. I was very pleased with it.

Boots

The biggest gear surprise was my Inov-8 Roclite Pro G 400 GTX boots. They were amazing in the winter conditions, with very impressive grip and extremely comfortable. I did wear two pairs of socks, though, to keep my feet warm. So do size up if you intend to wear these boots in winter.

Winter walking essentials

Walking poles and crampons were essential in this weather, they really helped with traction and balance on the frozen ground. I also needed the snow/sun glasses to protect my eyes in the spindrift. I didn’t use my ice axe, but like my first aid kit, I would always carry it in winter just in case. No winter gear list would be complete without these items.

Sleeping bag

I took a -25C PHD sleeping bag that is designed for colder conditions, but I’m a cold sleeper. The long nights meant I would be in it for a long time too, so I wanted to be comfortable. I also knew it would get damp after a number of nights out, meaning it would lose some of its insulation qualities. This proved to be the case and if I’d been out for too many more nights, the sleeping bag may well have not kept me warm enough.

Gloves

5 pairs of gloves may seem excessive but this was perfect for me, as I suffer with cold hands. I often kept two pairs warming in my fleece pockets, and regularly swapped them with the ones I was wearing to keep my hands warm and dry.

Clothing

I used 7 items of EDZ clothing on this trip and they were as good as always. I find their clothing to be excellent value for money. Due to the extra low temperatures, I did add the Inov-8 at/c merino short sleeve t-shirt as a baselayer under the EDZ zip neck top. These two baselayers work exceptionally well together.

They also seemed to work really well with the Paramo fleece and windproof jackets. Adding the Paramo Torres Alturo jacket to keep me warm when I stopped worked well; occasionally I even hiked in it when it was extremely cold. I think I’ve finally found the perfect combination of clothing. It was nice not to feel wet from sweat on every climb and then subsequently freeze on the tops and descents. I’ve written a separate post reviewing all the Paramo clothes here.

Rucksack

The Granite Gear Blaze 60 rucksack is a very well-designed pack. I found it very comfortable, even with the high weight that I set off with. It’s a very user-friendly pack with all the pockets you could ever need and all well placed.