This is my Cape Wrath Trail gear list for walking the trail in April. I’ve also included a review of the gear at the end of the list. The Cape Wrath Trail is a very remote walk and should only be attempted by experienced hikers. Scotland’s weather can have very unpredictable and you need to know how to survive in wet and cold weather for a number of days. My gear list takes this into account and I tend to air on the side of safety rather than the lightest weight possible. You can read a full account of the walk here.
My Cape Wrath Trail gear list – April/May
CATEGORY | ITEM | WEIGHT |
Rucksack | ULA Catalyst 75L | 1255 |
Shoulder strap pockets & hand loops – ULA | 170 | |
Pack liner waterproof – Sea to Summit | 80 | |
Shelter | Tarptent Notch Li | 554 |
Pegs – various sizes inc. bag | 115 | |
Sleep system | Sleeping mat – Thermarest Neoair Xtherm | 424 |
Pump sack for sleep mat | 55 | |
Pillow – Exped UL | 47 | |
Sleeping Bag Liner – Cocoon merino wool | 282 | |
Sleeping Bag – Down | 877 | |
Socks – EDZ merino liner | 64 | |
Bag for above – Dyneema | 12 | |
Cook bag | Stove – Vargo Triad multifuel stove | 30 |
Windbreak and alloy base + Vargo windshield | 43 | |
Pot + Lid – Evernew | 92 | |
Mug – Alpkit 400ml | 62 | |
Knife – Deejo Naked pocket knife | 15 | |
Spoon – Esbit titanium long handle | 18 | |
Gas Lighter | 21 | |
Meals and coffee sachets for the day | ||
Bag for above – Dyneema | 28 | |
Outside pack | Phone/Camera/GPS/Mapping – Ulefone Armor Tough Phone | 361 |
and in pockets | Compass – Silva | 34 |
Head torch – Petzl Bindi | 35 | |
Rubbish bag – Sea to Summit XS stuff sack | 17 | |
Water bottle – 2L Evernew | 40 | |
Water bottle – Inov8 HydraPak 500ml | 31 | |
Waterfilter – MSR Guardian Water Purifier Pump | 640 | |
Bag for above – MSR | 66 | |
Sit mat – Thermarest Z-seat | 57 | |
Reading Glasses + soft case | 35 | |
First Aid Kit bag | 221 | |
Repair + Spares Kit bag | 89 | |
Wash Kit bag | 79 | |
Paper and Pen | ||
Maps – Harveys south and north | 119 | |
Bag for above – Dyneema | 13 | |
Toilet bag | kitchen roll and antibacterial wipes (for the day) | |
Toilet trowel – The Duece 2 | 16 | |
Dry bag for above – Dyneema 1L | 12 | |
Clothing | Socks – Darn Tough Hiker | 75 |
often in pack | Socks – ToeToe liner | 40 |
Socks – EDZ waterproof calf length | 160 | |
Underwear – EDZ merino briefs | 69 | |
Baselayer – Inov8 at/c merino hoody (spare & sleep in) | 250 | |
Midlayer – Paramo Bentu fleece jacket | 417 | |
Outerlayer – Paramo Bentu windproof jacket (waterproof with Bentu fleece) | 433 | |
Warm outerlayer – OMM Raid Jacket | 410 | |
Neck tube – EDZ merino | 51 | |
Headband – Buff Windstopper | 20 | |
Hat – Buff beanie | 20 | |
Gloves – Convertible mitts | 69 | |
Gloves – Montane synthetic insulation | 56 | |
Gloves – Montane pertex shield | 45 | |
Bag for above – Sea to Summit 13L drybag | 28 | |
TOTAL = | 8252g | |
Gear worn or | Footwear – Inov8 RocFly 390 boots size UK9 | 781 |
carried in hands | Socks – Darn Tough Light Hiker | 55 |
Mini gaiters | 55 | |
Underwear – EDZ merino boxers | 90 | |
Baselayer – EDZ 135gsm T-shirt | 113 | |
Base/mid layer – EDZ Plaid Flannel Shirt | 335 | |
Trousers – Montane Terra | 343 | |
Hat – Rohan sun | 100 | |
Walking Poles – Black Diamond – 120cm adjustable for tent – pair | 460 | |
Watch – Lorus | 64 | |
Wallet – Cash, credit/debit cards | 50 | |
Total = | 2446g | |
Consumables – 7 days + Resupply Bag | ||
Water | 500 | |
Food – Dehydrated Meals – Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner – 7 days | 4500 | |
Snacks – Chocolate/Nut & Chewy Bars, Beef Jerky, Crisps, Coffee sachets | 2900 | |
Fuel – Methylated spirit – 750ml | 750 | |
Loo Roll (kitchen roll) 100 | 186 | |
Wet Wipes (Antibaterial) 30 | 164 | |
Total = | 9000g | |
Review of the gear used on the walk
The above gear list was perfect for the conditions that I encountered. I was very lucky with the weather, it was warmer and drier than it could have been this time of year. If I had set off a few days earlier than I did, I would have had to contend with -17C wind chill and heavy rain. Then I would have needed to have carried more clothes as my list was fine for the -1 to 15C temperatures that I had. I was happy with everything on the list and didn’t take anything that I didn’t use, so wouldn’t change a thing if walking it again. Of particular note;
Footwear
The Inov8 RocFly 390 boots were perfect for the ground conditions, they dried quickly after river crossings and were very comfortable. I had no issues with my feet, no blisters and I found that adding the EDZ waterproof calf length socks worked well keeping my feet dry and warm when necessary.
Shelter
The Tarptent Notch Li shelter was perfect in the good weather, but if it had been windier or stormy as is quite common this far up Scotland. I would have been happier taking a shelter that was more suitable for high winds, like my Nordisk Telemark tent or the Terra Nova Laser Compact 1 tent.
Sleeping
I carried a down sleeping bag because they pack up smaller than a synthetic bag and they’re lighter weight. It was a good choice because I was able to air it regularly and keep it dry. I used a sleeping bag that I knew would keep me warm to temperatures 10C below what I expected. This way I knew it would still be warm enough if it got a little damp, but a synthetic one may be more suitable choice if you had more rain than I did, or you struggle with condensation inside your tent.
Inside the sleeping bag I used a Cocoon merino wool liner to protect the bag from dirt and sweat. I find it controls my body temperature well and is a lot nicer to sleep in than a silk liner. It’s a it bit of a luxury item because it’s a lot heavier than silk but I like it. It also means I don’t need to carry clothes to sleep in.
On this trip I used just one mat, often I take two on long trips in case one gets a puncture. The Thermarest Neoair Xtherm sleeping mat and it was perfect for the Cape Wrath Trail in April. It was warm and comfortable on some fairly uneven ground and some pretty cold nights. A lower R value and lighter weight mat would probably be ok as the night time temperatures only went down to about freezing. But it can be a lot colder this time of year and because I wasn’t carrying many spare clothes I aired on the side of comfort and safety.
Full gear review
Most of the gear that I took with me is my standard kit and I’ve reviewed it before. Please read my LEJOG and 3 Peaks Walk: full gear review for information on this gear.
Resupply
Resupplying on the Cape Wrath Trail can be difficult so I set off with 7 days food and had a 7 day resupply package at Kinlochewe. I didn’t book any accommodation and wild camped every night. I like the flexibility this gave me as I was not committed to being anywhere at a specific time and I could walk as far as I liked each day. But you could reduce the food weight by sending more parcels and resupplying more often. It is possible to buy supplies at a number of places on route but often this means leaving the main route. This also means buying what’s available and that will probably be heavier than the dehydrated meals and have a limited shelf life. This is fairly limited in the Kinlochewe shop, they do sell dehydrated meals but every time that I’ve been through, they’ve only had about 6 or 7 on their rack and not much other food suitable for hikers. But fine if you’re only resupplying to get you to Ullapool.
Weight saving note – The easiest and cheapest way to save pack weight is to carry less food and water. Planning well can save more weight than buying expensive light weight hiking gear, by knowing where you can resupply and not carrying more than you need to get you there.

Further reading
Our April 2022 Cape Wrath Trail walk
Cape Wrath Trail – Cicerone book
The Farthest Shore: Seeking solitude and nature on the Cape Wrath Trail in winter
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