Kit - what worked and what didn't
With planning for this winter starting again, I was reviewing my kit list and looking at the things that worked well and what is firmly getting left behind next time. Without doubt the stars of the show were my Paramo smock and salopettes and my PH Designs down sleeping bag. Paramo seems to be one of those “marmite” brands that people either love or hate. All I can say is that I’ve tested mine in what must be some of the most extreme conditions you can find in the mountains and they came up trumps.
Yes, the smock is heavy and warm, but I wear it with just a merino base layer underneath and that suits me fine, even in a blizzard. No waterproof garment will keep you 100% dry when you’re sweating buckets in torrential rain, but I find the Paramo “clears” quicker than Goretex when rain lifts or you stop. The salopettes and smock will be the first items in the bag when I pack again.
The same goes for my PH Designs bag. Rated to -11, it kept me warm enough to sleep when temperatures dropped below -15 (albeit fully clothed). I was worried how it would live with the damp, but it has a water resistant outer that works remarkably well. I have since invested in a few other bits from PH Designs and I love the fact that they are a British company leading the way.
The trusty Hilleberg Akto has also stood the test of time. When I did the recent Saunders Lakeland Marathon the overnight site was inundated with Terra Nova Laser Comps. For me they look a bit flimsy for comfort, but I know lots of people love ‘em. But you know where you are with the Hilleberg, and I always sleep soundly knowing it won’t let me down when the gales blow.
So what didn’t work so fantastically? Well, I got my food supplies a bit wrong and ended up carrying too much of the stuff. Although Wayfarer meals are undoubtedly tasty, they are heavy for a multi-day bakpack. Recently I’ve been trying some of the freeze dried offerings from Expedition Foods and Be Well, which are pretty edible (tasty would be too far to go) and will almost certainly replace the Wayfarer’s in the future.
I’m also going to re-think my boot choice. I went for a sturdy leather boot and Berghaus Yeti Extrem full gaiters. Although the gaiters worked superbly, dampness inevitably sets in after multiple river crossings and it took a week for the boots to dry out fully on my return. With that in mind, I’m going to experiment with a lighter boot (quite possibly something radical like the Montrail Hardrock Mid) and a Gore tex sock combination, with a simpler gaiter. The idea being if you can’t avoid the wet, at least have something that dries a bit more quickly. The lighter boot will still take my Kahtoola crampons which I was glad of on the snowier passes at Christmas. The lightweight Camp ice axe I took proved unnecessary.
And the award for the worst bit of kit? It has to be the Paramo balaclava. The face drawcord is positioned just below where your lips protrude. If you tuck this inside it is uncomfortable, if you leave it outside the balaclava it whips you viciously in the eyes in any gust of wind. Not really sure who field tested that one?
