7 vital bits of kit!

FOUR-SEASON TENT

A winter tent has to be strong enough to stand up to snow loading. A lightweight 3-season tent probably won’t be up to the job, but might be okay providing no snow falls and the wind is light.

WARM SLEEPING MAT

You lose a lot of heat to the ground if your mat is substandard. A single sleeping mat with an R rating (a measure of insulation) of 4-6 is best, or you can use two thinner mats.

WINTER SLEEPING BAG

Look for a low temperature ‘comfort rating’ (-5 to -10 deg C). Or, consider purchasing a down or synthetically insulated blanket which you can throw over your normal sleeping bag.

INSULATED JACKET

A thick jacket that you can throw over the top of your other layers will keep you warm around camp and also while you sleep. If you’re warm enough without it, it makes an excellent pillow.

HEADTORCH AND BATTERIES

You’ll be using your headtorch a lot. To ensure it stays juiced, take spare batteries (keep them on you to stop the cold reducing their power) or consider packing a spare torch.

A STOVE

Melting snow to drink, heating food (preferably high calorie) and generally proving comfort through heated sustenance, a cold-weather-capable stove (either winter gas or liquid fuel) is a must.

COLLAPSIBLE SNOW SHOVEL

Whether it’s digging your tent in, digging it out, constructing an al fresco dining area, making a windbreak wall or building a snowman, it’s easier with a shovel than your hands.