It's early days, but, as my gear choices remain more or less the same year-on-year, I've arrived at my gear list for the The Great Outdoors Challenge in May next year.
My choice is dictated by the need to be comfortable and safe in the sort of conditions I could expect to find in Scotland in May. In other words, 4 seasons.
I've finally treated myself to an accurate pair of scales. Previously I used a spring balance - as used by fisher-folk.
The list is virtually the same as last year and the combination of gear which can be worn inside my sleeping bag means that I can be comfortable in temperatures that dip well below freezing.
Here is the excerpt from my spreedsheet:
| Shelter and sleeping | Weights in grms | |
| Tramplite Cuben Shelter | 675 | |
| Wickes secondary glasing film | 105 | |
| Stakes - Easton Alloys in bag | 155 | |
| PHD Minim Marathon S/Bag | 545 | |
| Thermorest Xlite sleeping mat | 365 | |
| Inflation bag for Xlite mat | 98 | |
| Exped Pillow | 46 | |
| Cuben dry bags | 45 | |
| 2034 | ||
| Wearing | ||
| Montane special edition trousers | 421 | |
| OR short gaiters | 203 | |
| Rohan pants | 45 | |
| Smartwool Socks | 93 | |
| Innov8 290 mids | 888 | |
| Marmot Dri-clime vest | 215 | |
| Arctyrx LS merino base top | 320 | |
| Rab Boreas | 291 | |
| 2476 | ||
| Carrying | ||
| Gossamer Gear Gorilla pack | 920 | |
| Extremities fleece gloves | 52 | |
| Extremities Tuff Bags | 75 | |
| Buffalo Mitts | 80 | |
| Black Rock Down Hat | 28 | |
| Montane Cap | 67 | |
| Buff | 37 | |
| PHD Alpamayo Smock | 463 | |
| Berghaus Paclite waterproofs | 231 | |
| Bed socks (liner socks) | 33 | |
| Arctyrx Squarmish windshirt | 169 | |
| PHD 1000 fill Vest | 94 | |
| Rohan Spark Top | 239 | |
| As Tucas Sestrals trousers | 210 | |
| Rab SS top | 86 | |
| Spare Rohan Pants | 45 | |
| 2 prs Rohan Boxer pants | 84 | |
| Spare Smartwool socks | 93 | |
| Hi Tec Zuuks | 351 | |
| PHD Down Socks | 127 | |
| Compass | 42 | |
| Maps | 300 | |
| MSR Blizzard Stake (toilet trowel | 20 | |
| Kitchen Roll (toilet paper) | 30 | |
| Tissues | 30 | |
| Petzl E-lite | 27 | |
| Credit card + rail pass | 25 | |
| Reading glasses in case | 102 | |
| First Aid Kit | 151 | |
| Leatherman knife | 58 | |
| Easy Acc Charger 10000mAh | 233 | |
| Leads and plugs | 68 | |
| HTC One M9 | 181 | |
| Headphones | 12 | |
| Toothbrush | 15 | |
| Dr. Bronners liquid soap | 26 | |
| Small towel | 73 | |
| Black Diamond Carbon Poles | 503 | |
| 5380 | ||
| Kitchen | ||
| DX Stove and Stand | 103 | |
| Tibetan 900 Pot | 152 | |
| Kichen roll | 30 | |
| Windshield (radiator insulation) | 38 | |
| Lighter and matches | 34 | |
| Pouch for dehydrated meals | 30 | |
| Fuel bottles x 3 | 372 | |
| 3 1L collapsable bottles | 90 | |
| Zip lock pee bags x 3 | 22 | |
| 871 | ||
| Other | ||
| 3 days food | 1800 | |
| Whisky x 3 | 372 | |
| 2172 |
Weight worn and carried comes to 10761 grms.
With food and whisky for 3 days total weight worn and carried comes to 12933 grms.
Weight carried comes to 10457 grms which includes 3 days food and whisky.
Every piece of gear has been well tried and tested.
It's my list - born from experience - and is not necessarily what may suit others.
