Kit Lists

Here you will find a full and comprehensive list of the kit to bring on any course or activity. If anything extra is needed it will clearly be stated in correspondence during the booking process.

Having the correct equipment and clothing will allow comfort on the hill in any weather. It will provide a nicer learning environment and better overall experience.

The kit lists are laid out specific to each discipline we offer. Please bring along a suitable amount of clothing, gear and personal effects in relation with your chosen activity and duration of the session.

Full kit lists are sent to you upon booking, relevant to your course or day!

day kit

This is your base hill kit for a day in the mountains - whether walking, scrambling or climbing.

It is expected you have the following for a day on the mountain.

Appropriate mountain clothing:

Waterproof jacket
Waterproof trousers
Fleece layer
Insulated layer (down jacket)
Rucksack 25-30L and waterproof dry bags/liner
Walking boots
Warm hat
Gloves (+spares)
Sun hat
Sun screen

Other necessary items:

Flask
Water bottle
Personal medication
Head torch + spare batteries
Walking poles (optional)

camping/
overnight

For courses that have an overnight element to them, such as Mountain Leader courses, ML prep courses or Mountain Skills with wild camping.

You will need everything from the day kit column, plus the following:

Camping equipment:

Expedition rucksack 50-60L
Mountain tent
Sleeping bag
Sleeping mat
Stove & fuel
Expedition food
Bowl & cutlery
Toiletries & Trowel
Hand sanitiser

Navigation equipment

On navigation courses or Mountain Leader courses you will need the following, we will state which maps are relevant to your day.

For ML courses all maps are relevant.

You will need everything from the day kit column, plus:

Navigation equipment:

Relevant maps

o 1:25,000 – OL4*
o 1:25,000 – OL6*
o 1:50,000 – Landranger 90

o 1:40,000 – Lake District (Harvey)

Map case
Compass – Silva Expedition type 4
Stopwatch

*can be supplied for 1 and 2 day navigation courses

rock climbing

For climbing/scrambling you will need everything from the day kit column, plus the following:

Climbing equipment:

Helmet*
Harness*
Belay Plate*
Nut Key *
Rock Shoes

Scrambling equipment:

Helmet*
Harness*
Belay Plate*
Appropriate scrambling footwear, like approach shoes or mid boots

*can be hired/rented from LDM for your course

winter

For winter you will need everything from the day kit column, plus the following:

Winter walking/mountaineering equipment:

B2 boots*
C1/C2 crampons*
Ice axe*
Helmet

Winter climbing equipment:

B3 boots*
C2/C3 crampons*
Technical Ice Axes (adze & hammer pair)*
Helmet*
Harness*
Belay Plate*
Leashes*

*can be hired/rented from LDM for your course

Hints and Tips

General information for day courses:

The guide will be carrying all safety equipment for the day. This includes a first aid kit, group emergency shelter and map and compass.

Please make sure you have all of your personal medication to hand on your person if needed.

You will need to bring and wear enough suitable clothing to be warm and dry in adverse mountain weather as the courses run outside.

Day courses: 25-30L rucksack - your rucksack needs to big enough to comfortably fit all of your equipment INSIDE for the day.

We recommend carrying up to 2 pairs of gloves, as they get wet in the rain.

It is worth bringing hat and gloves even in the summer. The mountain conditions can be significantly different at the top with cold temperatures experienced all year round.

Please no jeans and no cotton. Wool/nylon baselayers are best and softshell mountain trousers are quick drying.

A waterproof jacket can also be used as a windproof even if there is no rain.

Please make sure your footwear is appropriate for the terrain we are in and adheres to the weather on the day. We will be walking off path, in rough and rocky terrain which is often wet and carrying an expedition pack; so waterproof, sturdy and supportive footwear is best.

Navigation:

Compasses can be provided by LDM but we recommend bringing a Silva Expedition Type 4 - please make sure your compass is in degrees and not mils.

Camping:

For camping: 50-60L Rucksack - your rucksack needs to big enough to comfortably fit all of your equipment INSIDE for the day/night. Please don’t bring duffle bags. Recommended brands: Osprey, Lowe Alpine, Rab, Mountain Equipment, Deuter.

Please pack all kit inside the bag as best as possible; wet sleeping bags and sleeping mats are not useful and the wind can blow items off your rucksack too.

Scrambling/climbing:

Please make sure you footwear is appropriate for the terrain we are in, approach shoes or technical scrambling boots designed for mountaineering are best. Scarpa & La Sportiva models are good - eg. Scarpa Mescalito or La Sportiva TX4 (if looking to buy)

LDM can provide harnesses and helmets but feel free to bring your own if you wish to use them.

We also provide all ropes and hardware but feel free to bring any equipment you may have if you want to use it for your course.

Rock shoes - we do not provide these. They will be your own shoes and they need to comfortable. We recommend models like the Boreal Joker or La Sportiva Tarantula.

Winter:

We recommend a minimum of three pairs of gloves, as they get wet in the snow. At least one pair should be thick and warm for higher elevations.

Gore-Tex Pro waterproofs are recommended - we can advise. This is your armour against the conditions.

Ski Goggles are essential, as the wind will blow the snow into your eyes.

All of your equipment needs to fit INSIDE the bag, as it will blow away in the winds.

Winter mountaineering boots should be rigid and for climbing preferably rated to B3. Please make sure crampons are compatible with your boots and your ice axes are designed for climbing (we can advise)

Winter mountaineering boots should be rigid and rated to B1/B2 standard. Please make sure crampons are compatible with your boots and your ice axes are designed for walking and not for climbing (we can advise)

For winter climbing we recommend B3 boots.