If you’re heading out on an epic adventure this winter you’re going to need to take a different breed of kit to the stuff you relied upon over the summer. It’s the time of year when durability and dependability become essential, and when the right gear can make a trip and the wrong gear can break it.
Most of us have a favourite item for winter as well, right? Basically, something that we know will work for us when it’s really needed…
The North Face Summit Series L3 Down Hoodie
Jack Atkinson, outdoor sports photographer (@knowjack)
“Camera kit takes up a lot of space and weight, so saving elsewhere is vital. This jacket feels impossibly light, it’s super warm and it packs down small enough to always justify taking it with me. I recently took it to the Peak District for a shoot where pre-dawn starts and post-sunset finishes in freezing temperatures made a down jacket invaluable. And when I go ski mountaineering in the Alps in January, taking only the fastest and lightest essentials, it’ll definitely be in my bag.”
Sealskinz Dragon Eye Gloves
Jack Anstey, adventure photographer
“I’ve tried and tested these gloves over and over again, and I can absolutely rely on them to keep out the water and wind, keep me comfortable, and not get in the way of climbing or using my camera. They recently proved themselves in the Cuillin on Skye, where I needed to do a reasonable amount of scrambling to get my shots on a day where cold wet hands were a real possibility. But with these, I was out for the whole day, no problems at all.”
CRUX Torpedo 900 Sleeping Bag
Eilir Davies-Hughes, adventure photographer
“I do a lot of winter camping, so a warm sleeping bag is essential. With 850 fill power down I’ve never felt the cold in this, and the waterproof eVent membrane has been perfect for sleeping out under the stars. Never more so than when I was attempting to take photos of The Milky Way from Crib Goch. I slept just below the summit of a knife-edge ridge, and during the night it began to pour down. In this, I was totally protected.
Kelly Kettle Ultimate ‘Base Camp’ Kit
Thom Hunt, adventurer and founder of 7th Rise
“I prefer technically basic types of kit – the sort of gear that has a small chance of failure when I’m in parts of the world where I cannot afford it to not work – so I love the fact that these kettles were designed in the 1890s and remain largely unchanged today. I can boil more than a litre of water in 90 seconds, which is why it’s the one piece of kit that comes with me everywhere. With my documentary making, I’ve covered more than 40 countries in the last four years, including living with Sami people in the Arctic Circle where I was herding reindeer and ice fishing in temperatures as low as -32C. I took the kettle, and they were blown away by how well it worked. They really wanted one!”
Buffalo Special 6 Shirt
Andrew Price, bushcraft master and founder of Dryad Bushcraft
“I’m on my fourth one, having bought my first in the early 90s. They’re maybe lacking a little in the style department compared to some other jackets on the market these days, so if you’re more concerned with your Instagram ‘likes’ than staying warm, look elsewhere. But I’ve taken this on countless trips and subjected it to the most brutal conditions – none more so than in the freezing rain, high winds and heavy snow of the Cairngorms – and it never lets me down. It’s essentially a two-layer garment made of an Aqua Therm liner covered in a Pertex shell, making it windproof to 50mph, super waterproof, and quick-drying too.”
Patagonia Neck Warmer
Matt Barr, founder and presenter of action and adventure podcast Looking Sideways
“No other piece of kit has the same day-transforming qualities. No matter how expensive your Gore-Tex jacket, leave your neck at nature’s mercy and you’ll be chilly, fact. That’s why this is my go-to for any day on the hill. It’s fleece-lined, meaning it’s cosy on the inside and bombproof out, and made it absolutely ideal for the four sub-zero days I spent in Canada, scoring the best snow I had all winter.”
