Kit

Finally got round to laying all of my kit out and seeing what's what. It may seem strange for me to be doing this pretty late on in the game, although in practicality my kit list doesn't vary all that much from what I used in Scotland ad Iceland last year; minus a few bits and swapping a few things.

So here's how it looks:

My beautiful Osprey Aether pack has been dismantled, cleaned, and TX-Direct'ed so is beading water very nicely indeed. I have never felt the need to use rain covers but instead separately dry-bag everything.

I've gone for Rab MeCo base layers (short sleeved T and boxers) as they have the usual benefit of merino wool garments but are tougher wearing and dry a bit quicker. A long-sleeved Powerstretch top and micro-baffle down jacket should keep me warm on those chilly mornings and evenings bimbling around camp. I've also thrown in a set of synthetic leggings which I can wear with my short-shorts for that super sexy winter hiking combo.
I'm taking 3 pairs of socks; two mid-weight pairs I can rotate, and one spare snuggly heavy weight.

Rain gear- possibly taking my good old-fashioned Berghaus over-trousers, definitely going to be using my Rab Latok Alpine. Slightly heavier than other options but is absolutely bomb-proof and eVent breathes exceptionally well.

For my sleeping arrangement: will predominantly be sleeping in my Hennesey Hammocks Expedition Asym. Been getting on really well with this over the last 6 months or so. It pitches in literally seconds ad never has to touch the floor, and the tarp provides enough cover to cook under if the weather is grim. I'll be using a Rab Ascent 700 down bag. This has been excellent in winter conditions, and comfortable enough over the summer; could possibly be tempted to swap out with something lighter as the months progress; we shall see! A last little luxury is the Pacific Outdoors sleeping mat. It has wings so wraps around me very nicely in my hammock, and will also be comfortable if I decide to sleep in lean-tos.

For my boots, after much deliberation I've gone for the Salomon Cosmics. Firstly, they fit my narrower feet nicely and feel not a lot different from their XA Pro trail running shoes. They flex comfortably whilst providing the lateral stability I need for carrying a pack over the terrains I will encounter. And they're bright green.

The last major piece of kit I'm waiting on is my stove. After chatting to folk with more experience than myself I've ordered an MSR Whisperlite International liquid fuel stove. It's not the lightest thing in the world, but is reassuring rugged and run efficiently at lower temperatures. I've used one previously with Primus liquid fuel and petrol; either one will be fine combined with the Primus Eta pot. There is also the added bonus of cheaper and more widely available fuel.

And that's just about it. The main bulk of my kit is sorted, apart from the odd alteration here and there which will undoubtedly occur until my departure date. Constructing my kit list has been a very fun process; there are so many factors to consider with each and every item. Overall I'm pretty happy: there is a nice balance between weight and comfort. Many items of equipment I have used before so I am confident that they will perform for me. Oooooh, I'm getting excited now!