What to carry and WHY!

There’s a moment I recognise every time I step out onto the fells. It’s not the summit, and it’s not the views. It’s that first stretch away from the car, when the noise fades and it’s just you, your kit, and the ground under your boots.

In the Army, Every Vet has heard this!.."The 6 P’s" – Proper Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance! It’s one of those sayings that gets drilled into you early on, and at the time it feels like just another line to remember. Years later, stood in the hills with the weather turning and nowhere to hide, it suddenly makes perfect sense.

Coming from a military background, I’ve always seen preparation a little differently. In the Army, your kit wasn’t just something you carried, it was something you trusted. If it failed, you felt it. If you forgot something, you or someone with you paid for it. That mindset never really leaves you.

The hills have a way of bringing that back. They don’t care where you come from, your skillset, or how many summits you’ve had. They are always there, waiting to catch you out. It doesn’t have to be dramatic or high up on a ridge either. This hit close to home recently. A friend had done everything right. A long hike out of Boot, a successful summit of Scafell Pike, the kind of day you’d bottle if you could. Then, ten minutes from the car park, a simple slip. One awkward fall. A dislocated shoulder. Mountain rescue called.That’s the reality of it. The hills don’t finish when you think they do.

I’ll be honest, one thing that really grips my Sh*t, is seeing people heading out into the hills dressed like they’re popping into town. Trainers with no grip, no waterproofs, and I’ve even seen people carrying their gear in Tesco carrier bags on a rough day up near Keswick. It might sound harsh, but it’s not just about them. It puts others at risk too. When it goes wrong, it’s mountain rescue that gets called out, often in worse conditions than you chose to walk in. At the very least, have the basics. Be properly prepared, not just for your own sake, but for the people who might have to come and get you.

I’ve used this sort of kit through some hard days in the Lakes. Wind that doesn’t let up. Rain that finds its way through anything eventually. Long days where you’re tired, wet, and still a long way from anywhere warm. That’s when you realise this isn’t about having the best gear. It’s about having the right gear, and knowing it won’t let you down.

Before getting into the kit, one quick point. The Amazon links below are not me telling you exactly what to buy. They’re there to give you a clear idea of the type of equipment I have in mind. There are plenty of good brands out there, and over time you’ll find what works for you. This is about direction, not prescription.

What follows now isn’t just a list. It’s layered properly, the way it should be packed and thought about. From a simple day out, through to something longer, and finally to being self-sufficient overnight.

Final Thought

If you look at it properly, each level just builds on the last. Nothing gets removed, only added.

That’s how it should be. Because the hills don’t scale themselves down just because you’ve planned a shorter day. The risk is always there. The exposure is always there. The only thing that changes is how prepared you are to deal with it.

Get the basics right for a day hike, and you’re already ahead of most. Build from there, and by the time you’re carrying your life on your back for a night out, it all feels familiar.

And that’s the goal. Not just to get through it, but to be comfortable in it.

One final note. This list is not aimed at the winter months. That’s a completely different level of preparation, kit, and mindset. I’ll put together a proper winter kit list in another post later in the year.