Equipment Ideally, heavy items should be packed high close to your back but avoid making the pack top heavy which could cause problems with your stability on steep ground. A plastic whistle for use in emergencies can be tied onto the shoulder strap. The contents of your backpack should be made completely waterproof. A large heavy duty plastic bag or bin liner should be used inside your backpack to act as an effective membrane and even then it is advisable to pack smaller items again in individual polybags. Side pockets are useful for small items, while a pack that can split into two compartments makes organising gear easier. A head torch is the most convenient as it allows you to cook and pitch a tent in the dark while your hands are free. Don’t forget spare batteries and bulb. A map case hung around your neck can be a nuisance in windy weather. If you do most of your hiking in one area and constantly use the one map, it is a good idea to get it laminated. Laminated maps are a little bulkier but can be rolled up and stuffed down your gaiter where they are easy to get at.
Bivvy bag carried as an emergency shelter. They can be used to store your gear overnight if there is no room in the tent. In very wet conditions they can be placed under the tent’s ground sheet. They come in various sizes, the larger one giving enough room to allow you get changed in, to store gear and in an emergency several people can get into the one bag to share body heat. Toilet requisites Toothbrush, toothpaste (small tube) and a very small towel. If you need soap use a biodegradable type. Gaiters These are useful in boggy wet conditions or when hiking through heather or snow. Shock cord is better than a boot lace to secure the gaiter under the boot as it stretches and does not need to be untied. Front zipping gaiters are easier to put on. Head protection A fleece hat or better still a balaclava ‘head over’ which covers the head, the sides of the face and the neck, can prevent considerable heat loss. Many hillwalkers also wear a neck gaiter in winter.
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