Many of you are sorted I know, but just for reference:

• B2 or higher boots – stiff soled mountaineering boots that can take crampons
• Thick socks appropriate to boots
• Warm gloves, preferably 2 pairs (a thin pair that fits inside a thick pair) Bring multiple thick pairs if you have them, for when they get wet. Ties to attach to the wrist can be useful.
• Warm clothes for climbing- ideally a layering system not including cotton.
• Separate warm clothes to wear back at the hut
• Decent waterproof jacket, ideally with hood that fits over helmet
• Warm hat and/or balaclava, should fit under a helmet
• Waterproof trousers. Full length zips are useful but not essential. Don’t need to be expensive as you may rip them!
• Rucksack, at least 35L, preferably 40+L. Ideally with ice axe loops
• Headtorch and spare batteries
• Sun glasses or snow goggles (UV proof)
• Sleeping bag
• Water bottle
• Harness and belay plate
• Compass
• Orange Survival Bag

Optional but recommended
• Moisture wicking base layer e.g. Helly Hansen / Icebreaker (as part of layering system)
• Thin-Fleece e.g. UBMC fleece, which will be done before Christmas (as part of layering system)
• Thicker fleece (as part of layering system)
• Gaiters, to stop snow getting into boots
• Thermos, to put something hot in.

**Bring rock boots as an indoor wall is a possibility.

TK Maxx can be a good place to check for some stuff, especially gloves, waterproof jackets, craghoppers type trousers etc.

We get 20% off a Cotswold, in any store (including New Street) and online. Ask a committee member for the discount code.

You may be able to borrow equipment from friends.

If you have any questions, just ask. There is a wealth of knowledge within the club regarding what kits good or not, and where the best deals can be found.

Gaiters are useful not just for stopping snow getting into your boots, but also to protect your waterproof trousers from crampon spikes.

How much is a good amount of water to take for a day?

And where have people been able to buy gaffa tape and survival bags?

Other than that think I'm pretty well sorted!

I'd say about a litre is ok for a day. You could take more, but you need to strike a balance between having enough water and having a (reasonably)light bag. There are many water carriers which hold about 1 litre.

You can get Gaffa from most hardware stores, and survival bags from any outdoor shop.

How much water you take depends on if you want to stop for the toilet or not.

I started off not taking much in preference to not stripping half my clothes and getting a cold arse, but also didn't feel like I was getting enough to drink, last year I started taking a 2L hoser and drinking constantly, felt better for it, but was required to ask whoever I was with at the time to kindly not turn around for a few minutes most days, and there's always the worry that you're going to end up peeing yourself on a belay ledge.

If you are using a platypus style water bottle there's no harm in taking a bigger one and only filling it half way if you decide you don't wanna take that much water. Platypuses have the advantage of being squishy, thus taking up less space the more your drink, although mine came undone twce last year and lost all my drink (thankfully on the walkoff, and all my kit was in dry bags) so I'd recommend the camel back ones instead which are a bit better designed against this kind of thing. Or gaffa tape.

Having 'hydrate or die' written on your water bottle makes you cooler.

First thing with water is that it's heavy, so don't take more than you're likely to drink. I find it hard to drink much icy cold water, so whilst in a normal day I drink tons I don't actually drink much in the hills and so don't take much.

Second thing is that hydration makes a big difference, so take enough and drink enough.

Thirdly, water in a playypus tube will freeze, so remember to blow it back in. If like me you inevitably forget to do that bring a normal bottle.

My strategy this year will probably be to take 2 small 500ml bottles with 1 in my jacket so that I actually drink it - as I only drink cold water in sips if I have to get to my back to drink then I just don't bother.

Gaffa tape is available everywhere, including medium size supermarkets. Survival bags in outdoor shops.

I fill my platypus with near boiling water.... it cools down in the tube enough for me to drink it and is kept insulated in the rucksack so that it takes all day for it to cool down. Yes, at the start of the day it's quite hot, but I'd prefer it too warm to too cold. Remember your body has to heat the water up to body temperature before it can absorb it, so the colder the water the more energy needed.

Freezing tubes can be prevented in a number of ways - insulating the tube, filling the bottle with boiling water and drinking regularly (to keep pulling warm water from the bag through the tube so it doesn't freeze) and blowing back, but is always a risk with a hoser. There's also probably things you could add to lower the freezing point of water, although I don't fancy drinking salty water myself!

I do the same thing as well with heating up the water. But it still gets cold too soon for me. If you want something that doesn't freeze easily and isn't salty I suggest vodka.

This is very true.

Useful comments, although I don't recommend vodka as your only hydration on the hill.

When filling platypus with normal temperature water I have never had an issue with them coming undone, and I have used them a lot. Although if you got a camelback with hose thing, that said hydrate or die, you would be very cool indeed.

Does it count if I just write 'hydrate or die' on my platypus?

I never had an issue with the normal ones, it's the upside down hosers being squished a lot, it couldn't really unscrew because it can't rotate so I guess the lid just pops off under the pressure of me trying to stuff everything into my too-small 35L (hey kids, get at least a 40, it's too much effort trying to squish everything in a 35). Platypii are designed to be able to take boiling water, I don't think it's that, I'm just gonna make use of gaffa tape a bit more this year I think.

Well, it was until you all got one.

Millets in town is closing down at the mo, so there's 30% off everything, a good place to get a load of thermals (there are a load for 6 or 7 quid!) and all that junk pretty cheaply if you need it...

additionnally i am trying to sell a virtually unused thermal if anyone alek sized needs one.

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Cheers for the water info, I have a 75cl thermos flask and have found out I'll be getting a sigg, 75cl or 1l I think, for Christmas, so think I'll have enough, though will not be cool!