Dressing properly for the mountains can make the difference between an enjoyable trip and an uncomfortable one. Clothing should give the right degree of warmth for the activity, wick perspiration and be easy to ventilate. You should avoid clothes made from cotton as they become cold and clammy when wet.

The guide will supply all ropes and climbing hardware.

Alpine Climbing Equipment List

  • Comfortable clothes for your stay in the hotel with suitable footwear to potentially walk in the snow around your destination resort, normally the village of Leysin
  • Waterproof, breathable jacket
  • Waterproof trousers
  • Down jacket (light weight)
  • 3/4 season mountaineering boots (B3 or stiff B2 Boots)
  • Warm Gloves and
  • Robust leather gloves such as GANTS D’ALPINISME EN CUIR – ALPINISM SIMOND | Decathlon
  • Thermal Top (wicking)
  • Mountain trousers
  • Mid-layer warmer insulating piece
  • Sunglasses – (Cat 4 rating is preferable)
  • Warm hat to fit under a helmet
  • Trekking socks and spares
  • The guide will have the correct maps and guidebooks
  • Water bottle, 1 litre minimum. A bottle is more versatile and robust than “Camel Packs”.
  • Head torch and spare batteries
  • Rucksack 40 to 50 litres
  • Small personal first aid kit (tape for blisters and pain killers such as aspirin or ibuprofen).
  • T shirt for evening wear in the hut, toothbrush/paste, hair comb, light towel
  • Pen Knife
  • Silk sleeping bag liner (compulsory in huts now)
  • Sun cream (factor 25+, total block) and lip block
  • Trekking Pole
  • Money, Passport, alpine club card
  • Camera
  • Rock boots (comfortable!)

Technical Equipment

  • A classic curved pick ice axe 50 to 60cms long
  • Crampons with horizontal front points
  • Helmet
  • Harness
  • Belay plate with screwgate karabiner – such as the Petzl Reverso 4 and HMS screwgate karabiner
  • 2 x HMS screwgate karabiners
  • 2 x Prusik Cord with 1 x snapgate karabiner – Prusik cord is generally 5 or 6mm in diameter & about 130cm in length. The prusik cord is then knotted together using a fishermans knot to create a tied loop. This tied loop (now about 45cm in its doubled-up length) can now be used to make prussik knots (prusiks are used in crevasse rescue and when ascending ropes which is called prussiking)
  • Sewn tape sling A 120cm Sewn Dyneema tape sling is perfect for snow & rock belays