Summer Alpine Mountaineering Equipment
ISM has a large stock of mountaineering equipment, and can lend you the following items FREE OF CHARGE. However, it is always nice to use your own kit, so please bring it along if you have it.
Ice axe
Crampons
Harness
Rock climbing shoes
Belay device, karabiners, slings and prussiks
ISM will also supply all ropes and climbing hardware.
Equipment List
Personal Clothing: 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 when wet.
Clothing
- Waterproof, breathable jacket - e.g. Arc'teryx Alpha FL jacket
- Waterproof trousers - e.g. Arc'teryx Alpha AR pant
- Mountaineering boots
- Gaiters (optional)
- Rock climbing shoes - essential on all technical courses
- Warm Gloves - e.g. Arc'teryx Beta AR glove or the Zenta LT glove
- Thinner fleece gloves - e.g. Arc'teryx Rivet AR glove
- Thermal Tops x 2 - e.g. Arc'teryx Phase AR Zip Neck Longsleeve
- Mid-layer Powerstretch Top - e.g. Arc'teryx Fortrez Hoody
- Mid-layer warmer insulating piece - e.g. Arc'teryx Nuclei Hoody
- Mountain trousers - e.g. Arc'teryx Gamma AR pant
- Warm hat to fit under a helmet - e.g. Arc'teryx Molly and Moe Toque Hat
- Trekking socks and spares
General Equipment
- Head torch and spare batteries
- Rucksack 40 to 50 litres - e.g. Arc'teryx FL45
- Small personal first aid kit ( inlcuding ‘Compeed’ and tape for blisters and pain killers e.g. aspirin or ibuprofen)
- Water bottle/Camelback (1 to 1.5 litres recommended) N.B. Camelback’s external tubes can freeze in very cold conditions
- Pen knife
- Sunglasses (Cat 4 rating is preferable)
- Sun cream and lip block (factor 25+, total block)
- Compass and whistle (optional)
- Sun Hat - such e.g. Sinsolo hat
- Toothbrush/toothpaste/small wash kit
- Money, passport, Alpine Club/BMC membership card (if you are a member)
- Trekking Poles (optional)
- Sheet sleeping bag - obligatory in huts. Full sleeping bags are not required
- Ear plugs (optional - it can be noisy in huts!)
- Camera (optional)
- Training/approach shoes
- Travelling clothes/change of clothes for the evening
- Spare clothes for wearing in the valley (during most courses we usually have at least one valley night when you can freshen up)
Your Guide will have the correct maps and guidebooks
Supported by:
Mountaineering Equipment (ISM can lend you if required)
- Ice axe - 50 to 60cms long, depending on your height
- Crampons - 12 point crampons e.g. Petzl Charlet Vasak for general mountaineering or Petzl Charlet Sarken's for more technical mountaineering
- Helmet - e.g. the Petzl Sirocco helmet
- Harness - e.g. Arc-teryx R-320a harness
- Belay plate with screwgate karabiner - e.g. Petzl Reverso and Petzl Attache HMS screwgate karabiner
- Ice hammer (for technical courses only) - 50 cms to 55cms long
Mountaineering Equipment (please bring with you if you can)
- 2 x HMS screwgate karabiners - such as the Petzl Attache HMS screwgate karabiner
- 2 x prusik cord with 1 x snapgate karabiner - prusik cord is generally 5 or 6mm in diameter and 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 it's doubled up length) can now be used to make prusik knots (prusiks are used in crevasse rescue and when ascending ropes, which is called prusiking)
- Sewn tape sling - a 120cm sewn Dyneema tape sling is perfect for snow and rock belays
For Technical AlpinISM only - a rack of nuts, 6 quickdraws and 3 or 4 ice screws if you have them.
Note: Boots & Crampons - guidance notes
ISM supports independent outdoor retailers:
Both shops stock a wide range of equipment and offer a disount if you book a course with ISM. Please quote the 'discount code', which you will receive when your booking is confirmed. (Can be used in store or online).
