Whats in my pack? Two YHA Members Spill Their Kit

Tanveer’s kit is built around reliability and pulling double duty wherever possible.

His pack is an old-school Kathmandu Interloper 65L from around 2010. While heavier than the more modern models, Tanveer likes that it has an external pouch, which the modern versions have lost. 

For a shelter, he uses the Black Wolf Mantis UL 2 tent that’s proven itself in high winds, although he admits the vestibule is tight on storage, and there’s not enough headroom to sit up comfortably. For sleeping, he uses a One Planet Cocoon (rated to -11C) and a Thermorest NeoAir mat. While this keeps him off the ground with good cushioning and easy inflation, he acknowledges that it can be noisy and prone to sliding on a slope. For a pillow, he stuffs his clothes into his sleeping bag cover. “It’s zero weight, but can be occasionally lumpy!”

On the stove, he runs a Soto on butane-propane mix. Water comes from an MSR Dromedary 4L bladder, filtered through a Sawyer Mini or treated with iodine tablets, depending on conditions.

For safety, Tanveer carries a Garmin inReach Explorer+, which provides satellite-enabled SMS, a built-in map display, and weather forecasts. His first aid kit is the pre-packed Equip Rec3, and his headlamp is a Zebralight, which is robust and waterproof.

Tanveer keeps it practical when it comes to clothing: a MacPac waterproof jacket (“good value without paying premium-brand prices”), an Aldi insulation layer (“cheap and surprisingly good“) and Salomon Quest 5 Gore-Tex boots (“can handle most conditions bar heavy snow or a serious downpour“).

His favourite gear item? Toe-warmers. Makes sense, given his love for snow hiking.

The novelty item he wouldn’t do without? A 1.5kg bear canister. “It saves your food and tent from rodents and also acts as a seat, chopping board and whatever imaginary use you can conjure.”