When it comes to exploring in the mountains (or any remote, off-the-beaten track kinda place), the equipment you choose can make a big difference to both your enjoyment and your safety.

Here, SAAC (Snow and Alpine Awareness Camps)* mountain guide, Gerhard Mössmer, tells us the gear he never leaves home without when heading into big mountains. 

• First aid kit

A small kit with bandages, painkillers, and other essential medication.

Check out a detailed guide to your adventure first aid kit here.

• Emergency blanket

This is a lightweight foil sheet designed to maximize heat retention. It’ll help keep you warm if you get into an emergency situation. For multi-day adventures, I also include a more sturdy bivvy bag.

• Mobile phone

Before setting off, I ensure my phone has a full battery, and I always pack my charging cable and power bank, especially for multi-day routes.

• The route (saved offline) and a back-up map

The route is planned days in advance, and in order to stick to it in the mountains, I save the route offline in case some remote areas don’t have signal. This helps to conserve battery while letting me benefit from my phone’s GPS function. It’s also a good idea to bring a paper map of the region as a back up. It goes without saying that you need to be confident in interpreting maps correctly, otherwise they are useless. Basic navigation skills are also important to mention when it comes to safety.

Read more: how komoot uses your phone’s GPS function to keep you on track here.

• Headlamp

A headlamp is useful not just to see in the dark if you take longer than anticipated on the route, but to draw attention to yourself if you need to when visibility is poor.

• Functional clothing

I make sure I have weather-proof and breathable clothing that’s suitable for the trail conditions, and always pack a change of clothes just in case. Good footwear is a very underrated piece of kit so I make sure I have breathable, well-ventilated boots in warmer weather, and waterproof ones if I anticipate cold or wet conditions. 

• Snacks 

Energy bars and dried fruit or nuts are good snacks that are easy to carry, and of course, I bring enough water for the distance and weather conditions.

Read this article about how the weather could affect your adventure to better understand the clothing and snacks you might need in different conditions.

• Sunscreen and sunglasses

Lots of people underestimate the power of the sun, especially in the mountains, so I always bring these two items (and make a point to reapply sunscreen regularly).

• Garbage bag

Leave No Trace is an important principle for protecting nature, so I always bring my own trash bag.

• Specialist equipment

Some routes I do require specialist gear (usually high alpine routes or in extreme climates), and I always research my routes well beforehand to know what I might need. If I think I’ll need ice axes, crampons, climbing, or camping gear, I test my kit first. If you haven’t used yours in a while or you’re borrowing gear, make sure you give it a test run, as using this equipment incorrectly can be very dangerous. If in doubt, take a course to ensure you’re safe out there. The mountains will wait for you!

Every adventure is unique and will be different depending on the route, the season, and who you’re with, but hopefully Gerhard’s gear list is a good starting point (or reminder) ahead of your next outdoor expedition.

Find more tips and resources for staying safe and having fun in the mountains here.

*The SAAC is an Austria-based organization who’ve been dedicated to keeping alpine adventurers safer in the mountains for 25 years. Working with mountain guides and industry leaders, they educate mountain sport enthusiasts across the Alps about the risks of alpine environments, increasing knowledge in the community and encouraging personal responsibility along the way.

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