Snowshoeing Kit List

SNOWSHOEING KIT LIST

If you are on one of our snowshoeing holidays or winter multi activity holidays snowshoes and poles will be provided for you. We also provide avalanche transceivers and snow safety kits for our guided snowshoe walks where required. It is also possible to hire these in the area.

ESSENTIALS

• 2 or 3 pairs of warm walking socks - proper walking socks have extra padding where you need it the most and are worth getting! Winter socks with wool are also good for keeping your toes toasty!

• Walking Boots – good walking boots are essential for snowshoeing. You will strap the snowshoes to your walking boots so your boots need to be fairly sturdy. Walking trainers are not sufficient. They will also be acting as the barrier to snow so need to be waterproof and warm.

• Waterproof jacket and trousers or sallopettes. As you will be walking, you will be creating your own body heat, so a waterproof, breathable shell is fine to keep any snow from getting in and melting. It is a good idea to have trousers with elasticated bottoms or snow cuffs to stop snow from getting inside your walking boots.

• Gaiters – if your waterproof trousers don’t have snow cuffs, and even if they do, sometimes a pair of gaiters are worth bringing as an extra defence against snow entering your walking boots!

• At least three layers - thin thermal layer or t-shirt made of wicking material rather than cotton next to the skin, a mid weight fleece and a thicker fleece. It is better to have lots of layers so you can strip off going up and pile on the layers when you have a rest as your body temperature will vary quite a lot as you are walking up and down hills.

• Extra fleece or sweater

• Fleecy trousers or thermals to wear under your outer trousers

• Gloves, hat, neck warmer or ear warmer. It's worth getting decent waterproof warm ski gloves or mitts as well as a pair of fleecy gloves. A couple of different hats, one very warm and one less warm for differing temperatures.

• Rucksack to carry spare sweater, waterproofs, packed lunch, water bottle, and other bits and pieces. Good idea to put a waterproof rucksack liner inside your rucksack. A 25 to 35 litre rucksack should be ample for a day's snowshoeing.

• Good sized water flask or a plastic water bottle. A Platypus or similar water system is also very handy, but beware, they can freeze so an insulated tube is a good idea.

• Sun screen and lip salve with sunscreen

• Sun glasses - you should make sure they wrap well round your eyes at the sides to protect you from snow glare from the ground

• Goggles – good quality goggles are invaluable on snowy days.

• Sun hat or cap for warm winter sunny days.

• Duvet jacket - not essential but serves as a good lightweight warm jacket for those frosty cold days.

OTHER USEFUL THINGS:

• Camera, spare film or memory card and batteries.

• Binoculars

• Flask

• A small sit mat or bit of old camping mat - not essential but good for a bit of comfort when picnicking in the snow.

• Swim suit – please note that boxer short style swimming trunks are not allowed in French pools.

Book a Snowshoeing Holiday

BROWSE ALL HOLIDAYS INCLUDING SNOWSHOEING TRIPS