For each meet the following items of clothing are essential:

• As the club spends so much time out in winter, it is recommended that you get winter boots.  An explanation of the different types of winter boots and crampon compatibility is here.  Each model of boot is made to a different shape, so you need to try on loads to find what fits your foot.  Once you know, Ebay is a good way of picking up a bargin!  La Sportiva and Scarpa are good brands.  Have a look at the bottom of this page to find some popular models used by members of the club.
• Waterproof Jacket & Trousers - It does occasionally rain in scotland so don't forget these...
• Warm Clothing - Hat, gloves + spare clothing.  Decathlon are currently selling fleeces for £8, hats for £3 and fleece gloves for £1 that all do the job.

Here are guidelines for what to take...Most of these are essential for a safe and fun meet.

• Rucksack - 30 litres is enough and ikea bags are handy to get your sleeping bag and food on and off the bus
• Sleeping Bag - Makes life a lot more comfortable, cheap ones can be bought from Decathlon or Go Outdoors
• Karrimat/Thermarest or some other type of portable bed
• Headtorch like the Petzl Zipka (Days are shorter during winter, so these are essential.)
• Survival bag or bothy bag
• Whistle; blow 6 blasts every minute and help will come running
• First Aid Kit - Compeed blister patches or zinc oxide tape for feet are worth having
• Map and Compass - Ideally every member a party should have one of each. Knowing how to use it might be quite useful too, some come to the evenings in Mugdock Park
• Food and Drink - One evening meal, two breakfasts and lunches.  Biscuits are cheap but full of energy to have with your sandwiches on the hill.

  

During some winter meets, certain equipment is often required for safe travel through the snow and ice. The skills to use the equipment can be easily learned from other club members, or by going on one of the subsidised winter skills courses that are run by the club.  We also have a limited supply of the items listed below. Speak to our gear person before a meet if you wish to borrow club gear.  

• Ice Axe - Essential for all those going out in winter
• Crampons - For those slippery moments
• Helmet - Your head is quite important!!

  

Climbing Gear

Climbing gear is very much dependent on where and what you are planning on climbing. If you're just starting out and trying some bouldering or indoor top-roped or lead sport climbing then you can borrow all the essentials from the club:

• Rock shoes
• Harness
• Large (HMS) carabiner
• ATC or similar belay device
• chalk bag and ball

When starting out it's best to pair yourself with someone who already has kit like the following:

For leading (sport or indoors):

• a 50m dynamic sport rope (usually around 10mm)
• between 6 and 10 quick draws

If you're looking to go outside then you're likely to need in addition to the above list:

• Two half ropes (usually around 8 to 9mm).
• A rack of protection, including nuts/rocks 1-10, some hexes and a few cams.
• Plenty of screwgate carabiners for setting belays/anchors.
• A selection of dyneema or nylon slings or cordelette from 60cm to 240cm for general all-round use. Some 4mm prussik loops are always useful in anger (or a cheeky abseil) as well ;)
• A nut extractor - a useful addition unless you want every pitch to cost you £68

There are lots of sites on the internet offering advice on gear and how to use it, including:

• UKclimbing.com
• Needlesports
• The BMC
• Chockstone

  

Should you not have some of the items that are considered essential, the club owns gear that can be used by members. Should you damage or lose the item loaned you may be expected to pay for a repair/replacement. See Gear person for details.

Gear available:

• Ice axes - walking
• Crampons - strap-on for stiff boots only
• Survival-bags/Bothy Bags - emergency use only
• Helmets - For climbing / difficult scrambling
• Climbing harnesses - Again, for climbing
• Rock Climbing shoes- so you can try climbing before buying equipment

There are many places on-line and around Glasgow, where you can get hold of all the essential or highly desired gear you would want to get your hands on.  A couple of links to shops are included below.  A couple of the shops run gear nights for clubs, where, as a member of the GUM Club you can go along and get discounts up to 25% (some people hold on to their cash until one of these arrives, to save extra money for exploring!!)

• Ebay!
  Once kit is used once or twice it looks second hand anyway so there are bargins to be had, especially for those expensive items like winter boots (try before you buy at any of the places below.)
• UKClimbing.com
  Browse the for sale forum and fish for kit by posting under wanted, if you don't ask, you don't get!
• Cotswold Outdoor
  15% GUM Club discount and runs gear nights several time per year
• Glasgow Climbing Centre
  A standard 20% discount and a 33% discount every three months.
• GO Outdoors
  A large warehouse style outdoor shop that offers lots to try on and very cheap prices on kit, ask Jonnie to borrow his discount card, or buy your own!
• Decathlon
  Another large warehouse style outdoor shop that offers good quality own brand stuff like Quechua and Bionassy.
• Tiso
  Runs gear nights 4 times a year
• Needlesports
  A good Lakes based shop with offers and good source of information
• Alpkit
  Ultra cheap + high quality, recommended by most GUM Clubbers