Exped Winter Kit List
Posted by Andy Neil on Sep 19, 2023
As the nights are drawing in and the temperature is starting to dip, we are excited about the prospect of the upcoming winter camping season. Winter camping can be more challenging, but it can also be incredibly rewarding. Cosy nights curled up in the tents, crisp frosty mornings, and dark star-filled skies are all only a few months away. So, we have teamed up with our friends at Exped to develop a winter kit list capable of handling the most extreme season.
Exped is a Swiss manufacturer at the forefront of innovation and sustainability. They produce various products, including stuff sacks, sleeping bags, sleeping pads and tents. Their products are known for their quality, reliability, and affordability. Exped also offers a fantastic warranty service and excellent aftercare. We love working with Exped, so we compiled a winter backpacking kit list, an all-encompassing winter kit list perfect for one-night adventures.
Our Weight: 2482g
The Exped Orion II UL is a sturdy and spacious tent perfect for mixed weather conditions or as a winter base camp. The large vestibules and internal space make it comfortable to live in, even during the longer nights of late winter and early spring.
The 3-pole structure utilises robust 9.3mm DAC poles, which are very strong and can handle harsh winter conditions. This tent is best used by two people who can share the weight, as it has plenty of space for two people and room for gear storage. The newly designed doors make it easy to prepare meals in lousy weather, and the excellent airflow helps to prevent condensation.
Our Weight: Men's 1180g and Women's 1124g
The Lightning 60 is a streamlined, water-resistant 60L rucksack perfect for extended journeys and winter excursions. Made from a PU-coated, 630 D ripstop nylon, The Lightning boasts a hydrostatic head of 1500mm, the bag is not seam-sealed, we would not class it as 100% waterproof; it still does an excellent job of keeping the worst of the weather at bay. The bag is durable and weather-resistant, essential for winter excursions when the weather can be unpredictable. The pack is very lightweight, weighing just over 1kg, impressive for a 60-litre pack. The Lightning 60’s back and shoulder support system is fully adjustable to suit various torso lengths and body shapes, ensuring a comfortable fit for everyone. The long compression straps are also handy for securing additional winter kit while keeping the pack streamlined and secure.
Our Weight: 792g
An adequately rated sleeping bag, capable of keeping you cosy throughout the long, cold night, is a must, especially if you are sleeping at an elevation where the temperature can be even cooler. So, we recommend the Ultra -5° M Down Sleeping Bag or the Ultra -10°, depending on where or when you are camping. The Ultra -5 is best suited to late autumn, pushing into winter and early spring. The Ultra-10 is more of a dedicated winter bag, perfect for lower lever winter camping throughout the season. If camping at altitude, a liner would be advisable.
The Ultra range of bags uses high-grade down for insulation and an ultra-light ripstop nylon outer shell; these high-quality materials are how the bag can provide such high levels of warmth at such a low weight (792g for the -5 bag and 989g for the -10 bag). The bag’s loft is impressive; it feels luxurious, and it’s incredibly cosy being swaddled in all that down, especially listening to the snowfall on the fly sheet. The down is held with box-shaped baffles, effectively eliminating cold spots. The Ultra has a generous foot box, so your feet can move about and do not feel constricted, but in warmer weather, the zip extends to the foot box so that you can open the bag up almost like a quilt and kick your feet out. It’s an incredibly versatile bag that will see use from October well into March.
Our Weight: 812g (Rectangular) and 650g (Mummy)
You must pair a suitable sleeping bag with an appropriate sleeping pad. The sleeping pad will keep you comfortable, but, more importantly, it will insulate you from the cold ground. The Ultra 7R is a comfortable, 7cm thick mat with an impressive ASTM R-Value of 7.1, making it one of the warmest mats on the market. Despite its remarkable R-value, the pad is incredibly light (812 grams) and is made from an ultra-light 20D face fabric. Robust enough to survive weeks on the trail but so light that it won’t weigh you down. The mat has polyester insulation “welded” to the air chambers, which helps ensure maximum warmth. All Exped mats come with the superb “Schnozzel Pumpsack” (which can double as a stuff sack to help keep your gear organised); you can expect the pad to go up in four to five sackfuls of air, saving your lungs after a long day hiking.
Our Weight: 476g
The Polaris Optifuel is a highly versatile stove with a high-quality build and many great features. The most notable feature is that the stove can use both gas canisters and liquid fuel, which works far better in winter and is easier to source abroad. Changing from gas to fuel bottle is straightforward, offering a wide range of fuel and cooking options. The Polaris is a robust stove you can rely upon in the winter; it has an impressive amount of flame control so that it can be used for more complicated cooking, not just boiling water. The Polaris is an excellent option for group activities and enthusiastic backcountry chefs, regardless of the time of year.
Our Weight: 151g (Size Medium)
Camp slippers are brilliant in any season. They allow your feet to relax and breathe after long days on your feet. However, in the winter, when you may be confined to your tent for more prolonged periods, it is good to have a warm, insulating slipper to wear around your camp to keep your feet toasty. They only weigh 151g (based on medium pair) and pack down super small, so although your back may not notice the weight, your feet will notice the additional warmth.
Our Weight: 224g
While an insulated flask might not be a priority, especially if you bring a stove, having a hot drink you can pull straight from your backpack is a huge moral boost in the winter, principally if you have a long trek to get to camp. The 500ml capacity means the Microlite 500 Twist Vacuum Bottle is nice and slim yet large enough for one large mug of coffee or two smaller cups.
The Microlite Twist can keep liquid cold for 20 hours and hot for 10 hours, so when the warm weather does roll around, you can bring a cold drink with you on a hot day. A tip I use is to fill the Microlite with ice so that you can have icy drinks on the trail. Microlite 500 Twist Vacuum Bottle.
Total Weight
Of course, this isn’t everything you will need, but this is a good idea of the base weight you will be carrying, including a 110g gas canister (which, of course, weighs 220g). The total weight of this kit list is 6117 grams, add a litre of water and food for the day, and you have an incredibly comfortable pack weight for any winter adventure.
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Andy Neil |
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Andy has been a keen long-distance hiker and wild camping enthusiast since he completed the Cleveland Way in 2015. Since then, he has walked thousands of trail miles all over the UK and is an active member of the Wild Camping UK community, being an admin of the largest wild camping community on Facebook. He strongly advocates for responsible wild camping and believes it is important to leave no trace when camping in the wilderness. He joined the UOG team in 2021 and works as a website developer and content creator. |
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As the nights are drawing in and the temperature is starting to dip, we are excited about the prospect of the upcoming winter camping season. Winter camping can be more challenging, but it can also be incredibly rewarding. Cosy nights curled up in the tents, crisp frosty mornings, and dark star-filled skies are all only a few months away. So, we have teamed up with our friends at EXPED to develop a winter kit list capable of handling the most extreme season.