We recommend the following gear for the various trips we run. This is meant purely as a guide to assist in your planning for any trip. Please email for any further details or if you have any specific questions regarding equipment required.
Spring and Autumn are the changeable months so summer gear may well be appropriate, but you must always be prepared for the worst at these times of year. We can have fresh snow on the tops in late September and even in late May. Don't underestimate the altitude nor possible severity of the weather in the Sierra Nevada. If in doubt, gear up!
Quick Links to Equipment Lists
We can hire out some specialist equipment and this is noted in the text. N:B THIS MUST BE RESERVED IN ADVANCE AND NOT ON THE DAY!
If you want to save airline weight. Check our course details because gear rental is included with most courses.
Bear in mind that your guides will be carrying essential group items of safety (for instance sat communications, compass, map etc)
Communications, Navigational and Tech Gear carried by Spanish Highs Guides
Mobile phone signal is getting better but there are still large areas with no coverage. All our own trips take the following:
- Mobile phone and spare batteries
- Map - Penebetica 1:40000 or Editorial Piolet 1:25000
- GPS
- Knowledge of the Weather Forecast for the Sierra Nevada!
- Compass
- Comprehensive First aid kit
- Torch or headlamp
Summer Equipment Lists
Summer Day Walking
- Eye protection
- Suncream and lipcream
- Water (minimum 3L)
- Hill food and energy snacks (or try out our Mountain Food)
- Spare windproof clothing
- 25 litre (SUGGESTED MINIMUM SIZE) or larger rucksack
- Wide brimmed sun hat
- Lightweight trousers (shorts not recommended due to sunburn and spiky terrain!)
- Lightweight boots or suitable trail/hiking shoes
- Lightweight waterproof and windproof jacket
- Lightweight thermal base layer
- Socks
- Lightweight fleece or softshell gilet
- Thermal gloves (yes, even in summer we have needed these up high!)
- Digital camera
- Trekking poles (optional)
Summer - Multi-Day Trekking Tours
Items in red denote equipment we can supply if the client requests it and the activity warrants it
- Digital camera
- Torch or headlamp
- Eye protection
- Suncream and lipcream
- Water (minimum 3L)
- Spare windproof clothing
- Wide brimmed sun hat
- Personal first aid/medical kit
- Lightweight trousers (shorts not recommended due to sunburn and spiky terrain!)
- Lightweight boots or suitable trail/hiking shoes
- Lightweight waterproof and windproof jacket
- Thermal base layer
- Socks
- Lightweight fleece or softshell gilet
- Thermal gloves (yes, even in summer we have needed these up high!)
- Karrimat or Thermarest
- 3 season sleeping bag
- Lightweight down/synthetic jacket
- Gas (screwtop cannisters 230cc can be supplied by Spanish Highs if booked in advance)
- Cooking pan, plate and utensils
- Warm headware
- Entertainment? - eg MP3 player or Kindle
- Toilet paper
- Toiletries
- Rubbish bag (all rubbish and packaging must be taken out)
- Mountain Food for the number of days/nights you are out on the hills.
- Trekking poles (optional)
- 50 litre (SUGGESTED MINIMUM SIZE) or larger rucksack WE CAN SUPPLY
- Lightweight tent or bivvy bag WE CAN SUPPLY
- Stove (we prefer gas to fuel burners) WE CAN SUPPLY
Winter Equipment Lists
Winter Mountaineering Day Tours
Items in red denote equipment we can supply if the client requests it and the activity warrants it
- Digital camera
- Torch or headlamp
- Eye protection
- Suncream and lipcream
- Water (minimum 1-2L for winter)
- Spare windproof clothing
- Personal first aid/medical kit
- Thermal base layer
- Socks
- Lightweight fleece or softshell gilet
- Thermal gloves
- Warm fleece or down/synthetic jacket
- Warm headware (facemask or balaclava optional)
- Boots - 3 or 4 season boots. Need boots that take crampon (minimum Scarpa SL) Not normal hiking boots
- Winter Gloves
- Mountaineering Jacket
- Winter trousers (thermal)
- Extra base layers
- Trekking Poles (optional)
- 40 litre (SUGGESTED MINIMUM SIZE) or larger rucksack WE CAN SUPPLY
- Crampons WE CAN SUPPLY
- Ice Axe - basic walking or mountaineering axe WE CAN SUPPLY
- OPTIONAL IF NOT USING UNGUARDED REFUGES 4 Season tent WE CAN SUPPLY
- OPTIONAL IF REQUIRED BY ACTIVITY Helmet WE CAN SUPPLY
- OPTIONAL IF REQUIRED BY ACTIVITY Harness WE CAN SUPPLY
- OPTIONAL IF REQUIRED BY ACTIVITY Snowshoes WE CAN SUPPLY
- OPTIONAL IF REQUIRED BY ACTIVITY Rope, protection gear WE CAN SUPPLY
- OPTIONAL IF REQUIRED BY ACTIVITY Ski Touring gear if required incl skis, skins, poles, avalanche transeivers, shovel
Winter Mountaineering Multi Day Trips
Items in red denote equipment we can supply if the client requests it and the activity warrants it
- Digital camera
- Torch or headlamp
- Eye protection
- Suncream and lipcream
- Water (minimum 1-2L for winter)
- Thermal base layer
- Personal first aid/medical kit
- Socks
- Lightweight fleece or vest
- Thermal gloves
- Warm fleece or down/synthetic
- Warm headware (facemask or balaclava optional)
- Boots - 3 or 4 season boots. Need boots that take crampon (minimum Scarpa SL) Not normal hiking boots
- Winter gloves
- Mountaineering jacket
- Winter trousers (thermal)
- Extra base layers
- Karrimat or Thermarest
- 4 season sleeping bag
- Down jacket (or synthetic equivalent)
- Cooking pan, plate and utensils
- Warm headware
- Entertainment? - MP3 player or Kindle
- Toilet paper
- Toiletries
- Rubbish bag (all rubbish and packaging must be taken out)
- Mountain Food for the number of days/nights you are out on the hills.
- Gas (screwtop cannisters 230cc can be supplied by Spanish Highs if booked in advance)
- Trekking poles (optional)
- 60 litre (SUGGESTED MINIMUM SIZE) or larger rucksack WE CAN SUPPLY
- Stove (we prefer gas to fuel burners) WE CAN SUPPLY
- Crampons WE CAN SUPPLY
- Ice Axe - basic walking or mountaineering axe WE CAN SUPPLY
- OPTIONAL IF NOT USING UNGUARDED REFUGES 4 Season tent WE CAN SUPPLY
- OPTIONAL IF REQUIRED BY ACTIVITY Helmet WE CAN SUPPLY
- OPTIONAL IF REQUIRED BY ACTIVITY Harness WE CAN SUPPLY
- OPTIONAL IF REQUIRED BY ACTIVITY Snowshoes WE CAN SUPPLY
- OPTIONAL IF REQUIRED BY ACTIVITY Rope, protection gear
- OPTIONAL IF REQUIRED BY ACTIVITY Ski Touring gear if required incl skis, skins, poles, avalanche transceivers, shovel