What’s in your rucksack?

I am sure many of you will have come across a great deal of “What’s in your bag” posts online. These are often about beautiful handbags filled with luxury cosmetics, lotions and potions in mini form, and a few handy gadgets.

A little while ago Mountain Warehouse posed a question to me “What’s in your rucksack?” – I thought this was brilliant and loved the take on the more fashion-orientated post. So although this article adopts a similar format to the “Whats in your bag” posts, I don’t think my bag could be further from what typically features…!

To start with the Saker Rucksack from Mountain Warehouse is little bigger than your average clutch – 35 litres to be precise! And in my opinion, it is also a lot easier to carry and more versatile. I mean can you fit enough in your handbag to take you to a view like this?!

So as a keen climber here is what I would put in my rucksack on a typical day out exploring:

• Cosmetics: I tend to have a minimalistic approach, only carrying the small but mighty ClimbOn – an absolute essential after a day on gritstone).

• Climbing shoes: again very important for a day out on the rock. I tend to pop mine in the bottom section of my bag to avoid making the whole bag smell!

• Harness and climbing gear: Nut key, quickdraws, cams, slings… the list goes on. I’d love to list everything here, but I have a feeling I would be boring you somewhat!

• Spare top and waterproof: as I am sure you know the weather in the UK is a little unpredictable so I always like to pop in a few options just in case conditions change – often including (far too optimistically) a pair of shorts!

• Chalk bag: fairly key for climbing, especially in those nervy moments when your hands decide to become a little damp!

• Helmet: in my opinion another essential and always important. Only the other day I decided to headbutt a large boulder midway up a route!

• Guidebook: Always handy to make sure you are clued up and know what you are getting yourself into.

• Camera: I am very snap happy so pop this right at the top of bag for easy access.

• Rope: Often slung over the top of the bag for convenience, I certainly wouldn’t get very far without this.

A few other things I always pop in include the day’s snacks and drinks (apologies they were eaten before I took these photos!). These normally consist of sandwiches, bananas, maltloaf, brownies and most importantly a flask of tea.

Happy Exploring!