Mountain Leader Kit

A talk through what I carried on my Mountain Leader Assessment course in Snowdonia.
This kit was everything I needed to sustain me for three days during the Expedition phase. The rucksack weighs 15.9 KG plus 0.9 KG for the chest pack. This included all my water and food too.
I explain the reasons for carrying each item and how it worked for me on the course.
www.preparedpathfinder.com

[@TheMKMac]

Another great video, equipment simply and concisely justified. Congratulations on passing your ML (was there ever any doubt!), I've just booked mine for next autumn. 🤞🏻

[@PreparedPathfinder]

Cheers Mac!

[@johnbiddal5951]

First off, congratulations on passing the ML course and thanks for the video on kit carried. All good info. 👍

[@PreparedPathfinder]

Cheers John! 👍

[@winter_and_bushcraft]

Absolutely solid kit! Everything useful in there! Thanks for sharing 🤠🌲👋

[@St3V3_W]

Great to see people include food and water too! So often people omit these and still have a massive pack. You just got a new follower 👌🏼 I’m going for my ML training now too

[@PreparedPathfinder]

Good luck with it mate 👍

[@ptouchpaul]

Thanks for sharing bud, really interesting to hear your thought process behind what gear you take, not just on this but all your trips. I've learnt a lot from your videos and look forward to learning more, thanks.

[@PreparedPathfinder]

Thanks Paul, appreciate it 👍

[@toughscoutsurvival3347]

Very useful video..... its very important to me..... and its also important for beginners...... well done sir.... good luck.......👍👍👍

[@PreparedPathfinder]

Cheers mate!

[@Takn835]

Might be worth punching a hole in a corner of the multi mat and adding a paracord lanyard to it. That way you can secure it to rucksack, yourself, anything weighty enough to stop it blowing away or even pushing a quick tent peg into the ground. 🤔

[@marksadventures3889]

Nice one mucka. I was thinking of new poles - so good news there. nice load-out, just what's needed no thrills. 35lb - yeah it soon mounts up, at least you're having to carry a chute, weapon and ordinance.

[@PreparedPathfinder]

Absolutely mate, makes things a lot lighter!

[@journeyman7189]

Great kit Tom and doesn't seem overly heavy especially with all the capabilities it has. I feel your pain when it comes to sleeping pad width. My arms are always falling off. Its like they don't make them for people with shoulders lol Also where did you source that little zippered pouch for your wash kit? Nate

[@thunderinthenight13]

Solid kit choices throughout. I'll echo your concerns about the average sleeping pad, they're too narrow. If you're a built guy, approaching anything near six feet tall or prefer sleeping on your side, opt for a medium/wide or long/wide sleeping pad. The extras grams youll have to carry will be so worth it. Totally improved my outdoor sleeping comfort when I ditched regular sized pads for MW/LW sleeping pads.

[@johnfletcher9907]

True. Many a night I’ve spent on a three quarter sleeping mat. 18 months ago I bit the bullet and bought a neoair xlite regular wide. Cost best part of £200 so was a bloody painful purchase to make, but been thanking myself ever since. A total game changer.

[@minisynthcollective7822]

I agree. Gonna get myself a big agnes pad as everyone raves about it. Need a wide pad.

[@neoaliphant]

Poles also usefull as tarp/poncho poles, ive used a few times, the bag left in the mini bus, ive done this as well after viking renactment shows, very sensible

[@Stoney_AKA_James]

Good load-out kit! Have you tried CNOC water bags? They have wide openings to easily fill and do connect to water filters.

[@PreparedPathfinder]

Yep, that’s what l use with my filter 👍

[@prospero6337]

🌟You always bang it💥 ✅ Nice job...great vid👏🏆 🇺🇸🌟🇬🇧

[@PreparedPathfinder]

Cheers mate! 🇺🇸🇬🇧👍

[@alexandernorris8189]

Great videos, thanks a lot! Could you please do a video on how to choose a solid pair of walking boots?

[@PreparedPathfinder]

Cheers, and will do 👍

[@mikel6517]

One thing I’ve never got right is a warm coat. Did you use the Arc’teryx coat in the army as well? Or did you use a sleeka or buffalo SP6? Tried far to many and wasted a lot of money on buffalo, Snugpak and duck downs coats. All either useless in wet weather or too bulky.

[@somebawldy3789]

Decent 👌👌

[@GruntProof]

Good stuff man!

[@PreparedPathfinder]

Thanks mate! 👍

[@ianmurray4081]

Awesome video. The only thing that I would add are some of those chemical hand and feet warmers. Great morale booster. I’ve used them to help warm up wet boots and MREs…just a thought 💭. Cheers 🍻, take care and stay frosty 🇨🇦🫡🇬🇧

[@peterclarke7240]

I'm gonna sound like an absolute idiot, because there's no way on earth you haven't thought of this- but I noticed all of your alternative means of starting a fire (at least, the ones I saw) were all in the one bag- I've always spread them around, based on the idea that "why not?" Is there a reason you don't? And this isn't me trying to have a gotcha moment, more that I'm wondering if my slightly paranoid tendencies might not actually be justified!

[@PreparedPathfinder]

No mate, I have my primary means, a lighter, in my chest pack as well. Ref the three means in my rucksack top lid, there's no point putting them all in different parts of my rucksack, if that's what you meant. If you lost your rucksack you'd still lose the entire contents.

[@Ivarr.Bergmann.Alaska]

I have those exact poles.. On drill I generally use them for snow and i found another set made in Austria that telescopes down to about a foot in length that took their place for a trial run, but as it were the BlkDmn version is panning out to be a better choice regardless of its longer stored length.. They are just made better all around.. I do actually use the BlkDmn ones on my daily PT generally too.. For now the Austrian set stays on my drill ruck for use in the wilds until i decide what set wins the race.... "Extra hat and such for ppl on the course"- Looking after your team mates cannot be over stated. I wished more ppl talked about that topic!

[@PreparedPathfinder]

Cheers mate, appreciate it!

[@darraghonuallain9954]

Spare boot laces

[@cardiacbob]

15.9 kg = 35 lbs. EIB Standard... Hooah!

[@PreparedPathfinder]

Roger, same weight l carried on Tabs (rucks) in training 👍

[@johnprice4893]

Nice, Ive got the ML course in a couple of months. (also we copied your Hadrians wall walk last year - really enjoyed it)

[@PreparedPathfinder]

Good luck for it!

[@johnprice4893]

@@PreparedPathfinder Thx i'll need it

[@aeromech8563]

Solid effort there bud, nice concise kit no BS get in get job done. 👍 as for the weight that's not excessive and if like yourself people are prepared they will have no issues with it. Keep up the good work.

[@abcddcba8882]

🍻

[@Retired-Tom]

You can tell you're getting old when you need a sit mat and your kip mat is bigger than your tent. One of the best buys I made was an ergonomic handle walking stick and converted it to a trekking/walking stick, takes the strain off the knees and lower back. But then I'm old and knackerated. UP.

[@greghardman5064]

Can I ask, does the 1Lt Hydrapak work in conjunction with a Sawyer Mini Filter? Thanks Greg

[@lightstrider8239]

What brand waterproof socks were those?

[@NNICKKK]

Could be wrong, but look a lot like my sealzskins ones.

[@easygroove]

hahaha , PeeBottle FTW ! best thing if you do NOT need to go out of your sleeping bag during winter in the night... bought one in bright orange.. dont want to confuse it with those other bottles 🙂

[@PreparedPathfinder]

Ha ha, roger! 😂

[@Joinordie718]

Great pack and load out Mr. Tom thanks for sharing sir 👍

[@simonward4520]

Pee bottle a must for me, first bit of kit in pack. Neck scarf ideal if you forget your toilet paper, needs must......never forgot toilet paper sinse.🤮

[@calmolly1]

Good video. Would be hard to argue with the load out. Great job

[@jw8304]

Coincidentally I'm watching this video and realised we're wearing the same t-shirt!

[@nickbwalks]

Another brilliant video Tom, very informative, keep up the great work.

[@RT-fb6ty]

Congratulations on your achievment of ML. Light gear is also expensive gear. So most of us will have at least another kilo or 2. Solid equipment to compare with though.

[@thefucrew9865]

Great load out, Brother !!! Some great suggestions and advice, as well. Keep up the great work !!!

[@PreparedPathfinder]

Cheers mate! 👍

[@jamesrichardwhitehouse5653]

Good one Tom. Pretty costly though. We ain’t all millionaires like you son. 348

[@PreparedPathfinder]

I’m no millionaire mate!

[@davidcann6021]

I love having a chest rig, I just connect the map case to it and side it between the rig and my clothing then load it up with trail mix, mini FAK and bits like sunscreen, Vaseline and talk etc in mini Nalgene bottles. I think that's an absolutely brilliant load out there, could certainly scale that up or down for a wild camp or multi day hike. Do you use ear plugs at night or was that maybe a no no for alertness?

[@PreparedPathfinder]

No I never use ear plugs at night mate, as you say, to stay alert. I'm quite a light sleeper due to my various experiences, which isn't a bad thing.

[@stiffchocolate7546]

Gave me a semi

[@Bigfezzig]

Great info. Thanks man!

[@kevinpattersonjones6621]

What did you do for power Tom? As in did you / do you ever carry a power bank for example?

[@PreparedPathfinder]

I did carry a power bank actually, l forgot to add it here.

[@rogerd6166]

Another great vid Tom. I got some great tips from you again mate. I noticed you have swapped kit from your chest rig and put them it the top of your bergen. Was there a reason for that? Did the chest rig stay dry inside while out on the hills?

[@PreparedPathfinder]

Yeah l wanted to keep the chest rig as uncluttered as possible as l was in and out of it all day for nav. The map was in a waterproof cover so the chest rig didn’t need to be waterproof.

[@kan-zee]

Excellent unpacking....your experience shines in this video . 6:04 ...Question : Is there a reason why your counter / pacer, is not in the chest pack , with the rest of your navigation gear ? Question #2 ... do you find the Counter @6:04 is better than using Pacing Beads ? 11:57 ...When I was a kid, i remember My grandma sewing inner pockets onto the inner side, lower back of our coats...we would be able to pull out a fut butt flap ,to sit on...and when leaving, we could , tuck it back in the inner lower pocket, and bush wack to our next camp, with dry butts....I wish the hiking coat companies would make these into their products . Today, I had my wife, put some heavy duty velcro on the back of my jacket lower lip...so I have the option to have a butt flap or not....works fantastic for cold, wet protection.

[@thomascrook8757]

Great vid as always mate could you tell me where you got those neoprene booties from they look like a great idea

[@PreparedPathfinder]

Not sure where l got them from, online somewhere. They’re made by Sockwa.

[@m.k.7199]

How and why did you settle on the Osprey Kestrel 58? Looks very full. Do you have a different pack for the winter?

[@chrisstock5210]

Good load out! I’d recommend spare pants too 😬

[@PreparedPathfinder]

Cheers! 👍

[@abucudee]

Where did you get this sockwa neoprene boots from if you don’t mind, quite hard to get find in the UK I think, thanks

[@Shadycoder]

I am considering getting a Sabre/Predator 45 for the course and using the side pouches, does being a bit wider give you issues on the course? I have struggled to find packs that fit my frame since I am a bit shorter than average. This is a great video, thanks for the insight.

[@PreparedPathfinder]

Cheers Thomas. The Sabre is a good pack, but I'd go for something more civvie orientated personally.

[@Shadycoder]

@@PreparedPathfinder Thanks for the advice, a friend gave me a very old Karrimor Alpine 45+10 (looks like it was made in the late 80s early 90s) which I really like but was looking for something similar with a few modern features.

[@PreparedPathfinder]

@@Shadycoder yeah those older Karrimor packs were quality bits of kit, far better than what they make now. I rate Osprey packs, they're light and robust.

[@trytheoutdoors]

Great advice. I need a better map and compass admin system particularly when it's raining. Did you put your note book and pen / pencil in the chest rig? I keep dropping pens / pencils when doing nav on the move. Real pain!

[@PreparedPathfinder]

Yes l did mate.

[@trytheoutdoors]

Thanks. Just taken my ML: passed everything except my micro nav. I'm used to just taking bearings for resection and ticking features. Need to read contours more accurately. I'm in the army reserves and should know better. Tally ho - I'll practise loads and retake. Am determined to pass ML so as to share the beauty of the mountains with others. At the moment, I use the Wild skye front pouch as a map and compass holder but I need to organise myself better particularly when it rains. Wish me luck : Congrats on your own pass.

[@PreparedPathfinder]

@@trytheoutdoors thanks mate, and good luck with yours 👍

[@stevenhughes1812]

firstly congratulation on you passing the course, it was never in doubt. However you said that you were going to put the name of the Rab waterproof in the description, you probably forgot, so can you let us Know. Cheers

[@PreparedPathfinder]

Thanks Steve, will do, away in Snowdonia at the moment though.

[@jamiesavage4956]

Same as above, i'd like to know which rab jacket that is, packs down nice and small great video 😉

[@PreparedPathfinder]

@@jamiesavage4956 yeah it’s mega compact and light. It’s a Rab Meridian jacket.

[@tubefreakmuva]

Do you run any ML courses?

[@PreparedPathfinder]

No mate

[@adrianlydiate7197]

Great beard Tom 👍

[@PreparedPathfinder]

I just had to get rid of it unfortunately! 😬

[@gianfrancofasce3283]

ciao quanti kilometri riesci a fare al giorno con uno zaino di quasi 17 kg? complimenti per il canale

[@vektorvictor8252]

👍👍

[@sgtg4600]

A Headover? It’s a slippery slope, I’m just saying. 🤣 Always good to see what the other fellas load out is? 👍

[@PreparedPathfinder]

No mate, a neck gaiter! 😂

[@mikel6517]

And waterproof trousers, what will your mates say ? hate wearing them

[@PreparedPathfinder]

@@mikel6517 same, but I explain why!

[@mikel6517]

@@PreparedPathfinder yeah you did, and he would have probably marked you down if you hadn’t

[@PreparedPathfinder]

@@mikel6517 defo mate, he was a bit of a laserbeam!