In February 2020, I successfully summited the following five peaks in Ecuador:
- Chimborazo (6268m)
- Cotopaxi (5897m),
- Cayambe (5790m)
- Iliniza Norte (5126m) (Acclimatisation climb)
- Ruminahui (4630m) (Acclimatisation climb)
Before these attempts, my highest summits were Aconcagua (6964m) and Cerro Bonete (5000m) back in Feb 2019. (Read a quide on how to climb Aconcagua without a guide HERE)
Below is the kit I actually used on this adventure.
Bags:
RAB 120L Duffel – https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/p/rab-kit-bag-ii-120l-E2314460.html?colour=108 – HAVING THE BIGGEST BAG POSSIBLE MAKES LIFE NICE AND EASY
Osprey Talon 44L – https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/p/osprey-talon-44-rucksack-E1314011.html?colour=124 – MAKE SURE YOU HAVE THE WATERPROOF COVER – SOLD SEPARATELY
Clothing:
Top:
Mountain Equipment Shivling Jacket – https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/p/mountain-equipment-mens-shivling-jacket-A1114976.html?colour=133 – I HAVE THIS IN A SIZE TOO BIG SO I CAN FIT OVER INSULTATED JACKETS
Mountain Equipment Skyline Jacket – https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/p/mountain-equipment-skyline-jacket-A1214247.html?colour=6958 – THIS IS THE ONLY INSULATED JACKET I USED ON SUMMIT DAYS
RAB microlight Alpine Jacket – https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/p/rab-mens-microlight-alpine-jacket-A1214413.html?colour=122 – I JUST USED THIS IN THE REFUGIOS AND ON REST DAYS. I STILL TOOK ON THE MOUNTAIN AND ON COTOPAXI LENT IT TO A FRENCH CHAP SUFFERING FROM ALTITUDE SICKNESS
Marmot Midweight Harrier Long-Sleeve Crew – https://www.marmot.com/mens-midweight-harrier-long-sleeve-crew-10930.html?dwvar_10930_size=000025L&dwvar_10930_color=001&cgid=men_tops_baselayer – THIS TOP WAS VERY WARM AND NOT AT ALL SWEATY, WHICH IS IMPORTANT ON COLD MOUNTAINS
Old Adidas Terrex hoodie – No longer stocked
Cotswold Outdoor Staff Gilet
Legs:
GORE H5 WINDSTOPPER Hybrid Pants – https://www.gorewear.com/uk/en-uk/gore-h5-gore-windstopper-hybrid-pants-100295.html?dwvar_100295_color=990R – ONCE AGAIN, THESE PERFORMED PERFECTLY AND REMAIN MY FAVOURITE TREKKING TROUSERS
GORE Wear R5 Windstopper Tights – https://www.gorewear.com/uk/en-uk/gore-r5-gore-windstopper-tights-100354.html – WORK PERFECTLY UNDER MY GORE HYBRID PANTS
Berghaus Paclite Pants – https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/p/berghaus-mens-paclite-pants-A1A12031.html?colour=124 – NEVER USED BUT GLAD I HAD, VERY SMALL AND LIGHT
GORE Wear Baselayer boxer shorts x 6 – https://www.gorewear.com/uk/en-uk/gore-m-base-layer-boxer-shorts-100052.html?dwvar_100052_color=0100&cgid=gw_men_baselayers_briefs-shorts#start=3&cgid=gw_men_baselayers_briefs-shorts
Hands:
The North Face Montana GTX glove- https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/p/the-north-face-men-s-montana-etip-gtx-glove-H2214272.html?colour=124 – DIDN’T PERFORM AS I HAD HOPED… BUT THINK IF I HAD BEEN BETTER HYDRATED AND ACCLIMATISED ON COTOPAXI MIGHT HAVE BEEN BETTER
GORE Wear C5 Gore Infinium Gloves – https://www.gorewear.com/uk/en-uk/gore-c5-gore-tex-infinium-gloves-100501.html?dwvar_100501_color=9900&cgid=gw_men_accessories_gloves#start=10&cgid=gw_men_accessories_gloves – USED THESE GLOVES THE MOST – THIN BUT SURPRISINGLY WARM
Head:
Sungod Revolt Goggles – https://eu.sungod.co/shop/goggles/revolts?id=revolts-rf_blackM-rle_fireN-rs_blackP – USED FOR CAYAMBE DAY SUMMIT
Sungod Renegades – https://eu.sungod.co/shop/sunglasses/renegades?id=renegades-rgf_Mblack-rgle_Pblue-rgi_Bblue – IN FUTURE, WILL TAKE A STRING FOR THESE
Buff x 2 – CAN’T CLIMB WITHOUT! MEANT I DIDN’T NEED BALACLAVA
Feet:
GRIVEL G12 Newmatic Crampon – https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/p/grivel-g12-newmatic-crampon-F1A32089.html?colour=180 – GENIUS – WHAT A DIFFERENCE IT MAKES HAVING THE BEST CRAMPONS
Bridgedale Heavyweight Merino Endurance Socks x 2 – https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/p/bridgedale-mens-heavyweight-merino-endurance-sock-B5114873.html?colour=124 – ONCE AGAIN, THEY PERFORMED PERFECTLY
Scarpa Phantom 6000 Boot – https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/p/black-diamond-raven-ice-axe-with-grip-F1A12010.html?colour=180 – IF YOU CAN AFFORD AND WILL BE DOING LOTS OF HIGH ALTITUDE SUMMITS THEN A MUST! SO MUCH BETTER THAN RENTING!
Scarpa R-Evo GTX Boot – https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/p/scarpa-mens-r-evo-gtx-boot-B1124059.html?colour=143 – THE BEST HIKING BOOT I HAVE USED!
Equipment:
Black Diamond Vapor Helmet – https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/p/black-diamond-vapor-helmet-F1312065.html?colour=117 – SO MUCH LIGHTER THAN OTHERS AND REALLY COMFORTABLE – MANAGED TO WEAR ON TOP OF MY CAP WHICH HELPS WITH SUN AND DUST
Black Diamond Momentum Harness – https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/p/black-diamond-mens-momentum-harness-F1214030.html?colour=122 – COMFORTABLE, LIGHTWEIGHT AND DOESN’T TAKE UP TOO MUCH SPACE IN BAG
Nalgene 1L bottle – https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/p/nalgene-tritan-wide-mouth-bottle-1l-E6124108.html?colour=108
First aid kit
PETZL Head torch (with spare lithium batteries) – https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/p/petzl-actik-core-450l-headtorch-E4114353.html?colour=3633 – HAVING A RECHARGABLE BATTERY IS LIFE CHANGING. NEVER RAN OUT OF BATTERY BUT IF DID, CAN SWAP THE BATTERY FOR 3xAAA LITHIUM BATTERIES
Exped Drybags – https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/p/exped-exped-fold-drybags-black-4-pack-E3134700.html?colour=124
Leki Vario Trekking poles (with snow baskets) – https://www.leki.com/uk/product-area/trekking/poles/3331/micro-vario-ta/
RAB Ascent sleeping bag – https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/p/rab-ascent-900-sleeping-bag-2018-D2154008.html?colour=133
RAB Silk Liner – https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/p/rab-silk-liner-mummy-D2524061.html?colour=107
Sea to Summit Compression Sack – https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/p/sea-to-summit-ultra-sil-event-dry-compression-sack-medium-E3134766.html?colour=123
Black Diamond Raven Axe (60cm) – https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/p/black-diamond-raven-ice-axe-with-grip-F1A12010.html?colour=180 – REALLY GOOD TO HAVE A STRAIGHT AXE, MAKE SURE YOU GET THE RIGHT HEIGHT
Garmin inReach Mini Satellite Communicator – https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/p/garmin-inreach-mini-satellite-communicator-EA114212.html?colour=157 – WORKED THE WHOLE TIME BUT DID SEEM TO SEND READINGS ABOUT 50m LOWER THEN I WAS. ALSO DIDN’T LIKE THE COLD AT TOP OF CHIMBORAZO
Lifeventure Flask 1L – https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/p/lifeventure-tiv-vacuum-flask-1000ml-E6114065.html?colour=123
Lip salve with SPF
Carabiners – One fixed and one normal
Power:
Powertraveller Sport 25 – https://powertraveller.com/collections/power-packs/products/sport-25-power-pack
Powertraveller Swift 40 – https://powertraveller.com/collections/power-packs/products/swift-40-power-pack
Other:
Playing cards
Kindle
Loo roll in drybag
Electrolytes
Wired Headphones
Camera
McNett Tenacious Tape – https://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/p/mcnett-tenacious-sealing-repair-tape-E7354045.html?colour=180
Pen
Padlock
