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Walking poles are worth considering for anyone doing regular UK hill walking, particularly if descents put strain on your knees or you are carrying a heavier pack. They are not essential kit for every walk, but on longer routes and rougher terrain, they earn their place. What Poles Actually Do The main benefits in practice: Knee protection on descents: Each downhill step puts several times your body weight through your knee joint.
This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. Your kit list for Mountain Leader training and assessment should look like what a serious, experienced hill person carries – not what a beginner packs and not what an ultralight runner takes. It’s the kit of someone who expects to be out in all conditions, for full days, over several consecutive days.
This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through them, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. A head torch is not optional safety kit. In the UK, short winter days mean even a moderate-length walk can end in the dark. Starting a descent in fading light without a torch is a situation that escalates quickly from inconvenient to dangerous. Every walker’s pack should have one, and it should be a good one.