Rucksacks:
Sabre 45, with two side pouches. Total capacity 75 litres. Spare capacity ~5 litres.
(
http://www.rvops.co.uk/karrimor-sf-sabre-45-og-1806.html)
+ About the right size
+ Robust
- Heavy
Virga “Ultralight” rucksack which packs down into the size of a grapefruit. Capacity up to 40 litres. Spare capacity – all (used as daypack) (
http://www.granitegear.com/products/backpacks/ultralight/virga.html)
+ Packs into the main bag when not in use
+ Ultralight
- No external tie points for shovels etc
- Relative lack of separate compartments
Clothing:
Paramo Alta II jacket – Waterproof (very useful for the region; it rained on day two, and the temperature fluctuated far more than we were expecting). Waterproofs in the early part of the week were a must.(
http://www.outdoorsmagic.com/news/article/mps/uan/3721)
+ Huge Pockets
+ Waterproof
+ Vents well
- Not “fire friendly”
- Relatively delicate (about the same as “Gore Tex”
Mountain Equipment down jacket (
http://www.outdooraction.co.uk/acat...ENT_CLASSIC_LIGHTLINE_DOWN_JACKET__2008_.html)
+ Packs down well
+ Very warm
+ Splashproof
- Punctures easily, thus was worn as an inner layer
- Too warm when undertaking activity
- Too short (climbing model) to be used as posterior warmth
Arcteryx Wool Jumper
+ Robust
+ Central zip useful for venting
- Expensive
Paramo Cascada Trousers (
http://www.paramo.co.uk/en-gb/garments/detail/index.php?pgc=NIKWAXANALOGYTROUSERSCASCADAMENS)
+ Waterproof & windproof
+ Reliable
- Not fire friendly
- No cargo pockets
Crag Hoppers lined cargo trousers
+ Cheap
+ Good selection of pockets
- Needed waterproof garments, otherwise when things got wet, they soon froze up
Icebreaker GT Top
+ Merino Wool
+ Central zip useful for venting
+ Comfortable
- Expensive
Icebreaker long johns
+ Merino wool
- Expensive
Icebreaker glove liners
+ Excellent for a “last layer” to keep your hands from getting stuck to things, or manipulate cameras
+ Excellent dexterity
- Not windproof, so unsheltered, the wind cuts through like they aren’t there
- Length of one finger a bit dubious
Ortovox Antarctica Mitts
+ Durable
+ Waterproof
- Take a while to dry, as inner two layers are made from wool
- Almost too hot, with only two of three layers were ever worn
Sorrell Caribou boots
+ Warm, when dry
+ Large footprint reduces chance of puncturing the “crisp” layer of snow, thus sinking to the bottom
- Although “waterproof” was emblazoned along the side, they weren’t actually waterproof (this was their second outing, and weren’t proofed in-between.
- No integral gaiters
Mountain Equipment Gaiters
+ Goretex Proshell works in these temperatures, despite what you may read online
+ Lets no snow in
- Due to size of boots, takes an age to put on
Generic “Thinsulate” hat
+ Could be pulled over eyes when sleeping in snow grave
+ Not windproof, which was good, as could be coupled with a hood if too cold to make it windproof, or leave the hood off to vent a little faster.
- Not that fashionable
Ulfrotte Balaclava
+ Useful as a hat/scarf
- Opening a little too wide and needed something to protect the nose – this was a big item I was missing and I regretted it on the last night when I slept in the snow grave. At one stage I woke up thinking I had frostnip on my nose...
Cyclone Buff
+ Multiple uses
+ Windproof section
- Too warm for use during activities
Equipment:
Olympus 1030u “Waterproof and freezeproof camera”
+ Waterproof
+ Excellent for those “quick shots” where you just want a photo without loosing the feeling in your fingers
- Sometimes the lens cover would freeze up
- The batteries weren’t freezeproof and needed replenishing once a day
Canon G9
+ Good for photographing the northern lights
- Too much “faff” required, which ended up hurting out in the cold, generally the “auto” settings were used, especially when the temperature started dropping significantly
Stainless steel Mora “Clipper” in fluorescent orange
+ Cheap
+ Hard to loose
- Questionable style, but hey, at least I didn’t loose it 
Laplander
+ Does what it needs to
- Harder to grasp with mitts on, but still manageable
Gorillapod
+ Excellent little tripod for the cameras, especially for the “longer” shots
+ Fitted into the chest pocket of the Alta II jacket, along with the two cameras.
Low Profile Goggles (UVEX)
+ Lightweight
+ Always around my neck
+ Used as “insulation” when sleeping in the snow grave!
- Not as good as the ski goggles (which were a noname brand, used for husky event) but otherwise pretty good
Cheap Flask
+ Cheap
- Nasty, also needed to be about 1 litre in size
Sleeping:
Mountain Equipment Snowline Sleeping Bag (
http://www.supertent.co.uk/product_...-cold&osCsid=bf7473bf0c7a28084c2705caf05afc26)
+ Rated down to -20 comfort, but was comfortable down to -37 (or whatever the last night was) whilst sleeping in a snow grave. Rated extreme down to -37, so I can confirm it’s okay to that (although I did throw my two jackets over the top of me...)
+ DWR coating seems to be almost waterproof
- Very expensive
Silk Sleeping Bag Liner
+ Makes the bag warmer
+ A bit of luxury
- A faff to get into/ out of
Terra Nova “Flo2” fabric bivvi bag
+ Fabric is still gas permeable (i.e. you zip it up and breathe through it) even in those conditions
- Expensive
- Whilst it fits me (I’m 6’ 2”, the hood was not quite large enough to fit my boots and daypack whilst keeping them covered. I could get the boots in only.)
Thermarest “Z-Rest”
+ Easy to fold out, with no “curl”
+ Lightweight
- Snow gets stuck in the egg-box shaped profile, but can be shaken out easily
What I want next time:
Nose protection, especially when the wind is in your face, even the ski goggles didn’t make a difference.
Second choice would be better choice boots with integrated gaiters. The Sorrell’s were forever getting wet after I bounded around.
What I think was the “best” of the bunch:
Alta II jacket – It’s the most unstylish thing known to man, but it just works
Mountain Equipment Snowline Sleeping bag – Excellent thing kept me from freezing in my four nights in the snow grave when other bags were giving up the ghost. The baffles are great too.
