Glacier Climbing Gear

So much goes into what you will need, depending on the destinaton, approach and time of year.

If you are going on a Summit Adventure, come talk to our Mountain Team. 

Generic Glacier Climbing Gear List

Before you spend a fortune on gear, come talk to our Mountain Team.  A lot of this gear can be borrowed, rented or potentially substituted.

Basic Glacier List

• 10 Essentials

  • Headlamp 

    • Must fit on helmet

    • Extra Batteries or way to charge headlamp

    • Examples

      • Petzl Actik Core Headlamp

      • Black Diamond Spot 400

      • Petzl Swift RL Headlamp

  • Water Bottles

    • Co-polyester wide mouth work well

      • Example: Nalgene

    • Water bladders with tubes tend to freeze

  • Sun Protection

    • Sunscreen

      • Z Blok Sunscreen SPF 45

    • Lip Balm

      • SPF Lip Balm

• Climbing Pack

  • 40L for Day Summit

  • 65L+ for Overnight

    • Black Diamond Mission 75

    • Women's Osprey Ariel Pro 75L

    • Mountain Hardwear AMG 75L

• Climbing / Safety Gear

  • Helmet

    • Needs to fit beanie

    • UIAA (Union Internationale des Associations d’Alpinisme) or CE (European Committee for Standardization) certified climbing helmet

    • Examples:

      • Black Diamond Half Dome Helmet

      • Petzl Sirocco Helmet

      • Women's Black Diamond Half Dome Helmet

      • Black Diamond Vapor Helmet

  • Harness 

    • With adjustable leg loops

    • Alpine harness preferred

      • Lighter

      • Less bulky

      • Less padding to soak up water

      • Examples:

        • Black Diamond Couloir

        • Petzl Altitude

  • Ice axe 

    • With leash

    • Debate over how to size axe

      • Best to measure by hanging it by leg - point should be over ankle

      • Height Method of Measuring Ice Axe

        • <5'8" = 65 cm axe

        • 5'8" - 6'2" = 70 cm axe

        • > 6'2" = 75 cm axe

    • Examples

      • Black Diamond Raven Pro

      • Petzl Summit Ice Axe

  • Belay/rappel device

    • ATC Guide

    • Petzl Reverso

    • Edelrid Giga Jul 

      • Only if you already use this and love it

  • Pulley

  • Carabiners

    • Triple Action Locking carabiners

      • 1 x Petzl William Triact Lock

    • Locking carabiners

      • 2-3 x 

    • Nonlocking carabiners

      • 2

  • Alpine Slings

    • Singles and doubles

  • Prusik cords

  • Rope(s) 

    • One per group

    • Dry preferred

• Footwear

  • Climbing Boots

    • Climbing shoes either fit or they don't

      • They don't break in that much

      • You may wish to rent these, unless you plan to do a lot of climbing

      • Climbing boots MUST fit crampons 

    • Single vs Double Boots

      • Single Boots

        • Suitable for most glacier climbing in the summer in our part of the world

        • These can be rented

        • Examples

          • Men's La Sportiva Nepal Cube GTX

          • Women's La Sportiva Nepal Cube GTX

          • Men's Lowa Alpine Expert II GTX

          • Women's Lowa Alpine Expert II GTX

      • Double Boots

        • Specialized, two-part mountaineering footwear

          • Outer shell can be plastic or synthetic 

        • Extra insulation for extreme colds

        • These can be rented

          • Scarpa Phantom 6000 HD

          • La Sportiva G2 EVO

  • Approach Shoes

    • Highly recommended

    • Use as you approach glacier

    • Used as camp shoes

    • Examples

      • Men's La Sportiva Mutant

      • Men's La Sportiva TX4 Approach

      • Women's La Sportiva TX4 Approach

  • Gaiters

    • These keep snow out of your boots

    • Example

      • Outdoor Research Expedition Crocodiles

  • Socks

    • Wool or synthetic

    • NO Cotton!

    • Example

      • Men's Smartwool Mountaineer Classic Edition

      • Men's Smartwool Hike Light Crew Sock

      • Women's Smartwool Hike Light Classic Sock

• Hand Protection 

  • Climbing Tape

  • Rappel/Belay Gloves

• Glacier Appropriate Clothing

  • Upper Body Layers (Synthetic or Wool)

    • Lightweight Upper Body Baselayer or Sun Hoody

      • Men's Black Diamond Alpenglow Hoodie

      • Women's Black Diamond Alpenglow Hoodie

      • Men's Outdoor Research Echo Hoodie

      • Women's Outdoor Research Echo Hoodie

    • Light Weight Upper Body Insulating Layer

      • Men's Patagonia R1 Air FZ Hoody

      • Women's Patagonia R1 Full-Zip Hoody

    • Medium Weight Upper Body Insulating Layer

      • Hood should fit over helmet

      • Examples

        • Men's Patagonia Nano Puff Hoody

        • Women's Patagonia Nano Puff Hoody

        • Men's Black Diamond Firstlight Hybrid Hoody

        • Women's Black Diamond Firstlight Hybrid Hoody

    • Expedition-style Heavy Parka

      • Must extend below the waist

      • Examples

        • Phantom Belay Down Parka

        • Women's Phantom Belay Down Parka

    • Waterproof/Breathable Upper Body Shell

      • Hood should ideally fit over helmet

      • Examples

        • Men's Arc'teryx Beta AR Jacket

        • Women's Arc'teryx Beta AR Jacket

        • Men's Black Diamond Highline Stretch Shell

        • Women's Black Diamond Fineline Stretch Shell

  • Lower Body Layers (Synthetic or Wool)

    • Underwear

      • 1-2 pairs if you wear them

      • Cotton is NOT acceptable

      • Examples

        • Men's Patagonia Essential Boxer Brief

        • Men's Smartwool Merino 150 Boxer Brief

        • Women's Smartwool Seamless Bikini

    • Trekking Pants

      • May be optional

      • Used for approach at lower altitudes

      • Examples

        • Men's Black Diamond Notion Pant

        • Women's Black Diamond Notion Pant

    • Lower Body Baselyer

      • Men's Smartwool Classic All-Season Merino Base Layer Bottom

      • Men's Patagonia Capilene Midweight Bottoms

      • Women's Capilene Midweight Bottoms

    • Softshell Climbing Pants

      • Men's Outdoor Research Cirque III Pant

      • Women's Outdoor Research Cirque III Pant

      • Men's Black Diamond Alpine Pant

      • Women's Black Diamond Alpine Pant

    • Waterproof/Breathable Lower Body Shell

      • Men's Black Diamond Fineline Stretch FZ Rain Pants

      • Women's Black Diamond Fineline Stretch FZ Rain Pants

  • Head

    • Beanie

    • Sun hat

    • Buff

      • Original Ecostretch Buff

      • Merino Lightweight Buff

  • Gloves

    • Waterproof/Breathable Ice gloves

      • Showa 282-02 TEMRES

    • Insulated Gloves/Mittens

      • Outdoor Research Baker IIs are the best

      • Can get military surplus if you are lucky and want to save money

• Sleeping System

  • Sleeping Bag rated between 20° and 0° F Bag

    • Big debate over down vs synthetic

    • Synthetic generally recommended for Scouts in our part of the world

      • Synthetic - Mountain Hardwear Lamina 15°F

      • Women's Synthetic - Mountain Hardwear Lamina 15°F

    • Only special Scouts will be allowed to go on Glacier Adventure

      • Down is acceptable if not preferred

        • Compacts far better than synthetic bags

        • Far lighter than similar rated synthetic bags

        • Will fail to insulate if it gets wet

          • Requires care to keep dry

          • NOT for use by regular Scouts on regular outings

        • Examples:

          • Mountain Hardwear Bishop Pass 15

            • Considered "budget bag"

            • 650-fill down

          • Western Mountaineering 

            • Apache MF 15F

              • 15°F

              • 850+ fill power goose down 

              • Mummy Bag

            • Badger StormShield Sleeping Bag

              • 15°F

              • 850+ fill power goose down 

              • Allow some room to move around in

          • Feathered Friends Hummingbird UL 20

            • 950+ fill power down

            • Super light weight

            • 3-season bag

          • Feathered Friends Snowbunting Light 0 Sleeping Bag

            • Expedition quality bag

            • 900+ Fill Power Down

            • Premium bag with premium price

  • Compression bag

    • • Sea to Summit eVent Compression Dry Bag

      • Sea to Summit Ultra Sil Compression Sack

  • Sleeping Pad

• Glacier Gear 

  • Crampons

    • If you will be on ice

    • Note: you may need micro-spikes or snow shoes depending on snow conditions

    • Examples:

      • Petzl Sarken Crampon

      • Black Diamond Contact

  • Glacier Rescue

    • Prusik loops will work for the most part

      • Will slip on icy ropes

    • Purpose made rope grabbers work much better

      • Petzl Micro Traxion pulley

      • Petzl Tibloc

  • Snow protection gear

    • Glacier Glasses

      • Julbo Shield

      • Women's Julbo Monterosa

      • Julbo Explorer 2.0

    • Goggle

      • Used for adverse weather

      • Amber or rose-tinted 

      • Photochromatic lenses the most versatile in a variety of light conditions

        • Mostly for contact lens users

      • Examples

        • I/O Goggle

        • Smith I/O MAG

    • Nose/face shield

  • Avalanche Gear if in Avalanche area

    • Shovel

    • Probe

    • Avalanche transceiver