West Highland Way Late April - Kit advice please

Hi All,

I've been using the wisdom of folk on this forum as a lurker for some time now and that helped me complete my first multiday hike of the Cotswold Way over in the summer. So a big thanks to all those who contribute on here!

I completed it in 5 days carrying a similar kit list to that linked for critique. I used the Aricxi Tarp from Aliexpress, polycro groundsheet and very old Vango venom sleeping bag but have since bought a Lanshan Pro 1 and Aegismax Wind Hard Quilt.

The next challenge I plan to take on is the West Highland Way. I'm hoping to do this in late April next year. I'm planning a 5-day itinerary with a mix of wild camping and campsites. My main concern is the overnight temps in April and my sleep set up...

Feedback gratefully received: https://lighterpack.com/r/0st8i3

Kit looks fine, just make a call on the sleep system/warm layers nearer the time.

April has been pretty good for the last few years, and other years I can remember it snowing.

Shewie said:

.......April has been pretty good for the last few years, and other years I can remember it snowing.

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I've been ice climbing on Glen Coe & Nevis during April in the past....it can be -5C or +15C

How have you found the Aegismax quilt? I've been wondering about dipping my toe in the quilt waters with one of the roughly 600g Ali Ice Flame ones, which I think are similar. I'd probably only plan to use it above around 10 degree night-time temperatures which, as others have said, you may - or may not - get in April on the WHW!

Thanks @Shewie & @Whiteburn seems like I might need to have a warmer quilt option available if temps look low...

@Patrick The quilt only arrived two days ago, planning to test it out very locally (garden) to see how it is for lower temps in the next few days. But initial impressions are very good in terms of quality of stitching and loft. (although I don't have a lot of experience with other bags, quilts for comparission). It weighed exactly 440g on my scale as advertised. I'll keep you posted...

Chris Wilkes said:

@Patrick The quilt only arrived two days ago, planning to test it out very locally (garden) to see how it is for lower temps in the next few days. But initial impressions are very good in terms of quality of stitching and loft. (although I don't have a lot of experience with other bags, quilts for comparission). It weighed exactly 440g on my scale as advertised. I'll keep you posted...

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Stitched through construction will not be as warm as a box baffle quilt, I'd reckon a comfort rating of +4 or +5C would be a reasonable estimate.

This thread might be of interest too

Stitch through budget Quilt weighs 440g?

Personally I'd be checking the forecast about taking that in a single skin shelter in summer, let alone April

Be interested to hear how you get on with it in the next few days.

April to May in Scotland I think I'd be using my Cumulus 450 quilt....would switch to the 250 when it's reliably above +5C overnight.....but then I'm getting soft in my old age.

Be interested to hear how the wind hard quilt sizes up. I've heard it's rather narrow. 2foolswalking youtube channel swear by it and have used it on the gr5 & gr10.

Nice tidy kit list, like the lueko tape around the lighter tip!

Eyeing up the whw for May over 5/6 days.

The hardest part seems to be the rooty/stony/crooked path alongside loch lomond.

I'd expect frosty nights/mornings which are the best time to be out IMO, canna beat waking up to a nice crisp sunny morning. Scotland in April can be glorious (or utter misery)

Mentioned above, the 450 is perfect, but I'm also soft

Boozawooza said:

Be interested to hear how the wind hard quilt sizes up. I've heard it's rather narrow. 2foolswalking youtube channel swear by it and have used it on the gr5 & gr10.

Nice tidy kit list, like the lueko tape around the lighter tip!

Eyeing up the whw for May over 5/6 days.

The hardest part seems to be the rooty/stony/crooked path alongside loch lomond.

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It's not the roots that get to you, it's the wall to wall midges!!!

OK... In the name of science, I have just pitched the Lanshan Pro 1 in the garden. Overnight temps predicted to be 3 deg tonight in my neck of the woods...

Will report back in the morning...

Renegade Scot on Youtube is worth a watch for his West Highland way trip.

Boozawooza said:

.....Eyeing up the whw for May over 5/6 days.
The hardest part seems to be the rooty/stony/crooked path alongside loch lomond.

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IMO there's far better bits of Scotland to spend a week walking through........& a lot less objectionable folk.

Heltrekker said:

It's not the roots that get to you, it's the wall to wall midges!!!

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Won't be midges in April, or May unless you're really unlucky. But we did the WHW at Easter eighteen months ago and I agree - that stretch by Loch Lomond is a killer!

Whiteburn said:

IMO there's far better bits of Scotland to spend a week walking through........& a lot less objectionable folk.

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I'm open to suggestions

Walk from Corrour Station to Dalwinnie?

Boozawooza said:

I'm open to suggestions

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Off the top of the head with easy access from the south.
Ft William to Newtonmore via Corrour Station (not the EHW), open to lots of variations including some tops if the weather fit.
Blair Atholl to Aviemore, again open to lots of variations both low & high.

Whiteburn said:

Off the top of the head with easy access from the south.
Ft William to Newtonmore via Corrour Station (not the EHW), open to lots of variations including some tops if the weather fit.
Blair Atholl to Aviemore, again open to lots of variations both low & high.

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Another straightforward one is the CWT from Ft William to Morvich; if spreading over a week there'd be plenty of variations you could pop in the mix

The thing with the WHW is the fact that navigation and going is dead easy so it is a good first multi day in Scotland if you don't want to be out of your comfort zone. I'm not as experienced as many here but I'd definitely go with a -7 degree quilt or sleeping bag in April if it was me doing it.

Unless you have more experience of hiking in Scotland that you haven't listed then the WHW is a good introduction.
You can always be more adventurous next time - you'll have "dialled" your kit in better by then too.

Overnight test report...

As several of you predicted +3deg was pushing the limit of my sleep set up...

I slept in merino leggings, long sleeve top, beanie and socks. Managed a reasonable nights sleep 10 pm - 2.30 am then woke feeling slightly cold. Put on my down jacket, tossed and turned for a while then decided to retreat back to the warmth of the house to get another couple of hours kip. I think if push came to shove I would have been able to get back to sleep, but it certainly wouldn't have been a relaxing comfortable night...

One surprise was that it felt like it was actually the Neoair Xlite that seemed to be the weakest link. I'm a side sleeper and when using the pad in warmer conditions have had it inflated quite soft for maximum comfort but it seemed like it was around the hip area where I was feeling some cold from the ground. I will be trying it inflated more firmly next time in cold temps.

As my first night using a quilt, I was very pleased with the comfort. I didn't feel any specific cold spots or have any issue with drafts when moving around. Sizing of the quilt felt just right for me, (I'm 182cm and 82kg). I slept with the quilt fastened together on top of the sleeping pad (not under it as I have seen in the marketing pictures).

So, looks like I'll need to have a warmer quilt option and perhaps some additional ground insulation if the temps look low nearer the time.

Thanks again for all the feedback.

Chris Wilkes said:

Overnight test report..........One surprise was that it felt like it was actually the Neoair Xlite that seemed to be the weakest link. I'm a side sleeper and when using the pad in warmer conditions have had it inflated quite soft for maximum comfort but it seemed like it was around the hip area where I was feeling some cold from the ground. I will be trying it inflated more firmly next time in cold temps..........

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At this time of year I'll be carrying my 'winter' sit pad, 60cm * 50cm CCF, & slip it under the X-lite at the hips; it's surprisingly effective.

You could put something under your hip area either on top or underneath the mat like thin foam or a fleece to add some insulation. A hood on a jacket makes a big difference over a beanie. A balaclava is worth a try too. A pair of insulated trousers like the As Tucas Sestrals can make a significant difference in addition to an insulated jacket. A cheaper alternative is thick fleece leggings. Might be psychological but I found pure merino warmer than merino/synthetic mix. Insulated booties are worth a try too. Maybe gloves too.