Expedition
Essentials

Prepare for Your Adventure
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Field Time

3 Days

Small Groups

5-8 Participants

Location

Scotland

Age

16+

Qualifying

3 Days

Ready to Explore

Every expedition begins long before you step onto the trail.


Our Expedition Resources page has been created to help you feel prepared, confident, and ready for your journey with Equal Adventure. Whether you are joining a Bronze, Silver, Gold DofE expedition or another outdoor programme, these resources are designed to support you before your adventure begins.


You will receive practical training and guidance throughout your expedition experience, but exploring these resources beforehand can help you understand what to expect, organise your kit, and build confidence ahead of your journey.


At Equal Adventure, we believe preparation helps create safer, more enjoyable, and more positive expedition experiences for everyone.


Waterproof Equipment

Waterproof jackets and trousers are essential on all expeditions.

Outdoor waterproof clothing requires care and maintenance to continue performing properly. Over time, waterproof fabrics may need reproofing to maintain effectiveness.

We recommend:
  • Avoiding standard washing detergents on waterproofs
  • Cleaning waterproof clothing correctly
  • Reproofing jackets and trousers regularly.


Building Confidence Before Your Expedition

Preparing for an expedition is about more than equipment.

It’s also about:
  • Building confidence
  • Understanding teamwork
  • Developing independence
  • Learning outdoor responsibility
  • Preparing mentally and physically for adventure.

At Equal Adventure, we aim to create supportive, inclusive expedition experiences where everyone feels prepared, welcomed, and capable of succeeding.


What We Provide

To support your expedition journey, Equal Adventure provides a range of shared experiences, including:
  • Tents
  • Trangia stoves and cooking equipment
  • Gas fuel
  • Maps and compasses
  • Group safety equipment.

Where required, we may also be able to support participants with access to additional equipment such as rucksacks or roll mats.

Participants are responsible for bringing personal clothing, footwear, sleeping bags, and expedition food.


Clothing & Personal Kit

The clothing you bring can make a huge difference to your comfort and enjoyment outdoors.

We recommend lightweight outdoor clothing suitable for walking and changing weather conditions. Layering clothing is one of the most effective ways to stay warm, dry, and comfortable during an expedition.

Recommended Clothing:
  • Base layers and technical fabrics
  • Fleece or warm mid-layers
  • Waterproof jacket and trousers
  • Comfortable walking trousers or leggings
  • Warm hat and gloves
  • Walking socks suitable for hiking boots.


What to Avoid Bringing

Some everyday clothing is not suitable for expedition environments.

We recommend avoiding:
  • Jeans
  • Heavy cotton hoodies
  • Fashion footwear or trainers
  • Excessive spare clothing
  • Unnecessary electronics or valuables.

Remember — you will carry everything yourself, so pack carefully and keep your kit practical and lightweight.


The Importance of Layering

Outdoor conditions can change quickly.

Using layers helps regulate temperature, manage sweat, and keep you comfortable throughout the day. Technical outdoor fabrics dry faster and perform far better outdoors than cotton clothing.

A simple layering system usually includes:
  • Base layer → helps manage moisture
  • Mid-layer → provides warmth
  • Waterproof outer layer → protects from wind and rain.


Expedition Kit List

Participants should carefully check the recommended expedition kit list before attending.

Your kit requirements may vary depending on:

Expedition level (Bronze / Silver / Gold)
Number of expedition days
Weather conditions
Time of year

Please ensure all equipment is suitable for outdoor use and tested before your expedition.


Footwear Guidance

Walking Boots Matter. Good footwear is one of the most important parts of your expedition equipment.

Well-fitted walking boots can help prevent:
  • Blisters
  • Foot pain
  • Fatigue
  • Poor stability on uneven ground.

We recommend supportive walking boots that:
  • Fit securely around the ankle
  • Are comfortable for long walks
  • Have good grip for outdoor terrain
  • Have been worn in before the expedition.


Looking After Your Boots

Keeping boots clean and waterproof helps extend their lifespan and improve comfort during expeditions.

Before your expedition:
  • Clean mud and dirt from boots
  • Reproof waterproof materials if required
  • Wear boots regularly to break them in properly.


Rucksacks & Packing

How you pack your rucksack is just as important as what you bring.

Good packing helps:
  • Improve comfort while walking
  • Reduce strain and fatigue
  • Keep important items dry
  • Make equipment easier to access
  • Helpful Packing Tips
  • Keep heavier items close to your back
  • Use dry bags or waterproof liners
  • Keep waterproofs accessible
  • Ensure sleeping bags stay dry
  • Avoid unnecessary items

As a general guide, expedition bags should remain manageable and appropriately sized for the participant.


Sleeping Equipment

Participants will need:

  • A suitable sleeping bag
  • Sleeping mat or roll mat
  • Personal overnight items.

Sleeping bags should be appropriate for outdoor temperatures and suitable for multi-day expedition use.


Food & Menu Planning

Expedition food should be:
  • Lightweight
  • Easy to prepare
  • High in energy
  • Suitable for outdoor conditions.

Participants should bring enough food for the full duration of their expedition, including snacks and meals.

Good hydration and nutrition are important parts of successful expedition experiences.


Waterproof Equipment

Waterproof jackets and trousers are essential on all expeditions.

Outdoor waterproof clothing requires care and maintenance to continue performing properly. Over time, waterproof fabrics may need reproofing to maintain effectiveness.

We recommend:
  • Avoiding standard washing detergents on waterproofs
  • Cleaning waterproof clothing correctly
  • Reproofing jackets and trousers regularly.


Building Confidence Before Your Expedition

Preparing for an expedition is about more than equipment.

It’s also about:
  • Building confidence
  • Understanding teamwork
  • Developing independence
  • Learning outdoor responsibility
  • Preparing mentally and physically for adventure.

We aim to create supportive, inclusive expedition experiences where everyone feels prepared, welcomed, and capable of succeeding.

Ready for Adventure?

Exploring these resources before your expedition can help you feel more organised, confident, and ready to enjoy the journey ahead.


We look forward to supporting you on your next adventure with us.

CONSULTANCY SERVICES

Providing Solutions – Producing Results.

Equal Adventure Developments Ltd is ISO: 9001 EAD Certified

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INCLUSIVE DESIGN

We are driven by the desire to create joyful, empowering and meaningful objects that use resources with care and bring meaning to people and communities.

Explore the Equal Adventure Developments catalogue to see full list of our products.
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REPAIRS, ALTERATIONS AND SPECIALS

Equal Adventure Developments Ltd (EAD) is excited to inform you about its repairs, alterations and specials services offered by our in-house Soapstone Services team.

Has your zip broken on your favourite jacket? Are your trousers a bit too long? Are your jeans just not fitting as well as they used to? Are you requiring a new set of curtains? Equal Adventure has just the solution for you.
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BIO ENGINEERING

EAD's Bio Engineering consultancy blends inclusive product design, adaptive engineering and evidence-based research to deliver practical solutions that enable participation for people with all disabilities in outdoor environments and day-to-day living contexts. Leveraging decades of experience in ergonomic assessment, prototyping and real-world testing, this service supports partners — including disability organisations, outdoor providers and research collaborators — to transform concepts into safe, functional and empowering solutions that enhance independence, performance and user experience. The work is grounded in human-centred engineering and aligned with the organisation’s commitment to advancing inclusion and removing barriers for people of all abilities. The company operates under robust quality management systems and is registered to ISO 9001 standards, ensuring consistent, high-quality service delivery.
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INCLUSION ACCESS CONSULTANCY

EAD's Inclusion Access Consultancy helps organisations embed meaningful inclusion into their culture, practices and environments so that people of all abilities can participate with dignity and confidence. Drawing on more than 30 years of experience supporting outdoor education, community partners and service providers, this consultancy provides tailored inclusion audits and barrier reviews, delivers strategic planning and staff guidance, and empowers organisations to achieve practical, sustainable change. Emphasising person-centred outcomes and organisational readiness, the service moves beyond compliance to build confidence, inclusive judgement and improved participation pathways.
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SUPPORTING ORGANISATION

  • We Consult
  • We Co-create
  • We Coordinate
  • We Build Capacity

Equal Adventure Developments Ltd (EAD) collaborates with community groups, outdoor providers, disability networks, schools and universities to build capacity, strengthen inclusive practice and expand opportunities for participation and wellbeing. This consultancy role provides mentoring and strategic advice, delivers co-developed programmes tailored to each partner’s goals, and empowers organisations through the sharing of extensive experience in inclusive delivery, training and equipment design. By sharing expertise, resources and best practice, Equal Adventure Developments helps partners enhance impact, secure partnerships and build resilient inclusive systems that benefit staff, participants and communities alike.
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MECHANICAL DESIGN CONSULTANCY

EAD’s Mechanical Design Consultancy supports clients in creating mechanically sound, inclusive products and systems that perform reliably in real-world settings, particularly for adaptive outdoor use. Combining principles of ergonomic design, materials expertise and iterative prototype testing, this service helps turn ideas into functional, accessible solutions that meet user needs and environmental demands. Whether refining adaptive equipment, developing bespoke mechanisms, or optimising designs for broader usability, the consultancy aligns technical rigour with the organisation’s inclusive ethos to deliver practical, user-centred outcomes.

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