Accessing some of the most remote places on earth isn’t easy, with the challenge driving us to even higher places. Paddy Pallin stocks a range of alpine gear, including snowshoes, adventure clothes, backcountry camp gear and kitchenware.

FAQs

What alpine gear brands does Paddy Pallin Stock?

We stock a wide range of alpine gear brands including MSR, Black Diamond, Mont, Sea To Summit, Kong, Wildo, Jublo, Wilderness Equipment, Coros, Salewa, Garmin, Therm-a-rest, Biolite, Petzl, Soto, Optimus, Jetboil, Primus, Fidlock, Scarpa, Camp and Osprey.

What gear do you have for Alpine exploring in Australia? 

Alpine gear starts with your shelter. Versatile tents capable of withstanding snow and high winds available from brands such as Mont and Salewa are vital for your backcountry alpine adventure. To compliment your backcountry shelter, warm sleep systems including lightweight expedition sleeping bags and camp sleeping mattresses are perfect for any backcountry explorer. Durable packs from Osprey and Wilderness Equipment take you further, incorporating detachable pack tops, removable back plates for a lighter expedition pack and additional hooks and loops for your extra alpine gear. We also stock snowshoes and crampons, climbing gear from Kong, Camp, Petzl and Black Diamond as well as safety ropes and lines. If you’re looking for backcountry and alpine safety equipment, we stock a range of personal location beacons, medical and first aid kits as well as emergency survival blankets. For gear to keep you safe whilst on your journey, GPS systems from Garmin are ideal, especially for those backcountry adventures. Other expedition technology includes Garmin and Coros watches, which can send you weather alerts in unpredictable terrains.  

What’s the best alpine cooking gear?

When thinking about the best alpine expedition cooking gear, it’s best to consider how lightweight the stove is, if it uses liquid fuel or gas, and if it’s a wind resilient or windproof camping stove. Lightweight options from Soto, MSR and Optimus offer multi fuel options and feature windshields to protect your cooking flame. These small but effective windscreens increase the efficiency of your flame and ensure your meal will be ready in a flash. Packable cooking accessories from foldable bowls and utensils are perfect for the lightweight solo traveler, offering durability and dynamic options. 

What is the best fuel for alpine expeditions?

Fuel choice is extremely important when heading to high altitude alpine environments, with fuel mixtures having different boiling points and efficiency in colder environments. For colder environments, brands including Jetboil have created higher propane mixtures to ensure your gas stove never fails in an alpine expedition. Liquid fuel options are also a great way to ensure cooking success. Though heavier, liquid fuel stoves have a high burn rate which is vital in remote, backcountry and alpine settings. 

What footwear should I have when exploring backcountry sites?

Mountaineering and Alpine terrain Scarpa boots take you the extra mile, with support shanks, durable outerwear, speed lacing and Gore-tex membranes. Paddy Pallin stocks crampons for any application, from alpine walk crampons and snow crampons, these shoe accessories help you walk through ice, snow, glaciers and frozen tundra. For long distance alpine expeditions through snow, snowshoes by MSR and Black Diamond increase your footprint area, increasing your ability to walk through the backcountry snow with ease. When looking for snow shoes, you need to know what terrain you will be encountering. Lightweight snowshoes with simple bindings are always preferential, though some have additional features like heel lift, rotating bindings and slide reducing rails. Snowshoes are not a replacement for crampons as crampons have a more aggressive design to dig into snow and ice in alpine environments.

What should I look for when buying alpine adventure clothing?

The best clothing for backcountry exploring provides versatility and movement, with easy layering and stowing options. Moisture wicking base layers including merino wool and some synthetic fabrics are perfect for keeping you dry. Stretch fabrics, including four-way stretch are a great addition to high mobility areas including the knees, elbows and sides for extra reach. Layering insulation garments that are lightweight, packable and durable will keep you comfortable, whilst keeping your gear weight low. Waterproof jackets and pants are essential, with high pressure withstanding waterproof membranes like Gore-tex, FUTURELIGHT and eVent keeping the rain away, whilst ensuring you do not overheat. Keeping your clothes dry while trekking with waterproof dry sacks and dry bags keeps your mind at ease and ensures you stay warm and dry in the backcountry. The outer shell jackets we stock at Paddy Pallin are both lightweight and durable, with a 3L outer shell being more ideal for strenuous alpine activity. The 3 layer membrane coupled with durable face fabric will reduce the chances of your pack rubbing through the shoulders and helps reduce pressure induced leaking.