15/08/2026
Remember:
Most of the kit we use for adventure activities is PPE. If your employer provided you with dubious or faulty equipment to keep you safe would you be happy with that?
We expect our employers, governments and peers to keep track of PPE regulations and keep on top of the equipment that keeps us safe in our jobs and general life. That could be as simple as the correct lighting or desks or as complex as respiration systems or equipment for working at height but we still expect it to be right to keep us safe.
Our kit for climbing, paddle sports, biking, walking, snow sports and many other adventure activities is mostly life supporting PPE and we need to treat it as though our life depends on it..... because it does!
So ask your self:
-How old is that helmet? How many knocks has it had?
-How old is that rope? When was the last time is was washed?
-How much float is left in that buoyancy aid?
-Is that leaky water bottle and cheap map case really the best option in remote mountainous terrain?
-Are those old boots really still OK? What happens if the sole flaps off up a mountain?
-What's the manufacturer's reccomended lifespan for that piece of life supporting kit? Pretty sure they do all that expensive testing for a reason.
Most of all how much is your life worth?.....
Preventative maintanence, kit checks and replacement are important for us and those that rely on us both during these activities and waiting for us to come home.
Pic: Wild country "Friends" cams after a check, clean and lubrication to keep them working as they should.
Wild Country
British Mountaineering Council
Paddle UK
British Cycling
The Ramblers
