You are all ready to put your first foot forward and set off to test your new equipment, everything is in your rucksack, your map and compass are your trusted guides but could that not to be separated from mobile device that connects you to the rest of civilisation actually cause you problems when out in the wilds.

The Mountaineering Council of Scotland has released research that says walkers risk making errors in navigation, which could be potentially fatal, because items they carry can stop compasses from working.

Magnets that are found in side items such as mobile phone cases, GPS devices, car keys and even under-wired bras could have an affect on compass needles. This is obviously something to be considered in bad weather, but even in warm weather accidents happen and time to get to a given location can be important. It’s being termed as “reverse polarity” and is being treated seriously as the main reason for a majority of mountain rescue call-outs in the UK can be directly or partially linked to a navigation error. The “reverse polarity” can cause compass needles to switch from north to south so sending people in the wrong direction while trying to navigate off a hill or mountain in bad weather.

Therefore it may be a case of leaving such devices behind or maybe packing them away deep in your rucksack, maybe in the security pocket so they are well away from your map and compass (although this may be more difficult for the ladies and the under-wired bra influence), so why not check out which rucksacks have extra internal pockets and update that particular piece of kit before setting out on that next trek.