Rab Solar Ultra 1 Sleeping Bag First Impressions The Rab Solar Ultra 1 Sleeping Bag is very well made lightweight and high performance synthetic sleeping bag. Perfect for spring and summer bivouacs, tarp camping and mountain wild camps. My first sleeping bag had a synthetic fill and I used it for all my early hill and mountain…
Klean Kanteen TKPro Flask Review The weather over the last few weeks has been typically wintery ie driving wind, rain and sleet or lovely crisp frosty days dry but very cold. Here at Beyond the Edge our outdoor courses will continue to run right up to Christmas. Then in January, February and March we will be…
Choosing Gloves and Clothing for Scottish Winter Walking and Mountaineering As we head out into the hills this winter either for trekking, walking, mountaineering or climbing we need to make important decisions that will impact both our enjoyment and safety. We will check the weather and the avalanche forecast. We will prepare our maps and…
Patagonia Das Light Hoody Review When wet and chilly British weather is forecast for the hills and mountains I find myself reaching for one of my insulated jackets. But what insulation type is best for British winter conditions? Down or synthetic? What shall I pick for drizzly days work up the Kinder plateau? I do…
The cold season is very much upon us, if last weeks weather is anything to go by. My transition from autumn to winter has been very much eased by the Rab Womens Xenair Alpine that I have been given to wear and review over the winter. I haven’t had it for long enough for an…
The OMM (previously the KIMM) is a long-established event on the fell running calendar. It’s a ‘mountain marathon – essentially a combination of orienteering and fell running over rough and high terrain (I think of it as fell hurrying). There are a range of courses: the linear course sees competitors make their way round a…
Camping stoves for Mountain Leaders; how to pick the best stove for your Mountain Leader Training or Assessment. On your Mountain Leader Training and Assessment you will be assessed on your ability to operate safely and efficiently in British mountains during an overnight expedition. One night on training and two nights on assessment. You will…
Back in the summer Alex ran a course on techniques and rigging for climbing photography, and participants were kind enough to share their photos with us to pop in a blog. The course teaches skills and techniques to safely get into the best position for taking climbing photos, as well as the photographic technicalities of…
Best Leatherman for ‘Alone’ We’ve enjoyed watching ‘Alone’ on Channel 4, the UK version of the longstanding American survival show. 11 contestants were left alone on land around the Mackenzie River, in the Dehcho region of Northwest Territories, Canada. They arrive with no food and have to see how long they can last by hunting, fishing and…
‘Hard is Easy’ GriGri Videos Over the last few months I’ve had climbers on my Climbing Wall Instructor and Rock Climbing Instructor training and assessment courses mention the ‘Hard is Easy’ YouTube channel. The chatter especially mentions the Hard is Easy GriGri videos and in particular the videos on GriGri slippage and failure. Ben has…
Hawke Frontier 8×42 ED X Binocular Review For the last few years my trusty Opticron Discovery WP PC 8×32 binoculars have given me enormous pleasure on the hill. They are a great travel option being pretty much the smallest, lightest 8x32s around and representing great optical performance for the money. However, as a big birthday…
MSR Reactor Review A long term use review of the MSR Reactor stove system. An excellent gas stove for Alpine use, Wild Camping and Bivouacs. Food and drink preparation in an outdoor environment is a vital element of both our performance and enjoyment. We need fuel to stay warm, keep moving and feed our brains. For…
