I’d longed for a Patagonia R1 Techface Hoody for a while, but it was hard to work out whether I actually ‘needed’ one or whether it was all down to the R1s reputation and its rather catchy advert. But now I come to reflect on it, this has become my go-to do-all jacket. A bit…
Opinel N°08 One of our most popular (and most controversial) blog posts (how-to-choose-a-knife-for-walking-climbing-mountaineering-and-expeditions) was about how we believed that for walking, trekking and climbing in the UK outdoors you really only needed to carry a Swiss Army Knife or maybe a Opinel. Swiss Army Knifes are great but if you’re out overnight and need to…
Is there really space for another Peak District guidebook? A few friends asked this as we passed around a brand-new copy of Graham Hoey’s Peak District Gritstone (published by Vertebrate Publishing last April). The answer, we decided, depends on the guidebook… As it turns out, there’s definitely room for this one. Original route descriptions…
A review of the Leatherman Skeletool CX. One of our most popular blogs of 2021 was How to Choose a Knife for Walking, Climbing and Mountaineering. In this article we recommended carrying a multitool for Scottish winter mountaineering. The ability to quickly repair a crampon is essential so a tool with pliers and screwdrivers is very…
Long term review: Soto WindMaster cannister stove. This little stove must be doing something right as it has rendered most of my other stoves completely redundant! Our Verdict: the headlines The keyword for the Soto WindMaster is consistency. It is reliable and consistent in windy conditions (thanks to its burner shape and low pot stand)…
These are my best Items of Gear in 2021. This was another year in which I didn’t end buying a huge amount of kit, but what I did acquire was all excellent and these items of equipment definitely stand out. Mountain Equipment Guide Gloves These have been a really versatile glove and they now live…
I love reading books about the climbing, the mountains and nature because they enrich, inform and inspire my time spent outdoors. It’s cold, it’s nearly Christmas, and we all need a bit of inspiration! So here are some books that have particularly stood out this year. You’ll find Alex and my reading lists on our…
A review of the HebTroCo Storm Stick Stove, a light, compact and efficient all in one system for boiling water in the outdoors. I’ve been interested in the idea of a stick stove for a while now. I like the idea of having the ability to boil some water for a brew with twigs and sticks…
The clocks have gone back and suddenly the hills feel a little bit more intimidating. It’s colder, the winds bite more fiercely and of course it gets dark earlier and earlier as we approach the winter solstice. But careful planning and packing can enable us to safely enjoy the hills right through the winter months….
A review of the The Outdoor Swimming Guide. Over 400 of the best lidos, wild swimming and open air swimming spots in England, Scotland & Wales This is a glorious book. Even the cover made me want to dive right in! The guide provides a comprehensive overview of more than 400 swimming sites in England and Wales,…
A Review of Klean Kanteen Water Bottles When I first started getting out climbing and walking in the hills and mountains there was only really one serious choice of water bottle; a Sigg. They were made of metal, totally water tight and impressively tough; I once use mine as a hammer. Then at some juncture…
A review of the Kovea Spider gas stove, a light & compact 4 season remote canister stove. The first stove I owned was the small Trangia 27 meths stove and this served me well for my initial camping and bivouacking forays (I still have it) but a some point I started to use gas canister stoves….
