Gear / Equipment reviews on items that has been used by us.
This is a review of the Alpkit Compass, a cheaper alternative to the popular Silva Type 4. I’ve been using Silva compasses consistently throughout my life in the outdoors. First as a teenager learning to navigate in the hills and mountains. Then subsequently all throughout my career as an Mountaineering and Rock Climbing Instructor; on…
A review of the best gear I’ve used in 2020. I haven’t bought much equipment this year because of COVID, so the gear mentioned below is not necessarily new kit but are the items that have been most frequently worn in 2020. All the items have been well used and tested in variety of tough…
I was recently thinking about my Mountain Leader assessment (way back in the mists of time) and that I have no recollection of at any point being asked any questions about the environment or about any flora or fauna. It wasn’t until five years later while attending my MIA training and then assessment did I…
Everyone has a different idea of essentials when spending time outdoors. For some it’s the bare minimum: a few basic tools and know-how will see them through. For others the more gadgets the better (all the gear and no idea?). Personally, I just want a cup of coffee – preferably ground. Fortunately for me, coffee…
Not sure which bouldering guide to buy for the Peak District? We get into the nitty gritty to work out which book does what best…
A review of the best gear I’ve used in 2019. All the items have been well tested in variety of tough conditions. Mountain Equipment Tupilak 45 I’ve owned a lot of packs over the years and the Mountain Equipment Tupilak is definitely one of my all time favourites. It fits all the criteria that I’ve…
There isn’t very much to say about chalk bags. You put chalk in, tie them round your waist and go climbing. a chalk bag is a simple item of equipment. However I found myself really liking this one and have felt compelled to write a few words. Built to Send are a small, UK based…
Preparing for Less Daylight Autumn is a fantastic time to be in the mountains. Colours erupt and flame across the landscape, light softens and shadows lengthen giving contrast and counterpoint to valleys and hollows brimming with mist. The onset of winter makes fleeting, shorter days like this seem all the more precious and an urgency…
Emergency Shelter review The media loves a headline and “The bivy bag probably saved their lives” was a great one provided by Willie Anderson, leader of Cairngorm MRT, following a successful search for a couple who became benighted in the Cairngorms last year. Many people are however unaware of how to use a bivy bag…
So much depends on getting the basics right and in this context the basics are what you wear next to your skin ie your expedition base layers. On an expedition the same couple of tops will be on for pretty much every day so they need to work. I have been using Patagonia tops as…
Rule number 0.5 in mountaineering is look cool and the reflective piping and orange stripes of the Scarpa Ribelle Mountain Tech OD certainly draw attention to themselves. Whilst the only time I have looked cool was stuck in a blizzard in Alaska, wearing these boots is about as close as I will get to cool…
Scrambling In Snowdonia Cicerone have just released an updated version of their classic guidebook Scrambles in Snowdonia. Being honest, it was desperately needed as guidebooks have moved on and The Gary Smith North Wales Scrambles was far superior to the old version. Both ourselves and our clients have been enjoying the amazing scrambles in these…