A Review of the Blue Ice Octopus 45L Climbing Pack How many packs does one person need? The answer of course is that it depends! You could probably get away with just one if you just went hill walking, maybe a 40L, big enough for a bit of extra stuff in the colder months. But…
Lunch is important. I’ve been trying to find better ways of managing my food when I’m instructing. I was just grabbing whatever I could find and usually ended up heading out with an energy bar and a banana chucked in my pack. The banana inevitably ended up squashed and the bar lost amidst the waterproofs,…
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…
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…
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 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…
Joe shares advice on how to choose the right nuts, cams, slings and karabiners for your first trad lead rack. First Trad Rack With the enormous range of climbing equipment being manufactured today knowing where to begin with your first trad rack can seem a bewildering task. A huge amount of information is available online…
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….
In preparation for the climbing season ahead, Hati talks us through how to clean your cams for rock climbing. Pumped out of your mind, slightly regretting your choice of warmup and acutely aware that your last runner is closer to the ground than you are, you fumble around your harness for the right piece. The…