Haglöfs have maybe suffered from the notion that all Scandinavian footwear is something akin to winter forestry boots, or has a big bottom lip for clicking into cross country skis. But Icebug blow that notion out of the water and Haglöfs have had proper lightweight models in the range for a while, and next year [...]
Posted on December 8th, 2008 by PTC*
Filed under: Kit Reviews | 19 Comments »
We were at Haglöfs secret cabin/bunker last week looking at the kit for winter 2009/10. Haglöfs do things a little differently, you go round to their house for a presentation and a bit of a rummage. Very nice idea too, always a pleasure. There’s new and there’s updates, and the colours of wonder and the [...]
Posted on December 8th, 2008 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various | 9 Comments »
No tents, just a winter day pack. Crivvens. Tooled up with dangerous items like Kahtoolas, bendy footwear and aluminium ice axes we set off for the Lawers range above Loch Tay. I haven’t been there for a few years, it always catches a lot of snow, so it looked like a good place for a bimble under [...]
Posted on December 6th, 2008 by PTC*
Filed under: Adventures | 31 Comments »
I featured this pack a while back, but despite multiple adjustments and perseverance it always felt like someone had strapped a pallet to my back. Step forward Metric Kate. The Fastpack fitted her much better and she’s given it a proper workout. Here’s her review below. Lightwave Fastpack 40 Words by Metric Kate Photies by [...]
Posted on December 3rd, 2008 by PTC*
Filed under: Kit Reviews | 5 Comments »
Stay like this ’til the weekend…Stay like this ’til the weekend…Stay like this ’til the weekend…Stay like this ’til the weekend… No days away to the hills here, this is rubbish. But we’re away to see Haglöfs Winter ’09/’10 gear on Friday, so that’s something (I’ll sneak in a camera). When I get home from [...]
Posted on December 2nd, 2008 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various | 20 Comments »
I mean, Holly gets a purple fleece and is so excited about it she falls asleep. Her poor old grey haired dad would love a purple fleece, he would be excited, oh yes.
Posted on November 29th, 2008 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various | 16 Comments »
My column this month is an attempt to persuade folks that lightweight footwear is like the Yellow Pages, not just there for the nasty things in life, like a blocked drain. It’s there for the good things as well. Wait, that analogy is shite. I’ll edit it out later. So, it’s waterproof mids, mini gaiters [...]
Posted on November 28th, 2008 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various | 8 Comments »
The weather is looking good and I have no tents. That’s a lie, I’ve no tents that I’ll use. They’re all away their holidays and the only one person tent left is of a design that last weekend failed me badly and I’ll never take above 100m again. Ah shit, maybe I’ll sit on my arse or [...]
Posted on November 28th, 2008 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various | 46 Comments »
As part of my job involves working with gas, I have to be CORGI registered. I have been since before it was mandatory, spending thousands of pounds on training to keep myself up to date and legal. You have to pay to be in CORGI which has always pissed me off, it’s extortion to charge for [...]
Posted on November 25th, 2008 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various | 9 Comments »
The team had been reduced considerably by the time we walked into the Real Food Cafe as a pair for a mighty breakfast before heading uphill. Real life’s a bugger. Phil (bobinson) and I took the short drive to Glen Orchy. A glen with a beautiful river of dark depths, tumbling white water, jagged rocks and hidden [...]
Posted on November 24th, 2008 by PTC*
Filed under: Adventures | 61 Comments »
The wind from the North tore at the fabric, it’s force pushing the body of the tent down onto me, the sound drowing out every thought, never mind the metal on my iPod. I unzipped the inner door and noticed that the earlier Southerly wind had filled the porch full of snow, my stove, poles [...]
Posted on November 23rd, 2008 by PTC*
Filed under: Adventures | 16 Comments »
I don’t often have this much time to think about an overnighter. Normally it’s “Ah, quick!”, I throw a Lasercomp into a Villain and I’m out the door. I’m still taking a Villain, but it’s got the 2009 updates so this is it’s first trip out (I’ll detail the changes to that and the Jirishanca [...]
Posted on November 21st, 2008 by PTC*
Filed under: Adventures, Items Various | 13 Comments »
There’s been planning. Ah, shite, d’you think the weather overheard? As we know, the nights are awfy long and dark to be sitting in a wind and rain (snow?) buffeted one-person tent. I suppose we’ll see what the weekend brings.
Posted on November 19th, 2008 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various | 22 Comments »
