I was picking up some bits and pieces, and it’s always the shiny that catches my eye. I was fed up taking a slagging about how “heavy” my Optimus folding spork is, so I got a Light My Fire plasticky affair and a Vargo titanuim one. I’ll see if not being able to stow my [...]
Posted on January 31st, 2009 by PTC*
Filed under: Kit Reviews | 7 Comments »
I got the X Bionic Energiser pants in for test last year and was pleasantly surprised by the comfort and performance. For someone who lives in merino, finding synthetic underwear that’s good to wear is both a rarity and a joy.
Brand new for this year is the Trekking range, aimed at pack luggers and general outdoor [...]
Posted on January 31st, 2009 by PTC*
Filed under: Kit Reviews | 27 Comments »
My new ‘Bugs have arrived from Sweden and there has been much rejoicing within these walls.
My old ones are still servicable, but they’re on the cusp of being gripless horrors which will cause me slip downhill waving my arms like a wacky waving inflatable arm flailing tube man and spinning my legs like Billy Whiz up [...]
Posted on January 31st, 2009 by PTC*
Filed under: Kit Reviews | 30 Comments »
There’s a few bits in the February and March issues. And on the LFTO site you’ll see the coverage of the rather nice Crux Halo pullover I have on test. Part #1 and Part #2.
My February “Lighter” column was all about clothing, basically that I don’t really care how much the clothing that I’m wearing all day weighs. Wearing Paramo [...]
Posted on January 30th, 2009 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various | 45 Comments »
There’s a starry sky out there just now. I bet it would look great standing with a hot chocolate, snug in a down jacket in the broken and trodden snow just outside the tent on some silent highland summit.
I’ve done a lot of outdoor related things in the last couple of weeks, but when Saturday comes [...]
Posted on January 28th, 2009 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various | 11 Comments »
He sat in front of the screen. It had grown dark around him, there was no light on in the room, but he didn’t notice, his nose just 18 inches from the harsh rectangle. Three half emptied and long cold mugs of coffee were a flimsy barricade between him and the realities of what he was [...]
Posted on January 28th, 2009 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various | 9 Comments »
I think I just missed the weekend. I thought I still had time, but no, it’s gone.
Activity was rescheduled and then cancelled for reasons which are too numerous to mention. A bit of a shame as the weather looked like fun for a bimble.
But, I got to hang out with the girls, I wrote up [...]
Posted on January 26th, 2009 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various | 7 Comments »
This isn’t a retro thing, this just came to me when Bobinson, Craig and I were looking at Haglöfs LIM packs the other day.
For all I love the features and the carrrying comfort of the LIM 45, I have often expressed the opinion that it looks like a burst couch. D’you why? It’s an external frame [...]
Posted on January 24th, 2009 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various, Kit Reviews | 43 Comments »
My collection of new tent appendages has swollen its ranks once again as a quiver of Vargo Nails has arrived with the contents in both thicknesses, 3mm & 4mm.
Nice bits of kit, threaded with gayly coloured cord for your removal pleasure, plenty long and with just a touch of flex.
The Lasercomp will come out of [...]
Posted on January 21st, 2009 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various | 7 Comments »
Posted on January 20th, 2009 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various | 3 Comments »
I recently got a hold of that original Karrimor Whillans Alpiniste above. The three words that make up the title are iconic and legendary for different reasons, but if we look at the pack from the point of view of it being a piece of classic innovative design, there’s a name missing. Mike Parsons.
As Karrimor owner until ‘96 Mike [...]
Posted on January 19th, 2009 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various, Kit Reviews | 20 Comments »
Heavy snow with flakes the size of scones had me standing at the window grinning, but it was Joycee who said let’s go.
The weather might have really bad at 900m, but at 300m it was fine, refreshing even. We watched the pulses of sleet crossing Cowal and Renfrewshire then sweep up the hillside towards us, chasing the patches of blue [...]
Posted on January 19th, 2009 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various | 4 Comments »
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