I know I’m maybe doggy-paddling slowly after the initial wave of interest in Crocs, but when the opportunity to test some came up I thought about all the applications for them and they seemed like a good idea. They’re bothy and youth hostel shoes, river crossing shoes, campsite shoes, beach shoes…I would normally wear my [...]
Posted on April 12th, 2009 by PTC*
Filed under: Kit Reviews | 27 Comments »
The Roclite 288′s, worlds lightest boots? Aye, they are that. I’ve been dragging these around the hills for the past three months and have been most surprised. There was a first look at them on LFTO and a Used & Abused on them in Trail where I spill the beans. But, they’re not done yet. I [...]
Posted on April 11th, 2009 by PTC*
Filed under: Kit Reviews | 16 Comments »
I’ve had the Halo down pullover on test for about four months now, and there was an initial report on LFTO. Since then I’ve carried and used it quite a bit as it’s so light and packable. The down loss through the seams has slowed down quite a bit and my worries about that aspect design have been [...]
Posted on April 11th, 2009 by PTC*
Filed under: Kit Reviews | 3 Comments »
I had a mentalist casual hoody in from Loki last year, which I’ve actually worn constantly. Although the mitts in the cuffs bring out the adolescent mischeif maker in me. Now here we have a technical piece, their Mountain Hoodie. It still has the face muff and mitts, but with a softshell fabric and four [...]
Posted on April 11th, 2009 by PTC*
Filed under: Kit Reviews | No Comments »
I’ve been using Keen’s Oregon PCT’s for some months with crampons, snow shoes, through bog and manky horror of all sorts. They’re a boot for boot haters as the ankle cuff is low and super flexible, but now their stiffest test has come; it’s not winter anymore. These have been issue free, but remember the [...]
Posted on April 11th, 2009 by PTC*
Filed under: Kit Reviews | 6 Comments »
I’ve had some of the new Montrail models on test for a few months, the Streaks and the Hardrock Mids becoming fvaoutites and often first choices for trips. But, there’s been another large revamp of the range, some have been cut altogether and others altered quite drastically. Above we have the Hardrock Mid ’09, which is [...]
Posted on April 11th, 2009 by PTC*
Filed under: Kit Reviews | 7 Comments »
Just having been carried halfway to Glen Affric and back again without leaving my pack is the Big Agnes Copper Spur UL1. Big Agnes has been getting better established in the UK over the past couple of years and more of the range is going to be available this year. I’ve got the Copper Spur [...]
Posted on April 11th, 2009 by PTC*
Filed under: Kit Reviews | 25 Comments »
Smartwool are making inroads back into the UK with some proper organisation after a bit of an absence following a change of ownership and some consequent distribution ball-dropping. I’ve used their base layer tops and bottoms for many years and always had happy time in them, so it’s good to see some choice coming back into the bricks [...]
Posted on April 11th, 2009 by PTC*
Filed under: Kit Reviews | 11 Comments »
I can see why folk put coincidences down to the hand of fate. Try to work out the numbers governing the odds of coincidence and you quickly run out of fingers, and then it escalates into the realms of trying to explain how big the universe is, what colours smell like, why a Koala isn’t [...]
Posted on April 9th, 2009 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various | 4 Comments »
Here is a book that will give pleasure to locomotive enthusiasts of all ages. Illustrated in full-colour are 48 British Railway locomotives which have been specially selected to show the most interesting types at present operating. These include many of the latest diesel and electric locomotives. Firts published in 1958 1958? I found this book [...]
Posted on April 7th, 2009 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various | 28 Comments »
It’s not often I talk about this place, the mechanics and practicalities of the thing are as interesting to me as most of the in-depth technical descriptions that accompany the gear that comes in for review. All I need to know is; does it work, does it make me smile and is it a nice colour. [...]
Posted on April 7th, 2009 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various | 26 Comments »
It’s good to know that I can still manage an alpine start. We were supposed to leave on Friday, but there was too much barbed wire to cross so we had to wait for the weekend to turn up and throw a plank over the obstacles. I probably should have seen it as an omen. [...]
Posted on April 5th, 2009 by PTC*
Filed under: Adventures | 17 Comments »
The mountains aren’t ours. Sometimes they’re beyond our ability, our equipment, our resolve to place ourselves amongst them. I can live with that. Maybe it’s really an opportunity to see sideways, just in case you forget what else is out there.
Posted on April 4th, 2009 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various | 2 Comments »
