I’ve spent a lot of time this past week with maps and books, even looking back through the blog and packets of my old photies for ideas for new Trail Routes. And you know something, my enthusiasm and excitement for this stuff has never been higher.
No matter how much gear I get sent to test, [...]
Posted on February 27th, 2010 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various | 5 Comments »
A working week trapped in a whirlpool of coincidence and stupidity has reached the deceleration zone.
Meeting new folk all the time gives me a sometimes amusing, always enlightening and often frightening insight into the wide range of people whose lives, when woven together form the manky dog blanket of society.
It was one of those weeks when I [...]
Posted on February 26th, 2010 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various | 9 Comments »
That blue monster above is the Yeti Professional Jacket, the biggest and most badass of the Yeti range which is now available in the UK.
It’s not all arctic extremes though, there’s some properly lightweight gear in there too. I had a look through the range last month when I was down south and was loathed [...]
Posted on February 24th, 2010 by PTC*
Filed under: Kit Reviews | 23 Comments »
Couple of quickies.
After quite a break from using it, I wore the Haglöfs Halo Jacket last night on the bike and I’d forgotten how good it is.
I know in general Gore Windstopper is something that I avoid, but the light, soft and stretchy version they use on the surfaces that face the direction of travel [...]
Posted on February 23rd, 2010 by PTC*
Filed under: Kit Reviews | 13 Comments »
It had seemed like a good idea. I got away a little early, the bike was freshly cleaned, lubed and adjusted and I have hills right behind me.
On many levels this plot had holes in it though. More so than even Alien³ where many of the cast died from editing rather than the regulation shiny-toothed double-jaw [...]
Posted on February 22nd, 2010 by PTC*
Filed under: Adventures | 8 Comments »
Apparently he had a learning apptitude which fell short of that of some hapless Soviet dog desperately clawing at everything within reach as a grinning German scientist pushed it’s unwilling frame into a shiny globe with a one way ticket into orbit. Beep… Beep… Beep…
25 years of bad posture while holding a guitar and standing at a mic [...]
Posted on February 21st, 2010 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various | 17 Comments »
When these came in for test, I recognised the usual Keen styling, the light weight, noted the new sole pattern and thought, “Aye, these look like a nice kickabout”. But, Siskiyou Mid is actually a regular leather/mesh boot in disguise, and that puts it into the proper-use category for me.
For summer backpacking or hills I’m either in trail [...]
Posted on February 20th, 2010 by PTC*
Filed under: Kit Reviews | No Comments »
You know me, I have bee in my bonnet about own-brand fabrics and anything else that’s not Gore-Tex or eVent. The fact that folk still ask for a “Gore-Tex” rather than a waterproof jacket is a triumph of both marketing and ignorance.
So, it’s with much joy that I have 350g of Entrant DT Storm & Stretch on [...]
Posted on February 20th, 2010 by PTC*
Filed under: Kit Reviews | 8 Comments »
Jeez is it summer already? The Teva Itunda look interesting, I’ve worn sandals on easier trail plenty times over the years, but the exposed toe thing does worry me. These are more sandal-like than a lot of footwear in this area, and I think for summer wandering they could be a winner.
They feel helluva light, there’s good [...]
Posted on February 20th, 2010 by PTC*
Filed under: Kit Reviews | 13 Comments »
Orange and black tents? I’ll try and ignore that joyous discovery for the moment, and look at the other stuff. In for test are the Force Ten Superlite 100 & 200 (still in its bag in the photie).
Much is said about the compromises made in many sub-kilo tents, space, strength, features, we just have to keep hoping [...]
Posted on February 20th, 2010 by PTC*
Filed under: Kit Reviews | 7 Comments »
The Nitro 200 is another unusual bit of kit for me to test, it’s a two-person tent and weighs in at 1900g.
For that I’m hoping for winter proof security on the tops, and with the Scottish designed fabrics and TBSPro tension band system and pitch-as-one format I should get it.
Tha attention to detail is there too, colour-coded [...]
Posted on February 20th, 2010 by PTC*
Filed under: Kit Reviews | 4 Comments »
I’ve got quite a range of footwear on test, my feet are going to get awfy confused… Here we have the Brasher Lithium GTX, a boot which I really wasn’t expecting.
I’ll explain that, Brasher is tagged in my memory with wide fitting, sloppy heel cup, brown leather, dotty soled and rambler. The Lithium is none of those, it’s [...]
Posted on February 20th, 2010 by PTC*
Filed under: Kit Reviews | 2 Comments »
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