In for test is an update of something that’s already been on my feet the past few years, Bridgedale X-Hale TrailBlaze multisport socks. When the X-Hales and the Ventums came out I thought they were a real step-up (hmm…) from Bridgedale, zoned fabrics, minimal padding, an asymmetric fit on the Ventums, everything a traditional sock [...]
Posted on November 19th, 2010 by PTC*
Filed under: Gear Diary, Kit Reviews | No Comments »
Harvey have a couple of new Scottish maps, the Suilven SuperWalker and the Southern Highlands British Mountain Map. The Suilven SuperWalker map made it just in time for the recent Assynt backpack and it was interesting comparing it the official LAMM map we had, which is a mix of 1:50,000 and 1:25,000 OS mapping. The Superwalker [...]
Posted on November 18th, 2010 by PTC*
Filed under: Gear Diary, Kit Reviews | 9 Comments »
Something someone said the other day has had me thinking. If you define yourself as “A” then people will judge you on that: are you a good “A”? I don’t like labels, I mean is any one of us really defined by a single aspect of our personalities or actions? Why would we want to be? Complex [...]
Posted on November 18th, 2010 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various | 8 Comments »
I’m getting there with the test kit first-looks, and there’s some more bits and pieces that have come in. New brands which is always nice and some unusual items in there too. But first, a quick look at some of the kit that got it’s first taste of winter last Sunday. Haglöfs Col Pant These were [...]
Posted on November 15th, 2010 by PTC*
Filed under: Gear Diary, Kit Reviews | 3 Comments »
What colour are you going to ask Santa for? I’ve asked for the white one, for then my army will be complete and I shall challenge Holly’s Barbies to a deathmatch on the living room rug.
Posted on November 15th, 2010 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various | 3 Comments »
Lunch at Tiso: Sniff, I dunno? I’m tired man, I dunno either. Later texts: What do you think? 9ish and we’ll see once we’re on the road? 0845 next day by text: I’ve just stuck a foot of of the duvet for the first time today, don’t hurry. 0930, Phil picks me up and we [...]
Posted on November 14th, 2010 by PTC*
Filed under: Adventures | 20 Comments »
This has been a talking point already, are they lying about the weight, what corners have they cut, is it really a Berghaus logo on there. Let’s see, in for test the Berghaus Asgard Smock from the top-end tech MtnHaus range. The inspiration and design input for the smock are well covered already, but all [...]
Posted on November 12th, 2010 by PTC*
Filed under: Gear Diary, Kit Reviews | 21 Comments »
Not often the packaging gets top billing is it? But it’s part of the story of the new Altitude IV WPi NT from Hi-Tec. Hi-Tec are holding hands with the National Trust and they’ve brought out a range of boots for the family, kids, mens and wummins, all made to the same spec. That spec [...]
Posted on November 11th, 2010 by PTC*
Filed under: Gear Diary, Kit Reviews | 6 Comments »
O2 keep phoning me and telling me that I need a new phone, that I’m entitled to one no less. My contact has expired, my phone is hopelessly out of date, I’m out of touch, my life is incomplete, and of course they can save me money. I’ve had the same mobile number since ’94, it’s [...]
Posted on November 11th, 2010 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various | 12 Comments »
When Haglöfs LIM Ozone came out it was the lightest Gore-Tex ProShell jacket out there, even with a full zip, proper hood and two chest pockets. But the LIM Ozone had quirks, holes stamped in pocket lining for ventilation where folk expect mesh, printed shoulder reinforcement, the wacky colourway, so of course, like all good kit it [...]
Posted on November 10th, 2010 by PTC*
Filed under: Gear Diary, Kit Reviews | 30 Comments »
Berghaus don’t seem to have these on their website, but they are out there for this winter, the new Mountain AQ2 Hardshell Gloves. The AQ is the waterproof lining, Berghaus’s own membrane. I’ve used half a dozen different membranes in gloves and general breathability isn’t the issue as much as construction and longevity. I’ve had a loose liner that [...]
Posted on November 10th, 2010 by PTC*
Filed under: Gear Diary, Kit Reviews | 3 Comments »
I’ve been enjoying having time to read again, and these two below have had very different effects on me. Firzroy Maclean’s West Highland Tales is a collection of stories from an area I know well, and indeed some of my ancestors feature in the pages. The stories are a mix of the fantastic, witches and [...]
Posted on November 9th, 2010 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various | 6 Comments »
The view from my living room window crops up on here a lot, and tonight’s fiery sunset was a classic camera moment. But the police helicopter was holding station above me, I heard sirens too. Drug dealer’s car about to race through the village, hopefully into a lamp post? Let’s see. I saw firefighter beige [...]
Posted on November 9th, 2010 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various | 4 Comments »
