Looks like a little package of lightweight joy in for test there doesn’t it? “Designed by adventure” it says, but what’s the Helium Jacket inside actually like? The fit is good on me in a size large, trim but not slim, good length in the arms and decent body length too, none of which I [...]
Posted on January 31st, 2011 by PTC*
Filed under: Kit Reviews | 3 Comments »
A smidgen too late for the tent test for Trail, here’s the Carbon Reflex 1 from MSR. The Carbon Reflex 1 is a familiar shape, and that’s because it’s kind of an evolution of the Hubba HP which older listeners might remember me enthusing about a couple of years back. It was a bit of [...]
Posted on January 31st, 2011 by PTC*
Filed under: Kit Reviews | 8 Comments »
That might look like I’ve emptied my schoolbag out below, but it is in fact Terra Nova’s coming-soon Laser Ultra 1 in for test. There’s going to be much discussion about this tent, the weight, the fabric, the price. We’ll get to all that in due course, first off though, what’s it like simply as a [...]
Posted on January 30th, 2011 by PTC*
Filed under: Kit Reviews | 30 Comments »
I’m pleased to welcome that big Lowe Alpine logo to these murky pages, an old school brand with some fresh thinking and the first test kit comes in the shape of the Zepton 50 pack. The Zepton’s been out for a while, but when looking for a winter backpacking pack to test, nothing really sang [...]
Posted on January 30th, 2011 by PTC*
Filed under: Kit Reviews | 5 Comments »
I’ll be quoting Admiral Ackbar again later. The Peak is awfy far away for a day trip, so as I was travelling down from Ambleside with GT from Trail I thought I would just swan down to the Lakes the day before and get an easy start on Friday. It was nice to have a [...]
Posted on January 30th, 2011 by PTC*
Filed under: Adventures, Items Various | 25 Comments »
Usually at this time of year I’m on here all tears and snotters about my tax return, not this year, it’s done and paid. I don’t feel pleased myself at all, just poorer. But, it’s nice to get boxes ticked. Busy is good, but busy makes me nervous, that’s because the only alternative and the [...]
Posted on January 26th, 2011 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various | 9 Comments »
Got my copy of Trail in today and I was chuffed to see my wee mate Brian on page 101. The shot goes with my route later on, #12, where I’m on familiar ground around Kintail and Glen Affric taking the long way round to find the Wellington Bomber. The shots were done with my [...]
Posted on January 24th, 2011 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various | 9 Comments »
I missed the press day at Peebles where various trade and media folk were getting the proper presentation about Gore-Tex’s coming-soon waterproof and breathable Active Shell fabric before being issued with their test jacket for a test on the trails on foot and mtb. So for better or worse, my test jacket came through the post [...]
Posted on January 23rd, 2011 by PTC*
Filed under: Gear Diary, Kit Reviews | 13 Comments »
Phil was looking at confirming his plans for a nav course in the Kilpatricks, and as the inside of my head is wallpapered with a map of the area, it was seen as an easy task for us to run round and check. Of course, that was the book, and the movie turned out to [...]
Posted on January 20th, 2011 by PTC*
Filed under: Adventures | 16 Comments »
Phil took that shot below on our recent Mamores (mis)adventure and I think I’m still struggling up that drift. I’m still trying to coordinate December’s agenda while bouncing 2011 off a table tennis bat with only the length of elastic between the two items keeping me in touch with the present day. Holly finally being diagnosed with [...]
Posted on January 19th, 2011 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various | 11 Comments »
Going outdoors is often about the journey and what that brings with it, arrival at the summit or your campsite, waiting for that sunset you’ve walked all day hoping to see. Then there’s the return, breaking camp, the walk out with the mix of thoughts that often seems to bring. I’ve been stuck on the [...]
Posted on January 17th, 2011 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various | 4 Comments »
Socks are vital. I was told that folk are only interested in reviews of waterproof jackets and tents because they cost the most money, I hope not, that’ll cause me much dismay, because rubbish socks will cause more misery on a trip that a little bit of condensation or a flysheet rattling in the wind. [...]
Posted on January 17th, 2011 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various | No Comments »
I’ve been trying to photograph a prapott (that’s the collective noun for a group of tents) of tents for ten days with no success, wind, mist, rain, horror, it’s all been a barrier to success. However, it looked like clearing up a little today, Phil came an’ gie’d me hauners so we got a good [...]
Posted on January 16th, 2011 by PTC*
Filed under: Items Various, Kit Reviews | 20 Comments »
