Outdoor Gear Reviews, Exploratory Musings, Unusual Events, Trip Reports, Guidebooks & Field Notes
For Adventurous Spirits & Minds.
Latest Reviews & Blogs
-
Malta & Gozo
Mediterranean islands are all the same right? Rugged coastlines, decent beaches, warm water and good food. If you’ve been to one you’ve been to them all? Not so. Off the top of my head I’ve been to Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonnisos, Crete, Kalymnos, Kos, Mallorca, Sardinia, and now Malta and Gozo. There are around 3,000 named…
-
The Hanging Stones
I can’t remember when Andy Goldsworthy first came onto my radar, but it was a long time ago. For those who don’t know who he is, he’s an artist / sculptor who makes stuff generally with natural materials in natural landscapes. I have a couple of his books. Coffee Table tomes full of amazing photos…
-
A Rooftent Whodunit!
Last year I bought a roof tent from Alpkit (review here). I love it. It’s been brilliant and I’ve had some really fun times in it. However about 6 weeks ago disaster struck. My car was parked outside my house as usual, with the roof tent mounted on the bars. I woke one morning in…
-
MSR Switch Camping Stove
Am loving this new stove from MSR. It’s something of a hybrid design, without an integrated hat exchanger, but with a bespoke designed cook pot, plus the flexibility of allowing third party cookware to be used. If that’s not clear let me explain further. Many camping stoves have evolved into super efficient integrated systems with…
-
Hubba Hubba Tent (Bike) & Footprint
I’ve had a good few tents in my life. Often when I am lying awake at night I try to tot up the approximate number of nights I’ve spent under ‘canvas’. For starters it’s virtually impossible and a I usually get lost somewhere around 2 years. But more pertinently to this review, it’s been a…
-
Thailand In The Monsoon with Two Teenage Boys
Your youngest son finishes his GCSE’s so there’s a window of time where he’s not at school and the rest of the world hasn’t broken up for the summer holidays yet. Where to go and what to do? It’s an opportunity to go a bit further afield and make the most of prices not inflated…
-
Alpkit Lookout Roof Tent
Having been the lucky and proud owner of a campervan for nearly a decade it was with some sadness that I had to get rid of it. However the peripatetic lifestyle hasn’t stopped so it was back to car camping; driving around the country recceing scrambles and other rocky adventures for a new guidebook (see…
-
Grubs Bowline Boots
These are one of the more interesting outdoor products I have reviewed. They generate a lot of comments! Aimed at splashing around in rock pools and boulder hopping on the coast, they are a kind of cut-off welly. Waterproof and insulated, but sitting only just above the ankle. There’s a stylish retro feel to them…
-
Thermarest Neo Loft Mattress
I get quite excited about my air mattresses. I think sleeping whilst camping can be hugely underrated. Sleeping in general essential to rest your body on mind and recharge yourself for What to come. This is arguably never more so than when camping, bivvying, trekking, bike packing or on expedition. The number of my friends…
-
Thermarest NeoAir Thermarest
What can I say? Is this the perfect mattress? I’ve slept on dozens of different makes and models over the years, and I think this probably ranks as the best all rounder to date. It is lightweight weight at 440g, but at the same time is a whopping 7 cm thick when fully inflated! There…