My old trusty Blacks tent

Over the past months I have been looking to buy a new tent as the pressure to keep up with the Joneses has been getting to me slightly. For the last 15 years I have been camping in a bright red Blacks 2 man dome weighing in at just over 2KG. I kid you not this tent has been amazing it has been used in temperatures below -5^oC and in winds exceeding 60mph and has survived without so much as a loose thread. Now if my memory serves me right this tent cost around £20 as I said earlier 15 years ago so I’m guessing that equates to something like £30 in today’s money.   

So knowing that I currently have this tent that has served me very well all these years it is hard to decide what to replace it with when most of the reviews I have looked at all comment on the materials being thin and ripping/puncturing early on in their life. Ok I know an additional foot print can be used to protect the ground sheet but does this not raise the question why not make the ground sheet thick enough to start with? I know that the reason for the thin materials is all about saving weight but still does weight saving have to be so drastic that you end up with a tent that does not stand the test of time.

I truly intended to write this post talking about what new tents excite me but ended up rambling on about my old tent. Maybe that tells me something... perhaps I should hold on to my old friend for a little longer until she finally starts to leak or develops some other kind of fault. In the mean time I will continue to look at others with their expensive tents and watch them collapse in high winds or leak from the floor and think to myself that was a good £20 I spent 15 years ago!

Reviews Page

On this page I will review mountaineering gear and anything else I feel is relevant

sleeping bags for winter camping or sleeping on Kilimanjaro

People often find getting a new sleeping bag a confusing and stressful task, I have been asked loads of times about sleeping bags and to be honest there is no right or wrong answer as it is a very personal thing. There are however a few things we can do to make a sleeping bag work in just about any conditions. when I have been camping at altitude for instance on Kilimanjaro or on the cairngorm plateau in winter my base sleeping bag is a Rab Alpine 600 which I find to be warm enough in almost every condition that I have found myself in. should I find myself feeling cold I top up my bad by pulling my down jacket inside and using it as a floating blanket inside my sleeping bag. My partner prefers to use a synthetic 3 season bag with a light 1 season bag inside she will argue that not only is this a cheaper option but reduces dead air spaces within the bag. My opinion although she is right I feel the increased weight penalty of carrying two synthetic bags around is not justifiable when there are lighter options. I am not being obsessive about weight for nothing as you will read shortly.

Something that a lot of people don't give sufficient thought about in my opinion is their sleeping mattress. I always use a Thermorest Trail Pro the extra thickness gives much better insulation from the cold ground than thinner mattress and it levels out little humps and bumps that little bit better. unfortunately there is a small weight penalty for the extra thickness but I argue if you are going to all the bother of insulating above what is the point of having a cold back! there has been a few arguments at night between my partner and I as she try's to steal my mattress during the night as she has been suffering from the cold due to the conductive properties of the ground through a thinner mattress. The temperatures have used this setup range from -18C in Scotland to -20C on Kilimanjaro.

Something that I always do and others have laughed at me for this but before I go to bed I run round the tent a few times just to get some heat up but not enough to start sweating just as if you do this you will quickly warm up when you get into your sleeping bag.

I will stop there as I fear I might make more questions than answers

Kilimanjaro kit list

I have been asked loads of times since I went up Kilimanjaro about my kit list and it surprises me how people try to take clothing for every eventuality when a few key items are all you need. Layering is the key to warmth and light weight travel for example rather than taking three different gloves of varying warmth just take an merino wool pair and a set of synthetic fill gloves- the merino wool gloves for the cool stages, synthetic fill gloves for cold stages and for the extremely cold stages (summit night) wear the merino gloves under your synthetic gloves. A similar concept can be applied to jackets, trousers, feet etc.

here is a copy of my kit list:

1.       1xMountain equipment classic lightline Down jacket (only used on summit night over Rab Photon Jacket)

2.       1x Rab Photon Hoodie Jacket (Primaloft) (used a lot around camp and as a mid layer on summit night)

3.       1x Rab Latok Alpine jacket (used a lot over base layer to block out rain)

4.       1x Rab alpine 600 sleeping bag (kept me very warm every night)

5.       1x Berghaus waterproof over trousers

6.       1x RAB Icefall Gauntlet gloves (used on summit night)

7.       1x Mountain equipment wool hat (used a lot at night around camp and on summit night)

8.       1x Columbia Roc II Booney sun hat (used on higher slopes when sunny)

9.       1x Bloc Cat. 3 sunglasses

10.    5x thin inner socks

11.    3x thick wool socks

12.    3x pants

13.    2x Icebreaker 150

14.    1x Icebreaker 260

15.    1x Helly Hansen Prowool trouser Baselayer (only used on summit night)

16.    2x bear Grylls/ craghopper walking trousers

17.    1x craghopper lined walking trousers (only used on summit night)

18.    Asolo Imperial Gv boots

19.    1x Gelert Hot Pad Hand Warmer Twin Pack (used inside my gloves on summit night)

20.    1x High five, Zero Highs electrolyte sports drink tablets

21.    1x 1L Sigg alu bottle with neoprene cover

22.    1x 2L cammelbak classic

23.    1x berghaus freeflow 36 +8 backpack

24.    1x pair of Leki walking poles

25.    2x packs of Life systems Chlorine Dioxide tablets (I treated all water I drank)

26.    1x Petzl Charlet Tikka 2 Plus head torch plus extra batteries

27.    1x tooth brush

28.    1x tooth paste

29.    2x packs of baby wipes

30.    1x 100ml dry wash hand cleaner

31.    5x 250mg Diamox tablets (half a tablet in the morning half in the evening)

32.    1x camera plus extra batteries

33.    Selection of dry bags

34.    1x 90L north face duffel bag

35.    1x The North Face Base Camp Seat Companion wallet

36.    1x spare boot laces (also handy to make a washing line to dry clothes at night)

37.    1x first aid kit (selection of plasters for blisters and cuts, bandage, zinc tape, paracetamol, Imodium, scissors, antiseptic cream and gaffa tape)

38.    1x bottle of factor 25 sun cream

39.    3x packets of jelly babies

40.    12x whole grain bars

41.    1x small padlock

42.    $150 US dollers for tips and spending money

43.    3x zip lock freezer bags (to store passport, insurance papers, mobile phone etc)

 

44.    1x thermorest trail pro (only needed if you are staying in tents as huts have mattresses although this should be checked with your travel guide)

 

Total weight 13.5kg

I also recommend for people going to high altitude to have a quick read of this booklet

http://www.medex.org.uk/v26%20booklet.pdf

Grivel Air Tech Classic

The Grivel Air Tech Classic is a 12 point crampon that comes with antibott plates. These crampons are made from chromolly steel which makes them both strong and light weighing in at around 888g. I have been using these crampons for three years now and I can’t fault them they are quick and easy to pop on and are wearing very well considering they occasionally hit off rocks. This crampon retails for around £135 but I have seen them for £90 in sales and on line so keep your eyes peeled and snap up a bargain. The Air Tech is easily sharpened when you lose a point and easily disassembled to aid drying and oiling before popping into storage.  

At the start of this season I bought a pair of Grivel Monta Rosa for my partner and she has been more than happy with them they retail at around £60-£80 and come equipped with antibott plates apart from only having 10 points there are only very subtle differences such as thinner straps and being made from carbon steel. After one season the Monta Rosa crampon seems to be wearing well and my partner has reported that they give good performance.

At half the price of the air tech this might be a consideration if all you intend to do is gentile climbing although if you are like me and look for a little more than traction on gentle slopes the Air Tech is for you and will give years of good performance.

Asolo Sherpa GV

The Asolo Sherpa GV boot a B2 boot with a lot to offer and can be found at very competitive prices when compared to boots of the same standard. The Sherpa comes with Water-resistant Perwanger leather which is between 2.2-2.4mm thick, a Gore-Tex lining and an Asolo/Vibram Ascent sole with PU attachments for semi-automatic crampons. The upper part of this boot is made from one piece of leather that helps to ensure the boot remains waterproof and hard wearing. A double tongue helps with ensuring that this boot gives maximum comfort all day.

T
he Sherpa can be compared with Britain’s favourite winter boot the Scarpa Manta which sports similar features but there are two points that I feel gives the Sherpa the edge over the Manta and they are the presence of a Gore-Tex lining and that the Sherpa can generally be found at a £40 lower price.

The Sherpa’s toe structure is more designed for climbing which some might find makes the boot feel unstable when walking. Personally I have not found this but I have heard others report this feeling.

So to conclude this is another great offering from Asolo for the winter walker that wants a boot to use in winter conditions and a boot I look forward to many years of service from.

Berghaus Freeflow 35+8 rucksack

The Berghaus 35 + 8 Freeflow rucksack is a great all round rucksack I have had this one for 3 years now and it has been used most days I have used this bag mountain biking, walking out in the hills and to carry my climbing rack. This bag comes with the Freeflow system which makes the back section of the bag very breathable by allowing air to flow freely between the bag and the users back.

This rucksack comes equipped with the usual compression straps and wand pockets the newer versions have a slightly different way of attaching walking poles and ice axes which from what I can see will work just as effectively as the Velcro loops used on this bag. This bag also has its own rain cover which is stored in a small pocket above the carry loop. The rain cover gives good performance and is easily attached when needed. I have a tendency to run quite hot when cycling or when out walking so sweat between my back and by rucksack has been a problem with previous and other rucksacks but the freeflow system as used in this rucksack have completely stopped this problem. The freeflow system is not without its problems because of the shape of the bag the transport of long straight objects such as tent poles cannot be carried inside the bag. The way I have gotten around this in the past is to attach them to the outside of the bag either using the walking pole attachments or by threading threw the compression straps and sitting the ends of the poles into a wand pocket. The pocket in the front with the waterproof zip is big enough to carry a OS map which is handy and saves time compared to looking for a map in the main compartment. There is also a hydration pocket on this rucksack which allows a hydration pack to be attached if desired.  

This has to be my favourite rucksack to date and it will be a sad day when I have to retire it but by the looks of things that won’t be for many years.

Tiso Ice Axe

The Tiso Ice axe is a general purpose B (basic) rated walking axe that is available in five different lengths 50, 55, 60, 65 and 70cm. The Tiso axe comes equipped with a Grivel Nepal head which is a carbon-steel head which features a classically inclined pick with teeth along half its length which is hot, drop forged in one piece, then the stamped shovel is welded to it. There is also a rubber grip at the end of the shaft which aids grip and a lengthy leash. The 70cm axe weights in at 475g and comes with rubber point guards. This axe is very similar to the Grivel Nepal S.A. with the only differences that I can see being the different leash and shaft colouring. The Tiso Ice axe retails at £60 which is £15 cheaper than the comparable Grivel Nepal S.A. which retails at £75.

I have used this axe for two seasons now and have found it to be more than adequate for most hill walkers the only problems I have had are related to the leach. For me the leach is slightly too short for my liking and the buckle what attaches the leach to the head of the axe has released itself on a few occasions due to the shortness of the webbing going through the buckle.

Casio SGW-300HB-3AVER thermometer, altimeter & barometer watch

This watch packs lots of interesting features as listed below:

Altimeter - A pressure sensor detects changes in the air pressure and converts the result into an altitude up to 10,000 m.

Thermometer - A sensor measures the ambient temperature around the watch and displays it in °C (-10°C /+60°C)

LED Light - A Light-emitting diode (LED) is used to illuminate the watch face.

5 Daily Alarms - The daily alarm reminds you about recurring events with an acoustic signal at the time you have set. You can also activate hourly time signals (each hour). This model has 5 independent alarms.

Barometer - A built-in pressure sensor measures barometric pressure, which is shown on the display.

Countdown Timer - A stopwatch that counts backwards: When 0 minutes, 0 seconds is reached, the timer emits a 10-second signal tone.

Low Temperature Resistant - The timekeeping module is designed for operation at very low temperatures. The value indicates the lowest temperature at which the module will operate.

Stopwatch - Accurate measurement of elapsed time with a touch of a button, 1/100th Sec stopwatch

Water Resistant - 100 Metre / 10 Bar, 10 Bar Water Resistant means that the module is also suitable for swimming or snorkelling

World Time - Displays the current time in major cities and specific areas around the world.

Unfortunately I have found the data from the Altimeter to be less than accurate for instance while standing on a bridge over a river which one mile downstream opens out into an estuary the watch shows  -120m above sea level, at my house where I know to be around 60m above sea level the watch reads 5m and today as I sit at my desk it reads  -45m which shows inconsistency in the readings. Unless my house is unknowingly sinking into the ground these readings are wrong. I have zeroed the watch while standing at sea level but this makes no difference to the accuracy of the readings. The thermometer seems to be reasonably accurate if you take readings without the watch being on your wrist and having been left to cool down for 20 – 30 min as described in the owner’s manual.  I have no way to test the accuracy of the barometer but I fear this setting may suffer from the same inaccuracy problems. The other settings such as the stopwatch and five individual alarms are easy to use. The display is clearly visible from all angles and in all light conditions even when using the LED light. To conclude this is a good watch if you need a waterproof watch that looks impressive but the poor accuracy and impracticality of having to remove the watch and wait up to 30 min for it to cool down before taking temperature readings makes this watch less than ideal for practical use out in the hills.

RAB Latok Alpine Jacket

The Rab Latok Alpine Jacket is a mid weight breathable waterproof jacket. This jacket is a no nonsense waterproof aimed at alpine climbers and mountaineers although is equally at home on a wet and windy Munro.

This jacket is made from three layer event fabric which is extremely breathable and water proof. I have used gore tex based jackets for many years before purchasing this jacket and I find the event fabric to be far more breathable. I have heard reports of some people having leaking problems with event fabric but to date I have had no problems. As with all almost all Rab jackets the hood rolls away and is held in place with a Velcro strap. The whole jacket weighs in at 520g and retails at around £200. From My experience of this jacket I find it to be a good fit and very comfortable to wear the only problem I had with it was one of the small plastic toggles from the elastic hood pinged off and was lost somewhere in the hills which may have been my fault but Rab customer services popped two new ones in the post to me which arrived within two days free of charge (great customer service guys).

Mountain Equipment Lightline Down Jacket

The ME Lightline down jacket is aimed at those looking for a down jacket for general mountain use, Alpine climbing and ski touring. This jacket is filled with 316g (size L) of 90/10 pure down offering a fill power of 675+ (EU rating). The hood is attached with poppers so can be easily removed, the hoot also has a wire reinforced peak. The jacket comes equipped with its own stuff sac and has a pack weight of around 770g. There are two hand warmer pockets with zip entry and cuffs are equipped with elastic and one handed Velcro closure adjustment. DriLite loft keeps this jacket wind proof and water resistant (light shower proof).

I have had this jacket since August and have worn it in various conditions (suitable for a down Jacket) and temperatures while walking in high altitude (5,895 meters) and while out doing night photography and have found it to be a very warm jacket. I would say this is an ideal jacket for walking in cold dry conditions or as a backup jacket in your pack to pull out when you reach the summits of hills to keep warm while you take in the views. I purchased this jacket for £100 which in my opinion was £100 well spent.

Mountain Equipment Guide Gloves

The ME Guide gloves are designed to be a general mountain and ski glove. The come equipped with Drilite extreme waterproof lining, a tough nylon outer shell, cowhide leather palm, soft nose wipe, elastic wrist leash, single handed drawcord closure and a fiber pile and fleece lining.

I have used these gloves in various conditions and have found them to be not especially warm this is not helped by the fact that I have been finding that my hands get wet inside the gloves. I have not managed to establish whether this is caused by poor breathability or waterproofing of the Drilite membrane or rain water is entering the glove from another location. These gloves are comfy to wear due to their pre curved design and soft lining I feel these gloves would be ideal for autumn and spring hill walking but something a little warmer would be needed for winter months.

Rab Photon Primaloft jacket

The Rab Photon Jacket is as Rab say “a Rab classic” this jacket is constructed from Pertex Microlight 30D which is durable, wind and water resistant. The body of the jacket is filled with 133g Primaloft® Eco and the sleeves have 100g of Primaloft Eco. This jacket also comes with a hood with 60g of Primaloft® Eco filling and a wire reinforced peak. There are Velcro adjustable cuffs and an elastic draw string around the base of the jacket to help to keep out drafts. Large chest pockets which are high enough to not to be effected by climbing harnesses and ideal for warming hands.

A clever feature of this jacket is its ability to be packed into its own inside pocket this is useful when packing this jacket into a day pack.  Because this jacket is filled with Primaloft even when wet it retains 80% of its thermal properties which makes it a ideal jacket for throwing over your other layers when you are standing on belay or stopping for a break while out for a day in the hills.

I have used this jacket both up in the Scottish hills and on the summit of Kilimanjaro and found it to be extremely warm and light. As of yet I have not found any faults with this jacket and would rate it a worthy investment. This jacket normally retails at £120 but I have seen it for as little as £80.

ASOLO Imperial GV boots

The Imperial GV is the latest walking boot to be released by the Italian boot company Asolo retailing at £149.99. The boot is constructed from water resistant full grain leather which as a minimum thickness of 2.5mm, a Gore-Tex lining and Asolo/Vibram’s new Radiant Sole.  A pair of size 10 tips the scales at 1526g which makes them a light full leather option when compared with other full leather boots in this price range.

The Imperial has a slightly narrower construction around the heel when compared to boots such as the Mammut MT Trail. This gives good support and helps to prevent those dreaded blisters from making a guest appearance on a day out in the hills

The Radiant sole has been developed by Asolo and Vibram to give outstanding performance and grip. The Radiant sole comes equipped with aggressive heel cleats and Asolo’s Aso-brake system which enhances grip on steep descents. 

The only thing that let’s this boot down is the absence of a rubber rand which would give the boot more protection on rocky ground. The Imperial feels extremely comfortable straight out of the box and does not suffer from areas that require time soften like we have seen in previous Asolo boots such as the Powermatic 500. The Asolo Imperial GV is a good general all rounder 3 season boot for those two enjoy valley, hill and mountain walking. The the only limiting factor is the lack of a rand means that it might not stand up to hard walking in rocky environments as well as some other options. Undoubtedly this is another excellent boot from Asolo and will give many years of pleasurable walking.