Hiking, backpacking, trekking, mountaineering...

VeNT said:
Thanks.
I've just got to find a sleeping bag that's not over 60 quid and I'm sorted
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At that price point, for the summer, I think it's just a case of taking a punt on one of the established brands and seeing how you get on. As warm, lightweight and compact as you can get away with, it's always a bit of a balance between those and budget.

One of the best items I got a couple of years back was a cheap down jacket from Amazon to keep in my sleep kit just in case the temps drop. You may even be able to get a cheap down quilt from eBay, we got some down quilts for about £25 each a couple of years back and they are perfect for warm-weather camping.

My main advice though would be to try your full kit out before you go, a night in your garden or something. Nowt worse than having an uncomfortably cold night and then knowing you've got to do it again the next night.

To add a bit of insulation to the Numo you can use one of those mylar survival blankets, or cut a length of that thermal bubble wrap stuff you get for car windscreens and put it under the mat. Cheap and effective.
 
Martynt74 said:
How are you feeling about the Lakeland 50? I've noticed you getting a decent chunk of volume in recently.

When i did Grizedale the other week i spent a little bit of time with a guy who'd done it a few times. He spoke about it being very tough, and then how the 100 had broken him and "was like doing the 50 four times". He'd tried it twice and the most he'd managed was 85.
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Not enough volume in my opinion and whilst not much phases me I'm a bit nervous and feel unprepared for this one. Felt under the weather last three weeks. I woke up to do the Yorkshire Three Peaks the other week feeling terrible but got around in 5:45 on a very hot and busy day. I struggled to run on any major ascent really, calves just were not up for it so I've ditched distance for elevation the last few weeks. Realistically I only have this and next week to pump it in.

I reckon I'll be OK if I stride the ascents and run/jog the rest. There's 24 hours to do it so if I keep consistent and don't get lost I should make the checkpoint cutoffs. Not how I'd like to do it, but then I guess a lot of people do the same. I think it's feasible to walk it, and I've walked plenty of long walks in the mountains, so I'll see how I go.
 
True, i found that on the Grizedale event lots of people took it easy on the hills and they weren't too bad, although it was those which killed me off through lack of hill training. Hopefully you can get through it, you seem to naturally have the ability to smash through things given how much you've done in a short space of time running wise.
 
I recently got a couple of new osprey bags, one of them (manta 34) came with a water bladder which is great albeit you pay for it. I’m not a fan of them tbh because I think the water doesn’t tastes as good or stay as cold as a hydro flask. Anyway my gripe with them is, they do not come with a bite valve cover, no local outdoor shop stocks them and they charge £10 for them from the official site. Damn for something you thought should be including for basic hygiene reasons has annoyed me. Even though I very likely won’t even use it! :D
 
Reuben klang said:
I recently got a couple of new osprey bags, one of them (manta 34) came with a water bladder which is great albeit you pay for it. I’m not a fan of them tbh because I think the water doesn’t tastes as good or stay as cold as a hydro flask. Anyway my gripe with them is, they do not come with a bite valve cover, no local outdoor shop stocks them and they charge £10 for them from the official site. Damn for something you thought should be including for basic hygiene reasons has annoyed me. Even though I very likely won’t even use it! :D
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Yeah a water bottle is much better, unless you know that x amount will last the day - it's also nicer to drink out a bottle for some reason.
 
Hiking has taken a huge backseat for me this last couple of years, I haven't done a single mountain since 2019. Overall at least Garmin is telling me my activities and mileage are on the up, its just mostly walking and cycling. 2013 will take some beating when i did 36 hikes with a distance of 628km.

I prefer bottles but do use a bladder on occasion though i tried a cheap bladder and it makes the water taste funny, really need to get a proper replacement. Always take my LifeStraw bottle on longer trips as well, saved me a few times when i miss judge my water requirements.
 
I find that adding something like a SIS Hydro tablet into the water bladder helps to prevent that unpleasant taste as it masks the plasticky element.
 
robj20 said:
Hiking has taken a huge backseat for me this last couple of years, I haven't done a single mountain since 2019. Overall at least Garmin is telling me my activities and mileage are on the up, its just mostly walking and cycling. 2013 will take some beating when i did 36 hikes with a distance of 628km.

I prefer bottles but do use a bladder on occasion though i tried a cheap bladder and it makes the water taste funny, really need to get a proper replacement. Always take my LifeStraw bottle on longer trips as well, saved me a few times when i miss judge my water requirements.
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Ah, to be fair I have only tried a cheaper one that they sold in the local store.

I do have a lifestraw bottle as well which I carry as a back up just in case.

I’ll give the osprey one a go just to taste it.
 
Begbie said:
Yeah a water bottle is much better, unless you know that x amount will last the day - it's also nicer to drink out a bottle for some reason.
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You're also less likely to put an axe/crampon/ice screw through a water bottle than a bladder! As my mate did one trip when we were rushing to get the first pherique for an early start up the mountains and found water gushing out of the bottom of his pack.
 
Street said:
You're also less likely to put an axe/crampon/ice screw through a water bottle than a bladder!
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I've always found that bladders don't work particularly well in the conditions where you'd be using any of that kit anyway. The water freezes in the hose.
 
touch said:
I've always found that bladders don't work particularly well in the conditions where you'd be using any of that kit anyway. The water freezes in the hose.
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In the alps in summer, it's usually reasonably warm apart from during the early starts before the sun has risen. Even quite high up, I've often just been in a tshirt so freezing isn't much of an issue. Scottish winter is a different story though! Generally unless I'm out running, I take a Nalgene bottle anyway.
 
I usually prefer bottles these days as they're less likely to burst, easier to clean out etc, but do sometimes take bladders as well on really hot days when I know I'll need to be drinking as much as possible just to avoid dehydration.

touch said:
I've always found that bladders don't work particularly well in the conditions where you'd be using any of that kit anyway. The water freezes in the hose.
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The trick there is to fill the bladder with warm water (or hot rosehip(?) tea if you're in the alps!) so it takes longer to freeze (and doesn't hurt your teeth or cool you down too much) , and always blow water back up the tube into the bladder after you've had a drink.
 
First time I've ventured in here, hoping you can help!

Looking for a rain cover for my 30l pack, for a combination of hiking and cycling. The ones I have seen either just seem to be elastic round the edge, which I am not sure will stay on long when cycling, or have clips on the back which seem like they would be really uncomfortable against your back?

Does anyone have a recommendation for a secure, comfy one?
 
Use a dry bag inside, then you won't look as much of a punter! ;) Rain covers are the worst, they just catch on things and flap around in the wind.
 
Agree with above, dry bags are better. Also take some zip lock bags for things like my phone, keys and wallet. Its a loosing battle trying to keep a whole pack dry.
 
Did my first solo walk today, settled on Plynlimon starting from Eisteddfa Gurig.
Although it's the highest peak in the Cambrian Mountains it's not really that much of a climb, plus it's only 15 mins down the road.

Started from the car park at 8am, quite a misty morning but I was hoping it would clear up a bit before the forcasted rain in the early afternoon.

Nice easy track to start out with
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Hit the peak about 9am, still very misty!
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Stoped for a quick snack then headed over to the source of the River Wye. I walked down to the left and followed the stream back up, not sure exactly where it starts but it's around here.
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The clouds were starting lift so I made my way back to Plynlimon. Passed this Cairn just as the sun was breaking through, looking towards Llyn Llygad Rheidol Reservoir.
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And a view over Nant-y-moch from plynlimon
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Left the peak and as I was making good time I thought I'd make a detour via Y-garn
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And finally the view from the Y-garn peak, I stopped here for a rest, food and a quick snooze.
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Arrived back in the car park at 12.30, just before it started raining. My legs were starting to hurt on the final descent to the car park so I think it was a good distance to start out with, would be nicer on a clear day but I enjoyed it anyway.

I do need a bigger day pack though, was a bit of a squeeze to get a light jacket, waterproof, water and food etc into the small backpack I've got.
Navigation wise, I used the OS Maps App on a free trial, I'd downloaded a route to Plynlimon peak and back but I didn't need it really, the gps overlay shows you all you need to know. Definitely easier than using OS Locate and using a paper map, although I took one anyway.
 
I walked 24 miles of the Thames Path this weekend and ended up with some painful blisters at the end. I was wearing some merino wool socks and Solomon hiking boots that are now 4 years old.

I wonder what I can do differently?
  • My feet were quite hot during the walk, perhaps thinner socks would help? Any recommendations? Thinking socks with padded areas but well vented elsewhere?
  • Perhaps a lighter boot, for flat surfaces? Not sure on the exact model of Solomon boot I have but they're high ankle support and relatively heavy.
  • Regardless of getting a lighter boot/shoe, I need new well supported boots for hiking as I noticed a tear in the surface material on the Solomons. Any brands that are good for wider feet? Think I'm 2E/EE
 
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