Hiking, backpacking, trekking, mountaineering...

Street said:
It's worth checking out the for sale section on UKClimbing. I got my ME Snowline, brand new with tags for about half price as someone had bought it for a trip and cancelled and wanted rid of the bag. I also picked up a brand new ME Classic 1000 for a good price on there for the missus.

Make sure you get a decent mat too, it's surprising the difference a good insulated mat makes in the winter.
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Will have a look. I'm keeping an eye out on a few FB groups too.

Got a good mat, I've done a lot of camping already just not really anything earlier/later than March/October

Thoughts on this? https://www.alpkit.com/products/mountain-ghost-300

I should clarify, when I mentioned 0 degrees above that's definitely worst case scenario and if I was going out in that it wouldn't be very remote and would be within range to bug out to car and/or civilisation if things went pear shaped.. If anything it would be more about having the flexibility when it comes to spring/autumn months to get out when it's a bit colder
 
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I took the dog for a walk out round the Carneddau today. There has been quite a bit of snow but it's all unconsolidated at the moment so didn't need any pointy things. I'm hoping for a good week of freeze thaw and snow so some of the climbing routes will be in condition for next weekend.
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Skillmister said:
Will have a look. I'm keeping an eye out on a few FB groups too.

Got a good mat, I've done a lot of camping already just not really anything earlier/later than March/October

Thoughts on this? https://www.alpkit.com/products/mountain-ghost-300

I should clarify, when I mentioned 0 degrees above that's definitely worst case scenario and if I was going out in that it wouldn't be very remote and would be within range to bug out to car and/or civilisation if things went pear shaped.. If anything it would be more about having the flexibility when it comes to spring/autumn months to get out when it's a bit colder
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From experience, I now take the figures with a pinch of salt and use them as a very rough guide and would add 5°C or so to the figure quoted. You can also layer up at night and what my OH does (she sleeps cold) is she uses her Nalgene water bottle as a hot water bottle for the cold nights. Makes a massive difference and it sends her right off. Just wrap it up in a top or similar and you're good to go.
I think the ratings refer to the sleeper fully clothed as well. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.
Lowest I've slept in is only around 6°C but that was in a bag with a comfort rating of 1°C. I wouldn't want to take it to that temp however. I wasn't cold but much lower there would have been little "comfort."
If my budget was limited I would go for a quality used (hydrophobic) down bag. Confirm it hasn't been stored compressed and judge the general condition and you should be good to go.
Down bag will compress better and be lighter for the same warmth if bulk/weight is an issue.
Saw briefly a Rab Ascent 700 going currently at just over £60 on eBay. -5°C comfort level and a tad lighter than that Alpkit one you've linked to.
The Alpkit SkyeHigh bags are rated highly in general but are above your budget.
Buying 2nd hand also means that if you don't get on with it, sell it and you'll recoup most if not all of your money.
 
yeah, what tent are you using? if using an ultralight tent that has a lot of mesh and lets all the wind through i would also add a fair few degrees, if a normal double skin stops most wind tent then don't need to add so much to their rated claim. this also depends on how you sleep.
 
If you have a nice 3 season bag you want to keep using in colder weather, you can turn it into a 4 season bag by adding a good silk liner.
 
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Glaucus said:
yeah, what tent are you using? if using an ultralight tent that has a lot of mesh and lets all the wind through i would also add a fair few degrees, if a normal double skin stops most wind tent then don't need to add so much to their rated claim. this also depends on how you sleep.
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Terra Nova Solar Green. 1 man, separate outer and inner if that's what you mean? Hard to find any details of the exact one as its pretty old but its this http://stumbling.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/IMG_02481-300x289.jpg
 
gort said:
From experience, I now take the figures with a pinch of salt and use them as a very rough guide and would add 5°C or so to the figure quoted. You can also layer up at night and what my OH does (she sleeps cold) is she uses her Nalgene water bottle as a hot water bottle for the cold nights. Makes a massive difference and it sends her right off. Just wrap it up in a top or similar and you're good to go.
I think the ratings refer to the sleeper fully clothed as well. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.
Lowest I've slept in is only around 6°C but that was in a bag with a comfort rating of 1°C. I wouldn't want to take it to that temp however. I wasn't cold but much lower there would have been little "comfort."
If my budget was limited I would go for a quality used (hydrophobic) down bag. Confirm it hasn't been stored compressed and judge the general condition and you should be good to go.
Down bag will compress better and be lighter for the same warmth if bulk/weight is an issue.
Saw briefly a Rab Ascent 700 going currently at just over £60 on eBay. -5°C comfort level and a tad lighter than that Alpkit one you've linked to.
The Alpkit SkyeHigh bags are rated highly in general but are above your budget.
Buying 2nd hand also means that if you don't get on with it, sell it and you'll recoup most if not all of your money.
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I sleep pretty warm (anyone lucky enough to have shared a bed with me can attest to this :p)

Thanks for the tips. Plenty to mull over
 
There were fantastic conditions over in Snowdonia yesterday and I ticked off my first winter routes of the year! I think I managed to get more done yesterday than I did in the whole winter season in Wales last year.

I'd convinced my partner to chance the conditions in Wales as he wanted to go climbing in the Peaks instead and I thought we were going to be in for disappointment while we were driving over. It was tipping it down most of the way and even coming into the Ogwen valley there was very little snow about. Luckily up in Cwm Cneifion it was like a different world. Unfortunately though it looks as if the freezing level is going well above the summits this week so all the routes will be stripped bare again.

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First proper outing of the winter, decided to head up Schiehallion yesterday, thought i'd kept it easy to get back in to the swing of things, although the boulder field up top was very slow going being snow/ice covered with a stiff 30-40MPH gusting northern wind. It was a beautiful day though, mostly clear and sunny with the odd cloud blowing through. Plan to get out a few more times before its time to return to work.
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Looking for some suggestions for some B2 rated boots, want to get out to some shops and try some on over the next couple of days want to have an idea before i head out.
need to be reasonably wide in the fore foot/toes region, reasonably high narrow arch and snug at the ball of the heel, for example of ideal fit I find Salomon Quest 4D boots fit like a glove. preferably in non-garish colours. budget £200-£250max.
 
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steve45 said:
First proper outing of the winter, decided to head up Schiehallion yesterday, thought i'd kept it easy to get back in to the swing of things, although the boulder field up top was very slow going being snow/ice covered with a stiff 30-40MPH gusting northern wind. It was a beautiful day though, mostly clear and sunny with the odd cloud blowing through. Plan to get out a few more times before its time to return to work.
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Hah nice one. I was up there in the summer and it was tricky enough avoiding the gaps in the rocks when you could see them. Looks amazing with the snow/frost though
 
steve45 said:
Looking for some suggestions for some B2 rated boots, want to get out to some shops and try some on over the next couple of days want to have an idea before i head out.
need to be reasonably wide in the fore foot/toes region, reasonably high narrow arch and snug at the ball of the heel, for example of ideal fit I find Salomon Quest 4D boots fit like a glove. preferably in non-garish colours. budget £200-£250max.
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Have a look at Scarpa manta, I have their r-evo pro gtx and adore them, so comfy and rigid, you'd easily mistake them for a B2 boot.

https://climbinggearreviewsuk.wordpress.com/2016/03/19/scarpa-manta-pro-gtx-review/
 
steve45 said:
Looking for some suggestions for some B2 rated boots, want to get out to some shops and try some on over the next couple of days want to have an idea before i head out.
need to be reasonably wide in the fore foot/toes region, reasonably high narrow arch and snug at the ball of the heel, for example of ideal fit I find Salomon Quest 4D boots fit like a glove. preferably in non-garish colours. budget £200-£250max.
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Obviously the best answer is buy the ones that fit you best, but I swear by La Sportivas. I've got a pair of Trango S Evo B2s for general mountaineering and Trango Extremes B3s for winter climbing. I think the Trango S has been replaced now, but they are a decent lightweight boot that will take a semi automatic crampon. They aren't too rigid for a B2 either so are actually comfortable to walk in and I also use them outside of the winter months for scrambling and easy climbs when it's wet.
 
Another Scarpa fan here, but inspect the boots in detail before buying, as they tend towards little annoying defects: current pair (Ranger 2s) have more ankle room on one foot than the other, last pair had one tongue which went at an angle. Neither are contract breakers, and otherwise quality and durability are excellent.
 
I really shouldnt be allowed in an outdoors shop unsupervised... Only went to size up and try on a few pairs to get a feel for what was right for my feet with the intention of going online and finding the best deal, came out with these...

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Tryed on a few brands, a lot of them cheaper with sale prices, but I've learned in the past that you just cant compromise when it comes to what you put on your feet, and these Scarpa's just felt right, granted i'm yet to try them on real terrain.
Picked up a Grivel G1+ whilst i was there, so i could stop borrowing:p. All in all with Mil discount only came in marginally more expensive than going online. Now cant wait to get out and give them a try, weather permitting will try and get out again in the next couple of days.
 
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Nice one fella, bet it was love with the first fit.
Soon as you said deep heels and high instep I thought yup sounds like a Scarpa to me.

Love them, have to admit I'm having a bit of boot envy.
 
been out and about with them plenty since getting them, fit really is spot on, started off with smaller local hills just to get used to them, I'll have to admit i dont think I was quite prepared for how a stiff boot would have a knock on effect, my calves...:eek: so i've been slowly increasing distance and time and i think my calves are starting to get comfortable, I guess its just down to using certain muscles more climbing with stiffer boot, not so much a problem when climbing steep or technical stuff surprisingly, more the long tab in on gentle gradients that gets me, but playing with lacing zones/tightness has helped a lot.

Took a trip up Glen Doll today up through Corrie Fee up to Mayar and down the Kilbo, it was a very spur of the moment plan, which resulted in quite a late start, its a climb i'm very familiar with so thought it would be a good proper test of the boots, goes without saying they really are worth the money, lovely clear winter conditions today, didnt feel that cold but plenty of snow pretty much as soon as you start climbing up through Corrie Fee, and presented with the most beautiful view of the snow fields as you plateau out on to the Mounth, I'll never get bored of that walk.

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very snazzy. wish normal boots fit me. also stunning photos.

despite Sweden being a disaster with a sprained ankle on day 6 iirc, I'm getting ichy feet again. But I keep injuring myself.
maybe a 5 day hut to hut or hotel to hotel meaning can drop a lot of the pack weight might be better this year.
 
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