Soldato
It did
In the summer the midges by water would eat me alive!!
Absolutely. So glad there weren't any as it was unbelievably peaceful sat by the fire... drinking a glass (mug) of wine
Hiking, backpacking, trekking, mountaineering...
- Thread starter Col_M
- Start date
It did
Absolutely. So glad there weren't any as it was unbelievably peaceful sat by the fire... drinking a glass (mug) of wine
Yeah, there is a fair bit of kit to get if you're just starting out and the good stuff is often really expensive which can be daunting. Keep your eyes open, check outdoor forum classifieds and ebay and build your kit over time.
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- 6 Dec 2007
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Just got back from a bimble around the Beacons today. Lots of lovely, lovely snow
Nice, did you get any pics?Just got back from a bimble around the Beacons today. Lots of lovely, lovely snow
I've just spent a bit on shiny new kit, not sure exactly how much as some was ordered from the UK, some was from CZ and there were a few things for a friend in the orders. My stuff includes, Kahtoola microspikes, Woolpower zipped top, gravity water filter, down booties, snow baskets for poles and various other bits
Associate
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- 6 Dec 2007
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- 2,103
Nice, did you get any pics?
I've just spent a bit on shiny new kit, not sure exactly how much as some was ordered from the UK, some was from CZ and there were a few things for a friend in the orders. My stuff includes, Kahtoola microspikes, Woolpower zipped top, gravity water filter, down booties, snow baskets for poles and various other bits
My pal had his camera, I'll see if he's got anything decent.
Whenever I'm in the hills up here, I'd have no issue drinking straight from a stream.
Have to pick a sensible place though, as I wouldn't just fill up anywhere. But high up in the hills, with a decent flowing stream, I must have filled up hundreds of times and always been fine.
Fresh, cold water up in the hills is hard to beat.
I just stumbled upon a freeware gear list app, it may be useful to some so I thight I'd post it here - http://www.sherpa-en.pistoo.net/index.html
Not tried it yet but it seems pretty good, I'm going to have a play when I get home.
Not tried it yet but it seems pretty good, I'm going to have a play when I get home.
Soldato
Just sat on Sportpursuit.com and racked up over £700 in my basket.... sooo tempting, but do I NEED it? No! Do I WANT it however? Of course!
Anyhow, I closed the page and told myself to grow up lol.
Anyhow, I closed the page and told myself to grow up lol.
Soldato
It can be done on the cheap. I have a lot of army surplus stuff that is brilliant for people on a budget. I mostly got it from ebay. Its often heavier than the commercial equivalent but its tough and lasts forever. Only downside is that everything is either green or green/brown camo.
Here is an example of the super-cheap setup i started with:
Gore-Tex Bivi Bag £30
4 season sleeping bag £45
hexi stove and mess tins £15
Small tarpaulin to shelter your face ~£5-10
Walking pole to prop up the tarp £10
It's not the the most luxurious, and certainly not the lightest, but it will keep you warm and dry. Thats everything you'll need (other than your clothes, food, etc). Just dont go for cheap boots if you're walking (i dont have that problem because i always take my bike).
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Soldato
^ sound advice. I used a lot of my issue kit. However, in time I found myself buying better things instead so perhaps it makes more sense to invest in the better thing first. The sleeping bag, for example, is far too heavy. It's overkill for anything better than sleeping under a bivvy in winter. Investing in a much lighter 2-3 season will more than suffice. Although hexi-stoves are alright, for the same price you can get a decent mini stove and use gas, which is quicker and more convenient than farting around with hexi-blocks. The key to wild camping is to pack as light as possible. I cut my load down by over a half the weight cutting out stuff I didn't need and investing in nice lightweight kit.
+1 for ebay stuff though. You can pick up 2nd hand quality kit on there. Just need to hunt around.
+2 for decent boots. Never scrimp on boots. Decent boots pay back in dividends. Mine are very comfy and have lasted years and will last for many more. I think I will always stick to Scarpa now. I don't see anything wrong with a pair of 2nd hand boots if you can't afford new though. Just go to an outdoors shop (GoOutdoors/CCC/Cotswolds). Try on some pairs, see how they fit, then buy them off ebay much cheaper and already bedded in
+1 for ebay stuff though. You can pick up 2nd hand quality kit on there. Just need to hunt around.
+2 for decent boots. Never scrimp on boots. Decent boots pay back in dividends. Mine are very comfy and have lasted years and will last for many more. I think I will always stick to Scarpa now. I don't see anything wrong with a pair of 2nd hand boots if you can't afford new though. Just go to an outdoors shop (GoOutdoors/CCC/Cotswolds). Try on some pairs, see how they fit, then buy them off ebay much cheaper and already bedded in
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OK, this app is freaking amazing!
Text output
Code:
Multi-day winter hike
PACKING
Osprey Exos 58 1.14 kg
SLEEPING
Mountain Equipment Lightline 550 1.26 kg
Sea to Summit Thermolite Reactor plus 263 g
Therm-A-Rest NeoAir All Season 611 g
Warmpeace Down booties 230 g
IKEA Pillow case 96 g
Ear plugs Ear plugs 6 g
Vaude MkII Inner 1.30 kg
Vaude MkII poles 867 g
-------------------- 4.63 kg
CLOTHING
Alpkit Wool socks 66 g
Bridgedale Coolmax liner socks 31 g
Marmot Solaris 1/2 zip 341 g
Berghaus Velum jacket 335 g
Montane Atomic pants 193 g
-------------------- 966 g
FOOD & HYDRATATION
Camelbak 2L hydration system 161 g
Any 1L PET bottle 36 g
MSR Gravity water filter 403 g
Jetboil Sol Ti 300 g
DIY FBC cozy 13 g
Sea to Summit Alphalight long spoon 12 g
-------------------- 925 g
TOOLS/MISC
Zebralight H600 + battery 107 g
Goal Zero Luna 50 g
Silva Type 4 compass + case 67 g
Deuter First aid kit 152 g
-------------------- 376 g
ELECTRONICS
Goal Zero Guide 10+ + 4AA batts + iphone cabl 199 g
Sanyo Eneloop AA batteries x4 105 g
-------------------- 304 g
EQUIPMENT
Kahtoola MICROspikes 379 g
TOILETRIES
Sea to Summit bag+iPood+sanitiser+paper 266 g
CONSUMABLES
Food Food 2.30 kg
Jetboil 100g gas cart 194 g
Earth Water 3.00 kg
-------------------- 5.49 kg
MISCELLANEOUS
Therm-A-Rest Sit pad 98 g
WORN/CARRIED
Icebreaker 200g zip neck top 209 g
Icebreaker 200g long johns 164 g
Alpkit Wool socks @(worn) 66 g
Bridgedale Coolmax liner socks @(worn) 31 g
Patagonia Alpine pants 624 g
Montane Extreme smock 884 g
Outdoor Research Crocodiles gaiters 289 g
Buff Merino wool 54 g
Mountain Equipment Drilite mitts 140 g
Unknown Silk liner gloves 23 g
Lowe Alpine Mountain cap 79 g
Apple iPhone 4 139 g
Sony TX5 146 g
Leki Makalu titanium 540 g
Aquapak phone case 38 g
PACKED 14.58 kg
WORN/CARRIED 3.43 kg
CONSUMABLES 5.49 kg
TOTAL 18.00 kg
Soldato
- Joined
- 10 Mar 2006
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- 3,975
OK, next up for us is Scafell Pike. Have any of you guys been up there before? What's it like compared to Snowdon?
We'll be heading off around the 15th of March. Hopefully the weather will be kinder to us than Snowdon.
Got a question around parking - might be taking our motorhome, which is pretty long. Will we be able to park it anywhere? Are there any dedicated parking areas, or will it be a case of parking on the road?
We'll be heading off around the 15th of March. Hopefully the weather will be kinder to us than Snowdon.
Got a question around parking - might be taking our motorhome, which is pretty long. Will we be able to park it anywhere? Are there any dedicated parking areas, or will it be a case of parking on the road?
Best parking is at the end of the road in Seathwaite its free as well, probably not big enough for a motor home.
Yes from time to time i take my Dragonfly with me and some burgers or steak.
Going to get an Ospray Exos soon for my camping, think 48L should be enough for two days/one night.
anyone else cook on day trips, nothing like a bacon sarnie to boast moral and if you place yourself well enough you can troll others walking up the hill with the smell
Yes from time to time i take my Dragonfly with me and some burgers or steak.
Going to get an Ospray Exos soon for my camping, think 48L should be enough for two days/one night.
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Associate
- Joined
- 10 Jan 2013
- Posts
- 113
Depends where your approaching from, shortest route if from Wasdale head, plenty of parking if it's not the weekend normally and a couple of campsites but not sure if they allow motorhomes. You can also go from Greater Langdale but its a bit of a mission, think its about 24 miles off the top of my head as a round trip. From Wasdale I'd say it compares best with the Pyg track though the path is a not as well defined at parts and there is a bit of a scramble near the top though it think you can circumnavigate that. Easy peasey if the weathers on your side but you'll need to pay a little more attention to Nav than you would on Snowdon if the visibility is poor.
I got the Exos 58 and just took it on a four day hike at the weekend, it was great, I was a little concerned about the minimal padding on the straps but I have no soreness at all and it was very comfortable. Make sure you get the right size and they seem to be a great bag.
Me wearing it on Saturday
Other pics from my trip
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There are 2 carparks at Wasdale head, and you can definitely leave a motorhome in the one en route to the pub if there is space (and in winter there will be). It's just a muddy free-for-all.
Parking at Wasdale Head is probably your best bet at getting a space as others have said.
Although get there early as it will fill it up quickly.