Hiking, backpacking, trekking, mountaineering...

Yeah, fair enough, I mainly use gas if I'm just going to be boiling water, but if I'm planning on cooking proper food then the Trangia is perfect.

I got a titanium pan set for cooking, it's £35 now but was only £25 or so when I got it. One of these... https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0787Y8S9B/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

It's a good set and it comes up looking brand new when you put it in the dishwasher. It all nests together and is very compact, plus you can put bits and bobs inside it when carrying. It's handy for the dog's food and water, too.

With camping gear, it's always different strokes for different folks, as they say. You slowly build your own personal ideal set-up, what works for you and what you're prepared to carry on your back, there's no real right or wrong answer.

If you like a Trangia have you seen the Speedster alcohol stoves - the ultimate lightweight alcohol stove - I've got one but I've not tried it in anger yet - https://speedsterstoves.co.uk/alcohol/meths-burners.html
 
Street said:
I've been using an Exped DownMat for years. I've used it on glaciers, in the arctic circle and around the UK in winter. For the size and weight it's a great bit of kit although it wasn't particularly cheap.
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Same here, Downmat 7 XL thats been used in the arctic (Norway) to the Middle East to stopping over at a mates house after a house party and did it all perfectly! I just wish it wasn't so expensive (£150+) :D
 
Eddie said:
What's your weapon(s) of choice when it comes to the Lake District midgies/ticks?
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Smidge and a head net if it's really bad :-)

Don't like Deet, had some unfortunate moments with some gear (tents and jackets) in the past, but Picaridin is just as effective.
 
Yeah, I must admit I've melted a couple of things with Deet in the past, it's easily done.

Had the camo pattern on a tarp melt and transfer onto my bare legs once.
 
So my Osprey rucksack of 25 years decided to finally give up the ghost, so I decided to replace it with:-

Another Osprey rucksack - a Kestrel 48. Not super lightweight but I wanted the features. I'm not a stick insect so I don't get hung up on grams.

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My nephew thought he was very fit hiking around the local hills and small mountains.

Then he went up scafell pike and it really humbled him i think, wish it was closer to me. i would do it for sure
 
Not long got my first Osprey, Aether 70 Ag.
Plan is to hit Snowdon, once I've done a few runs on Dartmoor.
 
dave28 said:
My nephew thought he was very fit hiking around the local hills and small mountains.

Then he went up scafell pike and it really humbled him i think, wish it was closer to me. i would do it for sure
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Make a weekend of it, there’s loads of cheap areas within an hour drive in the morning rather than staying local which costs a fortune.
 
My Trekology UL80 died so I've gone for a more expensive mat this time - LW so bigger as well but lighter and warmer than the Trekology.

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Good mats, Exped. I use the Synmat HL Winter LW, the tapered version.

I needed the 9cm thickness due to having bad hips and being a side sleeper.

The schnozzle bag works very well. Only takes a minute or so and it's done.

I do have my eye on the down version, though.
 
Eddie said:
Good mats, Exped. I use the Synmat HL Winter LW, the tapered version.

I do have my eye on the down version, though.
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I used the Downmat 7 XL in some extreme places like a snow hole in -20'c northern Norway combined with a Snugpak sleeping bag and, as a side sleeper and a fat man, didn't feel the need for the extra 2cm TBF. Eventually after 5+ years of hard use one of the glued seams separating the air/down channels let go causing the mat to have a football sized bulge right in the middle which was unrepairable.

I haven't done any "camping" stuff which would need another mat since I left the military but should I want/need a new one I'll be getting the same Downmat 7 XL again as I rate them so highly.
 
ianh said:
Eventually after 5+ years of hard use one of the glued seams separating the air/down channels let go causing the mat to have a football sized bulge right in the middle which was unrepairable.
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Mine has gone the same was after being similarly abused. Luckily it's happened in the middle so it's just kind of joined two baffles together and hasn't bulged too much so it's still usable at the moment.
 
ianh said:
I used the Downmat 7 XL in some extreme places like a snow hole in -20'c northern Norway combined with a Snugpak sleeping bag and, as a side sleeper and a fat man, didn't feel the need for the extra 2cm TBF. Eventually after 5+ years of hard use one of the glued seams separating the air/down channels let go causing the mat to have a football sized bulge right in the middle which was unrepairable.

I haven't done any "camping" stuff which would need another mat since I left the military but should I want/need a new one I'll be getting the same Downmat 7 XL again as I rate them so highly.
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Yeah, for me it's just a decision forced by the bad hips. I used to be comfortable with the thinner mats but, as my hips have got worse as I have got older, I've found I need thicker and thicker mats, which, unfortunately, usually means extra weight to carry and extra cost to buy.
 
Got a memory foam mattress topper for the van from Argos recently, game changer, really comfortable now, just as good a sleep as at home.

Camped a couple times this week, Wednesday night at a place near Leek, then up early to go rope soloing at the Roaches. Then yesterday went to Edale, did the loop up Jacob's Ladder and round Upper Tor and down Ringing Roger, camped in Edale.

Obnoxiously busy campsite though, some bellends were having a pissup/BBQ at 2am :/

Bit annoyed I didn't pack my climbing gear as it was lovely this morning, drove back through Hathersage, could have done some laps on Stanage!

Probably going to an MC meet in Snowdonia next weekend....suspect it'll be wet, so hiking rather than climbing/scrambling....but we'll see. Ordered a few missing bits of wet weather gear, waterproof trousers and boots, in preparation.
 
Any tips on decent quality merino wool brands? It's been so long I can't remember where I bought last ones.

Was recently looking at Icebreakers but nearly £100 for leggings, close to that again for a base layer is pushing it a bit steep.
 
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