Blog

The ROC GTX Jacket from  Haglof’s is perfectly suited to Hikers and Backpackers a-like due to the simple design that will stand the test of time with a rucksack on your back. First of all, this is not a shell that you will pop in your rucksack for the off chance of rain, but a jacket for trips/days out where rain will definitely be a factor. The 3-layer Gore-Tex will take all th …

We were watching LEKI's guide to why you should use trekking poles, it was so good we added a link to it here. Then we realised there was more than one - so here are both of them, they're really good.

“The more constraints one imposes, the more one frees oneself” - Igor Stravinsky.The Genesis of an IdeaIn the first three months of 2021, leisure travel was disallowed to contain the coronavirus. Again, I was exiled from my beloved Lakeland fells. True, I was much luckier than most - the Bowland hills are on my doorstep - but I dreamed of the day I would be able to run the Cumbrian ridges ag …

Alpha is one of a range of insulation from Polartec, we explain what it does and include our opinion of it.

What affects the warmth?Down Quality Generally the more down in a jacket (fill weight), the warmer it is going to be but this assumes the down is the same quality. However, down quality can vary significantly and is measured by its fill power. A higher fill power down will keep you warmer than a lower fill power. To make matters worse there are two widely recognised methods of measuring Fill Power …

Drink Dilemma – the facts about water treatmentThe DangersDrinking water directly from streams and rivers can be hazardous because such sources could contain Pathogens; a Pathogen is a disease causing organism commonly referred to as a germ.There are four types of water-borne pathogens that are of concern: Protozoa – single cell organisms often transferred through human and animal faeces. They ar …

What Size and Shape Sleeping Bag?The sleeping bag is a vital piece of kit in any camping set up but choosing one can be difficult. After you've decided on how much you want to spend, how cold you need it to be able to go down to and how much weight you're happy to carry there are still a lot of aspects to consider. Here we have tried to show some of the things you might want to consider in terms o …

Most mosquitos, including those that carry malaria, are active when it's dark. A mosquito net not only keeps malaria mosquitos away but also other insects, such as lice, bed bugs and fleas. So contributing to a good night's sleep.A Mosquito net only offers extra protection against mosquitos and other insects if it is sealed off all around and has a mesh size of no more than 1.75mm. Nets may be imp …

The intention of this page is simply to provide guidance and advice to those with limited winter mountaineering experience. It is not definitive piece and is based solely on our experiences in the mountains. The aim is to simply help customers understand differences and focus on what they might need from the options available when considering buying an ice axe. We hope to provide some general advi …

WickiUp 3The WickiUp 3 is a special shelter so we've given it a special page just to explain how good it really is! The quality of materials and the high standard of construction are self evident however the modular approach to the WickiUp 3 components offers great flexibility in how the shelter can be used, by buying two or more parts you can configure various shelters at various weights for a va …

To understand the purpose of the softshell jacket is useful to talk about the performance of 'hardshells' focusing on the potential problems with them, problems which boil down to breathability and stiffness. Creating a waterproof fabric is relatively easy but if the fabric doesn't breathe then you'll get just as wet from sweat build up as you would have done from rain if you hadn't worn it. So, a …

Down is the natural plumage that forms the undercoating of waterfowl. It forms in tufts, or plumules, and consists of fluffy, wispy filaments. It is an exceptional insulator, prized for being light, easy to compress, durable and breathable. It excels in cold, dry conditions. Down is more expensive than synthetic fill, but it maintains its loft (which provides its heat-trapping ability) at a near-o …