Andy’s 2023 TGO Kit List
Posted by Andy Neil on May 09, 2023
Andy on the 2022 TGO
Andy’s 2023 TGO Kit List
May means one thing here in the Ultralight office, The Great Outdoors Challenge, or the TGO for short. We are incredibly proud to be a sponsor of this communal coast to coast crossing of Scotland. Three of our team, Danny, Chris and myself, are participating in this year’s TGO, so I thought I’d give you an insight into what’s in my pack and some of the gear I’ll be taking for this year’s challenge. I won’t be going in-depth into everything in my pack, but the complete kit list is at the bottom of this page.
If you aren’t familiar with the TGO Challenge, it’s a coast to coast crossing of Scotland like no other; it has no set route, no fixed start or end point. Instead, the 400 challengers set off from one of 14 designated start points on the West Coast and must make their way to the East Coast via a route they devised. Once you have dipped your feet in the North Sea, you make your way to Montrose, where you officially end your challenge. Four hundred people, all taking different routes across Scotland, ensure you will undoubtedly meet many fellow “TGOers” on your journey. The walk takes on a festival-like quality that people return to year after year.
Rucksack
Arguably the most important bit of kit is the rucksack itself; I took the Gossamer Gear Mariposa on last year’s TGO, and it is not something I was looking to change. It's perfect for multiday, long-distance hiking, a sizeable well-structured pack that swallows gear; it excels at transferring its load; large shoulder straps and a well-padded hip belt spread the pack's weight efficiently over the whole upper body. My favourite feature is the long side pockets that easily accommodate my shelter, hiking poles and umbrella. The large mesh pocket is incredibly stretchy and can store a lot, such as wet weather gear and extra clothing, close at hand. It’s been a firm favourite here at UOG since it came out.
Shelter
Hilleberg Anaris - 1260g
The balancing act between weight and durability is a tightrope the ultralight backpacker must often traverse, especially when considering what shelter to take on a two-week crossing of Scotland in May; the only predictable thing about Scottish weather is its unpredictability. The Hilleberg Anaris was my chosen tent on last year’s crossing, and I have no desire to change it out for anything else. Its robust, roomie, packs down small and can be pitched to shrug off the worst Scottish weather. This will be my fourth crossing of Britain; it will also be the Anaris’s.
Sleep System
Quilt - Enlightened Equipment Revelation 850FP 20F Down Quilt - 641g
Quilts are a brilliant way to lighten the load, and we are incredibly pleased to be suppliers of Enlightened Equipment, a quilt specialist from the U.S.A. The 20F Revelation has a comfort limit of -6, I'm not expecting the temperature to drop that low on the challenge, but the beauty of a quilt is that in warm weather, you can regulate your heat quickly, but in cold weather, you can chinch the quilt down to retain heat like a sleeping bag. Adaptability and versatility are traits I value on the trail, which is why this year, I have chosen a quilt over a traditional bag.
Sleeping Mat - Big Agnes Zoom UL Insulated Sleeping Mat (Regular Wide) - 514g
Brand new to the market, the Big Agnes Insulated Zoom mat has an incredibly low weight, high R-value, and is an impressive 8cm thick. It has a more quilt-like sleeping surface than horizontal or vertical baffles, which I find to be less comfortable or supportive. I prefer rectangular mats, as I fall off the mats that taper in at the feet; a little extra weight for a more comfortable night’s sleep is a trade-off I am willing to make.
Pillow - Rab Stratosphere Pillow - 104g
I always considered a pillow a luxury item, but I have seen them more as a necessity since I started using the new Rab Stratosphere Pillow. Rab, recently entering the sleeping mat market, brought us this little gem! It’s covered in a soft, cosy polyester that feels supple and smooth against your skin. The outer is fully removable and, therefore, washable. It packs down incredibly small, vastly improving my sleep quality.
Stove and Kitchen
- MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe Gas Stove - 83g
- MSR Titanium Titan Kettle - 130g
I don't particularly appreciate washing up at the best of times, but if I'm backpacking, it's something I can do without, so this setup eliminates the need for it entirely. The only thing I want to be heating up while I’m on the trail is water, so this cooking system is focused on boiling water for freeze-dried meals as efficiently as possible while keeping weight and effort to a minimum. The MSR Pocket Rocket Deluxe performs well in windy and cold conditions. The wind lip does a surprisingly good job of protecting the flame in windy conditions, so you get a constant flame that doesn’t splutter out in high gusts. Should the temperature drop, the Pocket rocket deluxe has an inbuilt regulator that keeps the pressure of the gas canister steady, so you don’t lose performance in cold weather.
Water and Filtration
It’s taken me years to be happy with my water filtration setup, but the Platypus QuickDraw Microfilter, combined with the CNOC Vecto, is a setup that ticks all the boxes for me. A fantastic flow rate that can be easily backflushed without any additional equipment and an easy-to-fill, easy-to-clean water carrier that moulds to my pack. This setup allows me to carry 3 litres of water at a time.
Wet Weather Gear
- Gossamer Gear Lightrek Hiking Umbrella - 175g
- Hiking Kilt - 53g
I'm taking a different approach to this year’s wet weather gear. Last year’s TGO was very wet, and although my gear kept me dry, hiking in my waterproofs day in and day out soon became a chore; I was hot and sweaty despite the damp conditions, so this year, I looked for alternatives. The solution I have come up with is a waterproof hiking kilt, umbrella and incredibly breathable waterproof jacket.
The Gossamer Gear Hiking Umbrella allows me to walk without my hood up, which helps keep me cool, and I don’t end up trudging along staring at my feet all day; in strong winds, the umbrella can be ungainly, so I’ll have to resort to putting my hood back up, but the hiking umbrella works surprisingly well even in moderate wind.
The Hiking Kilt shields my legs from the rain and wind yet still facilitates good airflow, and the Outdoor Research Foray II is possibly the most breathable Gore-Tex jacket on the market; the “pit zips” extend right to the hem of the jacket, which can then be opened up like a poncho; it can be cinched down in truly bad weather, but in moderate rain, does a good job of keeping me cool.
Trekking Poles
Black Diamond Pursuit FLZ Trekking Poles - 256g each
I've always hiked with telescopic hiking poles, but when travelling, especially by train, I find them cumbersome and potentially dangerous, so I have recently switched to “Z poles”. They pack so much smaller and slip into my rucksack side pocket; I no longer fear taking a fellow passenger’s eyes out. As I use a trekking pole tent, I was always hesitant to switch to z-poles, but as the Black Diamond Pursuit FLZs are also adjustable, I can use these with my shelter set-up.
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Andy Neil |
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Andy has been a keen long-distance hiker and wild camping enthusiast since he completed the Cleveland Way in 2015. Since then, he has walked thousands of trail miles all over the UK and is an active member of the Wild Camping UK community, being an admin of the largest wild camping community on Facebook. He strongly advocates for responsible wild camping and believes it is important to leave no trace when camping in the wilderness. He joined the UOG team in 2021 and works as a website developer and content creator. |
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May means one thing here in the Ultralight office, The Great Outdoors Challenge, or the TGO for short. We are incredibly proud to be a sponsor of this communal coast-to-coast crossing of Scotland. Three of our team, Danny, Chris and myself, are participating in this year’s TGO, so I thought I’d give you an insight into what’s in my pack and some of the gear I’ll be taking for this year’s challenge. I won’t be going in-depth into everything in my pack, but the complete kit list is at the bottom of this page...