Time-Saver Guide to Choosing a Synthetic Jacket
Posted by Mark Richardson on Dec 06, 2023
There are basically three types of synthetic insulation used
in outdoor jackets:
1. Sheet Insulation – Fibres are
woven into a ‘mat’ structure and this is used to fill the jacket, this is the
‘traditional’ way of doing this and provides excellent warmth to weight and is
pretty durable.
2. Loose Fill Insulation – This is
where synthetic fibres are ‘loose’, like dow
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A Dozen Ways to Take Your Freeze-Dried Meals to the Next Level
Posted by Mark Richardson on Nov 15, 2023
Freeze Dried
food is pretty good these days and here at UOG we Taste Test most of them and
tell you our view – this causes arguments in the office so what you get is an
average view – helpful if everyone thinks they are great or poor, but not so
good if opinion is divided.Out
on the trail though they can be improved, usually by the addition of one or
more items that you take with you or buy
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Time-Saver Guide to Choosing a Waterproof Jacket
Posted by Mark Richardson on Oct 16, 2023
A Waterproof jacket that will cope with most
conditions will have a Hydrostatic Head of 20,000mm and an MVTR (breathability) of 20,000g/m2. In both cases higher is better.
2 and 2.5 layer jackets are less durable than 3
layer jackets but tend to be lighter in overall weight and more packable. 2 and
2.5 layer can sometimes feel a bit clammy next to the skin because of the lack
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10 Tips for Wet Weather Backpacking
Posted by Mark Richardson on Oct 11, 2023
#1
Take a Waterproof Cap: The hoods on
shell jackets are generally pretty good, some have a decent peak but the
lighter weight ones can be poor in this respect. None of them can beat wearing
a waterproof cap under the hood though, the large peak keeps the rain off your
face and it helps keep the hood from shifting when you turn your head. #2 Two
bags are better than one: Check
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The Time-Saver Guide to Choosing a Tent
Posted by Mark Richardson on Sep 28, 2023
Single skin or Two skin?
Most people choose a two skin tent because
single skin tents suffer more from condensation
Two skin tents tend to be warmer because of the
air between the inner and outer
Single skin tents tend to be lighter and more
spacious
3 Season versus 4 Season?
4 Season tents handle wind and rain better and
some are capable of handling snow
4 Se
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The Time-Saver Guide to PFC Free
Posted by Mark Richardson on Sep 28, 2023
What are they?
PFCs are ‘perfluorinated compounds’ or
‘fluorocarbons’; man-made chemicals used in the manufacturing of a wide range
of goods.
What’s the problem?
The PFCs get into the environment during manufacturing
or from finished products and don’t break down, or else they do breakdown but
into more toxic substances.
PFCs have been found all over the planet, in
people an
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Montane Alpine 850 Lite Down Hoodie Review - ''It is well made and offers leading edge warmth to weight ratio''
Posted by Mark Richardson on Sep 07, 2023
When
backpacking I want a very lightweight insulated windproof layer for daytime use
and a down jacket for evening, with of course the flexibility to wear them both
if it gets very cold. The insulation value I need for the down jacket depends
on the temperatures I expect. I took the
Alpine 850 Lite Down Hoodie with me on
a recent backpacking trip to the Scottish Highlands at the
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Montane Dart XT Zip Neck Review - ''I tested mine during an August Munro bagging backpacking trip and was comfortable all day''
Posted by Mark Richardson on Sep 07, 2023
For me, a
baselayer is all about comfort, and that means high wicking, odour control and
those details that make a garment fit well.
Montane’s
Dart series are great examples of an ideal baselayer, the fabric has 4-way
stretch and flatlocked seams which means they can sit against your skin without
feeling restrictive in any way, and without the irritation that a conventional
se
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Montane Dart Zip Neck Review - ''A close fit is essential for wicking of sweat away from the skin, and Dart does this really well''
Posted by Mark Richardson on Sep 07, 2023
For me, a
baselayer is all about comfort, and that means high wicking, odour control and
those details that make a garment fit well.
Montane’s
Dart series are great examples of an ideal baselayer, the fabric has 4-way
stretch and flatlocked seams which means they can sit against your skin without
feeling restrictive in any way, and without the irritation that a conventional
se
…
Montane Fireball Nano Hooded Jacket Review - ''I love the fact there’s no insulation in the arms, I don’t like gilets so the fabric-only sleeves on the Fireball Nano are perfect''
Posted by Mark Richardson on Jul 31, 2023
Daytime
insulation is tricky when you’re Backpacking, especially if you’re moving
through a mountainous region where you could be slogging up a steep incline one
minute then traversing a windy ridge the next. I find the ideal insulation is
‘not very much’, but you do need something to keep the wind chill at bay.
As far as
Montane’s Fireball Nano is concerned it seems pretty muc
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GORE-TEX Paclite Explained
Posted by Mark Richardson on May 02, 2023
GORE-TEX comes in many forms - we look at GORE-TEX Paclite on this page and give our opinion of it. - Sunshine turns to rain. A cold wind picks up. Whether you’re commuting to work, or only halfway through your weekend walk, having a lightweight, packable back-up jacket with you means you are prepared to make more of every day. Designed to provide comfort and reliable protection, all GORE‑TEX
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La Sportiva TX Hike Mid Review - “I’d be very happy to take these on a long trek, ideal for 3 season use”
Posted by Mark Richardson on Apr 24, 2023
I’ve used these a couple of times on backpacking trips and a
day hike in the Lake District during February & March and can verify the
comfort claims straight out of the box.
La Sportiva explains that the extra volume in the front area
of the boot is designed to deliver comfort and this is really apparent as soon
as you put the boots on, furthermore, the rest of the boot seems to be
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