Category Archives: Kit

17
Oct
2011

Hard graft with a raft

3 comments
Posted in Best Bits, Expeditions, Iceland, Kit, Packraft
An in-depth look at the equipment choices for a packraft expedition.
25
May
2011

My Top Tips on Travelling Light

1 comment
Posted in Expeditions, Kit, Lists, Travel
1. Ask whether you actually need to travel super-light at all. If shedding a few pounds is going to cost a lot of pounds I usually prefer just to have a slightly heavier pack and regard it as extra-training! 2. Having said that, it certainly is nice to travel light. A great way to do [...]

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27
Apr
2011

Travel light, live cheap

32 comments
Posted in Kit, Travel
Really light. My suggestions are based on two key points:
30
Mar
2011

Tips for your first Packrafting trip

15 comments
Posted in Kit, Packraft
My favourite purchase of the last few years has definitely been my packraft. I love it for many reasons including because almost everyone I tell about it asks, “what’s a packraft?”
23
Feb
2011

What is the Best Expedition Sleeping Bag?

13 comments
Posted in Kit, Lists, Polls
A reader poll to gather a range of opinions on the best expedition sleeping bags.
30
Nov
2010

Tips for Winter Cycling

8 comments
Posted in Arctic, Cycling, Kit
Too cold to ride to work? Too much snow? Stop being a wimp!
02
Nov
2010

Kit Review: hub dynamo and battery pack

10 comments
Posted in Cycling, Kit
Review of a hub dynamo and battery pack for long distance bike journeys.
12
Oct
2010

Expedition kit list for Iceland

15 comments
Posted in Expeditions, Iceland, Kit, Lists, Packraft
I have had quite a few questions concerning the equipment we used for crossing Iceland. Here then is the kit list. If I had more cash or was more of a gear geek then I would change a couple of things. But I hope that it proves helpful. I’ve added links where I think they [...]

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28
Jun
2010

What is the best expedition backpack?

26 comments
Posted in Expeditions, Kit, Lists
During my preparation for next month’s expedition to Iceland I did a lot of research into what was the best large pack out there. Here are some of the good ones I found. Dana Design Astralplane Gregory Denali Pro, Gregory Massif, and Gregory Wind River Osprey Xenith and Osprey Crescent Aarn Bodypacks; the Load Limo [...]

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22
Jun
2010

Top 10 bits of kit for a long walk

7 comments
Posted in Expeditions, India, Kit, Lists
10 of the best bits of kit that I took to India. 1. Orthotic insoles and trainers Profeet and Mizuno Wave Inspire 5 £149 (insoles and fitting), £68 / 252 grams (shoe) I used to associate long distance running and walking with inevitable injuries and pain. No longer. Since I began using Profeet’s orthotic insoles [...]

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15
Jun
2010

Kit selection for a walk across India

4 comments
Posted in India, Kit, Writing
The night train thunders past. The vibrations shake the ground I am lying on through my small inflatable mattress. My head rests on my rucsack. From the darkness I snatch glimpses into the brightly lit carriages. As suddenly as it arrived, the train is gone. The darkness and the silence it leaves behind feel more [...]

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01
Apr
2010

Advice on packing light for expeditions

8 comments
Posted in Guest Blog, Kit
In this guest post Phil Turner, an ultralight backpacking specialist, shakes his head, tutts, and slaps my wrist for persisting with old, heavy, cheap kit! “I’ve been corresponding with Alastair for a while now regarding his gear choices for his upcoming walking and packrafting trip to Iceland. I have to admit I was slightly horrified [...]

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31
Mar
2010

Review of hammocks

3 comments
Posted in Kit
Here jungle expedition leader and trainer Dom Hall from Fieldskills runs through his favourite hammocks for jungle camping: If you are camping in the rainforest there’s really only one way to do it – in a hammock. Hammocks are airy and cool, light to carry, easy to set up and give you loads of flexibility [...]

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06
Jan
2010

Top 3 Camping Stoves

18 comments
Posted in Kit, Lists
Continuing my occasional series of inviting gear geeks to review kit on my site (because I don’t know a lot about kit!): here outdoor enthusiast Eric Tomczak shares his thoughts on his favourite three lightweight camping stoves; the MSR Whisperlite International, Jetboil and Snow Peak Gigapower. MSR Whisperlite International The Whisperlite International has set the [...]

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19
Nov
2009

Get rid of 10 things

9 comments
Posted in Best Bits, Kit, Lists, Motivation
I tend to feel happiest in direct proportion to the simplicity of my life. And the most fulfilled occasions rarely involve many possessions. Cycling with panniers, jumping on a train with a small pack in order to walk back home, out running at dusk, jumping starkers into a cold lake… And yet I still accumulate [...]

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15
Oct
2009

Micro Adventure kit list

4 comments
Posted in Expeditions, Kit, MicroAdventure
Following on from last month’s guest kit review by Steve Lord on his Top 3 Touring Bicycles, here adventurer Kevin Shannon gives us an insight into what he carries on the micro adventures he does to keep him sane until he sets off to cycle round the world. I like Kevin’s attitude of “Just Do [...]

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17
Sep
2009

Audio interview about cycling round the world

3 comments
Posted in Cycling, Kit, Travel
I am delighted to have been interviewed by Darren at BicycleTouringPro.com about cycling round the world. We chatted for about 30 minutes on motivation, wanderlust, blogging, and how we are perceived by society! You can listen to the interview here and learn more about my 4 year circumnavigation here. If you are looking to do [...]

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08
Sep
2009

Top 3 Touring Bikes

11 comments
Posted in Best Bits, Cycling, Kit, Lists
I have had a few requests for some technical blog posts, gear reviews and the like for the gear head geeks out there. I’m not an expert on kit at all. Most of my equipment choices are based on a) what’s cheap b) what’s already in my cupboard at home. But I am well aware [...]

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