When it comes to mountain marathons like the OMM, or LAMM there’s a myriad of factors that influence how quickly you’re going to get around. Some are down to personal skills and training, and these can only be improved the old fashioned way – by slogging around the mountains in whatever spare time you have. One of the biggest factors though is the weight of the kit you’re carting around. As a result, mountain marathoners often go to endless lengths to shave off a few grams where they can. uite
Wild Country Superlight Rocks 1 - 6 by Tom Ripley
When it comes to climbing I'm a total wimp. I hate falling and will resort to most things to aviod it. However I realise that if I'm going to push myself then the occasional plummet earthwards is inevitable. Extra text here.
more... Mammunt Base Jump Pants by Iain Munro
When it comes to climbing I'm a total wimp. I hate falling and will resort to most things to aviod it. However I realise that if I'm going to push myself then the occasional plummet earthwards is inevitable.
more... Women's Berghaus Gore-tex XCD 'Retract' Jacket by Authors name
When it comes to climbing I'm a total wimp. I hate falling and will resort to most things to aviod it. However I realise that if I'm going to push myself then the occasional plummet earthwards is inevitable.
more...
Alpkit MytiMug
November 4th, 2009Inov-8 Race Elite 25 Rucksack
October 15th, 2009Right, lets get one thing straight, I’m not an elite runner. I’m really, really not elite in the slightest in fact and ironically I was almost put off by buying this rucksack by the Elite moniker. Fortunately I wasn’t, because this is one of the best rucksacks I’ve ever owned.
Black Diamond ATC Guide by Sam Leach
June 2nd, 2009Regular visitors to the Alps will no doubt have seen magic plates in action at the hands of suave continental guides. The original Plaquette Magique was a simple, elongate plate with two slots. Combined with two carabiners, it becomes an auto-locking device for belaying one of two seconds, allowing the safe management of two clients [...]
Aiguille Alpine Cirrus – By Tom Ripley
May 31st, 2009The Aiguille Alpine Cirrus, a robust rucksack with a well thought out design. It is the perfect size for cragging, but is also a pretty good size for alpine and winter routes, being large enough to fit in everything you need, but small enough to prevent you from bringing the kitchen sink. Also, even when fully loaded, the bag is still small enough to take as carry-on on whilst flying. After three years of almost daily abuse, around the globe, I am still yet to put a whole in it. Whilst still being tough as old boots the Cirrus hardly tips the scales, weighing a meagre 700g and at a cost of £59.99 it presents fantastic value for money.
Mammut Base Jump Pants by Iain Munro
May 8th, 2009In the past buying a pair of trousers for general hill use was probably quite easy; there were woollen breeches which came with a guaranteed itch and more recently I suppose Ronhill stole the market for a while with the Trackster. These days we are spoilt for choice with every manufacturer producing their own “all [...]
Women’s Berghaus Gore-tex XCR ‘Retract’ Jacket by Dawn Hollis
May 8th, 2009Bought: July 2007 from the ‘Rock Bottom’ Cotswolds store in Grasmere. Cost: £100 (half price) Used: On Duke of Edinburgh Gold Expeditions, Winter Mountaineering in Scotland and on an expedition to China. Features: Gore-tex outer, a retractable hood, storm flaps, one map pocket with waterproof zip, wicking lining etc. In Brief: A decent waterproof jacket, [...]
Scarpa Stixs by Mike Cunningham
May 8th, 2009After many hours of faithful service my trusty La Sportiva Venom’s finally gave up the ghost, as usual with all my climbing shoes the toe goes first, and were retired to the cupboard, just in case i finally go on that DWS trip to Mallorca, so time for a new slipper. After a quick internet [...]
Wild Country Superlight Rocks 1 – 6
May 3rd, 2009When it comes to climbing I’m a total wimp. I hate falling and will resort to most things to avoid it. However I realise that if I’m going to push myself then the occasional plummet earthwards is inevitable. When climbing at my limit, I’m always searching for gear, working on the theory that when I [...]
Black Diamond Ovalwire Karabiner
May 3rd, 2009If you search, racking karabiner on any climbing forum you will come up with literally hundreds of threads jam packed with climbers’ opinions on which krab is best. A racking karabiner is a ‘biner that you use to hold all your wire nuts, or any type of protection, on your harness. Often oval shaped karabiners are slagged off as useless, with several half witted excuses thrown in as justifications. If these people are anything like me they probably haven’t even used said karabiner and like me have thought, “A symmetrical ‘biner will never work out. Which way up it is? I’ll probably drop all my wires.”
Prana Stretch Zion Pants
May 3rd, 2009Like everything else these days, there is a wide selection of climbing trousers on the market. I’ve had a fair few, ranging from the ridiculous to the sublime, a glance through my wardrobe would reveal: Ronhills, Lost Arrows, S7s, Mammut Champs, and various pairs of Prana and Patagonia. All of these work, but if I’m heading out for a day on Scafell, Dow Crag or Gogarth, there is one pair which is invariably selected; Prana’s Stretch Zion Trousers.