Stove
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| MSR Windburner. Glaslyn, Snowdonia. |
Before I got my MSR Windburner I was using a Trangia Triangle cook system with an MSR Titan Kettle. The Trangia served me well on both my Dartmoor and Brecon Beacons adventures, and I still use it loads on my hammock camps in Kent, but when I first saw the Windburner I knew that I had to get one...and sure enough my wife bought me one for Christmas.
Built to operate in adverse weather conditions, this is cracking kit for hills and mountains. Its radiant burner and enclosed, windproof design allow the stove to boil water fast. The pot locks onto the burner with a small twist and has an integrated heat exchanger on the bottom which efficiently transfers heat into it so you can enjoy a quick meal or hot drink with little downtime. The all-in-one system nests inside its pot for easy packing and assembly.
On my multi-day adventures I generally take freeze dried meals, so all I use it for really is to boil water. For brews I'll chuck a t-bag in... give it a stir then add some powdered milk. The Windburner comes with a plastic cup but I prefer to leave that at home and drink straight from the pot, afterwards giving it a clean with some tissue.
MSR are known for their superb quality and this stove is no exception. It's never failed me in the 3+ years I've had it. Massive thumbs up!
Water Filtration and Storage
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| Using the MSR Guardian to fill an MSR Drom Bag. Blean Woods, Kent. |
I bought the MSR Guardian because it was one of the first water treatment filters with a pore size of 0.02 microns in its hollow fiber filter, which meant it could eliminate viruses on top of protozoa and bacteria.
Before this I was using a Sawyer Mini to filter, then using Aquamira water treatment drops to kill viruses... a tedious process that took too much time for my liking, along with the 15-30 minute wait for the Aquamira to do its thing. Even filling the Sawyer bag itself from a source was a nightmare. Whether squeezing water through the filter or hanging it upside down and letting gravity do the work...I just found the whole damn thing cumbersome.
So I took the plunge and got myself a Guardian. Costing £300 at the time...it wasn't cheap...and weighing in at 22oz...it wasn't lightweight. Oh..but every other thing about it was superb!
As already mentioned it takes out viruses.
It self cleans.
It can withstand being dropped and is able to freeze without damaging the filter.
Lasts for up to 10,000 litres.
Easy to pump.
But best of all what I love is its speed and ease of use. Just whip it out...screw your Nalgene on...throw the intake in your source....and pump. It can fill a litre in 42 seconds which is fast. I keep mine in a small dry bag in the top of my rucksack so it doesn't get other stuff wet after use.
It just makes getting water so easy. Another beast item from MSR.
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| Water storage. |
For water storage I'll always take my 1L Nalgene bottle which i keep in the side pocket of my rucksack so it can be accessed without taking the pack off. It's leashed to the pack as well because I lost my old Nalgene after a gust of wind blew me over sending the bottle rolling over a cliff.
For additional storage on hiking trips I'll take my Platypus 2L water tank, and for more static outings my MSR 4L Dromedary Bag.
Headlamp
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| Black Diamond Icon. |
Another essential piece of kit; a headlamp should always be packed even for day hikes. You never know for sure what might happen while adventuring....target destinations may change as the day unfolds and pushing for a camp may over run into darkness. In the hills and mountains there can be many variables...being able to see in the dark is critical...and of course you need a light for around camp. I always take a back up light as well.
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| Yorkshire Wolds. |
My choice 3 years ago was the Black Diamond Icon. It ticked a lot of boxes...it was durable, waterproof, reasonably bright and had good battery life...the latter being most important. It will last 8 hours on the highest setting of 320 lumens...time enough to get out of a pickle. I always pack a spare set of 4 AA batteries too.
It's bulky and heavy compared to other head torches, but it's never bothered me...the straps do a good job of keeping it on the head and it is comfortable to wear.
It has 3 modes...high power spot, low power flood, and red light. All modes offer variable dimming and the operation is all done through one button which can easily be used with gloves on. The flood is great for around camp, the light being dispersed very evenly and the red light I use when not so much light is needed. You can also power it off so it can't accidentally be switched on in your rucksack.
There is a new version of this lamp now which features a high setting of 500 lumens compared to my 320, higher IPX rating, green and blue night vision, and it will now remember the dimness level when switching on for the first time. I might just have to upgrade in the near future and pass mine down to the son-in-law! A superb headlamp...that's for sure...it's done the job when I really needed it.
Torch
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| Thrunite TN12. |
This compact but bright Thrunite TN12 torch was only meant to act as a back-up torch, but has become a firm favourite. It has 5 brightness settings, the highest being 1050 lumens, and a strobe. Waterproof to 2m it takes a single rechargeable 18650 battery or 2 x CR123A's. I use a 18650 and always pack a spare.
I've never had to use it as a back-up torch as of writing, but it has proved to be invaluable for night navigation in the hills on a couple of occasions. This torch gives me the ability to see through the cloud further than my headlamp can when the weather closes in, allowing me to trail find better. On one occasion in Snowdonia this proved to be critical, but thankfully this torch got me through.
The strobe was used on one occasion too, signaling a coastguard helicopter to the location of an injured woman with a broken ankle on Cadair Idris.
So yeah....this is one item that will never get left at home...that's for sure.
Navigation Tools
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| Dartmoor |
My first multi-day adventure was on Dartmoor. The first day was sunny but the next three days were awful and visibility poor. I was moving tor to tor as the crow flies and quickly realised how essential a compass is and how often I should take readings. Leave it too long and you can literally be heading in the opposite direction to your target.
I'd had my Silva Type 4/54 compass a good few months now, another Christmas gift from my wife, but I had yet to make use of it. As soon as the mists on Dartmoor rolled in though...it was time to put it through its paces.
Slapping the direction of travel on the map then aligning the dial to grid north and adding 2 degrees for declination gave me the bearing I needed. Then it was just a case of taking regular readings by aligning the red arrows to give direction of travel, or for more precision I could look through the little window on the dial to find my bearing. I preferred this second method as once the bearing is aligned you can just switch your focus to a place in the landscape that's on said bearing, just by looking above the window. I then walked to the point and took another reading....simple and accurate.
For maps I use Ordnance Survey 1:25000 Explorer maps on my ViewRanger app. I love having these maps on my phone...I shelled out £250 for the whole of Great Britain and I've never regretted it. It's so much easier to use than an actual paper map and the ability to pinpoint locate yourself with GPS is very handy.
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| ViewRanger. |
However...I always take a paper map of the area as backup as it's never a good idea to be solely reliant on a phone. A paper map is best for looking at a wider area too as only so much of a map can be viewable at one time on a small screen.
Power
I use my Samsung Galaxy S7 for video, photos, mapping, GPS, music and social media when out on adventures so I need external batteries to keep it going.
I started out with an Anker 2nd Gen Astro 3 12800mAh external battery. This almost kept my old HTC One M8 phone going for 5 days, but I decided to supplement it with a solar panel...so I bought the Instapark Mercury 10.
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External battery and solar panel.
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| Farming solar on Dartmoor. |
The panel can charge well; I remember it charging a fair chunk of my phone during a 30 minute rest stop under blue skies in the Lake District once. What I like about it is its charge interruption recovery...how it resumes charging when it starts to get enough sun again. Hook up an external battery in the integrated charging pocket and you can hang this from your backpack/shelter, farming solar as you hike/camp.
With the great British weather though, being reliant on the sun may not be a great idea. During my Lake District trip I ran out of juice on Helvellyn on the last day. Three days in a row of inclement weather had prevented me from using my panel...so I decided to ditch it from my 5 day adventures in favour of a second external battery...this time an Anker PowerCore 13000mAh. With the two external batteries my Galaxy S7 will last 5 days no problem, even with all the filming I now do with it.
I did take the panel with me on the Pennine Way, but it was never needed. I was able to recharge my external batteries at hotels when I wasn't wildcamping. It is great kit though...a must have for extended adventure away from civilisation and it saved my bacon once too...
After coming down off Helvellyn with a dead phone I made my way back to Coniston and the car. For the life of me I couldn't remember where I parked it. After an hour of trying to find it the sun came out, so I charged my phone with the panel and was able to use my sat nav to locate the car.
Micro Tarp
The Micro Tarp from backpackinglight.co.uk is a good piece of versatile kit to carry. It gives alternative options for camp rather than having to break out your main shelter, or can be rigged as a door or windbreak to your main shelter. It also makes for a handy escape from the rain during a break if conditions aren't too bad.
One time I used it to protect my sleeping bag from the rain when it was being used to keep an injured hill walker warm.
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Knoydart.
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Dartmoor. Here used as a windbreak to my DD Superlight tarp.
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West Wales. Makes a great accompaniment to bivvying.
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| Win Hill, Peak District. |
Hiking Poles
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| Dartmoor |
Both my poles have always been integral to the set-up of my shelters. I started out using a DD Superlight Tarp then progressed to a Six Moon Designs Deschutes, before finally settling with a Trailstar...all needing hiking poles to erect.
As I already mentioned in my Shelter System blog I use Black Diamond Alpine Carbon Cork poles and can attest to the reliable, durable, and easy to use FlickLock locking mechanism the company employs, which in turn allows me to put good tension into my shelters to combat strong winds.
Due to their thicker than average carbon fibre construction, the Carbon Corks are much lighter than an aluminum pole, and although not as strong, definitely comparable. These have coped with some serious load at times, most notably when I've started to fall over and a pole ends up taking much of my weight and that of the pack.
On the flat I mainly use the poles just for stability on rugged terrain...on gradients though...they come into their own. Even on slight ascents...poles help a lot. Many a time I've stopped using the poles momentarily just to see the difference...and the difference is significant.
Descending can be harsh on the knees too; I'm prone to getting sore knees on any significant descent so having the poles to "cushion" the battering they take is a godsend. I honestly don't know if I would have made it back down Ben Nevis without walking poles.
And then we have their other great use....testing the ground for firmness. A quick stab of the pole into the ground can tell me whether it's going to hold my weight or not, and prevent my boots from getting wet...invaluable.
I have come to view my hiking poles as the unsung heroes of my adventures...they always help me while I hike...and then they hold up my shelter while I camp. Legendary kit!
Backpack
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| Arc'teryx Altra 75. |
Moving onto my backpack, I use the Arc'teryx Altra 75, regular/tall size.
This is a cross between the regular and tall versions with a back length range of 48 - 56.75 cm and an extendable collar with draw cord to match the 78L capacity of the tall version. This feature is great as the pack will be stuffed to the brim at the start of an adventure utilising the extendable collar, then as supplies get used the "lid" will sit lower on the bag and the collar becomes redundant. With my current equipment 78L suits me fine...I would not want to go any lower.
The primary reason I bought this pack was for its comfort and suspension. My memories of the pack I used to walk the Pembrokeshire Coast Path all those years ago are painful. I can't remember what brand it was, but it was certainly a shoulder killer. The key to the Altra's carrying comfort is the C2 back system, a low profile suspension sheet that keeps the centre of gravity close to your back and transfers the weight efficiently onto the padded hip belt via a load transfer disc. This pivots as you walk allowing unrestricted movement and ultra efficient load transfer. The bags pear shape design also keeps the pack load low and close to your back minimising load movement and backward pull. The bag also features a Gridlock system that allows you to completely remove and independently adjust the straps horizontally and vertically to get a completely customised fit.
And it works great...with this bag I can hump 50 lbs+ around no problem in comfort. It does a superb job of transferring the load to the hip belt which annoyingly does need tightening on a regular basis as it will loosen over time. However, with some heavy duty stick on Velcro and a few stitches this problem was eliminated. Shoulder pain just doesn't happen with this pack.
The bottom flap is always used to secure my Z-Lite mat and crampon bag if needed. The kangaroo pouch on the front stores my bivvy bag, micro tarp, shelter, tent pegs and groundsheet. The right hip pocket has my Nalgene and the left has my waterproof trousers and gloves. These Wingman hip pockets are angled perfectly to allow easy access whilst carrying the pack.
The lid is designed well with two top loading compartments for easy access, and can be detached completely from the bag. In one I carry my water purifier, water storage bag and spare gas, and in the other my emergency beacon, headlamp, torch, space blanket, and small bag containing all my small stuff and first aid.
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| Peak District. |
The main compartment stows, in order from bottom to top, my sleeping bag, sleeping pad, wash-kit, external batteries, campwear, food + stove, hikewear, and waterproof hardshell. If I ever need to get to any of these quickly there is a u-shape zipper that runs around the sides and bottom of the compartment, that saves having to take the lid off and unpack stuff.
Anything that needs it has its own dry bag to protect it from moisture and to make packing more organised. The pack is only water resistant so anything more than a shower is going to result in water ingress. To prevent this I carry the large pack cover from Arc'teryx which is normally clipped to the outside of my pack when not in use. Its generous size means it can wrap around the attached Z-Lite mat and the straps secure it in place against the wind...good design.
After 3 years of use nothing has broken on this pack and the only wear has been on the hip belt where the bottom of the shoulder straps rub against the material...which is nothing major. I do hope to go more lightweight in the future...but until then this pack is going to continue being my load carrying workhorse.
Miscellaneous
From left to right:
Lightweight Tripod - now battered and broken...this cheapskate tripod from Amazon was at least ultra-light if nothing else!
Small PackTowl - very absorbent and virtually dry again after wringing...I find this useful for mopping condensation off the inside of the Trailstar or drying kit.
Radio - didn't take it on the Pennine Way but usually do on my 5 day adventures. Mine's a Roberts Sports 925.
Overboard Waterproof Phone Case - awesome piece of kit...one of my most important! Keeps my phone protected in awful conditions and the touchscreen is still very responsive through the clear plastic.
Spare USB Lead.
Tenacious Tape - for tarp repair.
Rubbish Bags.
Spare Lighters.
Spare Batteries - for headlamp and torch.
Swiss Army Knife.
Main Lighter - this is one of those plasma lighters which is electrically charged. I have to say it did really well, never failing me and lasted the whole of the Pennine Way on one charge.
Therm-a Rest Inflatable Pad Repair Kit.
Basic First Aid Kit.
Wash Kit - containing antibacterial hand wipes, facial wipes, tissues, moisturising cream, deodorant, mirror, badger foot balm, toothbrush, toothpaste, chap stick and cotton buds.
Glasses Case - when my specs get covered by rain droplets I see better by not wearing them, hence I need a safe place to store them.
And that ends this blog....next one will cover the safety equipment I pack.
