CheapTents.com Outdoor Gear Blog

At 1,344 m, Ben Nevis is the highest mountain in Scotland and the UK. As such it is a very popular mountain for people to climb. It is often attempted by inexperienced hikers who have no idea of the scale of the task or of the potential dangers involved. Many people attempt the summit of Ben Nevis without taking proper outdoor gear.

Ben Nevis Escape Route

If you are planning to walk up to the top of Ben Nevis the first thing you need to know is the escape route from the summit. Regardless of the weather in the valley or on the mountain tops when you start your hike, by the time you reach the summit the weather may have closed in, resulting in near zero visibility. This has happened to me.

• What Outdoor Gear Do You Need to Take Up Scafell Pike?
• UK Mountain Webcams
• Winter Mountaineering Accessoires – Crampon Dance

In this series about bicycle touring, we have looked at the types of cycle tour and sleeping and shelter issues. In this article the question of clothing is examined.

The Mountain Equipment Mistral like the Salomon Fast Wing Hoodie is versatile, lightweight, windproof and stowable.

Clothing

The order of the day is versatility. Versatile clothes are essential when space and weight are important, Zip-Off Trousers are ideal when travelling light as they can be worn as a pant or shorts. Wicking items can be easily layered, washed and dried.

• Bicycle Touring – An Introduction
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• Mountain Marathon Gear Advice

The Route to Scafell Pike via Mickldore

Recently I wrote about doing a hike and scramble up Scafell Pike in the Lake District. What outdoor gear should be taken on a day walk up the highest mountain in England? This would obviously depend upon the time of year and the expected weather conditions. Below is a list of the outdoor gear that I took with me on my hike, indicating what gear I used and did not use.

The Walking Gear I Took Up Scafell Pike

The hike took place in mid June, not far off the longest day of the year. The weather forecast was for glorious, uninterrupted sunshine all week.

• Waterproof Clothing Technology
• What Outdoor Gear Do You Need to Take Up Ben Nevis?
• Which Mid-layer Fleece is best?

Ouch Charlie!! At least your body isn't sunburnt thanks to your UV protective clothing!
Source: Flickr by A.M. Kuchling.

Read on for some helpful advice on the ratings used for sun protection clothing, and enjoy the sun this summer if you are camping, hiking, climbing or even just in the garden relaxing.

The days grow longer as we enter June; July and August fast approach. With baited breath the UK waits for the advent of the British Summer. Will it be hot, cold, dry or wet? Will we have biblical floods, hurricanes or snow? The Met Office has predicted a “Barbecue Summer” with temperatures above average and highs above 30°C (86°F) we wait to see if this prediction is taking the precipitation!!

• Bamboo and Cocona – Eco Friendly Fabrics!
• Clothing For Your Bike Tour
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With the UK climate being what it is summer doesn’t mean that you can forget about leaving your waterproof jacket at home when you go out for a walk on the hills. We all know that in the UK the weather can change at the drop of a hat, so we’ve rounded up some of the best lightweight summer waterproof jackets for you.

Mountain Equipment Axion

Mountain Equipment Axion Waterproof Jacket

The Mountain Equipment Axion Jacket is an extremely light, fully waterproof shell, which ideal for people counting every gram in their pack. The Axion is breathable and is cut for ease of movement and comfort which makes it perfect for fell runners and adventure racers.

• New Winter Waterproof Jackets now in stock!
• Waterproof Clothing Technology
• Mountain Equipment Kongur Review: top marks again!

After my recent post on bamboo fabrics Graham left a comment stating that bamboo might not be as environmentally friendly a fabric as I had first thought. Had I been greenwashed? Is bamboo eco friendly? Well after some research I discovered the answer is yes and no.

The process of producing the raw bamboo does have a low environmental impact. However when it comes to processing the bamboo into a fabric there can be a significant ecological impact. Basically there are 2 ways in which bamboo can be turned into a fabric, mechanically or chemically.

• Bamboo and Cocona – Eco Friendly Fabrics!
• Scottish Natural Heritage Provides Eco-Camping Tips
• Possibility of eco-huts along 109 mile UK trail

Nowadays everyone is becoming more environmentally aware, trying to be carbon neutral, buying organic, and minimising their impact on the environment. Outdoor gear manufacturers have been quick to jump on the bandwagon and are  offering  outdoor clothing made with eco friendly fabrics. What I want to know is what exactly are these green fabrics, how do they preform and are they actually any good for the environment?

Bamboo Clothing

Bamboo growing - Source : steve webel flickr

What is Bamboo fiber?

• Bamboo an Eco-Friendly Fabric or Not?
• Scottish Natural Heritage Provides Eco-Camping Tips
• SPF, UPF and UV Protective Clothing

I thought to finish off my recent spate of posts on Mountain marathons I’d talk about what sort of outdoor gear is best. Most competitions provide a required gear list from which teams must carry everything. I’ve tried to briefly cover everything commonly found on these lists but they do vary.

Personal Gear

Top Baselayer
A good quality top, with either long or short sleeves is all that is needed. Make sure that the top is made of a high quality material with good wicking properties. If you’re running hard you’re not likely to be cold, but will get sweaty.

• Ultralight Backpacking – Tips for being more lightweight
• Clothing For Your Bike Tour
• Cumulus test results and reviews…Ultralight 200

It’s the second day of to the worst spell of snow that the UK has had in 18 years.

Changeable Weather Systems

Knowing how changeable the UK weather is getting now it’s worth being mindful of what emergency equipment you have in the boot of your car. There’s no doubt that people should be prepared with the correct warm, winter clothing, but so too should they be prepared for if their car breaks-down or if they are stuck waiting for a bus or train.

• Which Mid-layer Fleece is best?
• The Original Mountain Marathon: flood, gales and stranded runners…
• 14 good reasons to turn back before the summit

I bought some SealSkinz Mountain Bike Gloves at the weekend and I’ve got to say, they are the best gloves I have ever had! So anyway, here’s my review of the SealSkinz Mountain Biking Gloves…

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Really, they are the best waterproof mountain bike gloves, ever!

Gloves are quite a personal purchase in my opinion – you can see from the wide array of gloves on sale that they have so many different purposes and a whole range of technical and comfort features.

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