CheapTents Outdoor Gear Blog

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.

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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!!

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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.

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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.

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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?

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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.

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• What Outdoor Gear Do You Need to Take Up Scafell Pike?

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.

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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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You’ll be pleased to hear we are passing on the VAT price reductions!!!!!

We are now charging 15% VAT on all our camping equipment and outdoor clothing…
…when you place your items in your shopping cart the correct price will be calculated using 15% VAT.

There are some pages on our website that still show the old prices. Please bear with us while we update our website. The correct, lower prices with 15% VAT are shown on our “view all” pages. Thank you for your patience.

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What makes the best outdoor gear the best, is the way it performs.  For people serious about their outdoor gear, it’s usually because they are testing it in ways that you would think it is designed for.  Outdoor sports clothing is a specifically designed for it’s purpose ad one of the items of gear that has been so popular this year has been the Gore-Tex Pro Shell waterproof jackets.  You might also want to check out the outdoor clothing advice section.

Gore-Tex have replaced their Gore-Tex XCR technology with the new and improved Gore-Tex Pro Shell technology.  We’ve seen it across a number of jackets so far this year, and the feedback had been very good indeed.

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