Climb, Mountain Bike, Kayak, Skateboard

Using Google Maps, Extreme Sports Maps, enables you to place your best location for extreme sporting on a map of the UK. You can zoom right in to give an accurate location and provide a description of your favourite trail, climb, river, spot or track. You don’t have to log in either, although they do like to have your e-mail address to send you updates.

Extreme Sports Map (ESM), The definative visual guide to Skateparks, Skateboarding Spots, Surf Breaks, Dirt Jumps, Mountain Bike Trails and almost every extreme sport spot you could shake a stick at.

Finding the best UK locations is easy. Each spot has a cross marked on the map with the type of extreme sport written next to it. There are literally hundreds of best locations in the UK, so you can filter the one you want. You can choose from Skate Park, Surf Break, Wake Boarding, BMX Track, Snowboarding/Ski, Wind Surf, Paddle (Canoe/Kayak), Street Spot, Downhill Trail, Kite Surf, Dirt Jumping, Climbing/Abseiling, Motor-X and Mountain Biking. The owners apologise if your extreme sport is not in the list, but invite recommendations by e-mail. Anyone know the best place for Extreme Ironing?

Zooming in on the map makes it easier to view different places in a particular area. You can also search for best places by postcode or place name. So whether you are looking for the best place to climb or the best place to mountain bike, using Extreme Sports Map will bring up a good place!

Best Place Map

As well as adding your favourite locations to the map you can also add to photos and YouTube videos to any of the the best places that are already on the map. And its not just the UK, you can find or add a spot anywhere in the world.

It all started after a long visit to South Africa where information about skate spots in particular was incredibly hard to get hold of, and then actually finding these places was near impossible. So Extreme Sports Map was born as a way of locating various parks and street spots, but now that idea has grown into being a visual guide to extreme spots everywhere.

Find or add best places to climb, ride, kayak, jump on Extreme Sports Map.

Extreme Sports Maps is not the only application for Google Maps. It has also been used by fillthathole.org.uk for cyclists to report pot holes in the road. There are many mapping tools available for general navigation, you may be interested in our review of on-line mapping tools.

If you want to share a great location you can also share it here on the CheapTents.com blog. Just click on “comments” below or send us an e-mail: blog@cheaptents.com.

Google Trike

In their quest for information Google are not satisfied with knowing what our highways look like. Recently they have made some off road excursions on Google Trike. With enough pedal power, the trike can get to many places inaccessible by car. Using Street View it is now possible to see around the grounds of a number of National Trust properties in the UK.

Google Trike can go where the Google Car cannot. Source: Flickr by artberri.

Google Sherpa-Cam

There are only so many places a three wheeled pedal cycle can get to. The next development for Google Street View will involve getting off the trike and moving onto mountain trails, which will require leg power alone. For this Google are developing the Sherpa-cam. Prototypes are currently being trialled in the Lake District and in the Nepalese Himalayas.

It is not clear whether Google will take images of the whole of the Lake District or just the routes up the most popular mountains, such as Scafell Pike, Helvellyn, The Old Man of Conniston and Blencartha. One of the main problems that the Google Sherpa-Cam team face is the weather.

We have to wait for days when there is a high cloud base. There is no point hiking up a mountain with a heavy camera when all that can be seen is grey cloud!

Google Sherpa-Cam prototype on the trail to Everest Base Camp. Source: Flickr by Ilkerender and artberri.

Eventually we hope to take Sherpa-cam right up to the summit of Everest. Most people are not able to climb the summit themselves and so we believe that there will be a huge demand to see the entire trail to summit. Only once we are sure that the technology is fully functioning will we make a bid for the summit. Sherpa-Cam is heavy and once we have entered the death zone above 7000 m the risk to human life is high. We do not want to take any chances and so we will need a very experienced mountaineering team to help with this project.

What do you think of Sherpa-Cam?

Of course, there are many spectacular mountain views in many parts of world, but is it really necessary to have a street view of mountain trails? Google think so, but what do you think? Like the government who want to microchip walkers, are Google going too far? Click on the comments below and let us know!

We hope you all got lots of nice shiny new outdoor gear from Santa. Whilst you are enjoying your Christmas dinner and longing to get out into the countryside, spare a thought for poor Santa. Christmas is not plain sailing for Father Christmas, Rudolf and the team, having to deliver all your lovely pressies. After all, climbing down and back up millions of chimneys in one night can takes it out of you. The You Tube video below shows Santa doing a bit of training, abseiling down the aptly named Chimney Rock. Located at Chimney Rock State Park, North Carolina in the United States, Chimney rock is a little way from Santa’s Lapland home, but even when he is on holiday Father Christmas must keep up with his training!

How does Father Christmas climb up chimneys?
He uses a ladder in his stockings!

The winter sport of skibiking, or skibobbing as it is also known, has been around since the 1950’s. A skibike is quite literally a bike with skis instead of wheels. Most of the other normal features of a bike have also been removed, such as the pedals, chain and brakes. Skibikes tend to be ridden down hill only and let’s face it, only a wuss uses brakes! Skibikes do have suspension however!

The first skibike / skibob design was patented in 1892 by an American, Mr J. Stevens. It was not until the 1940’s, when a German and Austrian Engineers, Georg. Gfäller and Engelbert Brenter invented skibike type contraptions which were combined to form the basis for the modern skibike design.

A ski bike has no wheels, they have been replaced by skis! Source: Flickr by richardmasoner.

A Skibike rider wears normal ski wear. There is a lot of snow spray when skibiking, much more than for normal skiing, so ski wear with a high level of waterproofing is best. A skibike rider also has a short pair of foot skis to assist with their balance.

Skibike Racing and Events

Many Skibiking events take place in Europe, such as the World Cup and the World Championship. The races are similar to normal Alpine ski events and include Slalom, Giant Slalom, Parallel Slalom, Super-G and Downhill.

The Elite World Championships will be held in Kichberg, Austria, from 25th to 29th of January 2010. Later in the year the Senior and Junior World Championships will be taking place. They will be from 24th to 28th February, in Gaal, Austria.

UK Skibiking Team

The sport of skibiking is not well known in the UK, because of the small numbers involved and a lack of continuity, support and sponsorship. Despite this UK skibikers have performed well in international skibiking events. Nic Platt is the current British skibiking champion. Other current skibikers in the British team include Tim Platt, Harry Dearden, India Muirhead, Nic Jones and Kenny Campbell.

Senior members of the British team include former British Champion Denis Osbaldeston, Richard Platt, Darren Walker, Alistair Platt, Kevin Rochfort and Tom Rogers.

Other famous UK skibikers include Anne White (1988 Senior World Champion 1988, World slalom Champion 1989) and Tony Marsh (European Champion 1982).

More Information about past and present British teams teams can be found at http://www.skibikeracing.co.uk.

Sit-Skiing for Rehabilitation

A variation of the skibike is the sit-ski. The sit has a chair mounted on main central ski. The skier is seated in the chair and then has hand held stabilising skis mounted on the end of poles. This is demonstrated in the YouTube video embedded below.

One charity support group which uses skibikes and sit-skis to help with rehabilitation of amputees is BLESMA, theBritish Limbless Ex Service Men’s Association.

[BLESMA] is the charity that directly supports all our service men and women who lose limbs, the use of limbs or eyes or the sight of an eye in the service of our country and we are with them all whenever we are needed for the rest of their lives.

BLESMA have helped to provide rehabilitation to service personnel through many different adventure activities. Ski Spectacular events are held in the at Breckenridge, Colorado, USA, by the Wounded Warrior Project and Disabled Sports USA. Members of BLESMA were given 6 days of tuition is given in snowboarding, mono skiing and three track skiing. Outdoor activities like sit-skiing help amputees to realise that there is life after amputation.

Two teddy bear climbers need to be rescued in this typical Lake District rescue scenario. One climber has fallen sustaining head injuries, the other cannot move after seeing his climbing partner fall. The Wasdale Mountain Rescue Teddy Bears are called into action! The team of four teddies, complete with rucksacks assemble at the foot of the crag. The teddies must climb up the crag and lower themselves back down to reach the first injured bear climber. They bring with the a trauma sack and provide care to the casualty. Meanwhile, two other members of the teddy bear mountain rescue team must climb further up to rescue the other teddy bear climber, facing an overhang followed by a grass rake. Climbing high up the crag they eventually reach the cragfast climber and lower him down. The day is saved thanks to the herioc teddy bears of Wasdale Mountain Rescue team!

Aren’t the teddy bears cute…and heroic too! Mountain Rescue Teddies can be purchased from Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team, their contact details are on the video.

The Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team (MRT) are volunteers who are totally committed to improving their rescue capability, for which they need climbing equipment, communications equipment and training. It costs about £15,000 per annum for them to operate. They rely almost entirely on donations from the public, so buying a mountain rescue teddy is a great way to help!

There are twelve teams altogether in the Lake District Search and Rescue Association. Wasdale MRT covers Wasdale and Eskdale valleys and extends over Cold Fell towards the coast in the north, and onto Ulpha Fell in the South. Each year there are 50 to 60 call outs, the majority of which take Wasdale MRT up England’s highest mountain: Scafell Pike. There are over 40 members of Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team, who have an operations base in Gosforth. Each rescue requires about 25 volunteers who are interrupted from work or leisure to join the rescue. Rescues are normally carried out using Land Rovers and on foot and often require casualties to be carried on a stretcher, but they can also require assistance from the RAF helicopter.

Stepping Lightly on his climb up Blackpool Tower, August 2009.

In August this year, climber and urbex legend “Stepping Lightly” hit the headlines in the national press following his covert ascent of Blackpool Tower. Stepping Lightly has climbed many structures including one of Battersea Power Station’s iconic chimneys, Willington Power Station cooling towers and the famous Angel of the North in Gateshead. He also likes bridge climbing and has climbed the Forth Rail Bridge, and the Humber and Severn Bridges.

But its not just climbing structures…
Stepping Lightly is also into urban exploration: exploring things like abandoned military installations or disused hospital buildings, as well as underground exploration of culverts and sewers hidden beneath our cities. Under the streets of Manchester, for example, there are many interesting things to see, including old air raid shelters, photos of which can be seen on the Cathedral Steps exploration post by Angel on the Urban Adventure website.

What is the best way to climb structures and what is the attraction of exploring sewers?…Stepping Lightly tells us in this exclusive interview…

Stepping Lightly Interview

CheapTents.com: What made you decide to climb man-made structures, and how did you get started?
Stepping Lightly: I suppose it was because I started rock climbing at 12 and although my father (who is also a climber) did take me to the crags. During the week I use to climb rail embankments, small bridges and buildings because I had no means of getting to real rock.
As I got older I loved rock but I’d developed an underlining passion for climbing man made structures.

CheapTents.com: What have been the most challenging structures that you have climbed, and why?
Stepping Lightly: Blackpool tower so far because there are so many factors to take into account, weather, fitness, works in progress, random people (who all have phones), security, police, choice of partner and danger…
Angel of the North was like tufa climbing with huge rock ups very pumpy.
Battersea chimney was easy but hard to get to.
Willington power station cooling tower was fine once I’d made the right tool for the holes.
Forth Rail bridge was ace: just me, the wind, the bridge and the sea…

Stepping Lightly on top of the Angel of the North.

CheapTents.com: What are the main differences in techniques between rock climbing and climbing structures?
Stepping Lightly: The main one is fear of being spotted, on the crag that’s fine but if you are a couple of hundred foot up on a building and someone sees you its trouble sometimes with a capital T!
So we develop the stealth technique…
I do try to free climb everything first but am not bothered if I have to aid a section if it is going to stop me achieving my goal. And because no damage has to be done we sometimes cannot use the easiest route.

CheapTents.com: What is your biggest weakness?
Stepping Lightly: Funding as I would like to get more European and Stateside stuff done…
Physical weakness, because I climb, m.t.b., kayak, slack-line, skydive, fell-run and urbex I’m usually sporting some kind of injury, so what ever is injured at the time is my weakness.

CheapTents.com: What has been your worst injury (if any) from climbing or urban exploration and how did it happen?
Stepping Lightly: My worst injury was at work a building collapsed and I had to jump 3 stories, I broke my leg in 6 places. My worst climbing injury was the same leg, I fell and bust tendons ligaments and couple of bones. Urbex wise I have been very lucky, a few near misses but just a deep cut in my arm off a rusty fence and a bolt in my hand slipping on a mossy roof.

CheapTents.com: What are the most challenging climbs that you are planning for the future?
Stepping Lightly: It would be nice to rhyme off a list but the Internet is huge and read by all walks so if you don’t mind I will keep that to myself for now…

CheapTents.com: What are the most important aspects of planning your climbs and route selection?
Stepping Lightly: If it can be done with limited danger to me and no danger to other people and cause no damage to the structure, after that its just exposure time limitation, not spending too much time in an area that will cause unwanted attention and getting the feature shots.

CheapTents.com: What inspired you to get into urban exploration, such as exploring drains and culverts?
Stepping Lightly: Its a strange story that, I was about 7 and my Dad had took me into Ellis Brighams in Manchester when it was in the corn exchange, my Dad was chatting away and I asked to use their loo, it was out of order so he pointed me to one 2 stories down in the basement and told me to keep right and I would find it. As I tried to find my way back I walked out into an underground street, being 7 it was not a place to dwell so I hurried back up stairs.
So for the last few years I’ve been trying to find a way to see that again, whilst doing that I’ve found some other truly amazing sights…

CheapTents.com: Have you ever been cautioned or arrested for climbing structures or for urban exploration?
Stepping Lightly: Yes a couple of times both on chimneys. One was just a friendly can you come down and leave. The other was a police chopper, anti-terror police and very angry security! I’m still waiting for it to be on Police Camera Action or something like that. We did ask for footage but no luck!

CheapTents.com: What are your favourite bits of gear, and why?
Stepping Lightly: I have a fifi hook I use as a grid lifter and doubles up as a fence climbing aid, 10 slings that I use for everything, slings are king in Urbex, a 30m length of 8mm that is light and easy packable and my little rucksack with 10 pockets, so I know what is where even I the pitch black.

CheapTents.com: Any people you would like to thank?
Stepping Lightly: Yes all the people I’ve met doing this, some of which have become my best friends, names are irrelevant as they know who they are.

CheapTents.com: Anything else you would like to say?
Stepping Lightly: Choose clothes appropriately, if you are in the city don’t go camo or SAS, just blend.
If you are tackling something mega take extra in case, most of my wardrobe is outdoor gear, its just so hard wearing and reliable.

CheapTents.com: Thank you Stepping Lightly for taking the time to answer our questions.

If anyone has any suggestions of structures which Stepping Lightly could climb or potential places for some urban exploration, click on the comments link below and make a suggestion!

Urbex, exploring the urban environment can lead to the discovery of abandoned tunnels. Source: Flickr by Paulio Geordio.

Take only photos,
leave only footprints.

Simon Cornwell of urbex|uk

More information about urban exploration, including safety tips, can be found at Urbex 101.

If you go climbing anywhere it is important to have suitable climbing equipment and to know how to use it. Climbing equipment advice. There are plenty of safe places to go climbing, for example the BMC provide a list of indoor climbing walls.

In the future the urban population might hike up vertical farms like this one.

Vertical Farming

The question of food and water shortages will undoubtedly be a problem in the future. Just where will we grow enough food to feed everybody? One proposed solution is Vertical Farming. Instead of growing produce horizontally in fields, Dr. Dickson Despommier from the Department of Environmental Health Science of Columbia University is proposing that we adopt a method of vertical farming in which fruit and vegetables are grown in skyscrapers in the urban environment. There are many benefits of vertical farming, they include:

• Production all year round and no weather-related crop failures due to droughts or floods.
• No herbicides, pesticides or fertilizers need to be used and food is grown organically.
• Fossil fuel use is reduced since there will be no tractors, plows or shipping.
• Black and gray water can be recycled into potable water.
• Energy is put back to the grid via methane generation from composting non-edible parts of plants and animals.
• Urban buildings which have been abandoned can be converted into food production centres.
• Sustainable environments are created in urban centres.

Vertical Farms may be used to grow crops in the future, they could also be used for hiking!

Vertical Farming and Hiking

Vertical farming could well play an important part in food production in the future, but what does it have to do with hiking? As cities grow ever larger they take up more land, so it will take longer to get out into the countryside, assuming that the countryside has not been built on. Transportation contributes a large amount to the build up of greenhouse gases. If no alternative to oil powered transport is developed, we may have to curtail our journeys somewhat. In the future, instead of hiking or walking up hills and mountains, those of us who live major cities may find that if they want to go hiking in amongst greenery the place to go will be a vertical farm!

The Future of Hiking

Three enjoyable things about going hiking are

1. getting a great view from the top of a summit,
2. being in the countryside and
3. getting exercise.

Vertical farms will offer all three of these things!

In the future you will be able to hike up to the top of skyscraper surrounded in the greenery of crops growing all around you. To be honest it is probably not going to be as much fun as hiking up Scafell Pike or scrambling across Sharp Edge in the Lake District, but in the future it might be our only option!

If you want great views from the top of a skyscraper why not just get the lift?! The same question can be asked about getting the train up to the summit of Snowdon. Where is the challenge in getting the lift and of course, you get no exercise that way!

What do you think? If it was not possible to hike up your favourite mountain would hike up a vertical farm instead? Leave a comment and let us know!

With plenty of walking events in September, don't give your boots a rest yet! Source Flickr By Dave Masters

It may seem strange to be writing about Walking Festivals in September, but with a number of events being held nationwide this month, its not quite time for you put your boots away just yet!

Walking Festivals are an excellent way for people to get involved in walking, test equipment, meet fellow walkers and build up life long friendships.

Walking Festivals differ in size and duration and will offer a range of walks and tours for differing levels of walkers, all festivals should offer guided walks or walking tours, so they are ideal for inexperienced walkers and will allow you to practice your navigation skills in the care of experienced group leaders. For the more adventurous some festivals offer unguided walks. Please note different events have different booking procedures, some are turn up on the day others are book in advance so I have included links to organisers.

General Guidelines for Walking

Walking Festivals will have their own guidelines and it is your responsibility to ensure that you know them, some general tips are:

• Make sure the routes you go on suit your experience and level of fitness.
• Use an Ordnance Survey map. You may also need a compass.
• Wear suitable attire, walking boots/shoes and bring waterproofs jackets and trousers.
• Make sure people know where you are planning to walk, your estimated time of arrival and contact them when reach you destination.
• If you allowed to take you dog make sure they are under your control at all times.
• If going out on a longer walk take some refreshments.
• Take your litter home

UK Walking Events in September

1. Wales Valleys Walking Festival

05-20 September:
This is the fifth time this festival has been staged and all walks are free of charge although they need to be booked three days in advance.

Situated in the valleys to the North of Cardiff in South Wales, the festival offers walkers the chance to see spectacular views of the Vale Of Glamorgan, glimpse into Britain’s industrial history with walks and tours of early industrial sites as well as looking at further back, such as Norman Castles and Prehistoric Burial Mounds. For those more nature orientated there are a number of wildlife and country side management walks, and on the 6th September a sponsored walk for Breast Cancer research.

Visit The Wales Valleys Walking Festival Site

2. Bedfordshire Walking Festival

05 – 13 September:
This is the first “walking” of this festival, which has over 60 walks that are primarily aimed at people who enjoy easy to moderate walks, walk for health or are new to walking. For lovers of severe walks do not despair as their is a 40 mile 3 day ramble for you. Bedfordshire is a small county with a varied landscape, including woodland and chalk hills. There are also many interesting towns and villages.

Walks are free, although you can make a donation if you want to. All walks are lead by local volunteers who are members of the Ramblers Association.

Visit The Bedfordshire Walking Festival Site

3. Pendle Walking Festival

05 – 13 September:
The Pendle walking festival has over 80 free guided walks from easy to challenging. They include the Pendle Witches Walk and the Pendle Three Peaks Challenge and new for 2009 the 45 mile Pendle Way over four days. My particular favourite walks in this festival are the pub to pub walks.

Pendle situated in between Manchester and Leeds and in its own right is a stunning area, being located within easy distance of the Lake District and Bronte Country, it is often forgotten. But a visit to the area will soon have you wanting to go back as there are many country walks and activities.

Find out more about the Pendle Walking Festival

4. South Pennines “Walk & Ride” Festival

12 – 27 September:
This is the second staging of this event and it has over 100 activities that range from walks, info walks, cycle trails and horse riding straddling the Yorkshire/Lancashire border.

Most events are free of charge and do not require advance booking, however due to the size of the event you will need to make sure of this yourself, by consulting the website. Activities take place across the South Pennines from Rochdale to Otley and for a small taste there is a historic pub tour of Rochdale, An exploration of witchcraft in the Pendle Hills and tours of Bronte Country (Howarth). With easy access to the areas involved if you are stuck for something to do in September this is ideal.

Visit The South Pennines “Walk & Ride” Festival Site

5. Coniston Walking Festival

25 – 27 September:
This three day festival is based around Coniston and has a number of walks, pony treks, lectures and films. Check out the website for prices and booking.

The festival has guided walks lead by Leo Holding and Rebecca Stevens, which will be enjoyable and informative. Rebecca Stevens is also giving a lecture on her adventures being the first British woman to climb Everest as well as being the first British woman to climb the highest mountain on each continent.


Visit The Coniston Walking Festival Site

6. Kielder Walking Festival

05 – 13 September:
This is second time this event has been staged and operates in Kielder Water & Forest Park, located between Newcastle and Carlisle on the England/Scotland Border. Kielder Water & Forest Park is the largest man made water and forest park in Northern Europe. There are a number of guided tours and unguided walks of different length and severity. Make sure that you are well prepared especially as petrol is not available within the park.

The park also features plenty of other activities that can be enjoyed by all, such as wildlife, including a family of Ospreys an observatory, horse riding.

Visit the Kielder Water & Forest Park Site

7. Scottish Borders Walking Festival

05 – 13 September:
This festival has over 60 walks ranging from easy to strenuous with many other social events based around Jedburgh and Hawick. Be warned you four legged friend is not allowed on any of the walks and there may be charges for walks and activities.

This aim of this years festival is to take you back in history along famous reiving routes and will fill you with stories of the conflicts that for three hundred years made the borders almost lawless.

With workshops on Nordic and Fire Walking, a musical on reiving, treasure hunts and candle light walks through Jedburgh this festival will appeal to the all.

Visit The Scottish Borders Walking Festival Site

The Location Of Festivals And In September

1.Wales Valley Walking Festival.
2. Bedfordshire Walking Festival.
3. Pendle Walking Festival.
4.South Pennines Walk & Ride.
5.Coniston Walking Festival.
6.Kielder Walking Festival.
7. Scotish Borders Walking Festival

Map Source: Wikipedia, By Equestenbrarum

This List Is Not Exhaustive

By no means is the above list detailing every event in September, your local walking association, council or tourist information will have information as to events close to you. If you know of any events please submit a comment with the walking event and links and we will post it for you.

In the meantime, Happy Walking!

Blackpool Tower: location of covert tower climb. Source: Geograph. © Copyright Dave Green and licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Licence.

It’s about our hundredth attempt at possibly one of the hardest ‘buildering‘ challenges in the UK that leads us to the base of the tower. For two years the challenge wasn’t even the tower – it was getting to the base of the tower

writes Userscott on 28dayslater – The UK UE Urbex Urban Exploration Forums website, following his successful covert Blackpool Tower Climb with Stepping Lightly in August 2009.

Tower Climb

Preparations of the Blackpool Tower Climb included climbing to the top of the Blackpool fairground rides ‘Pepsi Max Big One’ and ‘Ice Blast’ as well as City of Manchester Stadium, Old Trafford and the Angel of the North. Climbing to the top of Blackpool Tower took the duo several hours and they did not finish until after midnight. Blackpool Tower is made from cast steel girders with large overhangs at the viewing platforms, making a challenging tower climb. Their post on 28dayslater contains plenty of impressive photos at various stages of the Blackpool Tower climb. To avoid detection the climb to place at night, the view over Blackpool at night with all the lights glowing was worth it – they were lost for words.

A Lancashire Police spokesperson told the Daily Telegraph that they had had no reports about the incident, and that:

Unless there is any evidence of any criminal activity having taken place, we will not be launching an investigation…it would be up to the owners of Blackpool Tower to prosecute the individuals under civil law for trespassing.

Getting caught during the Tower Climb was a worry, as Userscott writes:

It’s a busy night on the front and surely somebodys noticed two trouble makers packing 60m of 8mm rope and bright white Petzl helmets.

However they completed the Tower Climb, right up to the flagpole at top of tower and abseiled back down without anyone reporting them.

Bridge Climbing

Climbing structures has become popular in recent times, as pointed out in our Bridge Climb post in February this year. Unauthorised climbers were caught climbing the Tyne Bridge and Forth Road Bridge.

Tower Climb

At 158m the Blackpool Tower is pretty high, and for some climbers the thought of climbing an iconic structure is irresistible. Obviously we are not suggesting that anyone should go out and illegally climb a tower. But, if you could climb any tower, legally, in complete safety and with appropriate climbing gear, which tower would you climb? Let us know, just write a comment below!

We spend a lot of time in this industry, and in life lauding the most prominent, products and people. When Cheryl Cole wore a Berghaus Cascade GTX hat for Comic Relief, everyone wanted one. Thermarest released the NeoAir range in a blaze of industry publicity and demand outstriped supply. We demand innovation, new technology, cutting edge features and too often we all forget the unsung non-glamorous products and just take them for granted.

Well I would like to, pause and salute an unpretentious, ordinary, “does exactly what it says on the tin” piece of camping equipment, that my mum loves and given the choice, would probably swap my dad for.

Take a bow (imagine a drum roll please) the Trekmates Self Inflating Sit Mat.

Yes, A Trekmates Sit Mat

Many of us have used self-inflating mattresses and know that they aid a night’s rest by proividing insulation and comfort. How may of us have considered that the sit mat can be just as valuable a friend, not limited to out in the wilderness but for use around town.

I guess at this point you may be saying what is so good about a self inflating cushion?
It’s true they do not have the variety of uses as your average Swiss Army Knife, but in their favour they are lightweight, stow-able, quick to inflate/deflate, insulating and can be used anywhere.

A Trekmates Sit Mat, My Mum And The Salford City Reds

The Hard Seat And The Hero Of The Story

Why?

• Her plastic seat is hard
• It’s uncomfortable
• It can be cold
• During and after a match her bum and back hurt
• Consequently this can spoil her enjoyment of the game.

Cue her Trekmates Self Inflating Sit Mat coming to the rescue, rapid inflation in an instant a comfy warm seat. She can sit and cheer on the team in comfort, making the game and experience more enjoyable. Let’s be honest if you uncomfortable, sitting around for even a few minutes can seem like a life time. When the game is over she opens the valve, rolls the sit mat up into its stuff sack and then she puts it in her pocket or hand bag.

I only wish it was this simple to make Salford City Reds into a winning Rugby League team, it doesn’t even have to be every week, just most weeks, is it to much to ask for a trophy, just one big trophy please, just one big final before I die . Anyway I digress.

“When I sat on the seat without the mat it was really uncomfortable after a few minutes and I ended up with pains. I couldn’t really watch the match as I was moving around all the time to get comfy.

I can’t stand for long and have to sit down. The cushion Gareth got me (Its called a self inflating sit mat mum!), is great, it’s really light, comfy, fits into my bag and inflates quickly. It’s increased my enjoyment of the game no end, I just have to remember not to throw it on the pitch when Salford are playing rubbish!”

Source: My mum a happy sit mat user.

Just For Camping? I Don’t Think So

Getting back to the Self Inflating Sit Mat. We state they are ideal for camping or trekking, but what about other everyday scenarios where we have all been, and wished for somthing comfy to sit on.

• Sports Events; such as football, rugby, cricket we have all I am sure paid top dollar for a plastic seat to watch our team. Its bad enough when they get beat (I’m use to it at Salford City Reds), to get beat and have aches is worse.
• Other events such as festivals, parades, concerts etc.
• School Sports Day; I bet all parents look forward to watching their children at sports day. I bet they all really look forward to watching it in those uncomfortable school chairs too!
• The bus/train/tram is late (again) there is a steel bench at the stop but it’s so uncomfortable and cold, after two minutes you are standing up again.
• I often see people talking a break during the day it may be during their dinner hour or they me be shopping, they will rest on a wall or low stone to enjoy the weather. Why not do it in some comfort with a sit mat?
• How about for your child in school? Does being comfortable aid attention?

So Do You Still See JUST A Boring Self Inflating Cushion?

So the Trekmates Self Inlfating Sit Mat may not be sexy, it may not be bent double under the weight of industry rewards, nor does it have magazine reviewers pouring over it, its not expensive, waterproof or able to whistle Dixie. It just provides comfort, and for me, it makes my mum enjoy her rugby more and that’s priceless. It’s a true star, unpretentious, in the shadows, and doing its job.

Thanks to her Sit Mat, my mum has a great view of the game
Special Thanks To Salford City Reds For Permission To Take And Use This Photograph

What Other Products Are Hiding?

The “mundane” sit mat can be used for its purpose in lots of aspects of everyday life. I wonder what other outdoor products can be used for more they we think, why not use a head torch for you car torch and free up a hand when using it, put shopping in your rucksack and save carrier bags, there are so many more and I would love to hear from you with your suggestions. Just click on the “comments” link below.