CheapTents.com Outdoor Gear Blog

Objective Achieved

I take great delight in informing you that both Paul and Martyn successfully completed the Liverpool Triathlon, posting competitive times in the process. Most importantly the “lads” had a thoroughly enjoyable day and can not wait for next year’s event which take place on 27th June 2010. They both enjoyed the tremendous support they received along the route whilst participating around the iconic Albert Dock.

• Liverpool Triathlon Update
• Liverpool Triathlon 2009
• CheapTents.com enter the David Staff Fell Race!

On monday Paul was moving like he was the Tin Man. Now where did we put the WD40? He will be ready for the race though.

Source Flickr
by J Bischoff

Paul, CheapTents Tin Man

With less than a week to go the Liverpool Triathlon there were concerns within the CheapTents.com team on Monday, as to the well being of our veteran competitor and “Ace” (his own words) shop manager Paul. Loud creaking noises were to be heard on the shop floor which staff attributed to building fatigue. Unfortunately for Paul the creaking was only heard when he moved. He later admitted that he was feeling a little tender due to his training regime over the weekend of a big Chinese meal…….. oh yes, and some running, swimming and cycling. Although we are all sure that after a few days rest he will be back to normal, maybe we should oil his joints!

• Congratulations Martyn & Paul
• Liverpool Triathlon 2009
• Nine Edges Endurance Event needs Marshalls

If you were preparing a trip up Mount Everest you would probably want to take with you a few pieces of chocolate to keep your energy and spirits up. But you probably wouldn’t take 200 kg of fine Belgian chocolate up to Mount Everest Base Case and then hand it out to everybody there. Just to get this in perspective, 200 kg is equivalent to 3200 Mars Bars. Or 51 and half The North Face Mountain 25 tents.

• Everest Climber Finds Directions to Llandudno
• 10 Tips for Mobile Mount Everest Communications
• Armed Forces Exercise Khumbu Challenge, Nepal

Tom Buckley with Twin Sister

Coast-to-Coast walker Tom Buckley has completed his charity trek across the UK.

The 23-year-old, who has terminal cancer, walked into the North Yorkshire village of Robin Hood’s Bay on the 18th grueling day of his 192-mile journey, on the 16th December.

£50,000 target has been reached!

What an amazing feet – even under such adverse conditions, such challenging terrain and pain throughout the latter stages of the trek, Tom completed the trek that raised £50,000.  A colossal feat, and one that is truly admirable.

• Tom Buckley Charity Trek across the UK
• Possibility of eco-huts along 109 mile UK trail
• Exclusive Interview! Professional endurance runner: Sam Thompson

We’ve helped promote a number of charitable events and challenges lately, including the UK Everest Challenge and the competitor raising money for charity by running the Marathon des Sables…but when I heard about the following story in my local news I was particularly overwhelmed.

Coast 2 Coast Walk

Tom Buckley is 23 years old, and is walking the coast to coast route after being diagnosed with terminal cancer of the brain.  Doctors believe he has just months to live.

• Tom Buckley Completes Mammoth Charity Trek!
• Burn off a few Christmas Calories! Go running!
• Mourne Mountain Way Marathon Announced

Here at CheapTents.com, we love it when people share their stories, write reviews, pass on outdoor industry news for us to then share, and what not, but we also like to raise the profile of outdoor sports athletes for sponsorship purposes and even for their charitable causes.  For this reason, make sure you contact us for more information.

Guys that did this just last week, are now featuring on our blog, and we will be following their progress over the coming year.  And we couldn’t be more happy to support them! Here’s what they’re getting up to…

• Ice Climbing in London?
• Armed Forces Exercise Khumbu Challenge, Nepal
• Running the Marathon des Sables for Charity

Granger’s has partnered with Oxfam to promote the recycling of outdoor clothing and equipment through the Fabric4Life campaign.

Oxfam’s Fabric4Life Campaign

Whether a recreational or professional outdoor sports/activity enthusiast, everyone has an old mac or ten tucked in there cupboard not being used. Simply take any old fleece or waterproof garments into any Oxfam high street shop for it to be recycled.

It’s especially great, as something that does not hold much value to one person, hold’s a great deal to another.  Fabric4Life thereore has a great chance of raising a great deal of funds for Oxfam.  Do you have any fleeces, or waterproof jacket or trousers that you no longer use?

• Bamboo an Eco-Friendly Fabric or Not?
• Outdoor Industry News: Summer Wrap-up
• Why Nikwax is worth every penny…

Here’s a summary of the big news stories in the Outdoor Industry so far this Summer:

The North Face

The North Face sponsored ultra-marathon. Jez Bragg broke another record by winning The Devil o’ the Highlands on the 9th August by knocking an astonishing 46 minutes off the existing record, finishing in 5 hours 22 minutes.

The Devil o’ the Highlands features some of the best competitors in the challenging sport of ultra-running, where each runner is given 12 hours to complete the course, over mountain and vale running from Tyndrum to Fort William.

Jez Bragg comments:

• iRoc Race: Run, Cycle and Orienteer on Durham Downs
• Strathpuffer 24 Hour Mountain Bike Race
• Exclusive Interview! Professional endurance runner: Sam Thompson