Comments on: First Wildcamp of the Year

By: eBothy Blog » Replacing the Buffalo Bag

eBothy Blog » Replacing the Buffalo Bag — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 10:16:58 +0000

[...] are a couple of reviews in the blogosphere about the Cumulus 350 and Alpkit 400 and Andy Howell is a fan of the Minimus. Reports suggest the Alpkit might have a less than ideal hood, while you [...]

By: andy

andy — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 16:34:53 +0000

I can see myself buying a Puma at some point. As for the down vest I tend to take my PHD gilet everywhere.

By: paul b

paul b — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 07:58:04 +0000

Yes the pair weigh about 300g but they give more options as the fleece is good for camp and the pub and the Smock can be worn over a base layer and is a great if your running. In temps lower than 3-4 degress i would wnat to carry a down gillet but for when i mainly go camping its great.

By: andy

andy — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 20:58:31 +0000

The Featherlite and a fleece? Interesting. I was fondling a Puma top this weekend. Very interesting.

By: paul b

paul b — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 15:53:53 +0000

Did something similar this easter weekend went to see some faimly in Wales, and did 1 nights camping, I can highly recomened the gosamer gear nightlight torso only 100g but really comfy and worked well as extra support to my golite jam, not sure if it will last forever. Also used my bargin Montane featherlite smock ive used this wlaking the downs in kent and on my bike but this teamed with a 100 weight fleece is as good as any soft shell

By: andy

andy — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 12:14:12 +0000

I’m going to try and get some more bivying adn tarping in this year. John Manning told me yesterday that I’d invented a new verb as in to tarp – tarping. Anyhow, yesterday I ordered a super ultralight thingy from Mountain Laurel in the US. Should be fun.

By: johnhee

johnhee — Tue, 03 Apr 2007 12:03:08 +0000

cheers andy

By: andy

andy — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 13:56:38 +0000

John,

On Ashes Hollow on Long Mynd. I spied out the bivy spots on last week’s walk.

By: andy

andy — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 13:56:03 +0000

Jamie,

Tarps take some getting used to; but not that much. In truth, this weekend was a bit early for tarping but if the wind hadn’t been there it would have been great. The warmer months – so long as there are few insects is perfect.

You do need to practice a bit in the garden or in the park before you go out on this hills – but this is fun!

At the weekend I reckon a 10 by 8 tarp would have been more comfortable – but then I’d have Bob Cartwright moaning at me!

When in the hills the important thing to remember about tarps is that they take a while to put up. Count on an hour to decide on your shape, stake things out and then get the tarp really taught. And then you can start cooking! This isn’t like throwing the tent down and putting it up in 2 minutes – which you need to be able to do if, say, on the TGO Challenge.

But tarps are great fun. And you really are connected to the hills this way. Much better than being in a closed tent.

By: Jamie Bassnett

Jamie Bassnett — Mon, 02 Apr 2007 12:59:25 +0000

Sounds like a great night Andy, had a similar wild camp myself last Monday, I too noted to do it more often in the more simpler way of just a small walk at night to get to camp then a small walk back in the morning, just the excitement and pleasure of being with yourself and the hills is enough sometimes without any tough walking. I’m still not converted to the tarp setup yet but my last wild camp before last weeks was last year and since then my gear is so much lighter and less of it and it made it all so much more enjoyable.