who gives a monkey’s what you wear or carry? it’s your choice, do it and stuff what anyone else thinks. if you break your back filling a crusader with the kitchen sink or lose your toes crossing ice at minus brass monkeys in your summer trail shoes it’s down to you.

just write a review so i know wether or not to use the stuff will you!

Just my 2 pence worth….

I have been trying to go lightweight ever since i endured the DofE scheme back in the 80’s. Back then, we had a kit list that we had to adhere to and ended up looking like sherpas and carrying stupid weights (my estimate is about 40lbs+)

When I finished the DofE, I started tinkering with my kit and started doing things like wearing clothes in bed and taking a 2 season bag into the autumn and winter. I ditched the boots back in ‘86 and started wearing non waterproof fabric low mids (essentially trainers with a soft low ankle cuff ) . I also discovered that the tent I was using (2kg) could be pitched without the inner and save even more weight.

Back in the 80’s I was a teenager with a yearning for the hills and not a huge amount of money so had to improvise but I did manage to get my rucksack weight down quite a bit. I even had a frameless rucksack which was great until the stiching gave way on the shoulder straps! These days, the choice for ligtweight kit is endless and I have progressed a bit further and i still love experimenting with my kits and the weights.

Long live lightweight backpacking!

To be fair the Challenge is what you make it. This year’s crossing, for me, was a social event and I found that all a bit too much. My next route has been planned to “do a Chris” and I expect not to see anyone until I get to Montrose

(No doubt a lot of you will be relieved — especially as there will be no podcast mics to content with!)

As to weather in May, the coldest, snowiest Challenge I’ve done was in 1984 when an ice axe was needed high up and crampons would have been useful. The snow was a foot deep on the Cairngorm plateau.

Must admit that my best walking in Scotland (on or off the Challenge) has been done on my own.

Mountain walking is all about judgement and compromise. Tarp users may well have to compromise a little although people like Colin don’t. Know your kit and use it wisely is. something all of us can agree with I guess.

I also thought the weather comments a little odd. Our start was bad so we took another route, otherwise it was very wet. But wet weather can come as no surprise to anyone walking in Scotland.

I don’t really understand these Inov-8 complaints though I’ve hears them as well. Mine have stood up to Scotland, Snowdonia, Irish bogs and the high Pyrenees – Terrocs. In geneneral they are not as robust but I get a year’s wear out of mine ( and I know Colin gets something similar out of his). Other brands may be more robust.

Two things I want to say: first, I find it interesting that all the comments have focused on the perceived slander of ultralighters safety standards, whereas what I find rather objectionable is Roger’s nod towards fashionable consensus where he says ‘May in Scotland is now very unpredictable’.

Anyone with an experience of Scotland (or anyone who bothers to check historical records) will know that snow and gales in May up in the Highlands are absolutely bog-standard. It has always been like that and it is irresponsible to suggest otherwise. In fact, despite all the doom mongering, we haven’t had a serious winter storm up here for a couple of years, we had no serious spring tide this year and most of the ‘predictions’ have so far come to nought. So, to suggest that ‘now’ May in Scotland is unpredictable is just utter tosh.

But I think that in general Roger has a point, although he expressed it poorly.

What he should have said is: guys, if you want to go ultralight, fine, but never compromise safety. Be prepared to change your route if necessary, pitch down at glen level if in doubt and do not skimp on extra layers.

It is perfectly possible to be safe and light. No question about that.

It is also perfectly possible to go too far in cutting down on kit and end up in trouble.

Personally, this year I managed to break the magic 10lbs baseweight and I’m now officially ultralight (although I still stick with boots, given that I don’t like the idea of trail shoes coming apart on a rocky ridge, and I’ve read far too many reports of folks having their Inov shoes breaking off in the middle of nowhere).

The only times I’ve been in trouble, interestingly enough, have been in winter when my kit was *too* heavy!

Indeed, it’s clear that you can go wrong both ways. What matters, and what Roger should have said, is: whichever kit you have, be safe!

And safety has nought to do with kit weight, but with being on the hills in a way that is appropriate for your kit (and vice-versa).

Just my two cents

Morning!

It seems to me that one of the most interesting things to have emerged from this discussion is the question of whether a distinction should be drawn between the relative safety of ‘lightweight’ and ‘ultra-lightweight’ kit.

I’m sure poor old Andy doesn’t want me to spawn any further discussion in this thread, which is already very long, but I’ve posted my thoughts on the issue over at my own blog here (I hope that link worked), and if anyone else is interested in the topic then I’d be very interested to hear what they think over there