You know how it is. You put something away safe. Well, maybe you did. Maybe the gear storage system has lost a bit of its discipline over the last year. But, how can you loose a down jacket? I’ve searched high and low. Perhaps, I’ve crunched it up very small. Unlikely. It’s all very unsatisfactory. The last thing I want to do is to have to buy another one.

Now, just one more search …

.. it must be around here somewhere.

This seems a little more interesting this year. Great kit although the sale items tend to be a little non standard and come in yucky colours — worth checking out though.

http://www.phdesigns.co.uk/special-offers.php?cat=79

Just finished chatting to our Bob on the phone. As always there were lots of completely useless things to talk about, but some interesting ones at that.

First off, backpackinglight.co.uk are improving the website. You can see the first fruits of this online at the moment but the work isn’t finished yet. Apparently much of it is ‘beneath the hood’ but should give us a better service. But the website already looks better.

Secondly, there was a gear angle (of course). Bob was out last night — camping on the hills so that you could have the benefit of his first hand experience. He was very taken by a new tent from Vaude I think it was, a solo tent weighing 1 kilogram which Bob thought was far superior to the Laser Competition. I didn’t quite catch the model name but no doubt Bob will appear to fill out the details.

And then there were the podcasts. I think it is safe to say that we are creaking towards something of a new season and — I believe — the first of the new season approaches. We did discuss various tactics for Challenge podcasting, especially as there might only be me doing it. I think our various tactics mean that will have something to share with you after May — so you can all stop badgering me about it now!

(Of course, if you’re one of the people that run the other way in case I badger you. Sorry, but we have our public you know …)

There can’t be many serious walkers here in the UK who have not heard of Paramo. Many of them swear by the stuff. In my experience there is nothing more comfortable to wear in really heavy rain than Paramo waterproof gear.

Those who worry about Paramo worry about its weight. Paramo waterproofs are made of two layers an inner pump-liner which sucks moisture away from the body and an outer layer which protects the liner. However, Paramo waterproofs do replace two layers and for most of the year a walker can happily exist with one of these waterproofs over a simple base layer. But as an increasing focus is put on weight Paramo have had to respond with a new, lighter, series of waterproofs. The first of these products was the Velez Adventure Smock and now this has been joined by the Velez Adventure Trousers.

Paramo waterproof trousers can be wonderful. They are properly waterproof and can be worm all day without having to stop and pull outer shell trousers on and off. For many Paramo users it is their trousers that they would give up last. The best seller trouser is the Cascada. While I really appreciate my Cascadas I have never really been properly comfortable with them. The problem with the Cascada Trousers is not the waterproofing but the cut.

I have now owned two pair of Cascada Trousers and I’m somewhat confused at who these have been designed for. The problem is in the cut of the leg for they seem to have been designed for those who have legs like tree trunks. As a result there always seems to be tons of surplus material flapping around and getting soaking wet. The Velez trousers are not only made of lighter material they are cut very differently and it was the cut that made me buy a pair.

And I’m glad I did. The Velez trousers are cut like a normal pair of walking trousers and as a result feel more comfortable. Comparing them to my Cascadas they seem to use a hell of a lot less fabric and this must contribute to the lower weight as well as to comfort.

The Velex trousers save weight by using an all round simpler, design and not just by using lighter outer fabrics. For example, there is still a gaiter system but this is achieved by the use of velcro rather than poppers. Heavy wear areas are reenforced a little but gone is the heavy knee reenforcement of the Cascadas. The waist system is also more conventional, using a belt that can be removed rather than the old draw chord system. There is still a thigh vent but this finishes at knee level whereas the Cascadas are able to zip right down to the ankle (which involved using more heavy poppers). The new vents are similar to that found of Paramo’s summer clothes, and they work well.

While lighter and simpler the Velex trousers remain fully-fledged Paramo waterproofs. I thoroughly enjoyed using mine and suspect that I will be using them more often in the cooler months than I did the Cascadas. Indeed, their first outing was on a reasonably warm and dry February day.

Over the last few years I think a few of us have shown how Paramo can sensibly find itself at the centre of lightweight, cool month, walking kit. These new trousers underline this.

The average weight quoted on the Paramo website for a pair of Cascadas is 572 grams and the Velez 398 grams.

On my last two TGO Challenges I have relied on Paramo Stretch Pants and a pair of lightweight Montane windproof trousers. The average weight for the Stretch Pants is 256 grams and the Featherlite Windproofs weigh in at 120 grams (for a medium size). You can see that this combination is only a few grams lighter than the Velex pants. I’ll do a real weight comparison over the next few days.

Ultralight Colin Ibbotson has had his own Paramo trousers for him. These use the light Pertex fabric that is used with Featherlite trousers. These are probably the lightest Paramo-type trousers ever produced. Most of us aren’t going to go to the trouble of having our own trousers made for us but the Velex Trousers do give us a new lightweight option. It might be that I use the new trousers on this year’s Challenge, if I manage to get on. I’ll certainly be using them on many more occasions that the Cascadas.

A good move Paramo. These should sell in big quantities.

One final thing, the Velex trousers seem only to be available in regular leg lengths at the moment, fine for me but not for someone like Colin. Different leg lengths are promised soon but have not arrived yet.

This winter Colin Ibbotson has been using the MLD Trailstar as his bomb proof winter shelter. He likes it a lot!

The review is here.

Chris Townsend has an interesting piece on his blog on the best gear of the last decade. If you haven’t read the post you can find it here.

This got me thinking. I haven’t been able to use half as much gear as Chris, but this has been a decade in which gear has changed a great deal. Here are the highlights for me, and just some of the trends I’ve noticed.

Walking Poles

Ten years ago these were still a rare sight on this hills, They were for whimps. Back then if you saw them at all they were being used, one at a time, by people of advanced years! What got me thinking about them was an observation that most European hikers I met — who walked in high mountains — were using two. I remember trying two for the first time in the Pyrenees and instantly wondering how I could have done without them! My knees have been very grateful ever since!

Intricate Packs v. Simple Packs

This decade has seen the emergence of a whole load of clever back systems, including those that have systems that keep the load away from the back and allow air to circulate. For me these systems work best with small packs. I tried the Osprey system for heavier loads and never really felt comfortable with it. The best of these packs was a small Berghaus day pack which was fine so long as it didn’t have much weight in it. The more weight it had in it the more uncomfortable it felt, the same kind of discomfort as I experienced with the Atmos.

Like Chris I have been very impressed with ULA packs and I now own three of them. My pack of choice for most trips is the ULA Conduit which is a simple pack with no intricate back system; you just slip a sleeping mat down the back to give some strength.

The thing about these backless systems is that for reasonable loads they are just as comfortable as all of this clever technology. And they are not really any more uncomfortable as these air flow systems either. Sure, these packs are light but they don’t have to be uncomfortable. Good shoulder padding is most important, but this doesn’t have to be too bulky either.

Innovative Down Design

Those who design and manufacture in down have had a great decade. Rab produce some wonderful products and their Quantum 400 bag is my first choice for colder weather camping.

PHD would be a world beating company if only their customer service could be better, although to be fair things seem to be getting better. But ithe wait for delivery and the eccentricity of the company are worth it when the goods arrive. I now have a gilet, a jacket and an all purpose bag. My Minimus 400 bag is my main bag now. it keeps me warm down towards zero and below that the down jacket worn underneath it is gloriously comfortable. The one gear buy that I know I will make if I get on this year’s challenge will be the new PHD down trousers.

Over at backpackinglight.co.uk Bob and sourced some wonderful Scandinavian down jackets from Liv. I’ve never tried one of these on but by just handling them you can tell that they are a great piece of kit.

Paramo

I can’t write something like this without mentioning Paramo. In cooler months when the rain is tipping down nothing beats it. I’ve used a Velez smock, an Alta II jacket — a great all purpose winter coat — and now the Third Element. which is perfect for UK backpacking. The Cascada trousers are great although cut a little weirdly. THe new, and lighter, Velez trousers may well find their way into my gear cupboard this year.

eVent

Chris raved about eVent and I can only echo that. My Montane Quickfire jacket is perfect for warmer weather. It is ultra breathable and weighs only a little over 300 grams. My only quibble is that is sometimes too breathable when the wind is blowing hard. For my money this is the best shell material by far.

Inov-8

You’d expect me to have these on my list. Since trying them I have never gone back to boots. They are counterintuitive in that seem to be safer for weak ankles than boots. Even the cynics are beginning to move away from boots. The main thing to be looking for in trail shoes is breathability. All trail shoes will let in water — you need a pair that will let it out again. For my money this is why the Terrocs score so highly.

Spinnaker and Cuben Fibre

I’ve thoroughly enjoyed playing with these materials. Tarps made from these are strong and offer terrificly low weight for a massive coverage of space. I have learned to love my tarps and there is nothing better to use in a British summer when the weather is good. Nothing connects you with the environment around you as much and when it rains you’re glad you didn’t just rely on a bivy bag. And these materials have also ben used to create very conformable and very iight bivy bags as well.

You do have to look to small, niche, manufactures to find this stuff. But in these days of the internet your supplier can be on the other side of the world and stlll give you great customer service.

As ever, Ron Bell of Mountain Laurel Designs deserves a special mention here.

Teepie Tents

Chris raves about the Golite Hex and I’ve been tempted to try one, not least because I’ve been out with Bob Cartwright so often.

There is something about this design style that really dow make sense for backpackers. You use your trekking pole as the tent pole and you do get a massive amount of space.

My MLD Duomid will be my first choice in most UK conditions this coming year. AT 300 grams for that much space how can I complain?

All of these are great products …

…. but if I had to pick my favourite piece of gear from the last ten years I don’t have to hesitate for one moment.

Andy’s Gear Choice for the Naughties

Yes, take a bow …

… the Bushbuddy Ultra.

This wood burning stove is not only a perfect stove but it is a perfect companion. It has real character and keeps me company for hours on end. When I was with Colin Ibbotson in the Cairngorms a couple of months ago we both agreed that this was probably one piece of kit that we would never throw away.

Apparently, Bushbuddy will be producing a version in titanium this year. This will be interesting to see. The value in using titanium will not be so much a weight saving as, I suspect, and improvement in the structural robustness of the stove.

As designs go the Bushbuddy is near on perfect. Hat’s off to Fritz. You can see some fantastic photos of him and read an interesting intevriew on Hendrik’s blog here.

Bushbuddy, take a bow. Here is a photo of my stove on holiday in the Pyrenees

Thanks to Roman for twittering about the sale of ULA Equipment, who have produced all of my packs over the last few years. It would appear that ULA founder Brian Frankle has been looking to sell the business for a while now. He seems to have found a sympathetic couple in Chris and Sally who are keen outdoors people looking for a new business experience.

The full details of this can be found of backpackinglight.com here, including a long statement from Brian.

It’s not sure yet whether Brian will have any ongoing relationship with the new company (like Glenn at Gossamer Gear) or whether he will just move on and do other things.

No doubt this story will develop over the weeks but I’d like to take an early opportunity to thank Brian for all the work he has done in building up the ULA range. The packs have been great and I’ve worked through the range (as Brian had hoped) starting with the heaviest pack and ending with the lightest. More than anyone, Brian has helped me explore the world of lightweight gear with real confidence. He answered all queries in depth, been great to talk to on the phone and has also been responsible for some of the best podcasts on packs, pack choices and pack maintenance.

The ULA range will stay in production into 2010 and we are promised some new items.

I wish Brian the best. It cannot be easy to start and develop a business in this way and I guess the last year or so has been as challenging to him as it has been to others. But ultimately Brian is a hiker and I hope he now gets a little more time to hike.

Brian, if you’re reading this, thanks for everything and best wishes for the future.

Not much better today than yesterday. It is pretty wind here in the Midlands so I did get the old Doumid out and practice pitching into the wind. Using some dyneema guys to peg out the mid panel tie outs I let the thing sit in the wind for three or four hours. The whole thing was pretty rigid. Time to go back to sleep!

Over at Phil Turner’s blog you’ll find that the young tearaway is rabbiting on about coffee.

Phil is a lovely young chap but sometimes a little too influenced by high technology. On our recent trip to the Cairngorms he was raving on about some coffee he was carrying. It was made fro micro granules, then spun for a few days in the Cern Accelerator, freeze dried by NASA and then hand packed by vestal virgins from Greenland. Or something like that. Apparently it was superb. On his blog he looks at all manner of things and gizmos for making the perfect coffee.

He’s not alone. The last time I was out with Bob he was using some instant cappuccino that came in a tube, It wasn’t bad — but it wasn’t real coffee !!!

For me — and I know for many others — a decent cup of coffee is part of the whole wild camping experience. After years of experiment I have come up with the most simple and elegant of solutions.

Phil gives a hint about this on his blog. You only need one piece of kit, a micro MSR Mug Mate Coffee Filter. This allows you to make great drinks with simple, and real, coffee and loose leaf tea.

The Must Be This Way Coffee Method

First of all you need your favourite brand of ground coffee. This I store in a small size Aloksac resealable bag. These will keep your coffee absolutely fresh for ages.

When ready to brew simply put a table spoon amount (or one tip of the sack if you want to be technical) per person, into the filter.

You can use the filter in a few ways.

Firstly, you can boil your water, place the filter on top of your mug and then pour the hot water into the filter, over the coffee so that it pours into the mug like a regular filter coffee machine. The more coffee in the filter demands a little more patience. If your drink isn’t strong enough just jiggle the filter around in the coffee a bit.

If I’m on my own I will only carry one kettley thing with me which is used for both food or drinks.. If I’m using an alcohol stove I light in the normal way and place the kettle on the stove with just the right amount of water (for a medium or large cup) and then put the filter inside the kettle. The kettle is not too tall as to allow the filter to fall over and so the coffee grains stay in the filter. By the time the water has boiled and the alcohol stove has burnt out you will have a perfectly brewed cup of coffee.

This is about as good as you can get (unless you choose to do something more exotic, see below). Great, real coffee, brewed up in pure, mountain, water. Wonderful. If you are a coffee lover you will want to take your coffee black. No matter how good your dried milk is it will ruin the taste.

Tea

These filters are very versatile. You can also use them for loose leaf tea. Loose leaf tea is very economical, far more so than tea bags, and is very ecologically sound. It takes a tea bag a long time to degrade. I like my tea without milk. The best way to brew is to boil the water and then jiggle the filter around until you have the desired strength tea.

The Exotics

My culinary adviser, the backpacker formerly known as HMP3, is well known for his special Turkish Coffee Brew. He’s even been known to provide supplies of this special mix for other backpackers. So, what is Turkish Coffee? Turkish coffee is brewed with spices and can be quite delicious. It is never served with milk or cream.

The main spice used (indeed often the only spice) is the wonderful cardamon. You can grind some cardamon in advance of trekking — storing it in an Aloksak — or you can carry a small supply of pods with you. To be properly authentic you will need to bring Arabic coffee with you. It is best to use a complete pod as one pod per cup of coffee is the proper quantity to use.

Bring the water to the boil. Take off the heat and add the coffee and cardamon in your filter. Return the the heat and allow to foam.

You can even make this without a filter. Simply add the coffee and then after it has foamed allow it to rest to allow the coffee grounds to sink to the bottom of the mug. A bit messy this when backpacking. I prefer the filter.

If you take sugar, in Turkish Coffee, this is always added during the brewing process and never at the end.

In the real world you pour into your mug after foaming. Never stir as you will destroy the foam. In the field this is a little more difficult to ensure.

So, there you have it. Real coffee on the hill. Pure luxury. Great at the end of a hard day’s walk. A wonderful start to the day when everything is crisp outside and there is a layer of frost on the inside of your fly sheet!

Poor Colin Ibbotson. Everything is going wrong this week. First his bombproof winter tarp arrived from the USA with a tear in the fabric. Now his ‘packraft’ has arrived without a valve cap. Colin can inflate the packraft easily enough — something I wondered about — but then just has to sit there and watch it deflate.

Can you imagine how frustrating this is. Neither product was that cheap. However, this is one of the things you have to put up with when dealing with this N American fads!

Still, I’m sure the replacements will arrive shortly. Then we can look forward to some photos of Colin sailing gently down the Spey!

Chin up Col.