 | Outdoor Etiquette: Hiking Chit-Chat
I know we all go on The Fells to get away from the hustle and bustle of life, nevertheless, when you’re walking, I think it’s essential that you talk to your fellow hikers. I’m not saying swap emails and get out your wedding photos, I’m saying you should always acknowledge someone if you’re walking right passed them...
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 | Correct Walking Technique
I was reading an Outdoorsmagic thread on 'Correct Walking Technique' the other day. It was a serious discussion with a lot of good points. Things like stride length and cadence were talked about as was heel striking and the use of the forefoot. Find out about the correct way to walk... you'll be amazed.
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 | Microadventure: Cooking Sausages in the Rain
I love Alastair Humphreys’ microadventures idea and it works great with my kids. If I say ‘let’s go for a walk’ it’s the same as if I’d said ‘please hack your leg off with a blunt sabre’. If I say ‘let’s have an adventure’ at least they ask what kind of adventure, then it’s a discussion. Here's our microadventure...
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 | Keswick Mountain Festival - 15th - 19th May 2013
It’s the Keswick Mountain Festival again, how did that happen so quickly. I love the Keswick Mountain Festival, but, like all big events, you need to bring both your spirit of adventure and your Vango Contour 60L rucksack full of money (it’s sturdy and will carry up to 30Kg). But don't panic there's loads of freebies...
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 | Shock News: It's Cloudy in The Lakes
I spend a lot of time in the outdoors and I spend even more time staring out of my office window, so I should know more about clouds than I do. Right now there’s some dark grey fluffy ones, one looks like Concorde with spines, another looks like a cow giving birth. In between these there is lighter grey whispiness. What the ‘eck are these things?
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 | Is Strava just for big fat show offs?
Strava is a tracking system for cyclists and runners. It allows you to compare your times with other people’s times on a leader board. I know my place in the Strava world - mid table. I don’t like being last on the leaderboards and I’ve no chance of being first, so mid table is where I belong. But is it just showing off?
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 | Wild Camping in The Lake District
You know when a total stranger camps in your garden without permission, in full view of your patio doors, then starts a fire on your lawn, then stuffs a few empty beer cans into your rockery then leaves it all for you to tidy up the next day, that’s a little bit annoying isn’t it? But some people think that’s okay. It's not...
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 | Walking with Children
I am currently undertaking the most difficult challenge of my life – getting my kids to walk for more than an hour. We’ve been walking in the fells for years and some days it’s great and others, like last night near Caldbeck, it’s not so great. Here's my findings...
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 | Comfy Lightweight Sleeping Mats
I have trouble sleeping in my own king-sized bed at home so imagine what I’m like hiking. If possible I would carry my Coleman Comfort airbed and rechargeable pump with me always, but since it weighs 2.3 kg and won’t fit in my tent, I don't. Here's my thoughts on comfy lightweight sleeping mats...
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 | Treatment for blistered feet
While browsing the outdoor forums I noticed a few threads about treatment for blistered feet. These threads should have a ‘Are you 18 or over?’ pop up box to protect us sensitive types, it's gruesome...
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 | How to find an airbed leak
Over the winter, three of our airbeds decided to spring leaks. They were all sitting in the cupboard in the same bag, maybe I should have separated them because this seems like a group effort to me. This is how I fixed them...
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 | Which Baselayer is the Smelliest?
When we owned the shop in Keswick we got a lot of people through the door who had spent a week on the fells without scraping out their arm pits or changing their under garments. I did a little survey and asked the whiffiest people what baselayers they were wearing – don’t cringe, I was subtle...
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 | Three Peaks Walk
Me and Doug did The Three Peaks Walk a couple of years ago (2011) on the Bank Holiday in August. We did it with 10 minutes to spare, so no problem at all... Here’s a list of don’ts to help your day go smoother:
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 | Is owning a tent carpet pitiful?
Yes, is the answer – if you’re Ranulph Fiennes. But I’m not, so no is my answer. Here’s my justification for, in the eyes of Ranulph, being pitiful and owning a tent carpet (well two actually but don’t tell Ranulph).
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 | Softshell or Hardshell?
First of all let’s get this obvious question out of the way – what is a softshell? I’m going to manage your expectation here and tell you you’re going to be disappointed with the answer. Here it is: a softshell is similar to a hardshell only softer...
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 | The Best Time and Place to Camp in the UK
To give you the best chance of having a good experience I’ve done some research for you and I’m about to tell you the exact place and exact time to camp in mainland UK to have that amazing experience...
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 | Deciphering Waterproof Jacket Labels
So you go into a shop with forty-eleven jackets hanging up. Your first instinct is: the moroccan blue with the burnt sienna cuffs looks amazing I’ll have that one, but you can’t. Not in a specialist outdoor clothing shop. It’s not what it looks like – it’s what it does. That’s right isn’t it? So you start reading all the labels...
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 | What's the cheapest way of cooking sausages?
It's a rule - when you go camping you have to cook sausages. The kids will demand it and there is no way you can disappoint those little cherubs. Don't worry though, you don't have to break open your jar of twenty pences, here's how to do it on the cheap...
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 | The Lightest 50 Litre Rucksacks - April 2013
I love my 50 litre Golite Jam rucksack, we only sleep together on camping trips (and maybe the occasional night at home when I’m lonely), but we have a reasonable relationship and a mutual respect for each other. I think 50 litres is the perfect size for a few days hiking in the summer...
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 | How Gore-Tex Really Works
Yonks ago, W.L. Gore created a thin membrane of expanded PTFE. This membrane was waterproof and amazingly stopped everyone drowning in their own perspiration by letting water in gas form out...
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 | Finally- scientific proof that you need a lighter load
You wouldn't dare argue with Sir Isaac Newton would you? I know he got bonked on the head with an apple but we all do daft things.
The main concern for us walkers is that Newton discovered the reason we need to lighten the load of our rucksacks.
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 | Hydration - How much fluid should you drink while hiking?
My usual advice for dehydration in the lakes is open your mouth and tilt your head skywards.
But this weekend it's actually going to be rain free and warm and, for once, there may be a danger of dehydration. So I've included a few dehydration pointers to help you out
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 | Condensation in single walled tents
I don't know about you but when I'm sleeping I find it slightly irritating having water splashed in my face. Because of this little foible, I've decided to offer up a few handy tips on how to keep the waters at bay.
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 | Camping Gear on a Budget
When you first go camping it can be costly to get all the gear you need, and the problem is you might hate it. This is a quick guide to getting your hands on essential camping gear without spending too much money
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 | Helly Hansen provide ultral ightweight techincal outdoor clothing using the lighest, most breathable, waterproof fabrics. The Helly Hansen Sport LIFA baselayers are still the most popular baselayers. The LIFA Cool baselayers take the technology further with its 'water-hating' bi-component knit and the prowool baselayers use Merino wool to keep out the cold and transfer moisture. |
 | Gelert Camping Equipment is among the best priced on the market, but don't let this fool you into thinking it's poor quality. Gelert have been in the business a long time and they know how to produce camping equipment that is both well priced and really great quality |
 | Craghoppers kiwi walking trousers and Craghopper kiwi zip off walking trousers have dominated the outdoor clothing market for a decade. Craghoppers provide versatile, lightweight outdoor clothing that keep you comfortable and protected in the outdoors. |
 | Coleman have been producing camping equipment for over a 100 years. Starting with the famous Coleman lanterns they have expanded their range to tents and stoves and sleeping bags. You will not be disappointed with Coleman products.
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 | Montane is a company run by people with a passion for the outdoors and outdoor clothing for sports and travel. All Montane products are as lightweight and as breathable as possible. Lightweight comfortable outdoor clothing can massively enhance your experience of the outdoors. |
 | Columbia Sportswear use its Omni Tech technology to consistently provided outdoor clothing that is waterproof and breathable in extreme condition. Columbia have a selection of waterproof jackets and lightweight fleeces that will work for you. |
 | Bolle Ski Goggles and Bolle sunglasses collection have high performance polycarbonate lenses that are lightweight and shatter resistant. Bolle ski goggles are the amonst the best ski goggles in the world at very good prices |
 | Trespass Ski Clothing may be incredibly well priced but the fabric and quality of these outdoor products is very high. Trespass create outdoor clothing that will perform in every weather. They are based in Scotland... say no more. |
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