A week of fine autumn weather in April (we thought) would be ideal to take a peek at a couple of Tasmania’s ‘beauty’ spots – so off we went, flying into Launceston (for $57 from Melbourne with a rental car at $25 a day!) 2-3 hours later (after lunch at Deloraine and driving the more […]
This short post is courtesy of Gerard White. I have meant to post it earlier. He and a friend walked this wonderful track a couple of years back. It is a long way from Melbourne to Canberra, but you can do this bit in a little over a week. These three wonderful shots fairly make
I have recently discovered this excellent new Aussie cottage outfit, Neve Gear. They currently make and sell backpacks and quilts/sleeping bags – but I doubt it will end there. They are young, having a go and deserve your support. They are making fine products which are competitively priced and as they are local (NSW) their
Too many people are spending too much money on their hiking/hunting gear instead of just getting out there and doing it. Instead of spending maybe $600 on just your sleeping bag, this should be enough to buy a sturdy comfy pack, a reliable shelter, a lightweight sub-zero down bag, a similar sleeping mat, a kitchen
I saw this little guy on Aliexpress for under A$30 and just had to try one out. It came as a most intriguing 3D jigsaw without instructions – a modest intelligence test – which took a little while to figure out. The leftover piece (centre) turned out to be the supporting leg at the rear
You should switch to an alcohol stove for ultralight cooking. The switch will save you heaps of grams. Certainly at least the weight of the empty canister (approx 150 grams) plus unused fuel – a weight saving of at least 200 grams – almost more than your entire current cookset weighs. Just can’t imagine why
These people have the solution for a lightweight merino wool shirt for hiking, farm work, everyday wear etc. They are also (roughly) only half the price of competitor’s products. I took a couple on a recent trip to Nepal. Wool is the most sensible fibre/fabric for hiking/hunting/outdoors generally as it retains its insulative ability even
Avenza has morphed into a really great mapping tool. I used to use the previous free version (PDF Maps) in conjunction with bought versions of Vicmap topographical maps but abandoned it in favour of Paper Maps a few years ago. Today I took a fresh look at it. Now it has a vast swathe of
I am delighted that Tim Tinker has been squirreling away at improving the design and functionality of (his) tiny tent stoves of which he has designed so many. His latest foray involves miniaturising an oil (or smudge) burner for heating a tent utilising a a tiny Cavendish & Harvey fruit drop tin which must be
Here’s a great little ‘Stanley’ blade (neck) knife which weighs less than 20 grams available from Litesmith for US$19.95. It also includes a built in ferro rod (in the sheath) and so doubles as a fire starter. You will need a Phillips Head screwdriver if you wish to remove the blade so that you can
