‘Waste not, want not’ was another of my mother’s favourite maxims – one I have certainly taken to heart, as my wife will attest as I have fill our house and sheds up with all sorts of ‘mathoms’ – hobbit for ‘junk’. I had two ‘dead’ laptop batteries which I probably ought to have binned […]
Baden Powell, the hero of Mafeking was right. Even though I have never been a scout, having long followed Groucho Marx’s dictum that I would not be a member of anything which would have me as a member – besides I prefer to travel alone – nonetheless I am an admirer of such proverbs and
Having spent more than fifty years working outside in the rain I was delighted to see this take on the subject. It reminds me a bit of the old adage, ‘When it don’t rain the roof don’t leak; when it do (you) can’t fix it nohow!’ Most times I love being outdoors in the rain.
The Magnactor. A magnetic hook. What a handy little gadget. The ultralight hiker will find a number of uses for it. I think first of all for easy hanging of a torch/lantern from the roof of my tent or hanging a knife around my neck, and at only 7 grams it ‘fits’ into ultralight. Available
At 76 grams in 61% Merino wool, 19% Tencel, 14% Nylon, 6% Lycra these are just the best caps I have ever found. (Black colour only) Your head stays drier and either cooler/warmer (depending on season) than any other head wear I have worn when you are working hard: Icebreaker Cool-Lite Quantum Cap They were
If you are joining ultralight waterproof material such as Membrane Silpoly as I am just now to make a new version of my 7 x 7 Poncho Multi Tarp this stitch seems to work better than anything I have ever come across before. It is better than my Flat Felled Seam Alternative, a flat-felled or
This is an addendum to the post Secrets of Shelter. I know some of you just didn’t believe my claims about the 7′ x 7′ tarp so I dug out my old one for a bit of a photo shoot. This 7′ x 7′ tarp can be used as a ground or hammock shelter or
I deem that shelter is the most important primary need which you can supply yourself. You certainly must master the secrets of shelter if you want to be confident of enjoying yourself in the outdoors and surviving. No doubt all of you have heard about Maslow’s ‘hierarchy of needs’. You will (perhaps) note that amongst
How to prevent the rain from putting out your fire? I have been toying with this idea for some time. My solution is the ‘fire umbrella’ or ‘fire canopy’ – as shown. This is a prototype which doesn’t need to be set up thus or quite so close to the tent (if you are worried
I know the old John Donne map store in Little Bourke St Melbourne used to sell a brush on (wax?) product for waterproofing paper maps (topos etc) called perhaps ‘Map Seal’ or the like. I admit I have never used it, or a spray on silicone normally designated for raincoats, boots etc (eg ‘Camp Dry’)
