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
I’m sure many people take far too many – just as they take far too much of everything else – and yet often not enough survival equipment, such as a knife or a roof or a satellite messenger, for example. I don’t think it matters whether you are just away for the weekend, or for
Litesmith have recently utilised the 21700 Lithium battery to make perhaps the most compact and lightest (at 73.5 grams) 5000 mAh power bank. These batteries are available to 5800 mAh so expect some improvements still.They are selling for US$22 (Sep 2023). This size should allow you to charge (once) the largest mobile phone around (usually
I have fiddled with this before but without a really satisfactory result which meets every need. It is easy enough if you have adjustable poles or the type which one section from another pole can be added to the first one, but the method below works whatever type of poles you have. I have played
Tractional security just got even lighter. The new version of Vargo’s ultralight crampons weigh a little over one ounce each (32.6 grams) as compared with their previous version which was around twice that. They have these plates on either side to keep them located (also lugs under) They look pretty grippy here on one of
I doubt anything else about camping has changed so much as sleeping. When I was a lad I always just slept on the bare ground. As a bit of a sissy, my only concession to comfort was to dig the traditional hip hole (which was derided by tougher-minded types) then maybe lean my head on
Recently I bought a couple of cheap approx 40 litre packs from Amazon for less than US20 each. I thought these would be a good recommendation to someone who wanted to begin hiking on a small budget. The first thing you need after all is something to comfortably and reliably carry your stuff in. I
Fancy a sauna in the back country? I thought I had pretty much sorted out Bathtime on the Trail with that post as well as The APC and the Sponge Bath and Keeping Clean on the Trail & etc, but the ingenious Tim Tinker has now come along with a modification of my Hiking Desalinater
