A 1970s US army survival guide used to claim that you lost up to 50% of your body’s heat from your head. As the surface area of your head is only 10% of your body (though your brain uses a lot of your blood supply) this is almost certainly not true. However, not very much […]
Should I buy a Helinox Zero or just sit on a log? We have used the Big Agnes Cyclone Chair (at approx 170 grams) for years. It uses a sleeping mat to make a comfy chair with a supporting back-rest that you can sit in your tent with (in front of a warm fire in
I realise this is something of a ‘holy grail’ but sometimes you really do need to be able to saw some pieces of firewood down to size and you may need to have carried a saw to do so – or you are not going to be very warm tonight. This was (nearly) our situation
A reader (Paul – thank you) has gazumped me in the ultralight saw stakes after viewing my post Ultralight Saw Experiments with a ‘saw’ that probably weighs under 5 grams but could still be used to make Ultralight Tent Poles – or similar items of camp furniture. In his own words (and picture): “I have
I recently had a chance to try out this very nice Waratah Quilt from Neve Gear. They are priced from A$419 (May 2024). I have had it for some time actually, but the weather has been too warm so I had to wait until I could go somewhere it was going to drop below freezing
No, it’s not the Helinox at around 800 grams ever so comfy as it might be – though I am still using my (approx 160 gram) Big Agnes Cyclone Chair and have been doing so for many years. I have just seen this interesting idea from the indefatigable Steve at Suluk Gear ie the Puttuck
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
We may prefer to think we will always be able to camp by some peaceful verdant stream but sometimes our path leads us elsewhere – sometimes indeed there are splendid adventures to be had and beautiful vistas to see where there is no water at all – some treasured remote and solitary spot which we
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
