-
Healthy feet are the essential foundation for an active life
Check your feet regularly Wash your feet every day Dry them well, especially between your toes Avoid dry & cracking by moisturising regularly Wear the correct footwear for the event / adventure Double check your shoes are the right size Train in the shoes & socks you intend to wear Change socks as often as possible – daily is more sociable Rotate your footwear; trainers or camp shoes after a day’s trekking Roll-a-ball under your feet; it relaxes tight muscles & ligaments. Trim your toenails; Lads, a pedicure is cool but a paint job is questionable! *Consult with a podiatrist if you have any concerns; not just your about an injury or footwear…
-
Etiquette on the Trail
My, not so secret tips on Tent Etiquette Keep the inside your tent clean and tidy, OCD works! Take your shoes/boots off before you get in the tent Change your socks daily Respecting personal space and quiet times Establish a routine to share tent tasks Personal hygiene; breathe, pits and private bits!!! Weakest bladder nearest the door/flap My, not so secret tips on the Trail Etiquette Leave No trace, only footprints Be prepared to share Make an effort to be friendly and talk to everybody Dispose of all trash properly If nature calls – leave the trail & bury Paper, grass or leaves for hygiene What to bring when hiking…
-
Backpackers & Adventurers Eating Utensils
Spork- a perfect eating utensil for travel and adventure; my preference is the light weight titanium, easier to keep clean and virtually indestructible; I always take two in case I lose one! Stainless Steel mug for hot drink or soup perfect after a hard day on the trail or a good morning Coffee. The single wall design means it can be used as an emergency cooking pot … The robust stainless steel ‘deep’ 9″plate,that’s lightweight & easy to clean. Ideal for heating up your food in your oven, over the fire or your BBQ. Sharp durable knife: some prefer a folding knife and others a lightweight fixed blade, importantly they both…
-
The Adventurers & Survivalists Woodland Axe / Hatchet
An essential item in your backpacking survival kit is the outstanding all-round Woodland Axe/ Hatchet ideal size and weight for carrying with you on your adventures Use it for everything from cutting down trees and bushes; preparing and splitting your firewood. Handy, when building an impromptu shelter from the elements; dealing with tougher cuts of meat preparation; A great tool to help you dig and break through, ice and snow. Effective for self-defence against 2 & 4 legged predators.
-
Outdoor Adventures – get changed outside, inside!!!
Live your outdoor adventures to the fullest; from camping to wild swimming enjoy the luxury of being comfortably cloaked within your insulated and water-resistant personal shelter whatever the weather throws at you… A Changing Robe / Dry Coat allows you to change outside, inside. Whether your surfing, kayaking, paddle boarding, walking the dog, staying dry and warm is important not just an indulgence. The picture is of me in Tough Guy; reputed to be the world’s most demanding one-day survival ordeal. I have conquered it five times, between January 1992 and 2008, at the ages of 47 to 61. Worryingly, before taking part, I had to sign a death waiver, to…
-
Without Adequate Shelter we would Never have Survived
We set off from Resolute,on Resolute Bay, (74° 43’ N and 94° 53’ W), in the territory of Nunavut, Canada, to walk/ski for 648 km (403 miles), pulling our food and equipment bound for the Magnetic North Pole. After a 12 hour day pulling our pulk, we needed somewhere to cook, eat, sleep and survive the night. James and I were issued with a Terra Nova Tent that was proven to withstand Arctic conditions: without adequate shelter we would never survive. It was reasonably lightweight even when frozen, as well as tough. For 12-hour each day I leaning into my harness in order to drag my pulk loaded with its precious cargo northwards over some of the most difficult terrain…
-
A Versatile Tool for some Wild Jobs …Hand Saw
A “Hand Saw” is a must-have for every adventure, from a day’s hiking to the rigours of long expeditions into the backcountry; I encourage my fellow travellers to each pack one. You may choose to carry a lightweight Folding Hand Saw on your belt; an ideal Bushcraft Saw for camping, gardening or on a hike. Or the versatile heavy-duty handsaw when Trekking or for the Wilderness Adventures: my proven favourite has the comfortable pistol grip and razor-sharp teeth, that makes for a superb go to work saw! Both have an efficient ‘pull stroke’ cutting action is protective of the blade and importantly “less tiring” to use… There are many ways a ‘Saw’ comes in handy ; on occasions it is the survivalist…
-
On Occasions it’s a Treat to be Pampered
Microfibre towel is integral for every adventure: they’re highly absorbent and amazingly fast drying, ideal for a day’s hiking, the beach or the rigors of expeditions into the wilderness. Whatsoever my next adventure, I always carry a lightweight microfibre sports towel that packs down into such a small pouch. I strongly suggest to my fellow adventurers to do the same. They’re incredibly soft; after a hard day on the trail it’s a treat to be pampered….
-
MSR® XGK™ trusted by fellow hikers, trekkers, adventurers and survivalists for its reliability!
Every breakfast and evening meals our robust MSR® XGK™ stove’s powerful flame melted snow and ice giving us lifesaving boiled water incredibly fast so we could enjoy a drink and by rehydrating our freeze dried meals – eat… This was so necessary during the Polar Race, probably the world’s toughest race; – starting from Resolute, Nunavut (74°43’N and 94°53’W), walking & skiing 648 km to the North Magnetic Pole in 25 days Just the extreme cold of the Arctic makes a person feel very hungry, add the enormous amount of energy (6500 calories) needed to man hauling our pulks for 12 hours per day for survival this energy needs to…
-
Toilet Paper or Wet Wipes
Wet wipes are the best innovation for personal hygiene and gentle on your bitsduring adventures.Some brands are very eco-friendly, for example; My Happy Planet’s GenieWipes –are 100%biodegradable and best of all, they’re totally plastic free.Toilet paper is light but bulky and must be protected from getting wet; no onewants soggy tissues. As with all supplies you carry with you, they are rationed;you are issued 3 sheets per dump: one up, one down and one too polish!Opus Genie Wipes are tiny pellets that take up almost no space, light and easyto carry in your pocket or bag. However, when you add just a few drops ofwater, they expand to reveal a…
