Category: Advice Articles
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Where to Buy Cheap Outdoors Kit
Like most people who get into the outdoors, I have acquired my fair share of kit over the years and, during that time, I’ve found a few places that are good for getting cheap or discounted equipment. Here are a few recommendations: [divide] Google Shopping Google search for shops. The first place to go for…
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How To: Sail the Seven Seas
THIS ARTICLE: Explains how you can take a boat and explore the world’s oceans. There is a brief history of sailing followed by an explanation of the options available including sailing with a company, on a tall ship, as a crew member, in a round-the-world race or rally, and cruising independently. The likely difficulties are detailed,…
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Expedition Planning Software
“I want to plan an expedition but I don’t know where to start” The above statement is one of the more common themes that arises when people contact me for help. They have an idea but are slightly overwhelmed about starting something – a bike ride, a climbing expedition, a polar journey – with which…
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How to Skateboard from Dusk ’til Dawn
Today we have an article written by Lauren Rains from Outdoor Minded Mag (for whom I wrote an article last year). Lauren has, rather flatteringly, gone to the effort of formatting her advice article about skateboarding in the style of a Next Challenge ‘How To’ guide. Over to Lauren… How to Skateboard from Dusk ’til…
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10 Tips For Your First Science Expedition
James Borrell shares his top tips for science, research and fieldwork on expedition. “The urge to explore a wilderness is inseparable from the desire to help save it.” – Michael Fay 10 Tips for your First Science Expedition 1. Embrace Your Inner Scientist I’d like to start by busting the myth that you need to be…
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10 Tips For Your First Cycle Tour
Some time ago I received an email from a chap called Markus, saying that he was thinking about quitting his job to cycle from Germany to Africa. I get emails like that quite a lot but this one was made more memorable by the fact that, some months later, I got a…
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10 Ways to Improve Cold Water Tolerance
Cold water swimming is something I’ve written about before, particularly with regards to its health benefits, but here are a few tips for acclimatising to cold water, adapting to the icy water and improving tolerance for those winter swims: Get regular swimming exposure in cool or cold water. The more you do it, even if…
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How To: Row an Ocean
THIS ARTICLE: Will explain how you can row across an ocean. It details different approaches such as entering a race, joining a team or going solo, and explains the different routes available. There is information about the difficulties you will face, the costs of undertaking such a project and the first steps to get you…
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Comparison of Satellite Phones
Satellite phones, or ‘satphones’, are simply phones that send and receive signals to and from satellites rather than through cables or via phone masts. They are useful on expeditions and for remote travel because, with the right satphone, you can make and take calls from anywhere in the world. Below is a brief introduction to satellite…
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Beginner’s Guide to Wild Swimming
Wild swimming has attracted significant media attention over the last couple of years writes Laura Moss. Whether it’s Robson Green swimming the infamous Corryvreckan whirlpool, Lewis Gordon Pugh swimming up Everest, or David Walliams swimming the Thames, everyone seems to be at it. The question is, why? And why now? For some of us, swimming…
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10 Tips for Your First Sea Kayaking Expedition
Today we are very lucky to have sea kayaking legend Justine Curgenven from Cackle TV offering advice for anyone considering an expedition by sea kayak. As well as having kayaked around Kamchatka, Tasmania, Tierra del Fuego and Wales (and across the English Channel with me vomiting from a nearby boat) amongst other places, Justine is the pre-eminent sea kayaking film-maker…
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The Language of Polar Expeditions
Polar expeditions almost have a language of their own. Below are a few key terms that will help put Arctic travel in context: [divide] [box type=”note” bg=”#ebebeb” color=”#111″ font=”arial” fontsize=”13″ border=”#a6a6a6″ head=”How To Get To The North Pole” headbg=”#21417b” headcolor=”#fff”] This is an edited excerpt from the How To Get To The North Pole chapter…