Tag: Equipment Reviews
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Best Bivvy Bags Review
This article gives a detailed review of all the best and most common bivvy/bivi bags available. It contains a a buyer’s guide, recommendations of the best bivvy bags and comparison tables with details of every single bivvy bag available in the UK. Jump to: Ultimate Comparison Tables | Best Bivy Bags | Full Bivy Bag…
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How to get the best night’s sleep on an air mattress
A guest blog today from James Menta who runs the Best Air Mattress Guide. If you’re looking for an inflatable bed then his website is the place to go. You might also like my Comparison of Camping Mats article. Now, I’ll let James put you to sleep… [divide] How to get the best night’s sleep…
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Exped Synmat UL 7 – Camping Mat Review
The Exped Synmat 7 UL (ultralite / ultralight) is a new inflatable sleeping pad / camping mattress from Exped. My wife and I have been using two of them for the last nine months as we have cycled from the UK to Asia. This review is based on our experiences with them and 15 years…
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Are Bivi Bags Better Than Tents For Cycle Touring?
A question from a reader about using bivi bags on cycle tours rather than a tent: Mr. Moss, Having just finished reading about you wild camping in Seoul, I was wondering if you and Laura even bother with tents anymore, or what your rationale is with using bivy sacks instead. Cheers, and happy trails! Andrew…
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PacLite is Dead, Long Live Goretex Active
Berghaus have provided clothing for our trip and, in particular, waterproofs. Our jackets and Laura’s trousers are made of the new fabric known as Goretex Active. For many years prior to the release of Goretex Active, the de facto lightweight waterproof material was Goretex PacLite. PacLite is/was known for being the lightest form of Goretex,…
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How to Make Your Sleeping Bag Smaller – Ortlieb Compression Dry Bag Review
Your sleeping bag is often the largest item in your bag. When it comes to packing it, you usually have one of two choices: A compression bag – squeezes it down small but leaves it at risk of getting wet A dry bag – keeps those precious feathers dry but leaves you with a…
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Brooks Lands End & John O’Groats Panniers – Reviewed
Brooks England are best known for their iconic (and excellent) leather saddles. However, they do in fact have a wide range of other products. Most of their products fall into the category of beautiful but expensive. Their new pannier range – Brooks Lands End Panniers and Brooks John O’Groats Panniers – however, also happens to…
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What electronics we’re carrying on our ride
This is an article for anyone who is planning a cycle tour and/or a geek. As you will either know or be able to tell by the end of this article, I very much enjoy expeditions and cycle tours in particular, I am fairly obsessed by kit and I was a reasonably nerdy teenager. As…
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Primus ‘Eta’ Cooking Pots Review
I recently acquired a set of the new Primus Eta cooking pots – anodized aluminium, outdoor camping pans with heat exchangers on the base designed to improve fuel efficiency. I have used them on an induction period of two cycle tours and will be taking them away in my panniers for 12 months as I cycle…
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Rab Survival Zone LITE – Bivi Bag Review
The Survival Zone LITE is a new, ultra light bivi bag, made with Pertex Endurance fabric and manufactured by Rab. I’ve been using one over the last month and will shortly be taking it on a 12-month cycle around the world. This review gives my first impressions. No doubt in a year’s time I will…
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Sealskinz Hats, Gloves and Socks
Whilst Laura researches trivial matters such as visas and border crossings in preparation for our bike trip this summer, I have been primarily concerned with gloves. Whether the blame lies with my circulation or just my constitution remains to be determined but, either way, my hands and feet are forever cold in the outdoors and…