Jam Pack:

I needed a small overnight pack that weighed under a kilo.  I have a Golite Pinnacle and am a big fan.  It was inevitable that the Jam got my attention and I got one and used it in the Lakes.  It is made from Dyneema fabric which is strong, durable, and light.  This defies the myth that light kit is not durable kit.

The pack has no frame but a shaped foam back panel is inserted in a sleeve giving shape to the back.  A mesh covering covers the back panel helping to wick sweat away and keep  the back dry.  It is a big improvement over the older version and the old Pinnacle pack as well - which had no mesh covering the back and sweat just soaks into the back panel making it less comfortable on a hot day. This foam panel gives shape to the back panel but is not intended to support heavy loads.  The hipbelt is thin with very good large zipped pockets.   I would suggest with the hipbelt tight and correctly positioned along with the well designed shoulder straps this pack carries comfortably to 10 - 12kg max, where Golite claim up to 14kg.  The Jam is a cut down Pinnacle pack in design and capable of carrying near its max load in weight. 

There is no size adjustment on the back length but the pack comes in different sized back lengths instead. There are no top shoulder load adjusters unlike the Pinnacle. The low profile shoulder straps would have benefitted from these.  I find the ones on the Pinnacle add a little in comfort to its performance, some don’t but that is just  a personal preference.  My pack is the long back with a range of 19.5 - 21.5 Inches and a weight of 820g.

The pack has no lid and is a roll top closure and no lid is not a issue.  Water ingress is not a problem with this design, just roll the lid over correctly and buckle it down preventing water getting in (obviously use a pack liner as it is not waterproof).  The pack has a large front stash pocket and two angled side mesh pockets  along with the usual hydration sleeve which is wide and easy to insert a 1.5L hydration bladder into.  The zip on the front pocket is covered now stopping water ingress through the zip. 

The pack is best packed tall and slim.   Packing it this way like the Pinnacle I find makes for a more comfortable carry preventing a saggy miss-shaped pack.  The quick release side straps are excellent and the pack in the hills carried well and was very stable. It is a good pack and offers a light 50L pack choice which is not expensive and I would recommend to anyone.

WS 4:

Not a postcode but a big watch.  I got the Timex Expedition WS 4  in May and used it in the Cairngorms.  I liked the look of it which is not the main reason I got this watch.  I needed a new one for walking and getting a robust watch that has a barometer and altitude on it is helpful. It is early days still as I master the settings but what is good about this watch is:

• The buttons are easy to use, especially wearing gloves.
• The barometer allows forward notice of weather change
• The altimeter used correctly helps navigation accuracy.
• Big screen is easy to read in poor light conditions.
• The digital compass is a useful backup device to have just in case.
• The display allows lots of information to be viewed on one screen and has an analogue time display as well as digital.
• The on screen help prompts like "Hold To Reset" help to set it up and calibrate height etc while on the trail
• The wide strap is comfortable and the build quality good.

This watch has proven to be a useful bit of kit and once I master all the settings off by heart it will serve me well on future backpacking walks.  Using a technical watch like this is new for me and I have found it really helpful having the information it gives me like altitude and weather changes via the barometer. Well worth the money.

The two faces of the Lakes:

I had an opportunity to get away for a backpack and went to my favourite place to walk, the Lake District, and hopefully take some photos.

It was hot in Kewick. I lingered in the coffee shop drinking coffee. I like sunshine but not the full heat of the midday sun. I waited for a while then got my pack and set of in search of a breeze and views. The path up to Walla Crag went through a canopy of trees and the heat in the wood was unbearable. I climbed higher and by Walla Crag looked to the first hill of the day - Bleaberry Fell. I had decided to walk the ridge flanked by Borowdale right down to the Langdale Pikes and wildcamp along the way.

The tops where soon reached, and the ridge walk was a delight. The views all around are stunning and the crowds absent. It is a place to find a bit of solitude and peace up there. High Seat, High Tove all offered great views.

I found myself alone and went down to camp near Blea Tarn. I made camp enjoying the afternoon and waited for the sunset. The location is surrounded by wonderful views and I have never seen anyone wildcamp by the tarn on past visits or now?

The dawn brought poor visibility and the Barometer on my watch told of rain. I broke camp and got moving. The mountains had a greyed out look to them in the distance, and dark clouds foretold of the days weather to come.

Low Saddle, High saddle, Ullscarf and High Raise all were deserted and the ridge walk along here is superb. The view from High Raise is normally one of the best in the Lakes - but not today. I made for the Langdale Pikes and the rain came in. Despite this the hills looked amazing with their grey outlines.

I went up onto Harrison Stickle and meet the first people of the day. I was stunned to see one person just soaked to the bone up there wearing nothing more than a T-shirt and shorts with boots. I hate to think what would happen to him if he got stuck there for the night? I went round to Pike of Stickle and the rain came in heavy. I walked the path down to Martcrag Moor deciding to follow the Cumbria Way out to Rosthwaite.

Duke Of Edinburgh award scheme kids where making their way over Stake pass soaking wet and carrying what appeared to be rucksacks as large as them. We chatted briefly and I went down the path into Langstrath Beck. The rain did not let up as it turned the paths into streams. I passed more T-shirt wearing walkers soaked to the skin heading up. I moved on and near the road the rain let up a little. The village shop in Rosthwaite offered a good cold drink and then I went home.

Xero 250:

My new Mountain Equipment Xero 250 arrived.  The loft on the Xero is very good as the elasticated lining holds in the top of the bag nice and tight. The hood is good and fits round the head well.  Add in the other nice touches like the Sharks Toe foot design at the end and a five piece baffle to keep the feet warm.  The sort of features not seen on many light bags, and it makes a very good sleeping bag. 

I just feel right with this bag.  It has the tight fit I like with a sleeping bag due to the elasticated lining and design.  The zip is long and I have another mountain Equipment sleeping bag so I know the quality and performance is assured.  It did not win a European Outdoor Industry award for nothing in 2007. 

 

Other blogs:

I like to mention other blogs sometimes. This time I thought I would mention runners.  Those are the folks who breeze past us with as we walk up the hill side.  Super fit and seem to glide over the rocks.

First pick is Kate – her Tea and Cake blog contains lots of posts about her: running, mountain biking, hiking and general outdoor stuff.  She found my blog and glad she did as I like reading hers.

Next is Iain who just did the Bob Graham round which is a massive distance and number of fell tops in under 24H.  Some achievement and read about it at 42 Tops.  He also climbs and has many great photos on his blog.

The last is one I only just found.  It contains amazing photos of the mountains of the UK and runners doing their stuff.  Sarah Ridgway is a Aussie who married a Pom as she put it.  There are plenty of great stories to read on this blog and the photos are superb.  Find it at Sarah's Blog of Running.

Sleeping bag problems.

Checking my Rab Quantum 250 Endurance I found some stitching has come lose and down has been falling out. Annoyed the hell out of me.

I have never had a sleeping bag do that before. Kit needs to be reliable on a multi day trip. I will contact the shop I got it from and see what needs to done to get it fixed. I am of to the Lakes next month and don't want to carry a heavier bag suited for colder months.

I do have a problem with this bag as after using it for a year it has started to annoy me. The bag is a good one but I doubt a better one than many other sleeping bags I have used. For many years I had a Mountain Equipment Dewline. It was a fantastic sleeping bag - but flawed with the lack of a zip. It got tired and worn out and I replaced it with a Lightline. I got it in a sale price for the reasonable sum of £130.00. Stunning design and super warm. It served me well on the TGO 07 Challenge. But for summer I needed a light bag as the Lightline is overkill and over a kilo. At the time I got a Marmot Atom but found it was after a few trips not for me. An unexpected bonus led me to have the money to get the Q250 and it has been on several trips. Here is my conclusions of what I think of it now:

• Reasonably warm, but not as warm as the claim of -2°C. More of a plus +2°C I found. I would say I am an average sleeper in terms of feeling the cold.
• Very good hood design, but the stitching has come lose. I don’t recall snagging it on anything?
• I find it to baggy in the overall cut and layout of the design. It would be better and lighter if it had a narrower cut and used mesh on the baffles for example. I do like a narrow tight fitting bag.
• The claimed weight of 700 grams is disputable and it weighs more on my scales - but it is fair to allow up to 10% difference in respect to manufacturing so many bags on a production run and keeping the weight as claimed.
• Overall a good sleeping bag for outside winter, but there are in my opinion better designed and lighter bags out there that will keep you as warm, or warmer than this bag.

In conclusion I want another Spring to Autumn sleeping bag and am searching the Mountain Equipment website to identify one. I have nothing but confidence in their design and build quality. The Xero 250 is looking the favourite to join the Lightline (My wife calls it hers) not anymore. She can borrow the Rab Summit 500 when she needs a sleeping bag. The Xero I would need to come in the long length for me at 6’2. Which has 300 grams of 700 fill power down Vs the Q250 with 250 of 750 fill power. The elasticated lining will like my Lightline pull the bag in nice and tight trapping in the heat, and the zip is longer as well. Add in the lower weight and it looks a better bag than the Rab.

The Lake District obsession:

On my blog links is one for a website I have followed for a while now.  Found it via the Live For the Outdoors Forum.  Lot’s great websites to be found there by clicking on the links.  Striding Edge has always been great and is the website of  Sean McMahon' and the latest walk on it (all in the lake District) is a photo feast to enjoy.  Read all about it here.

I am a Lake District nut and hopefully will be up there walking next week - with a few wildcamps thrown in for good measure.  Views like these  just make me go back for more.

 

Cairngorms Kit – did it help?:

Like all backpackers I like buying new gear. But does kit make or break a trip? Maybe blisters from poor fitting boots or trail shoes - but other things like a rucksack or a cheap waterproof? Do they help? Surely fitness, determination, navigation skills and good real time decision making have got to be the main things that make or break our backpacking trips. Can the rucksack, trail shoes, sleeping bag and tent make the difference?

I thought I would look at the main bits of kit that I used on my Cairngorms walk and reflect on whether they made a difference to me finishing the walk less tired or blistered or needing to cut the route short and retreat.

First here are the days’ totals in miles and ascent in feet.

Day one 2.27 miles with 128ft of ascent

Day two 13.8 miles with 5384ft of ascent

Day three 14.6 miles with 2142ft of ascent

Day four 17.4 miles with 4600ft of ascent

Day five 9.02 miles with 809ft of ascent

I think about kit used in May and then all those years ago on my first Cairngorm walks. I shared a tent the first trip which was a Terra Nova Voyager which weighed about 2.8 kilos split between us. Solid and reliable. On the last walk I took a solo tent so it is hard to make a comparison. But other trips there I have used different tents and to be honest a recurring need stands out. Any tent needs to be able to pitch fast and ideally outer pitch first and stand up to the wind. My highest wildcamp last time was around 3000ft and the wind was very strong. I used a Terra Nova Laser Competition and it was superb. It stood up to the bad weather superbly and was a match for my old Laser it replaced. It has a brilliant porch as the photo shows and the main photo shows it pitched short end into the wind and standing strong.

I can’t fault this tent. It is more prone to condensation than the larger Laser but condensation levels are not as bad as my old Akto as the door can be left undone with the two way zip if it is not raining. Did it make or break the walk? All I will say is it’s light, dependable and gives good protection from the elements. It helped – but I have used cheaper and heavier tents just as dependable. But not as light - and that makes a difference.

Rucksacks carry the load and a bad fitting and uncomfortable one leads to misery and pain for your back and shoulders. Years ago on my first walk in the Cairngorms I used a Karrimor Jaguar which had lots of space at 70L and lots of buckles and heavy materials. It was a good pack with a thin hip belt and weighed around 2.5 Kilos. Fast forward to the last trip and I used a 70L pack that had a thin hip belt. The Golite Pinnacle is an outstanding pack. It is a tall frameless pack that has a foam pad to form the back panel. By packing it correctly by keeping its shape tall it carries superbly loads below 28lb. The material is stronger than the old heavy duty stuff on the Karrimor and much lighter. Dyneema gridstop nylon is bombproof and the simple design means there is nothing to break on it. It carried the load without any problems and my back and shoulders were fine. With a weight of 780 grams this is a winner. Did it make a difference more than my old pack years ago? Definitely, as it does all that the old one did for a lot less weight. More about this pack later.

Rucksack, tent and sleeping bag are the main bits of kit that make a backpacker. I used many years ago a one kilo synthetic Snugpak bag to sleep in the Cairngorms. It was light but not that warm. It was summer but still cold at night and compared to a down filled sleeping bag it was a world apart. I think a good sleeping bag is one of the most essential bits of kit a backpacker can buy and should never be compromised. I use now a Rab 250 endurance. This bag has a claimed weight of 700g with 250 grams of 750 fill power down. Its outer shell is a water resistant and windproof shell which helps protect the down from condensation and damp. I have slept warm in this just above freezing. I find it cold at 2 °C below. It has narrow box wall baffles which helps more than stitch through ones often found on light bags and prevents cold spots. The hood is very good. I would have preferred it had a more narrow cut like my Rab Summit 500 and used mesh on the baffles to help make it even lighter. It is a good sleeping bag and the short zip allows venting on hot nights. In the Cairngorms the cold wind up high meant the high camp was cold but I slept warm. It was on the limit for the bag but I would have put on another layer if I was cold. The low weight and comfortable night’s sleep meant this bag helped me to sleep well and recover for the next day’s walking and did make a difference from a poor designed sleeping bag and being uncomfortable. Sleep well and recover well for the next day’s walk.

Trail shoes are not for everyone. They are my best single kit choice I have made in all the time I have been hill walking. I used Inov-8 Flyroc 310 trail shoes. These light, comfortable shoes made a huge difference. Compared to the old Scarpa Delta boots worn many years ago, I was less tired and my legs felt great. The river crossings were simple as I wore them without socks and after fording the river I put them back on after drying my feet – then put on the brilliant TrekMates Amphibians Gore-Tex socks and had dry warm feet. The sole gripped well. Only one niggle is the amount of cushioning on hard rocks they offer could be better. I would rate these 9 out of ten. They made a huge difference in my undertaking the walk. Compared to using boots there is no comparison. Miles of walking of path in rough terrain and I never felt better at the end. I look back at the walks gone by and wonder why oh why I did not use trail shoes then? The difference of kit used in trips gone by compared to my first trip years ago is interesting in that a bit of investment to get good light kit and using it with a good basic fitness level that allows you to do a few munros in a day can pay off with memorable hill days. If you don’t want to go high that is your choice, if you do? - carrying light kit and not being fit and being very over weight will gain you nothing. Kit can make the difference on say completing a Scottish coast to coast with added comfort and protection from the elements. But fitness, determination and good navigation skills cost nothing, weigh nothing and make all the difference.

Michael Tunney update:

I’ve mentioned Michael before, and I thought I’d do an update on the progress of his efforts to raise £30,000 for the mountain rescue teams that helped him when he had his accident. You can read about his story on his blog. I was planning to write this week about kit used on my Cairngorm walk. I think Michaels planned walk is more important and want to raise awareness of him.

I’ve had a fascination with the 4,000 foot peaks of Scotland for many years. I’ve got a certificate at home from a charity thanking me for the money raised by me and my old friend Frank for them by doing the 4,000 foot peaks in one journey, starting from Aviemore and going through to Fort William. That trip was tinged with sadness when halfway, I stood by a small lochan while Frank bathed his sore feet and struggled with the pain he was going through. I remember telling him that the miles ahead were hard walking still, with many mountains to go, and that he wasn’t going to finish. He is a tough ex-Royal Marine, twenty years older than me, but he had a few tears in his eyes at that moment as he knew he really was going to have to pull out – still one of the most gutting days in the hills I’ve ever had, seeing him like that. I went on to finish on my own. Knowing how hard those mountains are to do, and the terrain in between them, I really marvel at the efforts that Michael is going to undertake in his up and coming walk.

Michael had hoped to do the walk in May, but had to postpone due to setbacks. Considering the horrific injuries he suffered in his accident, three years of physio and rehabilitation, I take my hat off to the guy for the efforts he’s put in to coming back from those injuries and being able to attempt the 4,000 foot peaks in one trip. You can read about his revised timescale for this fund-raising walk on his blog here. If you feel inclined to donate, please do so via his blog; also he has a new fundraising method of raffle tickets which you can buy. There are some fantastic prizes to be had – the details are here. When he sets off for his walk, I’ll be following his progress with a keen eye, and I wish him all the best. The photo is of Ben Nevis Michaels final peak on his walk.

Built to run built to walk:

I wrote on Andy Howells excellent post about the state of Lightweight Backpacking in the UK a few comments. It was an excellent write up and if you have not read it go look it up. It is about a resistant mentality to lightweight equipment - one bit of equipment Andy felt that came in for criticism is: trail shoes. I said this: “I always wonder why they are acceptable to run in over a mountain on a Mountain Marathon carrying a tent, sleeping bag, stove etc - but if you walk and have time to look where you are placing your feet it is wrong?” I said a lot of things to be honest but that comment sums up a view I have long held to.

I looked at the rescues for the year so far on the Keswick Mountain Rescue Team website. There are a lot of rescues and I am always thankful for the MRT teams and the work they do. I did notice a lot of lower leg injuries occurred. I did not see lots of fell runners coming to harm as they were using trail/running shoes on the hills.

Chris Townsend said “I asked myself why I wore running shoes for mountain marathons but boots for backpacking and decided the only reason was habit.” He has been using trail shoes on backpacking trips now for years and come to no harm. He summed it up well: “habit” and changed his habit to trail shoes. Outdoor shops sell boots for walking in as it is their habit. It has been the habit since the start of such a thing as outdoor shops I think. Perceived arguments about ankle protection and support abound. It is not in their habit to change their sales pitch now. Boots are for walking and any other sort of footwear is not suitable for using on a hill, is their habit to say. That and “Can I help you?” just as your foot crosses the door threshold.

So run with a friend carrying a tent between you and all your kit one weekend in Inov-8 310s and wildcamp on the route and say you’re training for a mountain marathon and no one on the hills will bat an eyelid. Do the same route walking in the same kit and call it backpacking and you’ve crossed some unknown safety line and are using the wrong footwear. You’re risking twisting a ankle, breaking a leg. “You’re just wrong”

Geoff mentioned comments from some on his Cairngorm walk recently about his choice of footwear being not right for the terrain. He was fine and came to no harm. I came to no harm in the Cairngorms in trail shoes as well. The fell runners I met there were fine as well doing their attempt to do all the eighteen munros in 24 hours wearing their Inov-8s I came to no harm on any walk in Scotland last year or this year in Inov-8 trail shoes. Nor in the bogs and tussocks of Dartmoor or the fells of the Lake District. The argument that trail shoes are inappropriate to wear backpacking in the UK does not seem credible to me. All the miles off-path walking wearing them and the miles on tracks and footpaths have only convinced me that the choice of not wearing boots and using trail shoes is the best single decision I have made in kit choice for backpacking trips since I have been doing it. If you have not tried them walking in the hills be open minded and give them a go on a day walk and see how it goes. Then try them on a backpacking trip. I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. The photo shows me wearing trail shoes surprisingly high on a mountain. Shocking!!!

295:

I like to have a couple of pairs of trail shoes on the go. My Salomon pair are getting worn on the local paths and kicking around in. I also wanted another pair to use on walks offering me a choice of trail shoe based on the terrain I will be covering. I did like the grip of my old Inov-8 318GTX, and wanted an unlined shoe with that super grip of the sports rubber sole. The new shoes arrived in the form of Inov-8 295’s. They are light and have a little more cushioning than my excellent 310’s. I will see how they perform on the hills soon and do a comparison against the 310 pair I have. The 295 should be more comfortable on very hard packed trails and terrain. Should! - but the 310 are fine on that sort of trail but time will tell. I know how well the extra sticky rubber sole offers grip on rocks and slippery paths - as the 318’s were superb with their grip being the best I have ever used on a trail shoe. The down side is they wear out quickly. The 295 also has a good rubber toe bumper protecting the front which looks more durable than the old 318’s and as good as the one on the 310 model. They weigh a little less as well!.

Gear Lists:

If you want an easy way to keep a list of your kit and add all the weight up - but don’t have Excel for example. Try Gear Grams. This simple system allows you to choose the measurement you want to find your total pack weight in: pounds, grams etc. A simple video tutorial and registration will get you set up and then you can add your kit to your library. Then each trip set up a new list and drop from the library the kit you want to use and you have a instant pack weight total. A very useful website and worth checking out.