Almost 10 years of podcasting and 10 years of retailing in the Outdoor Industry I’ve noticed some significant changes in shopping patterns and where and how people research their gear. This podcast looks back at those 10 years and the effect our habits have made in the retail world as we know it. Do you feel happier to be able to talk to a retailer, or do you prefer a bargain, no matter where it’s come from?

The TGO Awards are upon us once again and we have been nominated this year in the on-line retailer category. If you would like to vote and support what we do at backpackinglight.co.uk, then please pop along to the TGO Website and click the appropriate boxes in each category. Every vote helps 🙂

Wild-Camp-1 Wild-Camp-2

Also Rose takes one of her friends wild camping for the first time and reflects on her fears and concerns. This leads me nicely into my personal challenge of 12 months wild camping using either a bivy, tarp or hammock, but keeping it lightweight and simple, no matter the weather!

On this trip they used a Luxe Habitat and walking up and over the Black Mountain in Wales. It was a big first time for Sue and after this experience she is now considering much more adventurous trips such as the TGO Challenge!

14 thoughts on “No 377 – 10 Years Reflection and Introduction to Wild Camping”

  1. Thinking of your 12 month wild camping challenge have you read Phoebe Smith’s Extreme Sleeps book?
    I read and enjoyed both that book and Ronald Turnbull’s Book of the Bivvy over this summer holiday.

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  3. Bob, there seems to be a problem with the podcast link. Can you take a look please, as I’m looking forward to hearing it!

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  4. Bob & Rose – great episode so many things to say….
    1 – great job, taking a “newbie” wild camping, especially a lady (I have managed to inspire wife and eldest daughter so far, 2 more daughters to go – our 3 sons all keen now… they are now tarp/bivvy proponent ages 24/14/12)
    2 – prototype quilts – tell me more ! My wife and I have on our last two trips used our sleeping bags as quilts but being mummy-style not quite ideal. It’s our preferred arrangement now
    3 – Ali Express – I confess I’m tempted, but not yet gone for a “rip-off” item, only unbranded stuff for bike
    4a – More trip-based podcasts – yes please, I re-listen to the TGO/Cape Wrath series frequently
    4b – Would you be able to post your kit lists with the trip podcasts, gear nerds like me I guess are always interested what you took.
    5 – Keep up the great work, really appreciate it !!

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    1. Thanks Rich for such a positive comment. I’m trying to do ‘all of the above’ and the gear listing should be on most trips covered, but I am only human!

      My new quilts are available now here http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/search/for/wilderness+quilt/ and they allow clipping together, opening up and semi-mummy fitting. Must do a video!

      All I need to do now is find a way to cover growing costs and we can produce many, many more 🙂

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  5. Thanks for the podcast.

    The term “wild camping” amuses me, as it sounds like the normal camping we do here in the Nordic countries. Our population density is less than in the British Isles and out concept of land ownership focuses on the economic benefits of land (timber and agricultural products), the landowner does not have complete control over land. Our everyman’s rights differ a little bit between the countries, but in my home country Finland I am allowed to walk and ski on anybody’s land, as long as I don’t disturb crops or get too near habited houses, I can also pick berries and mushrooms and overnight on other people’s land. Making a fire is not allowed without permission, thus wew have Trangia and now a new interest in woodburning cookers.

    I live in Helsinki and I know places half an hour away where I can disappear and be alone easily. If you go to Lapland and avoid the most popular places, like marked trails in national parks, you can hike for a week and are likely to not see anybody.

    So those of your listeners, who want more solitude and outdoors than Scotland can provide, can just grab a plane to Rovaniemi and a bus to where-ever. No services, just plenty of nature. For more information you can look at our ministry of forestry pages: http://www.outdoors.fi/Pages/Default.aspx

    And for the topic of the podcast, many people would like to try something new, but are afraid. So if you have a friend whom you think might like camping, it is a really nice thing to take them out like Rose did. Once people have put up a tent, cooked a meal outdoors and slept one night they have a much more better understanding of the concept and can progress on their own. But the first night might be quite an owerwhelming step to cross alone.

    Timo Kiravuo

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  6. Great episode Bob! Has inspired me to do the same; a monthly wild-camp. I’ll be cheating though as I live in Scotland where, as you know, it’s allowed!

    Good to see a regular series of field-based podcasts again. I loved your TGO Challenge and Cape Wrath series and, like the poster above, re-listen to them often. In fact the podcasts introduced me to the TGO and inspired me to do it (TGO 30, 2009). Still ranks up there as one of life’s great experiences.

    I had thought for an awful while that you were beginning to move away from audio and over to video. Please, NEVER give up the audio! I listen to it while doing so many things; driving, splitting logs, cooking, doing the VAT return, working in our woodland and, of course, walking (not all at the same time). Watching video, useful as it is, is a static experience.

    Reply

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