No 441 – Two Moors Way – Pt8 – Gear Review

This podcast covers all the equipment I took and a review of my thoughts relating some of the items and alternatives I could have considered. The full video of the walk and this section should be available soon.

Rucksack packing etc 1.37kg
Gossamer Gear – Silverback Rucksack with frame, less ‘Brain/Lid’, slightly modified plus a handful of sil-nylon roll top bags. One for sleep system, one for spare clothes, one for electronics and one large enough to put the whole rucksack in at night.
Various Aloksak bags. Two large for all the food, several small ones for wallet, phone, and tickets etc. Various plastic bags for rubbish and to transfer purchased items out of the packaging into the rucksack.

Comment: Although comfortable and well fitted, I did feel the closure system needs to be improved. I could easily have used the larger Mariposa or smaller Gorilla but it was a good opportunity to try and new pack!

Shelter System 830g

Backpackinglight.co.uk – Solo Tarp
12 x Slim line Titanium stakes
4 x 2m lengths of standard black paracord.

Comment: This worked as well as I would have hoped, although on reflection if I was to tackle another multiday trip using a tarp I would use the larger Dup Tarp, as the Solo didn’t quite offer enough protection should I have been on the receiving end of several nights of continual rain. Luckily I didn’t have it and managed, but space to sort gear was at a premium in public spaces.

Sleep System- In waterproof roll top bag 1.416kg

Thermarest Alpine (old model) or Corus Down Quilt (If it arrives in time)
Thermarest Neo Air – Full length
Backpacking light.co.uk – sample bivvy bag (Waterproof base + 2 layer Goretex upper)

Comment: Perfect, as I had hoped. The larger than average bivvy allowed clothes and gear inside and kept me dry.

 

 

 

 

Cook System – Stored in pot cosy and small sil-nylon bag 1.056kg
Titan Solo Wood Burning Stove
Evernew 1300ml Ti Non-Stick Pot ECA 415
Pot cosy
 – Folding titanium spork – Pen knife
Mini whisk
 – Mini silicone spatula
 – Small jay cloth off cut
Small sponge off cut
 – Small bottle organic soap
Orikaso folding plate
 – Coghlans twin egg carrier
Strip of Hammer tinder card
 – Light My Fire – Scout flint/steel
MSR Titan Mug
 – Nalgene 300ml screw top pot

Comment: If you have listened to the other podcasts you will have heard me discuss my cooking options and wondering if a wood stove was the best choice. If the weather had been warm enough to stop and prepare a brew or cook, it would have been ideal. However on reflection a small gas stove and less ambitious cooking plans would have been more sensible I think. Again it was down to the weather on this particular trip.

Wearing 1.482kg

Embers Merino t-shirt
 – Vaude briefs
 – X-Socks – Trek-Lite
Montane Trail Tights
 – Montane Cap – 
Buff
Inov-8 Rocklite 280
 – Mountain King Skyrunner – Carbon Poles

Comment: Yes, all good. The Skyrunners were exceptional. Very strong. However as always dissapointed that by only 120 miles of easy walking the Inov8’s 280s were showing signs of falling apart.

Insulation – In waterproof roll top bag 390g
Rab Generator Smock
 – Montane Prism Trousers (added last minute due to a chilly forecast)

Comment: Perfect and used on a few chilly nights.

Wet Weather – In front mesh pocket 1.016kg
Montane Spine Smock
 – Montane Spine Rain Pants
 – Montane Minimum Mitts
Outdoor Designs Sticky gloves
 – Rab eVent ankle gaiters

Comment: This was the perfect combination of gear for me. The new Montane Spine gear was fantastic. Shame Rab don’t make those gaiters anymore.

Spare Clothing – In waterproof roll top bag 576g

Montane Primino 140G zip neck – 
Vaude briefs
 – Buff
 – Shorts

Comment: All used except the shorts.

Hydration 284g

2 x 1lt Platypus bottle x  1 Travel Tap filter bottle

Comment: If anything I carried too much water too long initially, however some of that was to do with the cooking expectations, rather than the need for hydration. The same with the wood fuel when I collected it.

Wash Kit 338g

MSR Towel
 – Toothbrush
 – Toothpaste
 – Small bottle soap
Avid Razor – 
Foot Cream and Foot Balm in small jars

Comment: The foot creams were excellent and I just used the toothbrush. I had a shave at the end of the trip.

First Aid Kit 198g

Small items, plasters, tablets, cream etc

Comment: Didn’t use it, but just enough for my needs.

Accessories 410g

Cicerone Guide – Two Moors Way
Yellow Publications Maps for Two Moors Way x 2
 – Silva Compass
iPhone – Routebuddy software – iPhone App – OS Locate

Comment: All useful especially the OS App, which picked up GPS signals far more reliably than the Routebuddy.

Head Torch 84g

Recording 544g
Lumix FT3 camera
 – Tascam DR-05 Recorder
 – Ear phones and tie mic

Charging 366g

Batteries x 3 – 
USB charger – 
Ultrapod
Folding mains twin USB plug (to charge iPhone and Lumix together)

Food 2.10kg
6 days of dehydrated morning and evening meals. Snacks, Tea, Powered Milk, handful of bars

Grand Total 12.45kg
 – Less food, items worn, poles and wet weather gear 7.859kg

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