What worked and what didn't.
oh...And a small tune :-)
Siena Root - In My Kitchen Live
As you can see, it was all pretty much perfect from my perspective...
Below is my Main Gear Kit list.
Not the little stuff.
| Kit Type | Make | Spec | Issues / Comments | Rating |
| RUCKSACK | Hyperlite (HMG) | Windrider 3400 in 150 Denier Cuben Hybrid |
Best Pack I have ever used.
Heaps of space, and almost totally waterproof. Slight damp on back inside on very wet days, may have been condensation. Great carry, and easy to pack.
Better than the Gorilla IMHO
| ***** |
| TENT/SHELTER | MLD | Solomid XL (silNylon). With half mesh inner. | Slight leak at Apex and one back seam! Because I forgot to seam seal it. :-( Bigger porch with Duomid will be nice when I get it from Ron. | **** |
| SLEEPING MAT | Cascade Designs | Neoair X-Lite | X-Therm may have been slightly better, but this is fine for May | **** |
| SLEEPING BAG | Enlightened Equipment | Revelation Quilt with 20 Denier bands, Hydrophobic Down 10˚F (-12˚C) |
*****
This was the no 1 bit of kit.
So warm, I just needed a base layer on the coldest of high camps, and that was to stop the quilt from getting yucky if I sweated at all. | ***** |
| PILLOW | Goosefeet | Large with Stuff Sack & 2 oz Fill | Added my Rotor Smock, and this was the best sleep for head I've had in the hills. No more sore head and stiff neck | ***** |
| COOKING | Flat Cat Gear |
Leopard Meths Stove
and Tokes Pot
| As long as you can wait for the 8 min boil time (I can) | ***** |
| WATERPROOFS | ||||
| Top | PHD | Alpamayo Smock (Orange) | I got wet in this (3 years on, and last year), when I first got it it was perfect. Not sure why. Give PHD credit, I have sent it back to them for testing. They have been good | **** |
| Trousers | Berghaus | Paclites | Could be slightly lighter | **** |
| SHOES | Inov 8 | 282 GTX | Love or Hate the GTX versions. They work for me. Not even a hint of a blister. This year, no wear out, and perfect. So good I have ordered another pair as soon as I got back | ***** |
| SOCKS | X Socks | Trekking Lite | Love these socks. Not for everyone. | ***** |
| CAMP/RIVER SHOES | Zuucs | Zuucs (yellow and Black) | I carry these for towns, camps & river crossings. It was a toss up between these and the ViviBarefoots, but these are slightly lighter. I used the inners from the inov's with them | **** |
| BASE LAYER | ||||
| Pants | Rohan | Ultra Silver Trunks | Light, Comfortable, very quick drying. Not quite as smell resistant as reported | **** |
| Top 1 | Rab | Meco 120 | Super light and warm, even when wet | **** |
| Top 2 | Brynje | Merino Wool string Thermo with padded shoulders | I used this for sleeping in, and also wear on colder days. I get a lot of stick for this. It is brilliant. Everyone who has the bottle to try one loves them | ***** |
| MID LAYER | OMM | Rotor Smock | Only 260 g, also makes a pillow. This was a super buy. | ***** |
| NordicLife Take Note!! | I'd love to try the Brynje Fleece jacket with windstopper Martin was given one to review, having failed to review the String Vest :-( I was gutted!!! Where was mine? | |||
| DOWN LAYER | PHD | Waferlite Smock (130g) 1000 Down Fill | For the weight, this was silly warm | ***** |
| WATER FILTER | Sawyer | Sawyer Mini Filter | For the bucks, this delivers | ***** |
| WALKING POLES | Black Diamond | Ergo Corklite with Flick Lok (500g) - 140cm | These were excellent for the price, and perfect for the Solomid XL BD Poles have the best FlikLok | **** |
| I did have other kit, but this is the main stuff | ||||
I may or may not actually do a trip report.