Hiking, Scrambling, Mountaineering, and Climbing

just cut them off, they're super low profile so wouldn't make a difference. for £55ish on ebay if you get lucky I think it's a great deal

I know there's a film thread, but this seems a more appropriate place.

Just watched The Epic of Everest. Incredible film from 1924 about the Mallory/Irvin expedition. It's been restored and given a new score by Simon Fisher Turner.

http://player.bfi.org.uk/film/watch-the-epic-of-everest-1924/

dyneema. Crazy expensive though.

http://www.cilogear.com/3004.html

nice packs

As someone who used to make bags I have a lot of respect for cilo gear, very well thought out packs. McHale is another nice but pricey option.

Would anything from the Aiguille range fit the bill?

Going climbing on the Moray coast in Feb, just got the SMC guide in the post. Not used to guides without photo topos and crag diagrams :/
Short, crumbly, sandy overhangs and a few chimneys. It doesn't look like it's worth the trip up there alone but will be staying in Findhorn for a week anyway so seemed rude not to sample the local climbing.

Driving my old Land Rover up to the Highlands tomorrow for 10 days of walking/climbing/mountains. Hopefully she'll make it (we've given her a pretty major overhaul in preparation for the trip), and hopefully the weather will be in our favour. Conditions aren't going to be great, but we're hoping for a dump of snow early on, or relatively dry conditions for some climbing. Target is new years overnighter on An Teallach, but also looking at some walking in the cairngorms, and some climbing or bouldering if we can find any dry crags.
I hate packing, and as we don't know what the weathers going to do/exactly what we're going to be doing, I'm just going to chuck a little bit of everything in the car...

Report to follow...

Looks proper epic. That pack looks pretty comprehensive. Very jealous indeed.
Would like to go hiking/adventuring some time with people who know what they're doing. I tend to pick my climbs by the proximity to the carpark....

Looks like I've trained my in laws at last- got a dmm screwgate for xmas this year instead of the usual bike/climbing accessory the dies on its first outing.

I don't think my requirements are conflicting - both the durability and the weight of a pack have far more to do with the design than to do with the materials.

• Zipped compartments (especially the 100% useless bottom compartments for sleeping bags) just add weight and additional failure points
  
• External mesh and external zips get caught on things and just rip out
  
• A lot of modern packs seem to be rather short and fat, and if the pack is wider than your hips it's definitely going to get caught on trees/rocks as you squeeze though them
  
  

For example my partner has a Vaude Minimalist - constructed from 210d and 70d (!) fabric, but after two years of use it's completely unscathed, because it's simple and has a tall, thin, streamlined shape (granted she did take off the daisy chains on the side immediately). And it only weighs something like 800g. If they made a 55l version I'd be all over it.

Anyway I just got back from our hiking/kayaking trip so will post up some pictures soon.

Lowe Alpine Crag Attack 42ltr.

Dropped a few kilos by swapping to this beauty a few years ago. Somewhere around 800grams.....
Think it was nearer 900g, but remove the foam insert and trim the straps and it might get under 800. Can dig mine out and weigh it tomorrow, grabbed an online image.

Simple single compartment with a small lid pocket, bladder ports and pocket, not waterproof but everything lives in drybags nowdays (way better than bin liners). Loops for poles/axes and belt loops for wedges etc etc (i don't climb)
Think i got it for £52 new online.

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I'm currently in Norway, Trondheim to be precise. Refreshing nippy here compared to UK at the mo.
Going for a bit of a hike in whatever remains of the snow tomorrow which I'm super excited about. Chuffed with the Marmot highland trousers I bought last week for the occasion. Pretty windproof and toasty warm with longjohns underneath. My Meindl chainsaw boots are delightfully warm and great to walk in. Bd Dirtbag gloves are fantastic so far.
Only thing that's bugging me is the previous owner of my recently acquired Hot Ice pack trimmed one of the shoulder straps pretty short(luckily not too short) and I have no scissors/lighter/needle and thread to balance it up.
Oh, and I dropped my nice new wooly hat getting in the car to drive to Gatwick. Really bummed about that, making do with a Buff but not the same. Too skint/cheap to buy a new one seeing as a bag of fucking haribo is nearly a fiver over here :/

Hopefully some nice pics tomorrow...

Couple of pics from the walk we took up the hill. Crap pics unfortunately but it was fun.
Lots of locals out cross country skiing, sprinting up icy roads in spikes with poles and generally frolicking around just above the town. Nice to see whole families out, kids appear to walk everywhere from very young. Kinda want a snow version of microscooters a few had.

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42l too small for 3+ days but they do a 55l version... but I am just going to wait until I'm back in the UK, then I can look at all those fancy boutique brands that just aren't available here.

We have decided to go to Australia and Tasmania for a few weeks, looking at the Overland Track in Tassie (6 days although it looks a bit easy). Not really sure whether we will actually do any real hiking in Australia, everybody strongly recommends waiting until winter (temperature and fire risk) but we're heading back to the UK in April.

Too small for lae but just spotted this on eBay and thought it might be of interest to someone. Sexy kimm sac for sells. I have a slightly older and less equipped version and it's amazing.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/ulk/itm/161935798817

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If anyone's keen we've penciled a trip to Gozo, Malta for week commencing 20th June. Cheap flights, cheaper accommodation and even cheaper wine...

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How 'bout this? 1.4kg
Dru 50+10l

Yah looks good, nice and streamlined - I see they do custom stuff too... it would be great with lighter body fabric and with a shovel pocket (useful, streamlined, and rugged - so much better than a zipped external pocket). Of course it all depends on the harness, I'll have a look when I'm back in the UK. In any case it's a significant weight improvement over my 2.2kg Arcteryx.

Ive got the alpine attack which is similar to the crag attack mentioned above and its brilliant. Ive hauled it over gritstone while climbing and generally bashed around with it for a few years, it's a great pack especially because its reasonably priced. I would also recommend the grivel packs, simple and very hard wearing, though they dont make the one I have anymore.

My Arc'teryx Beta LT Hybrid jacket just arrived. First impression: Amazing.

It took 3 years but I finally tracked down a copy. Very excited for sun drenched sea cliffs and traverses. Done a bit of sport there previously.

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If anybody is after some winter climbing trousers there is a deal on Simon dAlpinism 700 trousers at the moment. I've worn these for activities down to -30 and they've kept me warm with a base layer underneath. Very breathable and they feel like a £300 pair of trousers quality wise which isn't bad for <£60

http://www.decathlon.co.uk/alpinism-700-pants-id_8100490.html

Does anybody climb at mile end? I've a compulsion so go climbing after many years of not.

I'm off up Snowdon in 2 weeks, looks like crampons and ice axe will be required. I've been bitten by the bug again... Think it's because i now work from home and i need to be outdoors or at least doing something.

any recommendations for decent leather walking boots ?

meindl
scarpa
brasher

any others i should think about ?

Vasque make a nice leather boot.

I wear meindl chainsaw boots and wear them hiking too usually. Think it's preference but they work for me for 12hrs + a day. Old school style boots can be resoled which is worth remembering.