Nemo Equipment have ‘reinvented’ the closed cell foam pad. Agreed, it is bulky Well possibly even bulkier – at least than an inflatable) but their new 2 cm thick ‘Switchback’ pad promises much greater comfort still with a very acceptable weight (293 grams in 51″ length and 415 in 72″) and greater durability without the …
Della has been away ‘crafting’ for a week: ‘Spending a few lovely days here at Halls Gap with the ladies, absorbing the energetic creativity of Grampians Texture. I am not doing any classes this year due to the prior claim on my attendance at our son’s wedding on Saturday: Instead I am doing some of my …
SOG have a very nice little multi tool in competition with the Leatherman Micra, the ‘Snippet’. ‘Not every situation warrants a large, full-featured multi-tool. Sometimes you need something that will fit on a key chain, or even disappear into your pocket. For times like that, we have Snippet. A tool designed to help with quick …
Lightest cheapest power banks. From 24 grams as pictured, They double as chargers for 18650 batteries . I recommend (eg genuine) Panasonic NCR18650B 3.6V 3400mAh (flat top) 6.7 amp discharge capacity. These batteries weigh a bit over 40 grams each, so the single bank pictured is 71 grams and the four battery version is 245 …
I am looking for a way to efficiently charge a Mavik Pro drone battery in the field multiple times. I plan to take mine ‘hunting’ with me so I can get some really good aerial footage of sambar deer. Obviously I will not be using it to help me kill a deer. Clearly I will …
Not so long ago people thought this was impossible. I have been complaining for years that hiking manufacturers could not get their heads around making their products seriously light, so I have been making my own (such as this and this). Now, Big Agnes have made one for those of you who cannot do so …
Just one of the reasons posts are light at the moment is all the fire activity around. There is a big fire (less than) 2 km to the South of us. It has so far burned out nearly 2,000 hectares! Such things seem to only ever occur when the wind decides it will blow from …
Just to whet your appetite as to what this blog contains I have gathered together some of my most popular posts over the last three years into one spot – and here they are. Each of them has been read by tens of thousand of people. Hope you enjoy them too: Sambar Deer Stalking #101: …
As a deer hunter and farmer I am bereft at this awful story. Chronic Wasting Disease (CWD) has been slowly spreading through deer populations across the USA. As yet there are no reported cases in Australia I am aware of, but old sheep farmers such as ourselves will be aware of its similarity to the …
What pot would it be? I have previously suggested this Vargo 450 ml pot at 62 grams for an overnight camp or for emergencies. It is an excellent mug (though lidless) with a wonderful cool lip – so you don’t burn yours! but it would never do for a longer trip. I have pointed out …
I will probably stick to carrying a backpack (or a few things in my pockets) for now, but I can imagine being in a situation where such a device as this would be handy. The novel ‘Papillon’ introduced me to the concept (of a ‘charger’) but I’m sure people who have spent any amount of …
I am starting to recover a bit from my back op so time for a wedding anniversary toddle around Sandy Point/Shallow Inlet South Gippsland Vic. As usual Spot leads the way through the Tea Tree tunnel to the inlet. Where we are greeted by this wonderful view. Wilsons Prom in the distance. You can see …
I bought a pair of Yaktrax Pros for my Everest Base Camp walk. You need some extra traction when you are going to be crossing glaciers like the Khumbu where a fall can be decidedly fatal. I have since seen even lighter ones such as Vargos but I need such things so little I doubt …
Jack London was one of my favourite writers when I was a kid He wrote lots of stories especially about the Klondike gold rush at the turn of the C20th. If you have never read White Fang or Call of the Wild for example it is about time you did. They are just about the …
What is the most useful piece of gear you can buy for $5? Over the years I have posted about lots of things I carry which cost less than $5 – and some which cost nothing at all! You will notice many such items in my gear list on this post: A Gorilla in the Hand but here …
For the ultralight hiker who has everything. Even if it isn’t ultralight, it is ultra-cool. The Colibri Monaco. Just love that triple pyramid flame. That will really get your cigar (or campfire) going! Maybe you could pair it with this to keep your cigars (or glasses) dry: http://www.theultralighthiker.com/2018/11/09/ultralight-cigar-case/ What they say about it: ‘Inspired by …
As a deer hunter I have failed to follow my own advice on this one more than once to my regret as you can read in my account of my recent Dusky walk below. Trust your nose, Somewhere upwind possibly just in sight is something important you need to pay attention to. More about New …
At last from Henry Shires a pyramid tent which you can have open when it rains but the inside doesn’t get wet – and also an acceptable weight at 496 grams including stakes – for the single model. It looks a little like my Deer Hunter’s Tent. Parallel evolution is fascinating. Like my tent it …
Adventure Pro. This is a great site for information about canoeing just so many wonderful streams in Australia. In this particular section they showcase little known and difficult sections, or ‘steep creeks’ such as the Moroka which I have copied below (hope they don’t mind). This is the section I talked about hiking/pack rafting in …
The Massdrop Veil range has to constitute just about the lightest and cheapest dry change you can carry when hiking. I have had the similar thing in Montbell (a few grams lighter) and dearer for many years. I have used them a lot (of course mostly in camp) and they are still as good as …
