New Zealand's Te Araroa Hike

It’s amazing how fast time fly’s between expeditions. 12 weeks seems like a long time but I never got even 1/2 of what I planned done. The blogs still bare and I’ve still got many gear projects floating around in my head, but that’s life! Outdoors should come first and the rest when, and if, I get around to it.

New Zealand's Te Araroa Trail

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite Longterm Test

After a not too favourable longterm review of the original Therm-a-Rest NeoAir I was reluctant to waste anymore money on something that could potentially have such a short life. Thing is, comfort is important to me on a long hike and foam, or even self-inflating, mats just don’t provide enough so when the NeoAir XLite was released in 2012 I gave it a go. Well… wow! This one actually works!

Therm-a-Rest XLite Small

Trail Designs 600ml Titanium Pot & Sidewinder Stove Review

Trail Designs have been the masters of lightweight hiking stoves for some time. They combine great performance, in all conditions, but remain very light, tough, and pack small. There are of course lighter stoves out there but they often involve too much compromise. Trail Designs always seems to find that sweet spot and I’m a huge fan.

The 600ml Titanium Pot & Sidewinder package is no different. For the solo hiker I would say it’s near perfect. Light, efficient, burns 3 fuel types and packs very small, what more could you ask for?

600ml Sidewinder stove with supplied foil lid

Training for that big hike

I’m sometimes asked about training for a hike, what to do, and how much. Many people expect me to be out training all the time, and I must be super fit, right? The answer to those questions are no and moderately! This is what I do.

Weight change on and off the trail

Pacific Crest Trail Hike Report

The PCT was aways one of those trails that I knew I just had to hike. It looked spectacular and unlike, say the AT, it has a point. Great long hikes should have a definite start and finish, coast to coast hikes are the ultimate example of this. You just can’t go any further when you hit the sea. Borders give a slightly more diluted experience but there is still a clear purpose to the hike. I had dreamt of hiking the PCT for many years and it had a lot to live up too. Did it? Overall I think it did. As with any long hike it has it's highs and lows but the PCT was great experience. This isn't a day by day account of my time, others do that better, this is just a collection of thoughts that you may find helpful when thinking about, or planning, your PCT hike.