Jet Power!

When looking for a stove, I needed something which was compact, lightweight, fuel efficient and most importantly easy to use. I found all of this with Jetboil making it the natural choice for me. It’s now my most prized bit of kit, and comes everywhere with me. What I love about the Jetboil is how easy it is to use, as everything stays connected, all I have to do is connect the stove to the cooking vessel and in less than 2 minutes I can have a hot drink.
The all in one design combines the cooker and 1.0L cooking vessel in one compact unit. This can all then be stacked and stored, along with gas (up to size equivalent of Coleman 100) inside the cooking vessel. This makes it ideal for any activity where space is an issue, which for me makes it perfect for backpacking, climbing and general use.
For me there are a few real pros of the Jetboil which make it stand out from the rest, simple things such as the piezo ignition and the lid which turns the cooking vessel it into a large cup for hot drinks. It’s perfect for wayfarer meals and other dehydrated meals as well as boiling water for a brew, with a super quick boil time of 2 minutes for 1/2 litre.
However there are a few issues which I find affect the Jetboil. First of all, because of the shape of the pot you are quite limited to what can be cooked however, this hasn’t been much of a problem for me as I usually go for dehydrated meals and pastas. Another issue is that the Jetboil is quite bulky and can take up more room in your pack than other stoves, however as everything is all stacked and stored in the one unit, I find it much easier as I know that once I’ve got the stove I have everything I need to start cooking. A must for bad weather or emergency situations.
Overall I think that the Jetboil is a superb piece of kit, worthy of any mountaineer, climber or outdoor enthusiast. Its design, efficiency and price make it irresistible for anyone looking for a stove.
Thanks for reading,
Josh

Posted in Josh's Top End kit list | Leave a comment

New Tent & Camping Display Inc Vango Airbeam Inflatable Tents

Great news everyone…  Display opens soon (contact us for details)
At Outdoorgear4u we are about to have a grand opening for our new Tent & Camping display. It’s only 5 Min’s down the road from our Ormskirk store. We have had a lot of requests & a lot of interest from customers wanting to not just view a tent on a computer screen but to actually see tents in all their glory with the matching accessories such as extension canopies, carpets, footprints & furniture.

It’s a big step for us as previously we have only managed to erect 8-10 smallish tents in our Ormskirk store, however we had a rather large car-park at our Outdoorgear4u warehouse so we have decided to put that space to good use & erect some of our flagship tents such as Vango Icarus 500 & Vango Maritsa models.

There will  be an indoor display of camping accessories, spares, sleeping bags & more for customers to view at their own leisure & best of all our knowledgeable staff will be there to help & advise you, after all it’s not just a tent, it’s also part of your holiday.

We’ll also have our Top end tent, (The Bentley of the camping world) on display… Vango Airbeam

Vango AirBeam™ inflatable tents are new for this year & are set to redefine camping. Rapid pitch, no poles, stability, fully featured, inflatable tents. This is the most innovative and exciting development to the camping market in recent years. Models will be the Velocity, available in 200, 300 and 400 and the Infinity, available in 400, 600 and 800. You have to be an Authorised dealer for Vango Airbeam & due to our dedication to the brand we have been selected to retail these awesome new tents.

There’s always a deal at Outdoorgear4u & we have some special opening offers for customers … Like our facebook page for new offers & discount coupons to print

So come on, have a day out in Burscough… There’s plenty to do in the area & it’s always good to view a tent 1st, the display is only 5 minutes form the Leeds/Liverpool canal where you will some great canal pubs (ask Dave – he knows them all)  wildlife packed canal walks & Martin Mere Wetland Centre is only minutes drive away.

I look forward to seeing you there… Andy: Blogger

Posted in General News | 4 Comments

Outdoor chef goes dutch serving up international cuisine in Beddgelert

Hey everyone, This is my 1st post on my new outdoor celebrity chef status!
I’m going to be posting some of these recipes as I & a few friends have all decided that outdoor grub tastes better. Were going to share mouth watering recipes to show that you can cook up some top notch scran with minimal effort & equipment.

First essential piece of kit is a Dutch Oven, this IS THE BEST PIECE OF OUTDOOR KIT I have EVER purchased.it’s basically an outdoor version of a Le Creuset pan & lid that’s suitable for cooking on open fires…. Oh & don’t forget the tripod, it’s not essential but without it will be like cooking on a F16 Afterburner.

1st of all you need to season your Dutch Oven, that means taking a bit of time out at home to get this cast iron cauldron ready for it’s new outdoor life. Get the pot & lid out of the box, give them both a very light coating of oil (use an oil suitable for high tenperature cooking) I used seasame oil on mine. Then pop it in the oven upside down (with some tinfoil on the bottom to catch any drips) for at least an hour or 2. The more you do this (I done mine twice) the better it will be. This then provides the pot with a longer life & a decent non stick coating.

Now that it’s ready for action you can start thinking about what your going to cook & if you have any good recipes be sure to let me know by posting on this blog, I’d love to hear from you. Likewise I’ll be updating this as much as possible with new recipes & ideas.

Just to bed you in lightly try this Moroccan Tagine, it’s really easy to prepare and cook & taste’s absolutely amazing.
I find it’s easiest to pack all your spices, stock cubes & dried fruit mixed up in a bag before you go….

Lamb Tagine: Serves 2/3, preparation: 10 Mins, Cooking Time: 1-1.5 Hours

Fry 300g lamb mince and onion in dutch oven for 3 mins until browned, add carrot and 1 x garlic clove and cook for 1 min.
Add 1 x tin chopped toms, 1 x tin chick peas & 1/2 pint chicken stock, then add 1/2 teaspoon of each as follows…
turmeric, ground cumin, cayenne pepper, cinnamon & i like to chuck in a few cumin seeds as well (like i said it’s best to have these and the stock cube ready mixed in a bag & just add water)
Then add a hand full of mixed dried fruit (sultanas, raisins and apricots work well)
mix, season and then cook in the dutch oven for 1 – 1/2 hours or until carrots have softened.
Serve with fresh coriander a splodge of houmous in the middle & either pitta bread or cous cous.
Works well with minced beef or diced lamb but i prefer the lamb mince…

Bon appetit! Andy: Blogger

Posted in Andys Kit List, Dutch Oven - Camp Fire Recipes, Gear Test's, Product Reviews | 1 Comment

Holly the Hill hound loves da cake…..woof

Captains log star-date 8/3/11. Beamed down to Grasmere today, nothing too extreme Holly has been recuperating from a  torn cruciate ligament since last winters snow, and at the tender age of 12 years I always aire on the side of caution. Grasmere a lovely village nestling amongst the more lowly fells but still a great focal point for some very good hill walks…. and pie and pastry scoffing, myself, Chris, and Holly the hill hound are connoisseurs when it comes to all things pastry!!

After stuffing our chops, we headed off up Easedale Road where the track becomes a path there’s a small path sheep trod going off on the left, we took this winding muddy little track to the summit of Great Castle How 500m. beautiful views in all directions on such a sunny spring like morning, cold wind from the west. I was breaking in my new Brasher Towa GTX walking boots, straight from the box, very comfortable, just the right amount of flex/rigidity & the Vibram sole offered excellent grip. We decended the ridge to spedding Crag to  High Close YHA were we stopped for… yeah more pies! Woof. I popped my Paramo velez adventure lite smock on to keep my static temperature up, Holly the Hill Hound as usual eager to cram in just another titbit if possible usally by theft of the food product from ones fingers!

So, after more munching, we set off up and over Loughrigg Fell, both Chris and I had been trying the Smartube hydration system which is very nifty idea that allows any bottle to be used as a potential resevior for carrying fluids on the move. Brilliant! We bombed down to Rydal, again not rushing too nice a day, spen some 20 minutes just taking photos and talking to fellow travellers.

We headed off via the Tarnside paths of Rydal water and Grasmere back to Grasmere village and the best £1.25 strawberry,cream  and IceMORE PIES! PLEASE cream pancakes ever! Stuffed. Until The next Time, Pete.

Posted in General News, Walking Routes | 1 Comment

Go Ultra Light Helium 100 to avoid Drew’s Force Ten Snoring

Anually I go on a long distance walk during the month of May, previous trek’s include the Pennine Way, West highland Way, Rob Roy Way & Great Glen Way.

2 years ago I was looking to replace my already fairly lightweight 2 man Vango Spirit 200 tent to a new 1 man tent, any savings in weight would be a bonus but the main reason was to get away from Drew’s earth shaking snoring & boisterous guitar playing

What was I Looking For?
The problems with lightweight backpacking tents are simple but the solutions are not… How can you maximise space whilst minimising weight & still produce a shelter strong enough for the terrible conditions we experience camping in the UK.  Tents, especially in Scotland need to be able to withstand a battering from wind, rain, even snow (yes it has snowed in May) and most of all be midge-proof. You need to be able to Brew up in the rain, stow away your kit, & cope with any condensation issues.

Whilst perusing through the brochures & checking out reviews I come across the Force Ten Helium 100, it instantly jumped out at me, a double skin & the weight at just over 1.1 kg.  There was lighter tents available at the time but most were single skin & i Didn’t fancy that due to the condensation issue’s.

At the time we didn’t have the tent in stock, it was new on the market & I’d only seen a picture in a catalogue,  but I couldn’t find anything better on paper & so i took the chance & ordered a staff purchase from Vango Force Ten.

The tent touched down 2 days later, I was instantly impressed with the pack size (less than half of my Spirit 200) only 42cm x 12cm, from the moment it arrived I couldn’t wait to get home (although I do love working, boss) to pitch it outside in the garden.

When I eventually got home I impatiantly dragged the tent out of the bag & started to erect it. At 1st I couldn’t find where the long pole sleeve was (I was excited & didn’t read the instructions) Eventually I found it, popped the pole in & the tent was more or less done (It erects as one, that means the inners already attached) Once the main pole is in, I find it’s easieast to peg the guying point at the back & work from there. You can pitch it with a minimum amount of pegs (great for keeping weight to a minimum) 1 guy point at the back,2 near the rear, 2 at the front & 2 at the side… That’s it! You don’t even need pegs for the inner, the 4 elastic points are stretchy enough to reach the outer pegs you have already used. So there you have it pitched with only 7 pegs. Some people may wish to use extra pegs for guy lines etc… but I’ve never even deployed them for action, the TBS (Tension Band System) has proved more than adequate to fend the wind.

West Highland Way Glen Coe

Inside the tent is an orange inner that gives off a warm glow of warmth, It’s spacious enough for me, I’m under 6′ so fitted in nicely including some essentials from my Rucksack (my pillow! it weighs almost the same as the tent).  There is a small porch area so the Backpack can be stored neatly outside the inner but still behind the flysheet for protection, mines a 65 litre pack & just about fits.

There seems to be ample midge protection inside, loads of mesh panels and a complete mesh door panel if required, I haven’t been unlucky enough to need to test them against the elite Scottish midge but I’m sure it would fare up fine.

 If you are used to a bivvy the helium will feel like luxury but there’s not a vast amount of headroom inside (90cm) however you cant expect much from a solo backpacking tent. Anyway it was fine after i got used to dressing & undressing like a caterpillar.

The only issue with cooking is in bad weather, you have to do it whilst lying down. Although not a huge gripe for me as it’s usually quick (I’m still talking about breakfast) due to the high powered jetboil portable cooker that I’ll be blogging about soon.

The Tent has withstood some blustery conditions, by no means extreme weather but it’s not even quaked at 25mph gusts & heavy downpours. The TBS is a little tricky to work out at 1st but the internal pole bracing holds the main hoop rigid during wind. She’s experienced a number of different conditions & there’s no noise from a flappy flysheet, no leaks & minimal condensation.

So would I recommend a friend? Absolutely,  the Vango Force Ten Helium is a winner for me & will continue to aid me on my mini expeditions accross the country. Since I purchased mine in 2008 there have been few modifications & the same model is still produced by Vango. But now theres a new kid on the block the new Force Ten Helium Superlite 100 & 200… Any takers on the new predecessor be sure to let me know your thoughts…

Thanks for reading, feel free to comment!

Andy.

Posted in Andys Kit List, Gear Test's, Staff Equipment | 2 Comments

Wail like a Banshee……..

At the end of February Chris and I who have both been suffering with injuries, decide to get back in saddle and decide to have a nice mellow 10 mile walk  at Arnside AONB with an over night camp at Hollins farm Campsite. We set off up the M6 on Saturday morning - rain, rain and more rain!  Surprisingly as we headed towards the coast, the drier it became. We took the new Vango Banshee 200  model.  We pitched the tent very quickly in about 10 Min’s or so, with the inner already clipped in the sleeping accommodation is sorted straight away with no messing about. We left our vango sleeping bags   in the car to keep them as damp free as possible.

We set out along the coast, the tide was high in the Kent estuary, so we had to make our way inland after about half a mile, through Grubbins wood.  Taking the cliff top paths all the way to Silverdale for a nifty pint!

A dinner stop at the pepperpot on the limestone escarpment of Middle barrow wood was very welcome, after lunch a pleasant stroll over to Black Dyke, the ‘Gait Burrows’ reserve and utilised the Limestone link trail to take us back around to the car. Back at camp I fired up the Trangia gas burner and started to cook my fave chicken, pesto pasta, topped off with apple wood smoked cheese! fantastic!  A great day out and felt good to get back out walking and camping again after injury time.

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Waiting for Victor, Great snow & beer prices higher than Mont Blanc

Back to reality… After a weeks skiing in the heart of the French Alps.  The Chamonix Mont Blanc Valley, renowned for its off-piste back country skiing, technical mountaineering / ice climbing, fine French cuisine and some of the most expensive and outrageously priced pints in Europe! (Belive it or not, over 8 Euros each)

After an early start and a painless easyjetflight from Liverpool John Lennon airport  we finally arrived in Geneva only to find we had a 2 hour wait for the rest of our taxi passengers to arrive and that the taxi was a 20 minute walk from the arrivals lounge.  After a full days travelling, the idea of trawling my cases, ski boots and skis that distance really did not appeal.  Resulting  in a further few pints and bullying our taxi driver into commuting the 20 minute trek to the mini bus so that he could bring it closer, after all, this is meant to be a holiday!  Unfortunately this left us stranded in the airport with all our cases holding up a ridiculous whiteboard waiting for our other passengers ‘Victor’ and ‘Mr Melander’ to arrive.

At around 10pm we pulled up outside our appartment ‘Le Cristal’ in Argentiere, by this point all I wanted was to get my skis on and on the piste.  My skis were waxed and edged with Swix wax products all ready to get out there, with all the gear I was bound to stand out on the slopes with my Scott corduroy ski jacket, Quiksilver salopettes, Phoenix ski mitts and Bolle Nova Rasta goggles to complete the look… I make things look good.

Despite peoples negativity towards the snow conditions about how poor the snow fall has been so far this season, ignore them!  Just because there may not be as much snow down in the village, when you get on the slopes the snow is something else.  Our first 2 days were slightly dull with some light snow showers, but after that we were left with a perfect few inches of fresh powder snow on a firm base with clear blue sky’s, things could not get better.  Even with the arctic temperatures of -16 at times I still managed to stay warm with a merino wool base layer and the Serious Owen Technical Ski Socks, which really do feel like the warmest socks in the world!

With the public transport and ski buses being so frequent and not costing any extra we were able to make the most of our ‘Mont-Blanc unlimited Lift-Pass’ allowing us to ski the entire area of the Chamonix Valley including :-

  • Brévent-Flégère
  • Balme  (Tour – Vallorcine)
  • Grands Montets 3300m
  • Les Houches
  • Verbier – 4 valleys
  • Courmayeur (Italy)

Courmayeur definitely being one of the most memorable days skiing of the holiday, partially because I had to endure a one and a half hour coach trip through the Mont-Blanc tunnel whilst nursing one of the all time worst hangovers of my life!  Despite this it did not put a downer on the day at all, the snow conditions and skiing were fantastic along with the surrounding scenery being second to none.  Plus the Italian food, what more can i say…  Courmayeur has been a popular resort for over a decade with many celebrities including Penelope Cruz and Heston Blumenthal.  So with great skiing, Italian kitchen, fine views, boutique shopping and a bustling apres-ski scene.  I would say Courmayeur is without a doubt, definitely worth a visit!

Friday night soon crept upon us and after a week of hard skiing it was time to re-pack the contents of my wardrobe back into my case ready for an early start.  Having to get up at 5am to head back to Geneva, I was starting to get the Monday morning blues.  Now I’m back in the office faced with a long week ahead, feels like I’ve never been away…

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Czech out the Polka-dot kid’s Ski jacket!

During the bitterly cold month of February 2008, I was preparing for a week-long tour of Eastern Europe with my school, as part of a history trip. We were going to make short stops in the Czech Republic, Germany and Poland, and we journeyed through northern France and the Netherlands on our travels. I was expecting snow, ice and freezing conditions – things I wasn’t used to, and badly needed to gear up for!
Outdoorgear4u helped me to find a limited edition Roxy ski jacket, and there was never a day that went by that I did not desperately need it!
Thankfully Britain is not as unbearably cold as Eastern Europe (although this is debatable!) but even now in 2011, I still wear my trusty Roxy jacket whenever I feel a chill in the air.
Many Ladies ski jackets can look outlandish, so as to stand out from the bright white snow of the mountains, but I wasn’t going skiing – and to be honest, I wasn’t too sure if I (or my friends… or my teachers!) would be impressed with the bizarre colours on a typical ski jacket!
But this Roxy jacket was black with a pattern of little white dots, so I felt it could be great as a casual jacket, and for every-day use after the trip.
There are tons of little hidden pockets in the jacket, so it was ideal for travelling light, especially as we spent most of our time in busy foreign cities and I needed to know where my purse, phone, hotel room key and mp3 player were at all times. It was better having them all on me in my coat, rather than separate in my Rucksack, both because it was more convenient to simply reach into a pocket instead of constantly throwing my bag down to rummage around, and also because I was aware (and made aware over and over by my teachers) of pickpockets!
Despite it’s many secret compartments, this coat is not fiddly, nor does it take long to navigate (if you are like me and end up putting your purse or phone in a different pocket each time you get it out!).
I personally can’t stand it when a coat has a fiddly zip! The type that takes so long to fasten up that your fingers freeze and go numb because you’ve had to take your Ski gloves off to do it! So thankfully this coat spares me the annoyance and makes use of Velcro or snap fasteners for the inside pockets.
Another feature of the jacket I was thankful for was the ‘snow/wind-skirt’ that I could tightly fasten up around my thighs to keep the warm in and the cold out! It’s great being able to take your coat off after braving the wind and rain, and be completely warm and dry underneath. I could allow myself to actually enjoy the snow that Britain encountered at the end of last year – I was practically snowball-proof!
The coat is rather thick, but not bulky (which is important for a ladies coat, right!?) and it allows a good amount of room if you want to double your layers. The hood, which is detachable, is large enough for me to wear my hat, hood or both, and wrap a thick scarf around me underneath it for extra warmth, without it being so big that it dwarfs my face.
It has proven a highly durable coat too – after 4 years, the only damage it has ever gone through is a broken hanging-loop. But it is still highly waterproof, and its fleecy lining is still completely intact. This is ideal for me, as the most activity I do wearing this coat is walking, so I don’t personally require or want a new coat every year.
All in all, this coat has been perfect for my pretty average townie life-style, even though it is a skiing jacket.
It has proven to be versatile in the way that it has done a great job keeping me warm regardless of where I have gone, from rainy Liverpool town to icy cold Poland (‘The place where its possible to stub your toe on a piece of grass’ – as one of my friends put it).
So, these things are all what I consider to be the advantages of wearing a ski jacket even if you aren’t always up in the mountains or in permanently extreme weather conditions.
Thanks for reading, feel free to comment!

Katie

Posted in Gear Test's, Katie's Clobber, Product Reviews | Leave a comment

NASA approved Sorbothane insoles propel me into the next step

30% lighter
I’ve been doing a fair amount of training lately trying to get fit for those seldom seen summer months of hiking in the UK. I threw myself in at the deep end (part of my new years resolution) & decided to get myself off the couch & start running.

I have a fair amount of knowledge when it comes to training but it has been some time so I grabbed my trainers & eased myself into a joggers pace, not making the mistake of starting too fast & building up the miles & speed gradually.

It’s been just over a month now since the training started & fitness wise I’ve come a long way, the only niggle I’ve had is some problems with pain in my left leg & it’s really started to bother me. Immediately after my session I would feel pain in my knee & would often have to miss training the next day in order to recover properly.

I sought advice from fellow runners that told me it’s probably down to not warming up properly or to start running on the beach as this would be better than running on tarmac. The beach wasn’t far away but it turned out to be a nightmare, pitch black during the winter months &  I didn’t see the point in driving to the beach to go for a run? 

The answer…  Sorbothane shock stopper insoles. The model I tested was the Sorbothane Double Strike Insole they instantly fitted well in my trainers (it was the new 30% lighter version) my old insole was tossed into the bin as the Sorbothanes are quite thick & add volume to your shoes. They instantly fitted well and I felt an immediate difference to the comfort of my trainers.

The Double strike’s feature 2 parts of Sorbothanes unique visco-elastic material (the red parts in the picture) that absorbs shock waves & immediately returns to it’s original shape ensuring it’s 100% operational for every stride.

I’ve got to say that they really did make a difference whilst running & probably even more so for my recovery, the pains have almost disappeared & I’m back out running 5 times a week. I would certainly recommend these insoles to anyone with similar problems, £17.99 is a small price to pay for comfort (NASA probably paid a lot more for their Sorbothane space camera protectors) they do seem durable & you’ll be able to use them in all different types of footwear.

Overall i think these insoles are great value for money and certainly do a good job, manufacturers almost certainly cut corners when putting insoles into their trainers & boots, which brings me to the point of posting this review. I am definitely going to pop the double strikes into my walking boots the next time I’m out on the hill, I let you know how I get on.

Speak Soon

Andy.

Posted in Andys Kit List, General News, Product Reviews, Staff Equipment | Leave a comment

You don’t have to be mad to camp in winter

Langdale valleyHello campers, Winter camping! There’s something remarkably rewarding about camping in the cold. I have plenty of fond memories of setting out with a few buddies on a friday night & heading up to Langdale campsite for the weekend. My tent, sleeping bag, Rucksack full of thermals & a bottle of brandy to warm our cockles!

The key to success is that favorite old saying… Be prepared!

In my opinion Langdale campsite is a perfect choice for your 1st night under canvas, it’s well sheltered has good facilities & if the weather is really bad theres always one of lakelands finest pubs the Old dungeon Gyll to take refuse in (I’m in there rain or shine).

This time of year you really do need to have the right winter camping kit list for an enjoyable night. I say “the colder the better” and clear, frosty weather is ideal to take in those beautiful views at the top of Harrison Stickle.
Here’s a list of some of the essential things i would advise you to take…

Firstly make sure you have the correct type of Mountain tent, I say “mountain tent” as your home for the night will need to be stable enough to stand up to high winds, stormy wet weather & the weight of any snow that could fall on it, therfore Geodesic & semi-geodesic tents are best.

A comfortable nights sleep is a must for any hikers as you’ll be active for a long time the next day so make sure your Sleeping Bag is a warm enough 4-5 season sleeping Bag such as the Vango Supernova 5000, try to get in your sleeping bag when your body is warm, have a hot drink before bed (or do some star jumps if your feeling energetic) you’ll be cosier for longer.

The best way to maintain heat when your inside your sleeping bag is to be raised off the floor, the ground will instantly penetrate your sleeping bag. The best way to do this is by using a self inflating mat, the thicker the better These mats use a combination af air and foam & better still they blow themselves up.

Your going to need to eat & drink so some hot food is essential. Any cookers will need to be 100% propane as you normal butane cartridges freeze up at zero, maybe try a Trangia fuel burner, they also work great in windy weather.

The days are way shorter in winter so it’s essential to have a reliable source of light and maybe a spare too. I always have a head torch on me at all times, you may need it when coming down off the mountain & you’ll definitely need it to walk home from the pub.

Take several layers of clothing with you, fleeces, base layers and outershells offer good insulation but the mother of all is the Down jacket (it’s like wearing a sleeping bag all day) Dont forget your hat & gloves and a spare set of clothes in case anything gets wet.

Finally just a few last things to bear in mind… Wake up nice & early to make the most of the daylight & dont forget you camera, some of my favorite outdoor photographs were taken in winter.

There you have it, it’s a basic list of the essentials required, if you think i’ve forgotten anything feel free to add to this post, i look forward to hearing any stories, top tips, recommended winter walks or photo’s of your winter camping adventures.

Over & out,

Andy: Blogger

Posted in General News | 1 Comment