Discovering New Places - Batford Springs, Harpenden

I couldn't have asked for a more chilled start to the weekend just gone. Friday night was spent wondering around and watching the sun go down at Batford Springs in Harpenden. A place I didn't even know existed!

Although relatively small, the area has a lovely green park and at the far end of it you have the meandering River Lea, which starts in Leagrave, Luton and carries on until it meets with the Thames.

It's all very tranquil, plenty of trees and wildlife, we were even lucky enough to spot a Heron making it's exit from the reeds into the river. There's also a bridged footpath where you can dangle your feet below and watch the scores of fish dash about underneath you.

We'd timed our visit perfectly, the light was starting to fade, outside noise was at a hush and all you could hear were the birds in the trees and the soothing sound of flowing water from the river. Well worth a visit if you're around and about the Beds, Herts and Bucks area!

Katie and Craig's trip to Chamonix: Part 2

As promised here's Craig's Q&A session from Katie's and his trip to Chamonix. We've already had an insight into Katie's experiences, so here's what Outdoorkit's climbing expert thought!


What was the purpose of your trip to Chamonix?

Craig: It was a test event for retail staff from across the UK. It was sponsored by Berghaus and run by mountain guides from Mountain Tracks. The purpose was to test kit supplied by Berghaus and use it in the environment it was meant for. They provided me with the Saltoro Jacket and softhshell trousers. These should have been great for the trip but unfortunate unseasonal 'scottish winter' weather meant additional outer layers were needed and the kit couldn't be used to it's full potential.


What kind of activities did you take part in? Which was your favourite?

Craig: We were there for three days, so that meant three different activities. Day one started with a cable car ride up the Aiguille Du Midi, starting at 1035m, straight up to 3777m. We had a short walk across the Valle Blanche in less than perfect conditions and at times we could only see our guide on the other end of the rope.

We then set out to tackle the Pointe Lachenal, a short ice climb, followed by a traverse up to the mountain hut. I was a little nervous at actually climbing an ice wall. After a short wait I started my first climb, armed with crampons and a walking axe. I could feel my calves being given a pretty good work out on the way up, so I'm guessing I could do with improving my technique.

Day 2 was the ascent of the Arete Des Cosmiques, I was told this had some amazing views but the weather was against us again. It was an enjoyable route that was challenging enough for my level of experience. Back at the Aiguille Du Midi we descended back down to Chamonix to clean up. Even this has it's surprises as after a shower I found that my nose had not faired so well in the weather as several layers of skin on the tip of my nose came off, leaving a rather red and sensitive patch of raw flesh exposed (nice).


Where did you sleep? What were the sleeping quarters like?

Craig: We spent the first and last night of the trip at the Hotel Pointe Isabella. A nice hotel, although was a little disappointed that our bath was missing a shower curtain so I had to crouch in the bath to stop the floor from flooding! The Refuge Du Cosmiques at 11, 854ft (3613m) was our high altitude stop over. Although very basic, it was clean, warmer and more comfortable than I was expecting. The bedroom was interesting with 4 mattresses all in a row on a platform with another 4 above and then another 2 three tiered large bunk beds.

Were you affected by altitude sickness? How did you overcome it?

Craig: I had a slight headache, but just got on with it!


What did you get out of the trip? What did you learn?

Craig: The whole trip was a good experience and a good opportunity to further my mountaineering skills. I learnt more about alpine mountaineering and the techniques involved. I now have a better understanding on how far C2 crampons and a single walking axe will get you. On another note, I learnt the french word 'Allez' and that the price of a can of coke over there is outrageous! Many thanks to all at Berghaus and Mountain Tracks for such an awesome trip!

A trip to The Lakes!

Last week, John, our Business Development Manager took a well earned break and went up to the lakes with his other half, Sammy. They decided to tackle Helvellyn, which depending which route you take can be a bit tricky. The route they plumped for skipped out Swirral Edge and Striding edge, which can be notorious when the wind picks up. Check out their route...


Just as well really, we'd much rather see our Business Development Manager return to HQ refreshed and in one piece!

(Victorious)

They both also paid a visit to Castlerigg Stone Circle, a prehistoric monument near Keswick. Like Stonehenge, theres always that wonderment regarding who built it and why. It is believed however to have been used for ceremonial and religious purposes.

(Sammy at Castlerigg Stone Circle in her North Face Point Five Jacket)

Of course it always helps being surrounded by lots of first rate kit when your trying to plan a visit to the lakes. Here's a run down of some of the gear that helped them along their way;

• Haglofs Lim 45 Rucksack
• The North Face S/S Alberta Vertex Tee
• Suunto A-10 Compass
• Brasher Altai Boots
• Mountain Hardwear Drystein Jacket

(Master of all that he survey's)

The Adventures Of Katie

Katie from customer services gives the lowdown on her 2 day Lyon training course!

(Katie with her certificate proudly on show)

Katie writes:

Having only climbed once or twice before I jumped at the chance to go to Plas Y Brenin in North Wales to get some practise in. The two day course was run by Lyon who were holding it in order to train retailers of their products, to better help them understand and assist with customers climbing needs. I arrived early on the first morning and we were introduced to the team as well as the sponsored climbers of Lyon. We were split into groups and were sent off on different activities to look at the different brands and products which Lyon are associated with. The first area we looked at was different rock shoes, specifically the fit and the benefits of each different style. It was interesting to see how large a range there is to try and fit everyone's needs. We then got the chance to try them out on the inside climbing wall. Here at Outdoorkit we have not yet branched into rock shoes however the fit is so personal and different between each type of shoe that it would be hard for an online retailer to go into this area.

After the climbing shoes we moved onto helmets. Mainly by looking at each one and what or who it is specifically designed for. It was also interesting to find out the different ratings and safety tests done on the helmets. In order to demonstrate the capabilities of the helmets they dropped a rock from a height onto the different helmets. This not only showed the force that can be applied but also the damage that is caused. It also proved that in some cases the helmet can look completely undamaged but in reality the damage has been done internally and you have to replace the helmet in order for you to be protected.

After lunch we got to test out the harnesses and helmets which we had been learning about in the morning. Firstly we went to do some Via Ferrata which is something I had never heard of! This is basically when there is a wire or rope fixed along a wall or mountain and you are clipped on to it via your harness. This type of climbing is something which is big around Europe especially for families as it is a way of making isolated places more accessible and doesn't present as many risks as other ways of climbing. The Via Ferrata wall was in a square room which we had to basically make our way around via the wire. The first wall was relatively easy and was a good way of getting used to moving one of your ropes onto the next section and then the other. These were attached to the harness in a Y shape and you had to ensure you always had one attached to the wire otherwise you had nothing connecting you to the wall. The second part of the wall was much harder and the trainer told us that we could miss it out if we wanted. I knew I would regret it if I did this so I decided to go for it. This section of the wall seemed extremely smooth for a climbing wall and did not have any foot or hand holds screwed onto it like the others. A second piece of rope had been attached to the wall so you could put your feet on it, although I was informed that this was a recent addition so I don't know how people managed it without it. The problem here was that this second rope dipped and so it was hard to reach the main wire because I am not the tallest of people, I was also getting extremely tired. The trainer then suggested I clip the carabiner on my harness onto the wire so that it gave my arms a bit of a rest and was easier for my to make my way along to the third wall. This was much easier and I was relieved to finally make it across. The last bit of the wall was to climb up one side of a platform, walk across the top and then down the other side to the floor. This seemed simple enough but on the way down my leg started to shake for some reason which made it harder to stable myself. I did manage to make my way down and was glad to finally be on firm ground. I was informed that my shaky leg was called 'sewing machine leg' in the business.

Once we had all completed the Via Ferrata wall we then headed off to 'the tower'. After my nerve racking Via Ferrata experience this only installed more fear in me. We set off through the wood to what can only be described as a wooden tower. Our group were sent up to the top it so I slowly made my way up. The activity was abseiling and the purpose was to try out and experience the different belay and descending devices. As the trainers were talking I was getting incredibly more nervous and the temptation to say 'thank you very much but I'm leaving' was increased when someone else in our group decided they would sit this one out. However I did it and really pleased I did too. The abseiling itself was not a big distance and we got to have a go numerous times trying out the different devices. It was interesting to see the extensive range of products that they had.

The next task on the tower was ascending, this looked relatively easy when the professional was doing it, however it turned out to be really hard work. In order to go up the tower you had to move the ascender up the rope which moved the foot loop up, lock it off and then push down with your foot in the foot loop to pull yourself up. In a long time I did not get very far, but it was fun to have a go.

After we had, had dinner we assembled to go out on a night walk. Everyone was given a Petzl head torch in order to see the differences between them when we were out in the dark. We were split into two groups and were given a rucksack of products and a map. I was given the responsibility of photographer and we set off down the road looking for items that has been placed along the way. It was really noticeable differences in the head torches when we were outside, from the really powerful ones compared to the ones more designed for walking the dog in the early morning. Halfway round we stopped to set up a camp and this incorporated using a range of products from the different brands. We had to start a fire to toast some bread, use a Jetboil cooker to boil some water and set up a hammock with a canvas covering it. It got slightly tense setting the hammock up, too many people and too many opinions on how best to do it but we finally managed to set everything up. We then had to quickly pack up and move on as we were running behind time and could hear the 'rival' group coming our way. After what seemed like ages we arrived back at base and unsurprisingly the other group had beaten us back. The last activity of the evening was a talk by one of the sponsored climbers who told us about the climbs he had been on, the planning and preparation that went into each one and whether he was successful in completing it. He had photos of the majority of the climbs he had done and it was amazing to see some of the places he had been.

The next day was more of a practical session as we went through the different head torches which we had used for the activity the previous night. There is such a large range so there should be one suitable for most needs.

Finally we looked at the different ropes and the differences in a single, half and double rope and the different purposes for them. Above all I realised that there is a lot more to climbing than rocking up and having a go but I can imagine that it so rewarding finally completing a climb, a bit like when I finished the Via Ferrata. It also highlighted that if you are inexperienced it is important you go with someone who knows what they are doing as it is easy to make mistakes.

To my shock we finished the course with a test, however it wasn't too bad and I managed a satisfactory mark. Overall I enjoyed my insight into the world of climbing and will hopefully get the opportunity to go again. I learnt a lot of information about the products as well as the different style of climbing and my certificate from Lyon for completing the course is hung proudly up by my desk!

Vango Halo Tent

The new Vango Halo is a unique, semi-geodesic design, made to withstand the weather and retain structural strength.


Benefitting from a very swift approximate pitching time of ten minutes, the Halo is a convenient flysheet-first adventure tent. Boasting a weight of only 4kg (for the 3 person Halo 300), the tent is ideal for Duke of Edinburgh expeditions.

In the picture above, you can see the detail of the semi-geodesic design. Unlike the standard dome or geodesic -dome tent (see the Sigma 300, for example) the three-pole configuration introduces an innovative porch area with groundsheet base.

The flysheet has front and rear doors, and the flysheet door can be partially opened as a vent.


The poles are Powerlite Alloy; made to deal both with corrosion and environmental resistance. More lightweight than steel and stronger than fibreglass.

The Vango Halo 200 and 300 are brand new this year and are the perfect adventure tents for Spring and Summer.

May 2010 - My Trip to Santorini

Stef writes:

I've just come back from an amazing holiday on the Greek island of Santorini! The place itself has a remarkable history. Basically the remnants of a huge volcanic explosion, the main island is a crescent-shaped, hilly island with steep cliffs hugging the volcano's lagoon (or caldera) and sweeping, black-sanded beaches on the east side of the island.

We stayed in Kamari - a popular seaside destination - and immediately set our sights on the impressive Profitis Ilias, a large hill directly behind the town.

A lump on the left is called Mesa Vouno, on which are the remains of a once celebrated Hellenic city called Thira. Between the two hills is a mountain pass known as Sellada, up to which the easily walkable, winding path lead us to (this enables the ruins to be accessed by car, if you're not feeling up to the trot - but do bear in mind that ancient Thira is closed on Mondays, and at the time of writing there were no toilet facilities at the site).

The summit of Sellada offers fantastic views over Kamari and neighbouring village Perissa, and is a very easy climb for even the least experienced walker from the base at Kamari. The path leads through a section of Thira's necropolis (graveyard), finishing at the start of the ruins on the left, and to the summit of Profitas Ilias on the right. The latter is the way we chose, and began the ascent - shown directly opposite on the photo below.

The path is well set out, but stony - you will need strong shoes with good grip, due to the slippery stones used on the footpath. Watch out for loose stones and Santorini's sharp gusts of wind - I'm not a heavy person and far from graceful, so was close to losing my footing on a couple of occasions.


Be sure to take your time on the way up, as to enjoy the spectacular views. From the first summit before the monastery is was possible for us to see almost the entire island. Kamari and Perissa are still visible, along with the capital, Fira, and the pretty village of Oia in the distance on the other side of the island. The smaller islands of Thirassa and volcanic Nea Kameni can just about be seen to the left of Fira.

The descent was, by far, the trickest point. We lost the path too easily in our haste to stay away from the wind. This ended with me, my father, my uncle and 75 year-old grandfather scrambling down a scary looking section which I would certainly NOT recommend. Santorini's cliffs are steep and it is vital to stick to the path at all times, even if you spy what you think is a quicker way down.

Relieved as we were to get back to Sellada and begin our descent, a pretty whitewashed building and accompanying tree had caught my eye from Kameni to about halfway up the mountain, so upon finding the correct path we happily investigated. The path here was even steeper and smoother - hold onto the rocks at the side if you feel you may lose your balance. Around a corner we discovered that the whitewashed building was a small church, situated next to a cave and a lush green tree, planted for purpose. Two bells, attached to the tree, were rung by us in celebration! I later discovered that this is the location for one of Santorini's few freshwater springs.



An easier climb down was greatly appreciated by all, and topped off by a rather expensive fruit juice at the hill's base. Santorini is not the coldest of places, so if you fancy a stroll up the island's highest point, it's always best to begin fairly early in the day. Efharisto for reading!

O.A.S. (Outdoor Academy of Scandinavia) Experience Winter Sweden 2010

Taking my bags from the airport arrivals to the coach that would take the group that had gathered, to Vålådalen (the mountain Lodge we would be based from), I got a taste of what was to come. The air was cold the ground was covered in ice and in the few yards from the airport door to the coach I nearly fell over several times sliding on the ice.

I had just landed in Östersund, Sweden to take part in O.A.S Experience Winter, a 5 day expedition in snowshoes in the mountains of Jämtland. The 40 or so people that had gathered to take part in the event were retail staff from shops all across Europe. The purpose of the event was to provide training to expand our knowledge and experience to help us better serve our customers.

After the initial briefings and introductions I met the other members of the group I had been put in. The group consisted of 4 Germans, 2 Belgians, 1 Scot and myself. After further introductions (and failing on the pronunciation of peoples names) the group went to collect the equipment and clothing we would be testing during the expedition. The test kit was provided by 5 manufacturers Haglöfs and Klättermusen provided clothing, rucksacks and sleeping bags, Woolpower who provided base layers, socks and balaclava, Hilleberg providing the tents and Primus who provided stoves, pots, head torch and meal kit.

After receiving the kit a frantic packing session ensued and at last time for bed. The last night in a warm comfortable bed for 5 days. In the morning and early afternoon the suppliers ran session on their kit, how to use and look after it. Another packing session later to take out kit that wasn't needed everyone was ready to go. Just before we set off people did have a bit of a laugh at my expense over how heavy my bag was. My choice of food for the 5 days was Wayfayrer meals which are much heavier than the powdered food that everyone else was using.

That afternoon we had a short walk to the first camp-site. It was interesting to see how hot you stayed whilst walking considering it was snowing and the temperature was below freezing. Whilst walking all the clothing I needed was Haglöfs Turbine softshell trousers for my legs and Woolpower base layer and Haglöfs Turbine softshell top for my body. Most of the time I went without a hat and just had a Buff folded into a headband to help keep my ears warm. Gloves went on and came off quite often trying to find the right temperature. When stopped the softshell was swapped for a down jacket Rab Summit Storm and a second Buff made into a beanie to go on top of the headband Buff.

Arriving at the camp site the first thing to do was to stamp down, flatten and compact the snow. Something I hadn't thought of before and quite tiring (especially on the last day). The group tent was the first to go up which is where we did all our cooking and then our own tents. Once the tents were up and our kit organised it was time for dinner. Out with the Primus Omni fuel, pan full of snow and now wait for it to melt and boil. A few minuets later and I'm tucking into a tasty meal.

The first night in the tent was warmer than I expected considering it was well below freezing. The Haglöfs Goga Nordic Winter sleeping bag doing a fine job. Morning comes and time to get out of my nice warm bag and slide on some rather chilly clothes. Breakfast done tents packed away and the group ready to leave at 9, well so I thought. 30 mins later the last of our team Ralf is ready to go.

Even with the delay we are still the first group of 5 to leave. It felt good to be first out and leading the group in untouched snow, looking out over a very impressive landscape. This good feeling lasted all of a couple of minuets when the effort required to break tracks in the snow, sinking 1-2 feet deep with every step, started to to make progress rather hard. Still I was relieved that the group took many breaks to adjust clothing, ask our guides (staff from the suppliers) questions about the wildlife, plants and many animal tracks we came across giving a good 5 min break or more each time we stopped.

The day continued on in much the same way admiring the amazing scenery. Talking and getting to know the other team members (and how to pronounce their names correctly). Asking the guides question about the kit as well as our surroundings. Laughing at anyone who lost their balance, fell over or found some deeper snow than expected and sunk right up to their waist. Reaching the second camp we swapped tents so we could a try a different tent, which we did for the rest of the week, set up camp, ate and early to bed.

The third morning saw us taking part in a round of fun events set up by the instructors to see how much we had learnt so far about the equipment and winter camping. There was a short delay to the start as we were again waiting for Ralf to get himself ready.
After lunch there was a very short walk up to a bank of snow where we would dig out a snow cave and sleep in it for the night. After being shown a demo snow cave (one the instructors had built in the morning) it was time to get the shovels out and dig our own. It was hard work digging out the cave though there was time to rest as you would rotate round who was digging. A couple of hours later and our snow cave was ready.

Our new home was cosy. A central isle with a sleeping ledge for 2 either side and a shelf at the back for our stoves. Again I was surprised at how warm the snow cave was considering we were surrounded by snow. That evening I spent a long time outside looking at the stars as it was quite a clear night. Going to bed, the snow cave became pitch black once the head torch had been turned off. In contrast the cave was quite light once the sun had come up the next morning. Breakfast eaten kit sorted (and another wait for Ralf) it was time for another walk to our 4th camp on a plateau at 1100m.

On this day I also volunteered to take the Pulka (large sled) which had the group kit and the rucksack of whoever was pulling it. British Rail complain they get the wrong type of snow and so was I on this day. Not only was it mostly uphill but the snow had become very sticky and the pulka did not slide over the snow as it should, but kept sticking on the snow. Just to top the day off we also had the worst weather of the exped with strong winds and heavy snowfall. Still with all these problems making my life rather hard at this point it still beats a day in the office by far!

Reaching the camp site feeling rather tired we began the usual arduous process of stamping down the snow in preparation of putting up the tents. This was going to be fun considering we were on a high plateau with nothing to block the strong winds that had been blowing all afternoon. Swapping the tents as usual we found ourselves with the biggest tent the group was using. Great once you were inside but not the best to pitch in the conditions we were in.
Despite the size of the tent and the winds that were blowing the tent was going up quite well. This was until we noticed a small problem....we were only given 12 snow stakes, and the tent needed 14. If we were lower down with less winds this would not have been a problem and would have just left 2 guy ropes loose - this was not an option for where we were now.

In the end the solution was quite easy, where we just used our walking poles as very long pegs.

Happy with our hotel (in comparison to the other tents) it was time for dinner and some much needed energy. Tucking into my tasty Chicken and Pasta Wayfayrer meal I had a little smile as there were a couple of comments regarding the not so appetising dehydrated meals the others had. With the winds blowing hard the group tent had to be taken down after everyone had finished eating before retiring to bed.

Waking early the next morning, the winds had died overnight and the sky was clear. Opening the door to the tent revealed a stunning sunrise against a fantastic landscape which had been hidden the day before. Warm and cosy still in the sleeping bag I lay there and watched the sun come up before rousing myself to get up and start the day. By this time my boots had got wet and had frozen overnight. Sliding my feet into the solid boots, I had to wait till after breakfast before the laces had thawed out and I could do the boots up properly.

With the group tent being taken down the rest of the group were cooking breakfast in there own tents. With the fine weather Steve (my tent mate) and I decided to sit outside and cook breakfast and enjoy the amazing scenery. Sitting in the ring where the group tent had been I cooked and enjoyed my most memorable breakfast.

Having reached the highest point of the exped it was now mostly downhill. After a bit of a discussion about which direction to go it was decided we would go the long way round which was not as steep as the direct route. Once we had descended into the valley we could see the other teams struggling with the steeper more direct route, either falling over or loosing control of the Pulka and having to let it go and then chase after it. Laughing we carried on our route down the valley.

Lunch was spent in a lodge along the trail where we had a talk from the warden. The lodge (and others elsewhere) have a few rooms with beds and a basic kitchen and dining area. For a small fee you can stay in the lodge on a first come first serve basis for the rooms and if more people turn up they have the option of any floor space they can find. After sitting down in a warm comfortable room for a couple of hours it was hard to get motivated to leave and go back out in the cold. Still it had to be done and off we went to our final camp site.

The last night we had the smallest tent, which really did feel small compared to the tent we had the previous night. It felt quite awkward to get all our kit organized once we had pitched the tent and for packing in the morning.
Dinner and breakfast did give me the last laugh as more comments were made about the dehydrated meals the others had brought along. They had laughed at me when they saw how heavy my bag was when we set out, but for me the weight was worth it. Now laughing at them as I was enjoying my food while they were rather fed up with theirs.

Setting out on the last morning our journey coming to an end, even Ralf was ready on time to start the walk back to the mountain lodge. A couple of the team were beginning to suffer with blisters and sore knees so it was a nice steady pace keeping the group together. The weather was fine yet again as it had been the past day. Relaxing in the sun for the last time the girls entertained us during lunch by taking off their hats displaying some very interesting hair styles.

Arriving back at the lodge exhausted, I felt a mixture of emotions: satisfaction, achievement, relief, happiness, sadness and so many more that I can not put into words, that our journey had now, come to an end.
All that was left to do now was pack for the journey home, enjoy a sauna, the outside hot tub with snow falling down, a really good hot meal and an evening of drinks and merriment.

It had been an amazing 5 days where I have met many new friends, learnt so much about winter camping, the kit and even myself looking back over what had happened. It is a trip I will never forget and will bring back a smile every time I think of it.

For more photos of the trip please visit our facebook page: Photos

By Craig Carter, Customer Service Manager.

Success for Indian Rowing Race duo

We're pleased to announce the success of James Thysse and Jamie Facer-Childs on becoming the youngest duo to row the Indian Ocean! In an earlier blog post, we reported on their slight run of bad luck, when their boat, the 'Southern Cross', capsized during the first half of the race. Fortunately, the pair and their boat made a swift recovery and, despite the forced rationing of their then meagre food supplies, the famished pair were first to finish - completing the race in just 103 days, 9 hours and 26 minutes. The full report can be read on the official Indian Rowing Race 2009 site. As sponsors, we're thrilled to offer our congratulations to Jamie and James and pleased to have helped them win their way into the history books.

For those of you who believe videos speak louder than words - be sure to check out their compilation, here on YouTube.

Places We've Been

Stef writes;

As I have a spare moment to myself here in the OutdoorKit office, I thought I'd share my most recent holiday with everyone. Wanting something different - but not too different - an old friend and I decided on a last minute trip to the channel island of Guernsey.

We managed to find a reasonably priced and very comfortable place to stay beforehand, the Wayside Cheer hotel - and we were chuffed with the lovely big room, but mostly with the excellent location: directly opposite the picturesque Grandes Rocques bay and rockpools.


We had a brilliant time wandering around the footpaths and coastline of the island, which turned out to be rather bigger than we first thought...but didn't stop us going to the car-free island of Herm for a day visit. Although Guernsey's roads aren't what you would call 'busy', the difference encountered on Herm was exhilarating, leaving us free to wander in the middle of roads, undisturbed and largely unnoticed (except, of course, by fellow walkers).



Herm must have been the highlight of our trip - we enjoyed wonderful scenery on our trek (yes, a trek, apparently doing a circuit of an island no large than a square mile nearly defeated us - watch out for the high cliffs!). But if you fancy some history - and Guernsey certainly has much of that - the German Military Underground Hospital is well worth an hour or two of your time. If you want to be impressed, check out the Telephone Museum, which is one of the most thorough little museums I have ever visited - complete with interactive exhibits and very knowledgeable and enthusiastic staff.

JJ Youngest Ocean Rowers - update

Some time ago, Outdoor Kit happily agreed to sponsor Jamie Facer-Childs and James Thysse in their quest to set a new world record for youngest rowers EVER to cross the Indian Ocean. We're happy to report that, despite a terrifying setback when the boat capsized, they are still soldiering on, having completed an epic 1,323 miles of their 3,600 mile trip.
Not only is this a world record attempt - Jamie and James are raising money for two chosen charities - Sparks, investors in paediatric research and medicine, and Headway, dedicated to promoting understanding brain injury and providing support for those affected.
We're always eager to hear about how our sponsored teams and invidiuals get on - and although the arduous task faced by these two brave rowers hasn't been plain sailing (if you'll pardon the pun), what with big waves, meagre food supplies and being stalked by strange, yellow fish - it's clear that Jamie and James's mission is nothing if not out of the ordinary. Follow them by clicking here.

Product testing in North Wales

Stef writes:

Although slightly apprehensive about leaving the cosy, friendly OutdoorKit office for a blustery, cold walking holiday in Anglesey, I was pleasantly surprised with my experience. This was no doubt helped by my wearing some of the amazing products on offer from OutdoorKit.

I have a particular fondness for Haglofs, and wore my trusty Single Q Top nearly every day! The added benefits of Polartec were grossly apparent, meaning on warm days I could quite happily do without a heavy jumper on top, despite the cold wind. The half-zip with laminated back flap also helped, keeping out the wind and erasing the need for a scarf (which would have been quite likely to have blown away!).

On less windy but colder days by the coast, I wore my Junipet Hoodie from The North Face. As well as attracting many looks, this fashionable cotton hoodie is also incredibly warm. Added benefits include the zipped pockets - usefel for keeping your hands warm, and collecting interesting shells...including what I thought was a fossil, but was actually very much alive...the hoodie needed washing after that particular adventure.

My Mother, who invited me, is a huge fan of Berghaus - and was never seen without her Long Glissade Jacket. The Long Glissade is a must for the taller woman (5'8, in her case), with an extra 2-2.5 inches on the length for added protection from the wind and rain. All Glissades, and the male version, Cornice, are made with performance Gore-Tex and as such are completely waterproof and breathable, with windproof qualities. A particular bonus on this jacket, which my Mother adores, is the adjustable, rollaway hood.

Another Berghaus fanatic is my Father - lucky enough not to feel the cold much, he was happy with his Berghaus Spectrum Jacket. The fleece doesn't have Polartec (unlike the Activity and the Polarplus) but is warm and comfortable.

All in all, a fantastic holiday was had - and luckily for us, we knew the right clothing to wear for a guaranteed good time!

Camping in comfort

It’s coming up to camping season - meaning the weather is (hopefully) brightening up and allowing us to spend some time in the great outdoors! So while you either dig up your old tent or begin the search for a new one, it becomes easy to forget the little things. Without getting too technical, here are some of the usual purchases available to the casual camper.

Whether you’re on a simple camping holiday or an expedition, one essential is the sleeping bag. Here at Outdoor Kit we stock a wide variety, from the lightweight one season Mountain Equipment Starlight Micro to the snug, down-filled Vango Viper 750. When choosing a sleeping bag, it is important to gauge exactly what weather you'll be facing - a one-season sleeping bag will not suffice, for example, halfway up Ben Nevis in the middle of August. If you're going to experience a slight variety of weathers, it may be worthwhile purchasing a sleeping bag liner - a thin cotton or silk layer that can be used inside or outside the sleeping bag and takes up little space when packed away. A good example is the Sea To Summit Silk Standard (Rectangular) Sleeping Bag Liner , which, although not inexpensive, is made from premium grade silk and is very lightweight at 130grams. Remember that sleeping bags come in two shapes - Rectangular and Mummy - so choosing the correctly shaped sleeping bag liner for your bag is advisable.

For further comfort when camping, Outdoor Kit also stock portable mattresses. The Therm-A-Rest Prolite is a recent update to the Prolite 3 - weighing in at almost 100grams lighter than its predecessor. Therm-A-Rest mattresses are self-inflatable and easy to condense after use, providing extra comfort when camping.

Access to kitchens and canteens can be few and far between for the adventurous to experienced camper, so having at least a basic stove for meals can be essential. A great starting point is the MSR Pocket Rocket Stove - a lightweight gas burner that is simple to use and, being but palm-sized in girth, easy to carry around. As with all gas stoves on our site, the specific gas canisters are not included but can be purchased from any good local outdoor retailer. Just make sure you're getting the right one, as not every gas canister will fit every stove.

If you're feeling a touch intrepid, ditch the heavy cans of beans and plump for a Wayfayrer food bag. Although already cooked and ready to eat, Wayfayrer foods only take 7-8 minutes to heat up in hot water - so you can enjoy your Lancashire Hotpot any way you choose!

We hope you enjoy your camping experience - more information on camping in comfort to follow!

Camping on Hayling Island over the May Bank Holiday

by Martin, 4 June 2008.

We set off for a short camping trip on Hayling Island over the Bank Holiday very aware that the weather was likely to be against us - convinced the Wife it was going to be a hot 25 c and sunny - ha ha !!.

Arrived at the campsite (which looked more like the everglades) and picked the driest area we could find. It took about 45 mins to pitch our Khyam Quebec tent properly, during which time we got talking to the site owner who told us that the weather had already seen off a large percentage of his customers. As you would expect in the UK our first evening was a washout with yet another heavy downpour creating a serious water flow through the campsite close to our tent! Fortunately by the morning the rain had stopped - but by now there were more people packing up their tents to go home.

The cheaper value for money tents were clearly struggling in the severe conditions however it was noticable that the more expensive tent brands like Wild Country and Khyam and the large deluxe Vango tents with the stronger poles were holding up fine against the wind and rain.

Fortunately the weather improved over the next 2 days and the campsite dried out slightly but we new it was time to head home when we all run out of dry clean clothes!! Next task - dry the tent out in the garden ready for its next adventure !!