We are approached quite frequently by businesses keen to promote their ideas and/or products via our website. We have a policy of not accepting everything that come our way for a number of reasons. For example, we don’t want anything not related to the outdoors filling up the site with junk.

Recently we were contacted by Natureshop.com, who loved Our Hiking Blog and when we perused their website,  we found we loved them.

Nature shop is a carbon neutral online retailer selling products with a strong environmental and social ethos. A quick glance at their about us page will make you aware of how committed they are.  They specialise in a variety of  footwear and gear such as
Merrell footwear or Teva sandals and shoes

Johanna Beach - Great Ocean Walk - Frank used Teva walking shoes for a few trips here guiding, they were excellent

They did offer us a product each from their extensive range and we are both very excited now that our parcels have arrived. I am looking forward to trying out my new Merrell Siren’s while Frank opted for a pair of Teva Event M’s. We will let you know how these styles go, with consideration to comfortable and durability, two of the essentials of good footwear.

In the meantime we suggest you have a look at Nature shop . It great that they have done all the research about how the products are made and that everything availabIe has been produced in an environmentally responsible manner. It’s also good to know in this age of consumerism that when we go shopping the some profits are use for good.

Oh, and they offer free return shipping and a long return policy.  Quite a positive approach.

Do you buy much gear online? How has your experience been?

We’d love to hear about your experiences.

Sue

So you have spent $500+ on a brand new tent, headed out on a trip, arrived home and discovered a tear in the floor or fly.

Devastation.

Is it ruined for ever?
Can a tear be repaired?
Will the result be any good?

Luckily a simple tear or rip to a tent floor or fly can be repaired quite easily, and the result is great!

Our future son in law, Jay Reilly,  recently stayed for a few days. He is an experienced outdoor educator and mountain guide with many years experience in repairing tents. He “volunteered” to repair a torn tent one day and we captured the process on video.

Top tips from Jay:

• Use good quality sealant designed for outdoor gear repair – Silnet or Seam Grip.
• Take your time with the repair and allow at least 10-12 hours for drying, but the more the merrier!
• Talcum powder can take care of the initial “tackyness” when the repair is new.

Jay has spent a lot of time in the Himalaya’s guiding climbing trips.  There are a few video’s around of him, this one of him crossing a crevase at 6500m on Mt Pumori is worth a look.

Have you ever damaged a tent floor of fly?
Did you repair it?
Did it work out ok?

Share your experiences below, we all love to learn from other people’s experiences.

We were recently in the market for new sleeping mats.

For a few years we have been happily using Thermarest Prolite 4′s – the 3/4 length ones.

The main issue with these is, on a trip into cold climates, our legs were getting a bit cold and the insulation between the ground and our bodies was really only 2.5. cm (1″). They were  loyal companions for several years but it was time to upgrade.

Sue did a lot or research (in conjunction with her mate Anne - Overland Track March 2011) and came up with the Exped Synmat 7 UL (S) Sleeping Mat. It is marketed as light, warm and comfortable.  Definitely worth checking out.

The best deal she could find  in Australia was via Mountain Equipment.  We did not have time to get it from overseas, but in reality the price was very competitive when freight was taken into consideration.

The mat  arrived almost overnight with some additional instructions regarding care handwritten with a note. This was most appreciated.

Rather than write up a long and complex review we decided to film it from opening the packet for the first time through to a follow up after using them in the Western Arthurs.

If you don’t have time to watch the video, the short summary is we loved them.

If you would like to read the full product specification check it out on the Mountain Equipment site.

Have you tried out the Exped Synmat 7 UL ?

What do you think of them?

Sometimes hiring hiking gear is a great option if you are looking to kit up for a trip.

You know the times, there may be an additional member join your party, something breaks at the last minute or you just don’t trust that backpack to survive another five day trip without disintegrating.

Hiring also gives you the chance to try out different gear at a fraction of the cost of buying an untried piece.

Ian Ferrier from Mountain Bike Tasmania in Launceston hires out hiking gear. After selling Mountain Designs in Launceston back to the company, Ian is now concentrating on his tourism business and has continued the hire gear service once offered through the shop in Launceston.

Gear can be delivered to your Launceston accommodation the night before you depart, including Gas if you are flying in and can’t bring this with you. It can also be arranged for this gear to be returned in Hobart after your walk if required.

What Gear is Available?

• Sleeping Bags
• Sleep Mats
• Fuel Stoves
• Tents – 1 person
• Tents – 2 person
• Tents – 4 person
• Packs
• Child carrier
• Walking Poles – Pair
• Yowie Snow Shoes
• Epirb
• Waterpoof Jackets
• Overpants – Nylon
• Gaiters – pair
• Mountain Bikes

For a complete list, including current prices, head over to the hire hiking equipment page on the site.

Most of the gear is current model spec and allows you to try out the different pack harness options as well as the various waterproof/breathable fabrics available.

To arrange gear hire or just have a chat about what is available, call 0447 712 639 or email  admin@mountainbiketasmania.com.au.

Ian is also happy to offer Overland Track advice. As a former guide on the track he has traversed the route around 60 times and at all times of the year, so if you are after some tips as to what side trips to do, or how deep the snow may be, he should be able to point you in the right direction.

Image – Steve and Jemma Copley via Flickr

Disclaimer: Mountain Bike Tasmania have a paid advertisement on Our Hiking Blog.

Tashi, the young Sherpa boy handing me my Helinox walking poles

If you are looking for some great (free)  information about walking poles or just to read what a local champion  has to say about them, let us introduce Mox.

Norman (“Mox”) Moxey is a mechanical design engineer and bushwalker who is involved in the design and development of outdoor adventure equipment.

“Mox” is associated with the ultra lightweight specialist firm, DAC Featherlite, who produce Helinox brand walking poles. He makes presentations to bushwalking clubs and other groups to explain the techniques of walking with poles that produce most benefit for the bushwalker.

We think he has a very important message and invited him to share his thoughts.

Over to Mox:

I was good at school and my mum wanted me to be a doctor. I hated the sight of blood and became an engineer. I’m now involved in advanced lightweight design with Helinox and I help people by explaining how to use poles to get more health and fitness benefit from their bushwalking. I’m not a doctor, but my mum would still be very happy.

Australian bushwalkers are realizing that there’s a lot more to using poles than just avoiding a fall at that creek crossing.

For most of us, walking is an important part of our exercise. We know that walking increases blood flow to help prevent heart disease, and most of the other things we’d like to avoid. Attitudes to trekking poles changed dramatically when the Cooper Institute found that using poles when walking boosts blood flow by a further 20%.

Research also indicated that the extra blood flow doesn’t require greater exertion, in fact using poles makes it seem easier. Suddenly 10 million Europeans are using poles and sales are soaring in the US.

But the benefits go beyond engaging the upper body muscles to increase blood flow and make walking easier. Keeping our ” wearing parts” in working condition has become a big issue. I meet too many people (many young and otherwise very fit) who are concerned that their bushwalking might soon end because of knee, feet, ankle or hip wear and damage. A nice part of my job is helping them ease the pain by explaining how to use poles to reduce stress loads.

It doesn’t take much thinking to work out that those same stress loads are what caused the wear and damage to the joints in the first place! The best part of my job is helping bushwalkers avoid premature joint wear and injury.

Walking with poles to reduce stress loads on the lower joints is the key, but the important part is technique. It’s simple. It becomes obvious once shown, but it’s NOT instinctive and it needs a little explanation. That’s why we produced an illustrated booklet to explain how to use poles for maximum benefit. It was only intended to be supplied with our poles but we’ve been asked for spare copies and now we make it freely available to everyone.

You can order the free booklet or download it  now by visiting this page on the Helinox site

I sincerely hope the information is helpful to you . . . and so would my mum”.

Best wishes ” mox”

Disclaimer: Mox contacted us to discuss advertising on Our Hiking Blog. We  read the guide and think it is a fantastic resource. Following a long phone chat he offered us a couple of pairs of Helinox walking poles to try out. They have arrived and at first sight look the goods. The plan is to try them out and get back to you with a review.  We feel another video coming on, look out!

We are heading off for a cold climate trip and have been worried about keeping warm in our sleeping bags. Sue did some research and came up with the idea of using a Sea to Summit Reactor Sleeping Bag Liner to add an additional layer of insulation.

A few days ago, Frank had an overnight camping trip at Lake Elizabeth in the Otway National Park , and created a “pre-trip” video checking out the liner.

He used it that night with success (he was warm) but it was a mild night.  We will feedback how they perform once we return from Lake Oberon. Overnight temperatures should be well below zero degrees c.

More techo details from Sea to Summit:

The liner increases sleeping bag performance by up to 8°C (14°F) with 80g/m² Thermolite® fabric. Ideal as part of a cold climate sleep system, or as a standalone bag in warm weather. The Reactor is made from the lightest weight Thermolite® fibre.

• Packs into its own Ultra-Sil™ stuff sack
• Lighter weight, more packable than fleece
• Adds warmth to a sleeping bag
• Mummy shape with a box foot
• Draw cord hood with mini cord lock
• Colour of liner is black
• Weighs 248g (8.7oz)

Have you tried out one of the Sea to Summit liners?

Did it provide additional insulation?

Have you tried a different method or brand to increase your sleeping bag rating?

We would love to hear what you have to say.

Shoot us a comment below and share your experiences or ideas.

Non Disclaimer: This is not a sponsored review. It has been created to share our experiences. We paid full price for the liners from Mountain Design’s, Geelong (well, less our member discount).

If you are interested in providing products or services for review, please contact us via our advertise with us page.

This article  follows up last week’s  How to chose the best walking poles for the job .  We have learnt how to buy the best poles , now it is time to learn how to fit, measure and use them.

Over to Georgie:

Hopefully, reading the good news that walking poles are good for your knees inspired you.

If you bought new poles, or dragged your old ones out from the back of the cupboard, the next step is to follow a few simple rules, take a few measurements and make some easy adjustments.

Using your poles the right way will reward you with easier and speedier walking – something that appeals to all of us, especially on multi day walks – so it is worth spending a few minutes reading the How To’s.

But first – how not to use your poles !

I met a lady who had walked the whole length of the OT with her poles strapped to her backpack because they ‘kept tripping me up’. She carried them as extra weight and with no benefit to her walking just because she did not know how to adjust or use them properly.

3 section poles with two locking places

Image: Kathrin and Stephan via Flickr

Pole Length
You can get an expert or trusted salesperson to adjust the length of your new poles, or do it yourself using this simple formula. Unless you are venturing into billy goat country, you probably won’t need to change this setting, but always re-check your poles every day before heading off down the track.

These steps are for 3 section poles with two locking places. It may read a bit complicated, but it is really easy to do and do properly – I got it right first time and in about 10 seconds.

• undo both locks on each pole.
• pull each part out to just before the maximum line. Lock the lowest lock.
• without your backpack on, stand up and relax your shoulders.
• hold one pole by its handle and slide your elbow into and past your waist until your hand is just in front of your arm pit.. gently push the pole down into itself until the top of the handle is about 75cm / 3 inches below the level of your armpit.
• slide your elbow forward to level with your waist.
• look down your arm. Your elbow must be at a 90º angle.
• if it is, lock the top lock – if it isn’t, adjust the top part of the pole, then lock.
  do the same with the other pole.
• hold both poles and position your elbows loosely at your waist. Move your hands straight out from your body, gently plant the pole tips. Check that your elbows are at 90º . Keep adjusting the top section of the poles until you get that critical, sweet angle.
• when you walk with poles, you slide your elbows out from your waist to swing the poles – which is surprisingly easy to do.

Like me, you might be saying ‘Wow, that is a very long pole!’, and it may well be when compared to the length you currently use. The experts say this is how we should have them, so if your poles are not long enough to get that 90º elbow angle, it might be time to invest in new ones.

Wrist Straps

It is the downward pressure the wrist straps put on the pole that gives you the reward when walking with poles.

Straps need to be well fitting, as you put your weight through the strap, rather than directly through the pole. So take the time to get this bit right.

• hold out the strap loop with one hand and put the other hand through it from underneath
• lightly grab the handle on each side of where the strap is attached to the handle – so the attachment is between your thumb and forefinger
• tighten the strap so the loop will not come off your hand when you swing the pole forward

This may sound awkward, but the idea is that you place downward pressure on the strap where it comes out of the handle to swing the poles in front of you.

After about 10 minutes of uncoordinated flinging and crashing my poles around I suddenly ‘got it’, and was soon twirling my poles like a pro.

Walking

The ideal way to walk with poles is to swing them to opposing legs, that is, swing the right pole forward on your left leg stride and left pole on your right leg stride. Some people use some side swing, that is, swing right pole on right stride, left on left, but it looks awkward and seems to take a lot more concentration. Have a go at both, and see which one is most comfortable and beneficial for you.

There are a lot of web sites with very good video instructions on how to use walking and trekking poles. If you do have a look, make sure you don’t click on to a Nordic Walking pole site, as that technique is very different to hiking and bushwalking, and is primarily a fitness workout.

Next week we look at Nordic Walking, as a great way to improve walking fitness.

Till then, good luck with getting to know your poles.

Regards.

Georgie

Do you keep your arm at 90 degrees to your body when using poles?

Do you change the length depending on conditions? Shorter going up hill? Longer down?

Do you always use the wrist strap correctly or just hang on to the pole?

Shoot us a comment below, we would love to hear your feedback.

In this article, Georgie Bull discusses walking poles and how to choose the right pole for the job you have in mind. With such a broad range of hiking poles on the market, how to select the best type and what to look for is really useful information.

Over to Georgie:

Walking poles definitely make walking easier.  Any age walker should think poles are great, if only because they will save your knees.

However, like boots, there are a few things to consider if you want your poles experience to be a happy one.

You need the right pole for the job.

There are purpose built poles and general use poles, heavy poles and light poles, sprung poles and non-sprung poles. Go along to a reputable outdoor store, tell an expert salesperson what you want the pole to do, that you want a pole suitable for your body weight, and that you would like to see their entire range.

Before you look at price, consider the weight of the pole, its weight bearing capacity, what the handle is made of, the shock absorbing spring system or lack of, the grips and the tips.

There is a considerable price gap between the cheapest, starting point poles and high end, expensive carbon poles. Cheaper poles are usually made of aluminium, so they might feel heavy at around 250g per pole. Dearer poles are usually made of light, high tech materials.

If you are light and like to walk fast, an ultra-light carbon Pacer pole might be the go. Pacers are biomechanically designed to encourage more upright walking, their unique hand grips do away with heavy shock absorbing springs, and the special end grips are designed to push you along on the flat.

Heavier or older walkers might fancy a pole that will help them safely balance and brake down slippery inclines – say something like the Leki SLS pole, which claims a holding force of 140kg.

If you walk in hilly, soggy, wet country like the Overland Track, a pole with a range of shock absorbing settings that can be easily adjusted from none to huge could be handy. On the soft, slippery mud tracks, the firm setting is great for bracing against trees and rocks, while the highly shock absorbing setting is handy on downhill rocky slopes to act as a brake and for extra balance.

Grips and tips is a fascinating topic, and one a good outdoor sales person will relish. Most poles come with either a carbide or stainless steel tip and interchangeable baskets.  Find out what each is best for and make sure the pole you fancy has the tip you need. Handles, wristbands and grips come in a mystifyingly huge range of materials and shapes, from the extravagant to the simple, synthetics and natural corks. Some have extensive ergonomic claims and others offer just finger slots. Take a firm grip of every handle on offer to feel what fits best and feels comfortable, then get the salesperson to explain the features of that and all the others. If you like the handle, make sure the wrist straps are comfortable and sit at the correct angle to your wrists. Ask the salesperson to go through it all with you.

How many poles could you handle. I use one, to leave me a spare hand if I need to steady myself, but experienced walkers say get used to walking with two, as two are more than twice as good as one.

Some poles are designed to double up as camera tripods, so if you are a foto fanatic, you might like to narrow your search down to poles with this handy option.

You can spend hours and have lots of fun looking at poles. Check out some of these:

Black Diamond – a range of ladies’ and men’s poles. The Contour Elliptic Shock 4 season hiking pole is spruiked as the “latest evolution of our technical workhorse contour range”, priced at around $160.  Their ergonomic cork hiking pole $130.

Exped – Explorer, a 4 section pole that packs up really small to fit in your backpack for the plane, should cost about $125

GMA Carbon Hiking Pole – made from 100% carbon, so very light, and the 3 twist lock extends the pole from 70cm to 135cm. With an adjustable padded wrist loop, carbide tip and rubber handle, they cost about $90 each.

Jacko – Dyno - not your ‘run of the mill walking stick’, made from aerospace alloys with Sur-lock quick adjust system and stainless flex tip. Sounds like a bargain at only $70 pair!

Komperdell – a big range of anti-shock poles, priced from $60 up. The Contour Titanal Antishock Trekking pole is a single unit that compacts into itself, has a tungsten carbide flex tip, weighs 245g and costs up to $100 pair.

Leki poles – German quality without compromise – but looking for a Leki might be a bit confusing, as there are 32 types of poles to choose from. Check out the Sierra Photo height-adjustable aluminium pole, weighing in at under 300gms. The handle screws off to expose a universal thread which your camera can be screwed on to – so you can snap away without an extended arm in sight!

Pacer – anatomically correct, ergonomic 4Ns for posture, movement, shaping and balance – these biomechanically designed poles are around $250 a pair.

Good luck with that!   Next week we will look at how to use poles correctly, and the latest European craze, Nordic Walking, a fantastic way for you to get and keep fit.

Regards
Georgie

Do you use walking poles? One or two?
Why do you use them?
If you use walking poles, what do you see as the advantages or disadvantages?

Shoot us a comment below if you have something to say!

All Images: Kathrin & Stefan via Flickr

The sound of helicopter rotor blades was music to the ears of badly injured walker David Briese recently. 

David was in a group enjoying a picturesque walk in a remote area on the far side of Mt Bogong, Victoria’s highest mountain, in the Alpine National Park.  The four day circuit was to see them climb to the summit of Mt Bogong, explore the surrounding ridges, spurs and valleys, then rejoin the track to return via Mountain Creek.

But a simple stumble left David with two completely broken ankle bones more than a day’s walk away from medical treatment.

After a great day that had included some hard climbing, David’s world ‘went pear-shaped’ when the toe of his boot dragged, causing his leg to roll forward on the steep path, and his whole weight to come down on his twisting ankle.  The nauseating sound of bones breaking was quickly followed by excruciating pain that rolled over him, collapsing him to the path.

Cursing himself for his stupidity, David was on the point of the track at the bottom of a deep ravine and there was no way he could walk out.  But this was his lucky day, as one of the group had been smart enough to take a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) with them, which was activated to summons help once the severity of David’s break was realised. 

 The sound of the rescue helicopter was soon heard through the valley, homing in on the regular beep of the PLB indicating David’s exact location.  Unable to land on the steep terrain where David had fallen, the paramedic had to be winched 60m down to his patient.  With his leg splinted, and calming shots of morphine and Maxalon cursing through his veins to dull the pain, David was winched out and flown to Albury Hospital, for surgery to pin the tibia and screw the fibula in his double fractured limb.

David says that without the PLB he would have been in dire straits, as he definitely could not have walked out. He has since bought his own PLB, and become an advocate for all walkers who venture into remote areas to carry a PLB for safety.

 As he says, ‘All it takes is one slip …..’

David contacted us to encourage everyone who travels into remote areas to carry a PLB. It is excellent advice, please follow it.

You can read David’s fascinating account of his walk and rescue, accompanied by a fabulous set of photographs of that beautiful walk, on his website Walking the High Country.

Do you always carry a PLB?

Have you ever had to set one off?

We would love to hear your story and ideas, leave a reply below.

Addendum from Georgie:  The Australian Maritime Safety Authority have a fabulous web site with lots of very useful information about 406MHz Distress Beacons and GPSs.  Take a minute to check it out on www.amsa.gov.au/beacons.   Good info if you are looking to buy a unit, a FAQ brochure, and free registration to enable an even quicker response if you ever have need to set yours off.  Well worth a look.  Regards, Georgie.

Some of you may have heard of Chris Townsend, he is a “bit of a legend” in British walking circles , sort of like John Chapman in Australia.

Chris is the Equipment Editor for the British TGO magazine and he recently posted his Top 10 favourite new items of gear for 2010.

He used many of these items in the U.S. while he completed the Pacific Northwest Trail in 2010 so they have been well tested!   Chris also write a pre-trip article,  Planning a hike on the Pacific Northwest Trail, that is well worth a read to understand his “before and after” thinking.

Wet gear - Little Deadmans Bay - South Coast Track Tasmania

We really like this list because:

• it has been used by an expert, particularly on a very long trip (1,200 miles)
• the gear is lightweight and practical
• his gear choice  is “no frills”
• his choices seem to WORK!

What do you think of the list?

Have you used any of this gear?

Shoot us a comment below, we would love to read your feedback!

Image: Vern and Skeet – Flickr

What is the best travel pack?
What features are important when deciding on which one to spend your hard earned dollars on?
Is there a good compromise between a suitcase and a backpack?

Why the need for a travel pack?

We plan to travel a bit in the next few years – e.g. Cambodia in late August for three weeks

The way we plan to travel i.e. backpacking, lends itself to a rucksack rather than a suitcase

Suitcases are not easy to drag around and having your hands free is a bonus.

We might want to do some short (2-3 day walks) and are willing to compromise on pack weight and harness quality.

After some superficial (well we were in a hurry) investigation and drawing on our previous experience with One Planet packs, we headed towards our local Mountain Designs Store and checked out the One Planet Wheelie.

One Planet Wheelie Travel pack - solid unit

It looked the goods with these features closing the deal:

• Its solid and tough not just a piece of cheap junk that will last one trip
• The materials are high quality, you can just feel it (zips, wheels, handle, fabric etc)
• Design is simple and everything works well, stuff like pockets etc are where they should be
• The harness is a clever piece of design that zips away well.  A lot of thought has gone into it
• Access to packing clothes and gear was easy, it zips right open

One Planet Wheelie Travel pack – harness

What to look out for or think about before spending your dollars:

• By it’s nature it is heavy – frame, handle, wheels etc  (over 4kg) that takes up a lot of your baggage weight
• A tad pricey compared with the competition BUT we nailed a 30% off sale – suppose you pay for longevity and quality
• There are only two colours, and let’s face it, who cares.

One Planet Wheelie Travel pack train

What do you use as a travel pack?
Do you think we made the right decision with the “wheelie” or can you suggest something else for our readers?

btw, we have no commercial relationship with One Planet or Mountain Designs but would love to (come on guys, a spot on the side bar is waiting for you!)

If you are looking for information about a hiking, backpacking or bushwalking pack we reviewed the One Planet Strezlecki a while back , it might be worth a read.