Tag Archives: #mygearstory

Product Reviews

Hennessy Hammock Review – Super Shelter or Overpriced?

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Hennessy Hammock are one of the most highly regarded hammock brands in the world, and they come with a price tag to match. Or so I thought?

As a climber/mountaineer, kayaker and mountain biker working as an outdoor instructor and part time retail assistant money is not in abundance. 5k on a bike? Acceptable. A few hundred quid on climbing gear here and there? Absolutely! £450 on a set of Lettmann Ergonom Pro paddles? Best £450 I’ve ever spent!! £200? For a Hammock? Your kidding right?A hennessy hammock pitched in green woodland

When Pete, co-owner of ProAdventure, took a Hennessy Hammock out of stock and told me to give it a try, I thought great, luxury for free. Little did I know that two weeks later I would be totally sold and in love with Hennessy Hammocks!!

The start of a Hennessy Hammock love affair…

Continue reading Hennessy Hammock Review – Super Shelter or Overpriced? →

 
Advice

The Rough Guide to re-Handling a Gransfors Bruk Axe

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If you have some basic competence with woodworking tools and a vice or clamping workbench you can re-handle a Gransfors axe. It takes care and patience and, as always, working with tools can be dangerous. Consider the risks, not least dropping a razor sharp axe head on your foot. If you aren’t competent try asking a friend or a woodworker who is.

My woodwork is fairly rough and ready as you’ll see below, especially the last image which is a ‘how not to do it.’

Clamp the the axe securely ready for drilling. Look at how it’s fitted; this is what you are aiming for.

Continue reading The Rough Guide to re-Handling a Gransfors Bruk Axe →

 
Stories, Tentipi

Tentipi Winter Camping at minus 25 Degrees Celsius in Sweden

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This is a short photo blog of a snowmobile trip into the Swedish wilderness near Arvidsjar, Tentipi winter camping with Eldfell wood fired tent stoves at minus 25 degrees Celsius.

Photos are by Lesley Carol of ProAdventure.

A tentipi nordic tipi pitched on snow with a snowmobile and snowy fire pit
After 24 hours the fire pit melted itself way down into the snow!

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Stories

Visiting the Gränsfors Bruk Axe Foundry in Sweden

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In September 2016 we took a trip to the Gransfors Bruk axe foundry in Sweden to meet the people and see the axes being made.

We flew into Stockholm and stayed in the excellent Jumbo Hostel for a night before picking up the hire care and heading north to Gränsfors.

We were made most welcome and spent a couple of days exploring the area and enjoying the Sauna.

Gransfors bruk standard axe head samples which the smiths check their production against for quality and conformity.

Gränsfors standard axe head samples which the smiths check their production against for quality and conformity.

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Advice

IPX WATERPROOF RATINGS AND WHAT THEY MEAN FOR OUTDOOR GEAR

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IP waterproof ratings are a great guide for buying outdoor gadgets, gear or protection but what do they really mean. We’ve all be there, searching the packaging and seeing the IPX rating, when all we want to know is ‘is it waterproof?’.

Let’s break it down. The ‘IP’ stands for Ingress Protection or International Protection, which is simply whether the item you’re referring to has been tested for Ingress (Access/Entrance). The numbers after it, then refer to which degree of testing the item stood up to, and therefore how protected it really is.

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Advice

How to Look After your Walking Boots and Shoes

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Look after your footwear so it can look after you.

We have written a short guide on how to looking after your Walking Boots and Shoes, to save you money make them last longer. Even your ultra modern, Gore-tex lined boots and especially fabric boots and shoes need looking after so that they can look after you.

Breathability works both ways Continue reading How to Look After your Walking Boots and Shoes →