Urban75 Home About Offline BrixtonBuzz Contact

The Outdoorsy "Sofa".

And so it's not just gear chat, here's a pic from a couple of weekends ago we when went to the Howgills for the first time ever. Stayed one night in Sedburgh and did a 9.5 mile run the next day over Winder, Arant Haw, Calders and The Calf. Brilliant place to go to if like me you're only ever looked at it as you drive past to Scotland or the Lakes. Cautley Spout next time.

"Hurry up at the back!"


IMG_20190819_103237346.jpg
 
Your missing the red socks for the rugged outdoors person in shorts look. :p

More seriously it looks lovely, it's an area I have been meaning to get to for a while, I've driven through it loads.
 
And so it's not just gear chat, here's a pic from a couple of weekends ago we when went to the Howgills for the first time ever. Stayed one night in Sedburgh and did a 9.5 mile run the next day over Winder, Arant Haw, Calders and The Calf. Brilliant place to go to if like me you're only ever looked at it as you drive past to Scotland or the Lakes. Cautley Spout next time.

"Hurry up at the back!"


View attachment 183963
Ooh if you like running over the Howgills there's a great race there every May. Starts and finishes in Sedburgh, there's a half and full marathon option. You go down Cautley Spout on the half. Which is always interesting.
 
Your missing the red socks for the rugged outdoors person in shorts look. :p

More seriously it looks lovely, it's an area I have been meaning to get to for a while, I've driven through it loads.

Wasn't me, was my better (but slower) partner. And we were running, none of that middle aged ramblers attire thank you very much.
 
Kit question here , I hope it isn’t too daft. Last year I bought a Regatta top for about £20 in TK Maxx and I want to know is it waterproof? It doesn’t say anything on any of the labels and it doesn’t seem to have a name I can google. What’s a reasonable test of waterproofing? Can I put it over a bucket and leave a puddle of water sitting on it or is that ott? I’m asking because I’m going on a long cycle starting October and I really want to be watertight if necessary but I really don’t want to be spending £££ on a flash waterproof jacket if this one will do the job.

What’s the best test for this jacket? Cheers
 
Kit question here , I hope it isn’t too daft. Last year I bought a Regatta top for about £20 in TK Maxx and I want to know is it waterproof? It doesn’t say anything on any of the labels and it doesn’t seem to have a name I can google. What’s a reasonable test of waterproofing? Can I put it over a bucket and leave a puddle of water sitting on it or is that ott? I’m asking because I’m going on a long cycle starting October and I really want to be watertight if necessary but I really don’t want to be spending £££ on a flash waterproof jacket if this one will do the job.

What’s the best test for this jacket? Cheers

There is no such thing as a truly waterproof jacket. Or rather there probably is, but you certainly wouldn't want to move about in one. I wouldn't expect my expensive gore tex jackets to pass the test you have suggested.

Regatta has a reputation for cheap kit, but some of it can be ok. Cycling is a interesting one as you'll sweat a lot, tough even for very expensive gear. I might even go as far as forgetting about staying dry and looking at kit that is comfortable when wet and dries quickly.

I'd say you're best test is to go cycling in the rain in kit that you plan on wearing.
 
Last edited:
Kit question here , I hope it isn’t too daft. Last year I bought a Regatta top for about £20 in TK Maxx and I want to know is it waterproof? It doesn’t say anything on any of the labels and it doesn’t seem to have a name I can google. What’s a reasonable test of waterproofing? Can I put it over a bucket and leave a puddle of water sitting on it or is that ott? I’m asking because I’m going on a long cycle starting October and I really want to be watertight if necessary but I really don’t want to be spending £££ on a flash waterproof jacket if this one will do the job.

What’s the best test for this jacket? Cheers
Wear it outside next time it is raining.
 
Heh, I just tied it round a bucket and tipped a mug of water over it in a pool in the middle. Left it for 15 mins and nothing came through so I'd call that waterproof. Don't know about the seams obviously but the material is fine. I think this'll do, especially if it saves me £100.
 
Heh, I just tied it round a bucket and tipped a mug of water over it in a pool in the middle. Left it for 15 mins and nothing came through so I'd call that waterproof. Don't know about the seams obviously but the material is fine. I think this'll do, especially if it saves me £100.

Result. Sometimes cheap stuff can be more waterproof as the ability to breath is less important.

I reproofed my gore tex jacket and trousers with Tech Wash and Wash in Direct. Bit of time in the rain today. Small improvement, but it's clearly far from a magic bullet. Which I kinda knew, but was still hoping for more.

In other news the Paramo is still fucking excellent, mostly as when you do get wet it doesn't feel as minging and dries on you in a way Gore Tex doesn't, but a bit warm for storming up hills in pouring rain. Although I'm not sure that anything exists that ticks that box.
 
The Alpkit Balance is the most comfortable membrane waterproof I've worn...

The paramos are - for me - fantastic in really vile, cold conditions, I absolutely adore my Alta, but in anything over about 10c I'm just too warm, even with just a t-shirt underneath.

I got the Balance in July and I've been wearing it in wet weather all summer - gets a bit warm over about 17/18 if there's no breeze, but it's been a godsend.
 
I've spent six months trying to decide on a running waterproof that's reasonably robust, doesn't take up loads of space in a small pack and doesn't cost a bomb. Bought an OMM Halo but it felt like tissue paper, so it went back pretty much straight away. I'm not sure what I expected from a coat that weighed <100g but I felt I had to try it. Various others were too much like wearing a crisp packet or looked weird on me.

By default I've ended up with an ASICS one as I'm bored of the cycle of returns and exchanges. Seems ok and only cost me £40 so if it's a mistake at least it's not an expensive one :oldthumbsup:
 
The Alpkit Balance is the most comfortable membrane waterproof I've worn...

The paramos are - for me - fantastic in really vile, cold conditions, I absolutely adore my Alta, but in anything over about 10c I'm just too warm, even with just a t-shirt underneath.

I got the Balance in July and I've been wearing it in wet weather all summer - gets a bit warm over about 17/18 if there's no breeze, but it's been a godsend.

<<kit geek alert>>

It's not only solution...but it earned its keep in one day. Belaying in hard rain all morning with a crazy group of indoor climbers from London who wanted to make the best of it. Water going down your sleeves. Standing by a lake in the afternoon with showers and sun. Comfy(ish) by the end. Also good to fling in a bag for autumn walking as doubles as a backup fleece and waterproof. But yeah to warm.

Never seem to buy Alpkit stuff as I always feel like kit must be bought at a proper discount and there stuff never is. But I'd but certainly be up for trying something thin that isn't gore tex next year.
 
Result. Sometimes cheap stuff can be more waterproof as the ability to breath is less important.

Yes I'm not expecting great breathability! I just want something to keep my body dry while I get to where I need to be, I'm not going to be pounding up mountain passes trying to beat a clock. I'm an A to B cyclist, it's transport for me I just pootle along at about 10 mph (on a step thru city bike, quite upright) and I think this jacket will do the job of keeping me dry while I do that.
 
I'm off to Scotland for 6 nights camping tomorrow and 4 of those are going to be wild. We are paddling down the river Spey. I'm actually a bit nervous. It's been a long time since I've done anything like this and not done a canoe trip like it. Would have liked to spend quite a lot of money on new kit, but it's not there, so making do with what I have. Proofed the tent yesterday with a can of stuff, don't know if it will make a difference. I also worked out that the tent is probably 16/17 years old which is kinda scary. Remember blowing some a student ovedraft on it.

Just working out what food to buy from Aldi. Want/need stuff that's simple and filling Breakfasts will be noodles and chorizo as it's pretty filling. Probably a fair few evening meals will be tortellini. Loads of snack bars, but definitely need some more lunch ideas. Remember years ago I used to take primula and pitta. Not quite sure I can stomach that these days. Bottle of whisky already purchased.
 
Dear god. Its probably for the best I don't have to carry this shit any distance. Two 60L barrels and a large dry bag.

Decided I'll just stop for lunch and got various pouches of precooked lentils and chickpeas. And a bottle of whisky.
 
Scotland is alright I guess...

IMG_20191015_082727_resize_4.jpg IMG_20191015_113819_resize_28.jpg IMG_20191015_122827_resize_60.jpg IMG_20191015_145325_resize_33.jpg IMG_20191015_183407_resize_45.jpg

Actually it rained quite hard for a fair bit today, these are mostly yesterdays pics, but lucky i guess as it was when we were on the water, rather then at camp. Been able to have a fire both nights so far, which is a massive bonus I wasn't expecting, different to wild camping in the hills. :)
 
Despite re waterproofing my dogwalking jacket, it's still not waterproof :mad:

It's not wildly flash or anything - yer basic OEX jacket from Go Outdoors. I Nikwax'd it but no joy. It's only a couple of years old but gets worn pretty much every day from now til Spring. Is it just worn out?

eta Or any suggestions for waterproof jackets :thumbs:
 
Last edited:
Despite re waterproofing my dogwalking jacket, it's still not waterproof :mad:

It's not wildly flash or anything - yer basic OEX jacket from Go Outdoors. I Nikwax'd it but no joy. It's only a couple of years old but gets worn pretty much every day from now til Spring. Is it just worn out?

eta Or any suggestions for waterproof jackets :thumbs:

Yeah they do reach a point where they just stop reproofing. As mentioned already on the thread I'm loving the new Paramo. Very different to a conventional waterproof in that even if you get a bit damp, you are still comfy. And they dry on you much faster.
 
Yup, membrane waterproofs have a fatigue life - once you reach it it doesn't matter how much you proof it, it will always leak.

(I'm going through the grieving process for a rather lovely bright red Berghaus Pinnacle jacket I bought on a fantastic climbing trip to Fort William in 2004 - it's been dying for years, and I've finally accepted that its time has long passed....).

Paramos' don't have a membrane - they work differently, and they last a lot longer.
 
So Nirmal Purja has completed his record breaking (by a matter of years!) round of the 14 8000m peaks. I'm not a mountaineer and I only really realised who he was after that photo of the queue on Everest, but I'm still struggling to comprehend how this is possible in such a short time :eek:
 
Doing a canoe rescue course this weekend. Ropes and boats. Its more technical then I thought it would be. Yesterday was all bank based stuff, today we are putting into practice on the river. My dry suit is over ten years old and not as dry as it once was. :hmm:
 
Lovely sloppy day on the moor. Ivybridge to sheepstor. Thunder and hail started when I was right up on the high plateau. Keep dry and warm, but my boots and feet are soaked. 15 miles of different types of bog, marsh, puddles, ponds, streams, rivers and soggy tussock. Flipping great.

IMG_20200117_114249128.jpgIMG_20200117_115823802_HDR.jpgIMG_20200117_152118360_HDR.jpgIMG_20200117_154332717_HDR.jpg
 
Not at all jealous...

Was just reflecting how good last Jan was to me. Ok I wasn't running, but I got out to the Peak District twice a week with blue skies. It's been a bit damper this year and I'm working stupid hours. :(
 
Some photos from the last couple of months walking:

Sun coming up over Showery Tor, Bodmin Moor

showerytor.jpg
View from the top of Brown Willy (No sniggering at the back), highest point in Cornwall

EQQrtIQWkAEdP9T.jpg

Rough Tor, Bodmin Moor

roughtor.jpg

A rainbow near Cape Cornwall

rainbow.jpg

Walking St Michaels Way with my brother.

stmich.jpg

Really looking forward to Spring and getting out and exploring Bodmin Moor. The storms are doing my head in now - getting itchy feet.
 
Back
Top Bottom