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The Outdoorsy "Sofa".

neonwilderness said:
The single pole loop design can be a bit of a pain too. During the night here the wind changed direction and pushing the the loop out of shape causing the door to open over time. About the third time this happened I got annoyed and rived the zip closed which bent the pole which made things worse to the point I had to pack up at about 4am. In hindsight I should have just got up when it first happened and adjusted things :facepalm: :D
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My new vango helium is the same kind of design but there's a little clip at the bottom of the door zip to keep it shut. Wind changed direction here earlier today and it's howling in straight off the north sea right now and I'm toasty warm and dry :thumbs: It's slightly heavier, about a kilo iirc, but the pole hoop is angled rather than U shaped which is meant to give more headroom.

I'm looking at getting one of those cheap Lanshan trekking pole tents for summer use when I want more ventilation than weatherproofness.
 
iona said:
My new vango helium is the same kind of design but there's a little clip at the bottom of the door zip to keep it shut. Wind changed direction here earlier today and it's howling in straight off the north sea right now and I'm toasty warm and dry :thumbs:
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Tbf I probably should have spent a bit more time setting things up given the forecast that night, I’ve had other nights where it’s been pretty solid. I generally prefer a two pole design which is a bit more forgiving though.

Back then I was a bit too focussed on the weight of stuff. These days I’m usually happier with the trade off of a bit more weight for more comfort :D
 
neonwilderness said:
Tbf I probably should have spent a bit more time setting things up given the forecast that night, I’ve had other nights where it’s been pretty solid. I generally prefer a two pole design which is a bit more forgiving though.

Back then I was a bit too focussed on the weight of stuff. These days I’m usually happier with the trade off of a bit more weight for more comfort :D
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Yeah I got an ultra light thermarest some years ago. It's the size of a can of coke, but comfy it is not.
 
I've got old and soft. I'd much rather stay somewhere warm with a bed and toilet near by and cover more distance in a day because I'm not carrying a silly heavy bag.
 
Idaho said:
I like being away from that for a few days. You feel like grizzly Adams when you do get into town for a posh night.
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If it was always nice weather I'd probably like it more. I'll do it if the adventure requires it, rather then for sake of it, like a canoe trip. That said I've agreed to do a few nights in the Southern uplands or Howegills later this year and it will be good as I've not done it for a while. I'll probably need to buy kit.

It seems most people I know who still love it have children. I don't know if there's a correlation.
 
D1- Blair athol to falls of tarf
D2 - falls to red house bothy
D3 - red house to glen feshie bothy
D4 - glen feshie to Aviemore
D5 - kinguisse to upper glen tromie
D6 - over minigaig pass to the allt Szechuan bothy
D7 - into Blair... Awaiting the sleeperIMG-20230511-WA0019.jpgIMG_20230509_181923_HDR.jpgIMG_20230509_130328_HDR.jpgIMG_20230510_182316_HDR.jpg
 
At the total other end of the scale I've gone really soft. I'm a reluctant camper these days, but the cost of Air B&B is silly money and I'd like to get away this weekend. OH isn't well enough for any serious hikes so we're doing car camping. As my only kip mat that still works is a stupidly uncomfortable thermarest neo air thing I've ordered a proper car camping one. It's a Vango 10cm Comfort and weight 3kg :D

I'm also away to N Wales next weekend and as my mate refuses to stay in the cheapest accommodation I know of with a roof in the UK (despite it being Capel Curig!) I suspect we'll be camping so I'll get use of it. Shame I fancied going back to the bunk house. I don't know why him and my partner hate it so much. :(

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Was a great weekend. Can't belive I've never been to the Clwydian Hills, especially as the start of the first walk was only an hour from my house. We didn't do loads as my partner isn't the well, but it was a good recee and I might even do a day trip and go for a run.

Campsite was lovely, only 4 pods and three pitches, but still with decent facilities, run by a really nice old Welsh farmer. Slight downside was the thunderstorm so glad we didn't take the BBQ, but was the right call. Awesome they had a covered kitchen though. Even stopped at the beach at Prestatyn on the way back. Not really my thing, but she loved it and so did the dog, so that's a win.

PXL_20230610_195251860.MP.jpg
 
I do however need to sort out my sleeping bag situation. I've got two down ones, one is warm and the other is warmer. Overkill for summer and haven't been washed for years. I've ordered some down wash, but think I need a cheap synthetic that's not to warm and can be thrown in the machine on a more regular basis.
 
I bought a quilt last year (still down though) which has been a bit of a revelation. Still fairly warm but much more comfortable to sleep not being stuck in a bag, plus it's about half the weight.

1686558775451.png

I'd still use my down bag in colder conditions though, I guess I could even double them up for a winter camp somewhere.
 
I can recommend Snugpak - mines a softie 9, had it for nearly 30 years. Copes well down to 2/3c, and up into the low teens - I sweat like a pig though, so others experience may vary.

It's not the one I shit myself in. I burned that one...
 
I picked up a synthetic Vango sleeping bag a couple of years ago for car camping. The weight of it means I wouldn't want to carry it far but another brand to look at.
 
Slowly upgrading our car camping stuff. Ordered a bigger tent which we can stand up in the porch and put chairs inside if it's a bit nasty and some more comfortable chairs. I'm wary of big tents as many years ago I got a second hand one cheaply one eBay and took it to Wales. That night the wind that came down the valley broke the poles and all the ground water came up through the groundsheet. Hoping I fair a bit better this time.

Now on the lookout for an additional cool box. Mine was given to me about 20 years ago and was probably quite second hand even then. They really aren't cheap!
 
UnderOpenSky said:
Was a great weekend. Can't belive I've never been to the Clwydian Hills, especially as the start of the first walk was only an hour from my house. We didn't do loads as my partner isn't the well, but it was a good recee and I might even do a day trip and go for a run.

Campsite was lovely, only 4 pods and three pitches, but still with decent facilities, run by a really nice old Welsh farmer. Slight downside was the thunderstorm so glad we didn't take the BBQ, but was the right call. Awesome they had a covered kitchen though. Even stopped at the beach at Prestatyn on the way back. Not really my thing, but she loved it and so did the dog, so that's a win.

View attachment 378812
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Grew up with a view of the Clwydians from my back garden.

Took my Dad along them a couple of years back as he he'd never walked there despite seeing them every day for 40 years!

Where's the campsite?

...and was Prestatyn beach any good?
 
neonwilderness said:
I bought a quilt last year (still down though) which has been a bit of a revelation. Still fairly warm but much more comfortable to sleep not being stuck in a bag, plus it's about half the weight.

View attachment 378814

I'd still use my down bag in colder conditions though, I guess I could even double them up for a winter camp somewhere.
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I've got a sea to summit quilt, a Rab 3 season bag, a cheapo silk liner and a fleece liner. I usually take two of these depending on conditions. For summer the quilts are great.
 
Got a new tent the other day. Alpkit Ordos 3 to replace an ageing Zephyros 1 Lite.

Impressed so far. Dead quick to pitch, roomy for two, palatial for 1 and whilst bulkier/heavier than the Z1, it's not something you'd notice once chucked in your pack.

Took it on a Bronze DofE I was working with a week or two back and earnt the bitter jealousy of the other teachers who had sleepless nights in the school issue Vangos.
 
chilango said:
Grew up with a view of the Clwydians from my back garden.

Took my Dad along them a couple of years back as he he'd never walked there despite seeing them every day for 40 years!

Where's the campsite?

...and was Prestatyn beach any good?
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I think I'm going to revisit in a few weeks and hopefully do the walk I'd originally planned.

This is the site.

clwydianholidays.com

Clwydian Holidays | Camping and Glamping in North Wales | BOOK NOW

Escape to nature's embrace at Clwydian Holidays, your ultimate glamping and campsite retreat in North Wales. Discover your wilderness haven at Clwydian Holidays and create lifelong memories in the heart of North Wales.
clwydianholidays.com clwydianholidays.com
 
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Finally a dry weekend. Taking the new tent to South Lakes tomorrow (Milnthorpe) for a night. Really fustratingly it's look proper nice Monday to Wednesday, but I've a client visit booked Monday or I'd have tried to get some last minute holiday.

Partners health isn't great so nothing epic walking wise. Going to check out Potter Dell near Kendal tomorrow and then a gentle coast walk from a village called Glasson and maybe a stroll round Lancaster after :)

Currently prepping pork kebabs for the BBQ.
 
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