The Expedition Journals

There are very few pairs of running shoes that I would run an off-road marathon in, having only worn them for 15 kilometres previously. I did just that with the 361° Yushan Trail Running Shoes, back in 2019 on the Challenge the Wight event. They were, and are still, the most comfortable off-road trail running shoes that I have worn to date. My fond association with the 361° brand came after trying their Strata 3 Road Running Shoes in early 2018; they proved to be incredibly comfortable, stable, and supportive straight out of the box. I have subsequently run over 700 kilometres in them. When I signed up for the ' Challenge the Wight ' night marathon, I was well aware that my shoe choice would not only play a part in comfort, but also whether I would even finish the event. Due to a relatively collapsed arch and a wide toe spread, I have suffered from repeat problems with cramped or blistered toes, and vulnerable ankle joints—I was the kid who had to wear boots to school (b

Kayaking has been a passion of mine since I was a child—I spent many great summer evenings messing about in boats with the Sea Scouts. Then, after a time away dedicated to other outdoor pursuits such as rowing, sailing and (of course) cycling, in 2018 my kayaking was rekindled. A Valley Etain 17.5 RM was my first expedition level sea kayak, and the boat I used for the Round The Island Kayak marathon back in 2019; a 92-kilometre non-stop paddle around the Isle of Wight to raise funds for a local children's cancer charity. The lockdowns of 2020 saw me reaching for the paddle on a more regular basis, as I looked to add as much diversity to my life through varied outdoor sports. Honing my paddling skills during this period, combine with great memories of the 2019 Round The Island paddle got me thinking about the next sea kayaking challenge that might be on the horizon. Kayak racing has never really been on the agenda for me, but I have always enjoyed seeing how far and how fast

The AKU Alterra Lite GTX Waterproof Hiking Shoes are designed for hill walking and leisure wear; rated for anything up to a 'moderately difficult hike'. For me, they are the perfect winter walking shoes; with waterproof protection, superb breathability, and the versatility that they are not out of place on a wide variety of terrain. The AKU Alterra Lite GTX is made primarily of leather, with a Gore-Tex lining to ensure waterproofing and breathability. Inside there is a comfortable Ortholite insole to provide support for your foot, while the moulded EVA footbed offers cushioning and further support. The underside sole is a robust rubber tread that will find traction on a wide variety of terrain. The sole also features enhanced protection from stony paths and sharp scree. The Alterra Lite GTX fit very well, with the foot feeling well supported in the insole. The adjustable lacing system allows you to tailor the volume within the shoe to keep your feet comfortable in a var

My Helinox Chair Zero folding chair comes with me on all kinds of adventures; from hiking to kayaking, sailing, and beach trips. At the start of 2020, I made a pledge to myself to share more of my adventures with others, and that means doubling up on kit; with Helinox releasing a new Chair One in collaboration with Finisterre—one of my favourite casual clothing brands—it seemed like a great opportunity to invest in another super comfortable and super portable chair. The Helinox x Finisterre Chair One is the first Helinox Chair to feature a 100 percent recycled fabric seat. Sourced by Finisterre and tested by Helinox, this 200 denier recycled nylon yarn is both lightweight, strong and water repellent. The Helinox x Finisterre Chair One uses the same superb quality DAC aluminium poles as the other chairs within the Helinox range, but this model uses a unique green anodisation technique developed by DAC that is an environmentally friendly way to anodise the aluminium poles that eliminat

Throughout the 2020-21 wintertime I kept up a ritual of open-water sea swimming at least once per week. In the depths of January this became a frigid affair at best; multiple times I lost feeling in my hands and feet as I stripped off my wetsuit on the exposed beaches of the Isle of Wight. The experience, whilst exhilarating, got me searching for any means of retaining body warmth both during and after my open water excursions. The new DryCoat Change Robe from Voited is a fantastic asset for cold water swimmers, surfers, kayakers and sailors. Fleece-lined changing robes are a common sight on beaches and in coastal car parks now, but the Voited DryCoat takes outdoor comfort to the next level. The DryCoat has a waterproof outer material that shields you from the wind and spray. On the inside, there is a microfleece lining that quickly dries you and wicks away moisture. The lower back then features a CloudTouch™ insulation panel to supply added comfort and warmth for your vulnerable core

The SPOT X Bluetooth 2-Way Satellite Messenger and Tracker is a lifeline for expedition adventurers. It offers two-way communication through text and email, position tracking, a quick 'check-in' facility, and an SOS distress functionality. All these things can add comfort and safety to your adventures and travels. When I plan and execute any expedition, I stick to a 4C's plan – Care, Comfort, Communication, and Contingency. Care – This starts with careful and thorough planning of an expedition and continues with a careful and sensible approach to all aspects of its execution. Comfort – This does not mean opting for luxury, but considering comfort over potential discomfort or distress. For example, if you are wild camping in sub-zero temperatures, take the right season sleeping bag rather than opting for a summer season one to save weight—it could save you from hypothermia. Communication – Aim to keep communication as constant and flowing as possible at all times.

Enamel mugs are cute and cool, but they are not the most practical coffee cup—they are a bit bulky and rather poor at insulating your beverage. The new X-Mug and X-Tumbler from Sea to Summit are a more modern and functional drinking cup—a better hands-on solution. The X-Tumbler (360ml) and X-Mug (480ml) use heat resistant, BPA-free food-grade silicone in a concertina construction with a rigid rim; to create an easy to drink from mug that folds down to just 15mm thick. The unique Cool Grip technology on the X-Mug and X-Tumbler helps to insulate your beverage (hot or cold) while keeping your fingers from burning or freezing at the same time. Compact, convenient, and unbreakable. The X-Mug and X-Tumbler from Sea to Summit are a more space-efficient and modern alternative to the classic enamel coffee cup. >> Available from Seatosummit.co.uk

Adventures that feature a warm cup of coffee are the best. Whether it is sat on a beach as the sun rises on the horizon, cutting through the waves as you sail out into the deep blue ocean, or peering out from your tent at a mountain-top camp; a cup of tea or coffee is a treat, a comfort, and a kick-starter to make any adventure moment. The 16 oz Tumbler and 12 oz Coffee Mug from Hydro Flask have become my go-to choices for holding my morning brew; these sustainable insulated capsules are made from durable pro-grade stainless steel, and are durable enough for even the toughest outdoor adventures. Both the Tumbler and Coffee Mug use Hydro Flask's TempShield™ double-walled vacuum insulation technology—to keep your coffee hot for up to six hours. Both have a fantastic feel in your hand, and both come with insulated press-in lids. Whether you want to slow down and take in the view, or get going and take your drink with you on the move; this cup and tumbler will keep your favourite h

In the build-up to running the Challenge The Wight night time marathon, I went in search of the best head torch for night running. With great past experiences of the Ledlenser range, the Ledlenser NEO10NR Headtorch rose to the top of the selection list. This is my review. The NEO10R is the range topping model in Ledlenser's NEO series; with a focusable beam providing an output of up to 600 lumens; a minimum run time of 10 hours, and a maximum burn time of 120 hours. The head torch is a two-part design with a separate battery pack that sits at the rear of the head. The straps then run around the head; to provide a balanced and secure design for running and hiking. The unit is also IPX4 waterproof, so it is resistant to significant splashing and downpours. The highlight of the NEO10R headtorch is the focusable beam, which allows you to refine the breadth and reach distance of the unit's output. On a close-quarters wide angle beam the beam distance is only 20 metres on lo

The above photo was taken on the #KayakRTI —if you look closely, you will see a drogue net streaming out behind the support boat—a side project to the 90 kilometre sea kayaking challenge was to gain a greater understanding of the pollution in the waters around the Isle of Wight; as well as create content that promoted a 'zero waste' attitude to outdoor adventure and life. We went fishing for plastic… The sea pollution sampling project on the Round the Isle of Wight Kayak was the start of a notable change in my personal mentality towards waste and recycling. I have long been an advocate of recycling and reusing materials, and making the sustainable choice; but researching and then seeing the extent of pollution in my local waters, and knowing also of the level of roadside and landfill waste, motivated a conscious personal decision to adopt a 'Zero Waste' mentality to expeditions and life in general. Zero Waste for me, means minimising wherever and whenever possib

Last year, I wrote a piece on lifeinthesaddle.cc titled ' The Importance of Comfort (and Tea) '— the post was intended to highlight my ethos of making smart decisions to avoid discomfort—as the saying goes "any fool can be uncomfortable". With my sea kayaking expeditions becoming increasingly adventurous and challenging, I started to consider what I could do to enhance my comfort levels on long-distance paddles. Thinking 'outside the boat', I looked at my stop-over setup, and decided that to rest my back muscles and legs at a mid-paddle stopover, a lightweight camping chair would be a worthwhile investment. The model I set upon was the industry leading Helinox Chair Zero. This is my review... The Helinox Chair Zero is the ultimate lightweight camping chair. Weighing in at just 510 grams, it is a small burden for the amount of comfort that it can deliver; letting you relax, recover, and enjoy your mid-expedition stopovers on kayaking, hiking, and campin