The Expedition Journals

The Rab Kinetic Alpine Jacket is an industry-leading fully waterproof shell jacket; providing the comfort and stretchy feel of a softshell jacket, but with the protective performance of a 100 percent waterproof hiking / trail running jacket. The exceptional characteristic of the Rab Kinetic Alpine Jacket, which sets it apart from other waterproof jackets on the market, is the fabric — the patented Proflex™ material. This unique technical fabric is breathable, waterproof, durable, and crucially stretchy; enabling an adaptable and close-fitting protective outer layer. The Kinetic Alpine Jacket is designed for the mountains; where lightweight packable properties are essential and second only to the necessity for the jacket to be fully weatherproof. In the pursuit of featherweight lightness (390 grams for the Medium size jacket), Rab have introduced some clever innovations. Ceramic print overlays are used on high wear areas to remove the need for bulky reinforcement patches and to ...

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. These are quite simply the most comfortable off-road trail running shoes I have worn to date. My fond association with the 361° brand came after trying their Strata 3 Road Running Shoes at the end of last year; they proved to be incredibly comfortable, stable, and supportive, straight out of the box. I have subsequently run over 400 kilometres in them. When I signed up for the ' Challenge the Wight ' night marathon earlier this year, 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 relatively collapsed arches 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 (before that was cool). ...

" I have never run more than 23 kilometres before… " is my response, when stood in the fading light at The Needles a fellow 'Challenge the Wight' participant asks if I can " run like you bike ". On hearing my reply, he looks at me with a slight wince " Ah, right… well. Good luck."… As the sunset casts an orange haze on the English Channel, and a warm westerly wind blows in over the cliffs of Alum Bay, I slightly nervously await the start of my first marathon… off-road, through the fast approaching darkness. 21:00 — The gun sounds, and amidst a cheer of support from friends and family, we are off. Up the lane to the coastguard cottages and the old rocket launch site; from where we will then turn eastwards, and traverse the downlands backbone of the Isle of Wight all the way to the finish at Culver Down — 26 miles (42 km) and 2900 feet (890 m) of climbing. This could be a long night. Up over Tennyson Down; down to Freshwater Bay; then up agai...

For camping adventures and kayaking expeditions, the Ledlenser ML6 Rechargeable LED Lantern is an invaluable asset; providing an adaptable and powerful light source that is perfect for illuminating your surroundings in the campsite or on the water. The ML6 lantern replaces the CalorGas laterns that were so popular in camping adventures of the past. With eight lighting functions, including a red reading light, it is a versatile way to light up the night. It also has the advantage it can be used as a power bank for recharging other electronics in camp. The lantern can be hung by the rubberised hook, stood on the rubber base, or fixed to a metal surface using the integrated magnets. Once firmly in place, the unit provides anything from 20 lumens to 750 lumens on the range of functions; which include Blink, Boost, Low Power, High Power, Pulse, S.O.S, Strobe and Dimmable light outputs. The LED lantern is water resistant, so it will deal with downpours and wave splashes if you are us...

With my re-introduction to sea kayaking, I have discovered that a kayaking cag jacket is one of the most basic pieces of sea kayaking equipment that you should invest in. The Nookie Storm Jacket is as advanced as a kayaking smock comes though—providing the ultimate foul weather protection when paddling. It is my personal choice for kayaking adventures like my upcoming non-stop 95 kilometre #KayakRTI . A kayaking cag jacket is far different from a sailing jacket, cycling jacket, or outdoor waterproof; it is a purpose designed piece of apparel, which when combined with a spray deck completely seals you into your kayak. I have tested many of the industry leading cycling and trekking waterproof jackets, and subsequently I am well learned in the developments in fabrics, seam construction, and the design features that you should look out for when purchasing a top quality waterproof. Many of these sought after attributes carry over to water sports jackets; and it was with this knowledge...