About the Loon

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A happy chap who likes a walk every now and then

Sunday 29 September 2013

RECENT BARGINS

Patagonia down sweater half price from the mountain factor, as always a fantastic service, great shop with far to many bargains to choose from. Marmot Cerro Torre jacket an even bigger bargain from sport pursuit, I've had some great stuff from them recently, bargin central for the outdoor inclined.






Wednesday 18 September 2013

BRRRRRRRRR

First frost of the year yesterday morning, bit of a shock scrapping the car windscreen again, to be fair it seems to have been a pretty decent summer up here in the "frozen north" this year,  pay back over the next 6 months nae doot.

Thursday 12 September 2013

THE CURRENT WISH LIST

A new light weight 50 litre (or thereabouts) bergan

Currently the big bergan position is held by a berghaus number with a fancy back system, very nice, very comfortable but to heavy for a long multi day wander. I love osprey bags and currently have 3 on the go, but just up too 33ltr. Initially they were my choice to supply the new bigger lightweight one, but after hours of research I've added the montane grand tour 55 into the mix, I have a soft spot for montane clothing and their forays into the rucksack world have been getting good reviews. That, the price and the "not as common on the hill"  factor have combined to push it into the lead for the honour of carrying my freeze dried hard boiled eggs.


A new lightweight tent 1, maybe 2 person (weight and price dependent). 

Usual story, Haven't got a clue here really, price dictates it wont be one of them fancy Ackto's unfortunately, would really like the tarptent 1, but again cost and the import hassle might be the dampener on that one, the terra nova laser competition looks decent and can be picked up at a bit more realistic price and maybe even its cheaper clone.  Although i really should pay heed to the buy cheap, buy twice adage, ive been caught out often enough. More thought  required on this one I think


As lightweight and compressible as i can afford sleeping bag

Again I don't really have a starting point, cozy from April to September in the Scottish hills, packs small and weighs little , down or not? As before I've spent hours reviewing, reading and researching and I'm still no further forward, the current position of "sleeping bag to the virgin" is held by the biggest waste of hard earned pounds possible, a spur of the moment whim that went wrong.

MUSE OF THE WEEK (2)

On line shops only doing mobile web sites do my nut in, mobile sites are shite, no question's no arguments they are universally shite. (Apologies)

Complete outdoors UK, fail, really really bad fail actually. Mobile sites on tablets are sh.......... anyway you get the idea, they're not good and to compound the uselessness there's no "switch" to classic site toggle available. No sale I'm afraid and site on block, to ensure I don't inadvertently end up there again, its akin to following a 105 year old towing a caravan with a fiat up the A9

Friday 6 September 2013

MUSE OF THE WEEK

Do normal folk with budgets hike?  Going by the world of  blogs its the loaded and retired rich.