Walking & Running

Calorie burn rate

weight in kilos (including pack) * distance in k's (*1.5 for uphill)

(same for running or walking).

Kit

Kit I love

Rab Alpine Bivi Bag

This has been my friend on a number of lightweight backpacking trips. It's lightweight (630g), discreet (olive green), and very breathable. On top of Snowdon in June I woke up nice and warm (if a little damp from condensation) to find snow falling on the outside of the bag.

Whitebox spirit stove

Simple little spirit/meths stove made out of an aluminium drinks bottle. I bought it from Backpackinglight [http://www.backpackinglight.co.uk/product230.asp]. It's a fantastic piece of kit, extremely lightweight and very powerful. The supplied wind shield is an absolute necessity though.

OMM Classic Marathon 32L

Light, comfortable and designed for running. Very very popular - as far as I could see about half the competitors in LAMM 2010 were running with these. They're surprisingly hardwearing - mine has taken a pretty serious amount of abuse without much noticable damage.

POD Cragsac

My 'one true rucksack'. 42l, with a 10l overload. I use it for light-ish backpacking, overnight trips, and winter walking. Basic, hardwearing, made of very strong nylon with an absence of extra bits, it has 2 lid pockets (one inside, one out), very strong mesh wand pockets and simple equipment loops.

Outdoor designs Airstream drysac

Utter genius, drysacs with a breathable panel in the bottom. I have 2 of these, containing warm clothes (thick fleece, buff, spare gloves etc) which live permanently in my rucksack, rarely get opened or aired out, and never smell musty.

Peter Storm baselayer

Peter Storm wicking baselayers are comfortable, don't chafe (on me at least), and wick/dry very very effectively. These and Lowe Alpine base layers are my favourites.

Lowe Alpine baselayer

Ron Hill Trek tracksters

Yes, they aren't flattering. But worn under waterproof trousers they're extremely comfortable. These are the thicker, slightly less revealing ones with no foot loops. Don't hang around the youth hostel wearing them, because you'll provoke screams of disgust.

Thermarest Prolite

Thin, light self inflating mattress. Barely more weight than a closed cell foam mat (460g versus 340g), and /much/ more comfortable.

Snugpak softie kilo

Lightweight, comfortable and cosy synthetic bag. Good value for money, packs down very small for a synthetic 3 season bag. Used many times in conjunction with the Rab bivi and the Thermarest.

Snugpak Travel Lite

single season super-lightweight bag. Weighs about 700g. Very light, surprisingly warm.

Paramo Fuera

I have two of these, one I use for running as an all purpose waterproof/windproof, and one kept in my rucksack as a walking windproof. On a nice spring/autumn day one of these with a thin microfleece over a baselayer is the most comfortable combination I've found for walking at any altitude up to 1000m. For running, it's lightweight, waterproof enough (not suitable for most competitive events as the seams aren't taped and it's not technically 'a waterproof') and very comfortable.

Paramo Velez

Kit I like much less

Berghaus Deluge waterproof overtrousers

Berghaus baselayers

They seem to take an age to dry, not really what you want in a baselayer.

POD Rocsac

Lid pocket tends to be too small for anything I try to put in it. No wand pockets. To be fair it's a cragging/climbing pack, so wand pockets are potentially a nuisance (although other POD packs all have them). Plus I prefer a rigid back. Bought as a sale item, I tend to use it as an overnight bag.

Craghoppers Kiwi walking trousers

Fine for wearing around the pub. Let them get a bit damp and they chafe. Lots.

Vango Ultralite 200 tent

Lightweight backpacking, basic bottom of the range adventure running etc. Tiny 'porch', impossible to cook in. Single layer, so condensation is chronic. Condensation can be prevented by opening all the vents, in which case it's cold. It is very quick to pitch and strike, so I frequently use it, and it can stand up to some truly horrendous weather, but it has a lot of drawbacks.

Places, routes etc

GPX files

http://utrack.crempa.net/

Odd notes and stuff

http://www.pyb.co.uk/courses/course-notes-detail.php?code=WWM01

http://www.fellsman.org.uk/doku.php?id=event:route

- all opinions given are my own, your experience may differ -