backpacking
Backpacking the Skye Trail
Few backpacking routes offer such varied rewards as this week-long walk through the Winged Isle Words by Alex Roddie / Images by James Roddie Photography This feature was first published in The Great Outdoors, October 2016. You have a week off work. You want to go backpacking, and you want to
The ultralight experiment of 2017
This year, for the first time, I have completed a long-distance hike with an ultralight pack. Here’s how I did it, and why for me it’s only one tool in the toolbox, not the only way to enjoy the wild. I started cutting pack weight in 2014. Before
Review: ÜLA CDT ultralight pack
Unlike ÜLA’s larger Circuit, I don’t love this pack – but it gets the job done at a little over half the weight. Here’s my review of the ÜLA CDT ultralight pack. Specifications * Description: a frameless pack for ultralight backpacking * Volume: about 54 litres including all external pockets;
Preparations for hiking the Jotunheimstien
I’m in the final stages of planning my next long-distance trail, which begins on the 18th of July 2017. Here I’d like to share a few notes on my route and the gear I’ve selected for this trip. Once again, plans have changed. I originally intended to
Hiking the Langdale Skyline – Field Notes
My feature on hiking the Langdale Skyline has been published by UKHillwalking in their series of UK mountain ‘ultimate challenges’. You can read my feature here. Here are some notes about the route, along with a selection of photos that didn’t appear in the main article. No matter how
Vecto: the best way to carry water in the backcountry
Update 17/07/17: this project has now been funded. I’m looking forward to test it! Lightweight backpackers face a conundrum: how to carry and treat water in the wilderness? Many of us use compact Sawyer filters, but the bladders they come with are less than perfect, and other
→ New feature: Lightweight Backpacking for Beginners
I’ve just published a new feature on UKHillwalking, intended to help UK backpackers take first steps towards reducing pack weight. This isn’t aimed at the cuben fibre and rain kilt crowd – it’s an article for people who have been lugging around massive packs and want to make
Field Notes: the West Highland Way
In this year’s issue of the Outdoor Enthusiast Hike and Bike Special1, you can find my feature on hiking the West Highland Way. Here are a few notes and photos from this great backpacking route. I feel like the WHW gets a bad rep in backpacking circles sometimes. ‘It
Hiking the Tour of Monte Rosa
A 100-mile walk around a huge mountain that straddles the borders of Italy and Switzerland, this Alpine trail deserves to be better known, says Alex Roddie This article was first published in TGO Magazine, July 2016 There’s something beguiling about Monte Rosa. The name sounds graceful, but the mountain
→ Review: Lightwave t10 Raid
The Lightwave t10 Raid is a lightweight one-person tunnel tent. While many other backpacking tents are strong but heavy, or light but not great in high winds, the t10 Raid aims to tick every box: absolutely rock-solid performance in the worst weather, despite weighing only 1.45kg. But how does