Longform
14 months with the MLD Trailstar
Much has been written about the Trailstar, and at several points over the last year I’ve asked myself if the world really needs another Trailstar review. It’s a known quantity now. Some in the backpacking world have already moved beyond the Trailstar to other shelters entirely. But my
Backpacking in the Alps – a mini-guide
E-BOOK DOWNLOAD LINKS: EPUB / MOBI If you’re a British backpacker looking to head across to the Alps for the first time, it can seem daunting at first. Here’s my mini-guide to enjoying the Alps on foot with a rucksack. This guide can be enjoyed either right here on
→ 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
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
In the Footsteps of Forbes: how the Alps have changed since 1842
Professor James Forbes is probably the most significant mountain explorer you’ve never heard of. In this piece, first published in the summer 2015 edition of Mountain Pro Magazine, I’d like to show how studying his pioneering work led me to appreciate the enormous changes that have taken place
Windslab Wall
January 2007 It’s my first trip to Glen Coe and I’m planning my first winter climb. Conditions are terrible, but I’m twenty years old and don’t know any better. What could possibly go wrong? My tent is flooded. I arrived at the Red Squirrel campsite late
Naeboots on the Cape Wrath Trail
Alex Roddie describes his experiences walking Scotland’s greatest long-distance route… with nae boots. This article was first published in The Great Outdoors Magazine, October 2015. ‘You’ll never make it across Knoydart in those flimsy shoes, mate. And that lightweight tent’ll be ripped to shreds.’ Another backpacker had
ViewRanger Skyline – first look
ViewRanger is a digital navigation app for smartphones and tablets. It’s been around for years, and is one of the most mature solutions of its kind, but recently they launched a new augmented-reality feature – Skyline. Here are my first impressions of this potentially very useful new feature. According to
The Fujinon XF35mm f/2 review
The Fujinon XF35mm f/2 is a fast normal prime lens for Fujifilm X-Series cameras. I’ve been using it for the last three months, and it has quickly established itself as my favourite lens. Here is my review. I’ve been a Fuji user for over a year now,
Finding the right one
Yesterday, on the summit of Fremington Edge after a glorious walk through sunlit snow, I asked Hannah to be my wife. She said yes. We’ve been together for over six years now, but our story actually goes back almost a decade. In 2007 my life was very different. I