Gear talk

Gear talk: HydraPak 42mm Filter Cap

Eschewing fancy names, HydraPak adds their own filter to the small but growing choice of 42mm water filters that will connect to wide mouth bottles, bladders and flasks.

Gear

Gear talk: converting a 42mm neck HydraPak bladder to fit a 28mm water filter- Plug-N-Play

HydraPak have produced a number of accessories to fit their wide neck bladders and bottles. Three Points of the Compass has a glance at two of these, that permit a 28mm threaded water filter to be fitted.

Gear

Gear talk: converting a 42mm neck HydraPak bladder to fit a 28mm water filter- the hack

In the first of two posts, Three Points of the Compass looks at two ways to fit a 28mm thread Sawyer Squeeze water filter to a 42mm neck HydraPak water bladder.

Gear

Gear talk: Mountain Laurel Designs Bug Head Net

Midge ridden evenings on the Cape Wrath Trail, clegs on an evening walk through Kielder Forest to a bothy on the Pennine Way, mosquitoes on a lakeside section of Sweden's Kungsleden, these are amongst the times I have scrambled for a bug headnet and been relieved to pull it over my head to distance myself from the wee beasties.

Electronics

Gear talk: the Pad-Pal v5.1 sleeping pad inflator

Following trials, a 'final' production version of the Pad-Pal electric sleeping pad inflator is now available. Weighing less than ten grams, including valve adapter, this bit of luxury on trail is now an ultralight option for all.

Cooking

Gear talk: a Primus Micron retrospective

Twenty years ago, Primus released an innovative new stove on to the market. In the intervening years the Micron has undergone design changes, refinement and had features added. How is it holding up in 2023?

Gear

Gear talk: cleaning a tent zip

The zip on one of my tents has been sticking and jumping teeth. It was time to clean and lubricate it.

Gear

Gear talk: some thoughts on gear used on the Laugavegur and Fimmvörðuháls Trails

a quick glance at the gear I carried for a summer hike of the two trails, with some brief thoughts on it

Gear

Gear talk: the Fire Maple Polaris Pressure-regulator Gas Stove

Polaris is the name that Fire Maple has given to their series of stoves that each feature a pressure regulator. There are three stoves in this range- a remote canister stove, a canister top stove and an integrated 'cooking system'. Three Points of the Compass has a look at their Polaris Pressure-regulator Gas Stove

Electronics

Gear talk: Nitecore Carbo 20000, the world’s lightest 20000mAh powerbank

Most backpackers are carrying a powerbank on multi-day trips. As the need for additional power for a multitude of electronic devices increases, so does the search for the lightest and most efficient of high capacity 'bricks'. Three Points of the Compass has a glance at a 20k mAh option from Nitecore.

Gear

Gear talk: fitting magnetic door closures to my MLD Duomid

Three Points of the Compass has just completed a simple ten minute mod that makes magnetically securing one or both doors open on the MLD Duomid a lot simpler and quicker.

Gear

Gear talk: the WickiUp 3, a shelter with a history

Three Points of the Compass dives in to the gear locker to look at one of the tents languishing there. The Eureka! WickiUp 3 SUL is a classic design of tent, usurped by lighter alternatives, but still an excellent piece of kit. Is it time to resurrect this single pole 'Mid'?

Cooking

Gear talk: Heat Exchanger pots

What do heat exchanger pots have to offer the lightweight backpacker? Are they any more efficient, and if so, does this compensate for the increased weight, bulk and expense? Three Points of the Compass takes a glance at some of those available.

Cooking

Gear talk: my backpacking gear for spring in the UK

A glance at the gear Three Points of the Compass has packed for a weeks wander across Lowland Scotland. I have a mix of official campsites and wildcamping, and because this is in May, I can anticipate low to mid-high temperatures and dry or wet conditions.

Gear

Gear talk: Gossamer Gear Shoulder Strap Pocket

Most hikers are carrying a phone on trail, but where to keep it? In a pocket, chest pouch, hip belt pouch... Three Points of the Compass has been using the Gossamer Gear Shoulder Strap Pocket for the past three years.

Cooking

Gear talk: cleaning the generator tube on a multi-fuel stove

Some stoves require just a little maintenance to keep them operating optimally. Liquid or multi-fuel stoves often feature a generator loop where liquid fuel is vaporised. This occasionally requires internal carbon deposits removing. It isn't a difficult task if carried out before it becomes a problem.

Gear

Gear talk: Arch Angel replacement insoles

Three Points of the Compass is trying out new insoles this year. Arch Angel are from UK based Healthy Feet and are an alternative to US Superfeet.

Cooking

Gear talk: looking at canister top ‘stove systems’ and stability

Many backpackers will simply buy what is reviewed as the […]

Electronics

Gear talk: USB-C coupler adapters, they don’t come much smaller or lighter than this!

It can be surprising how much weight a cable can add to electronics carried on trail. Here is one of the lightest alternatives available. This USB-C coupler has it's limitations, but could be a handy primary or back-up connector.

ditty bag

Gear talk: repair tape and patches carried on trail

Anyone who has been backpacking a few years will have invariably accumulated a plethora of repair tapes and patches along the way, be it a roll of tape from the local hardware store, self-adhesive flashing tape when making pot cosies, or repair kits supplied with shelters or sleeping mats. But what, if anything, to actually carry on trail? This is what Three Points of the Compass is packing along.

‹ Newer 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Older ›