Gear

Favourite gear: Katabatic Gear Elite and Flex quilts

Katabatic Gear make some of the best down quilts available. Three Points of the Compass is fortunate enough to own two of their range. They have been used for hundreds of nights while backpacking and each is amongst my favourite pieces of gear. They are superb. I take a look here at the Katabatic Palisade 30°F and the Katabatic Flex 15°F quilts

Cooking

Gear talk: fitting the Edelrid Hexon stove to the Trangia Stormcooker

The Trangia Stormcooker is old school efficiency. Many people now fit a gas burner or multi-fuel stove inside it. Installing an Edelrid Hexon multi-fuel burner is easily done with a handy little adapter.

map measurer

Map measure of the month: the Panerai Nautical Curvimeter model PAM00302

This month's map measure was released by Panerai for the Classic Yachts Challenge in 2007. Produced as a very limited edition, a small number were also available on general sale, in particular, to collectors of all things Panerai, the 'Paneristi'.

Gear

Gear talk: Nalgene bottles- hydration, hot water bottle and more…

Nalgene bottles are one of the original pieces of modern backpacking gear. Having updated over the years, they remain one of the best options for a rigid sided bottle on trail

Gear

Gear talk: the search for a pillow for a restless side-sleeper

Three Points of the Compass has spent years looking for a pillow to suit side-sleeping while backpacking. A glance at some near misses and what is now working

knife

Knife chat: The Wenger Esquire and derivatives

The Wenger Esquire was a 65mm knife with blade, scissors and nailfile. There have been subsequent rebrands and changes over the years, many of which deserve consideration

map measurer

Map measure of the month: W&HC navigation dividers

This month's measure is a navigation divider, sometimes called divider calipers, made by W&HC.

Electronics

Gear talk: looking at Power Adapters

My search for an efficient, small, lightweight power adapter with USB-C port for UK use continues. A look here at three prospects.

Cooking

Trail talk: weighing fuel canisters

Three Points of the Compass believes there are two essential tools required when looking at fuel requirements for a backpacking trip. These are digital scales and a sharpie

map measurer

Map measure of the month: Model D13777- the Discovery Channel ‘deluxe map measurer with compass’

The Discovery Channel 'deluxe map measurer with compass' is a simple instrument with design faults

Gear

Knife chat: Woodn’t you believe it- three terrific little Swiss Army Knives

Three little knives from the Victorinox range that feature wood scales

Cooking

Gear talk- butane canister converter nozzles

Many will be aware that lindal valve gas canisters can be expensive, while bayonet connector butane cartridges can be much more affordable. There is a cheap, tiny, copper transfer nozzle available for putting the contents of one, in to the other...

Cooking

Gear talk: the G-Works Gas Saver Plus

The G-Works Gas Saver Plus is a handy little device for utilising cheap cartridges of butane, or gathering together the contents of almost empty canisters into one. Though simple to use, extreme care must be taken nonetheless.

Gear

Knife chat: Victorinox 84mm Alox Bantam and Cadet

Two Victorinox models provide good options in a modest 84mm frame. Unburdened by unnecessary function, the single-layer Bantam is the simplest while the two-layer Cadet offers just a few more tools. Both models come with attractive alox scales and weigh very little.

map measurer

Map measure of the month: the Vistascreen Pathfinder

The Vistascreen Pathfinder is a very simple map measure with clues to it's origins

Cooking

Gear talk: gas canister adaptors

Most backpacking stoves have lindal valve type connectors. Using an adapter opens up the possibility of using different canister types

Cooking

Gear talk: O-rings- check ’em!

Many of us will have managed to fit in a few weeks of backpacking this year and some gear might have been having a rough time of it. Beside cleaning, re-proofing and condition checking, think about including an inspection of the O-rings fitted to gas and multi-fuel stoves.

Gear

Three Points of the Compass

Long Distance Trails, lightweight backpacking and gear, map measures and anything outdoorsy

Gear

Favourite gear: Katabatic Gear Elite and Flex quilts

Gear talk: fitting the Edelrid Hexon stove to the Trangia Stormcooker

Map measure of the month: the Panerai Nautical Curvimeter model PAM00302

Gear talk: Nalgene bottles- hydration, hot water bottle and more…

Gear talk: the search for a pillow for a restless side-sleeper

Knife chat: The Wenger Esquire and derivatives

Map measure of the month: W&HC navigation dividers

Gear talk: looking at Power Adapters

Trail talk: weighing fuel canisters

Map measure of the month: Model D13777- the Discovery Channel ‘deluxe map measurer with compass’

Knife chat: Woodn’t you believe it- three terrific little Swiss Army Knives

Gear talk- butane canister converter nozzles

Gear talk: the G-Works Gas Saver Plus

Knife chat: Victorinox 84mm Alox Bantam and Cadet

Map measure of the month: the Vistascreen Pathfinder

Gear talk: gas canister adaptors

Gear talk: O-rings- check ’em!

Gear talk: mini-tripods

Map measure of the month: HB Curvimètre ‘Model No. 54M’

Knife chat: Victorinox horticultural knives- do they have a place beyond the garden?