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Three Points of the Compass

Lightweight backpacking, gear chat, knife chat, map measures and anything outdoorsy

Gear

knife

Knife chat: 84mm Victorinox Waiter and derivatives- the Bantam and Walker

Small in the pocket, a basic set of handy tools, […]

Knife chat: 84mm Victorinox Waiter and derivatives- the Bantam and Walker

Gear

Map measurer of the month- The BUX map measure

“can be used on all normal English maps” The plastic […]

Map measurer of the month- The BUX map measure

Gear

Knife chat: Gerber Vise and Splice, two affordable keychain multi-tools

Many hikers will simply rely on a small Swiss Army […]

Knife chat: Gerber Vise and Splice, two affordable keychain multi-tools

Food

Gear talk: carrying a tin opener on trail

While it is doubtful that many backpackers would dream of packing such an item, Three Points of the Compass advocates carrying a tin opener while on trail, especially on a […]

Gear talk: carrying a tin opener on trail

Gear

Gear talk: Lock laces

Three Points of the Compass has worn trail runners for most hikes for the past ten years of so, prior to that boots were worn. A variety of makes of […]

Gear talk: Lock laces

Gear

Gear talk: A few grams here, a few grams there- tick removers

You don’t have to venture far from the home to […]

Gear talk: A few grams here, a few grams there- tick removers

Gear

Knife chat: Victorinox Pocket Pal- is this the best thin 58mm ever?

There is, quite literally, not a lot to this knife. […]

Knife chat: Victorinox Pocket Pal- is this the best thin 58mm ever?

Gear

Map measurer of the month- Morris’s Patent Wealemefna

Morris’s Patent Wealemefna is a simple map measurer dating from […]

Map measurer of the month- Morris’s Patent Wealemefna

Gear

Knife chat: The Victorinox Executive

Victorinox has offered a huge range of knives and multi-tools over the decades. Traditionally these are roughly classified by their folded length. These are: 58mm, 74mm, 84mm, 91mm, 93mm, 100mm, […]

Knife chat: The Victorinox Executive

Gear

Map measurer of the month- the Practical Motorist map measurer

The Practical Motorist map measurer was cheaply made, produced in […]

Map measurer of the month- the Practical Motorist map measurer

Cooking

Gear talk: Liquid fuel lighters- do they have a place on trail?

Three Points of the Compass has covered his quest for […]

Gear talk: Liquid fuel lighters- do they have a place on trail?

Fire

Gear talk: making a stove on trail

Like everyone else, Three Points of the Compass is currently social distancing while staying at home on Government advice during the current Coronavirus pandemic. My plans on completing two longer […]

Gear talk: making a stove on trail

Gear

Map measurer of the month- The Pathfinder Three-in-One

The Pathfinder Three-in-One was a multiple attempt at bringing together […]

Map measurer of the month- The Pathfinder Three-in-One

Gear

Knife chat: Victorinox 108mm German Army Knife and Safari derivatives

Three Points of the Compass has written before about his […]

Knife chat: Victorinox 108mm German Army Knife and Safari derivatives

Gear

Gear talk: A few grams here, a few grams there… still looking at toothbrushes

Is it really worth shaving off a couple of grams […]

Gear talk: A few grams here, a few grams there… still looking at toothbrushes

Gear

Gear talk: A few grams here, a few grams there… in search of the perfect pen- again!

Three Points of the Compass implores anyone venturing out […]

Gear talk: A few grams here, a few grams there… in search of the perfect pen- again!

map measurer

Map measurer of the month- Stanford’s opisometer

An opisometer is a curious instrument. As soon as you […]

Map measurer of the month- Stanford’s opisometer

Gear

Knife chat: Victorinox Classic too small- how about the Ambassador?

The Victorinox Classic is well named, it is exactly that- […]

Knife chat: Victorinox Classic too small- how about the Ambassador?

Gear

Knife chat: Victorinox Mate and Vagabond- are these the perfect multi-tools on trail?

Three Points of the Compass has previously looked at both […]

Knife chat: Victorinox Mate and Vagabond- are these the perfect multi-tools on trail?

map measurer

Map measurer of the month- the Velos ‘Clicker’, model 1460

“All 3 styles count the miles on Mainroads, Coastlines and […]

Map measurer of the month- the Velos ‘Clicker’, model 1460

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Recent Posts

Gear talk: Pad-Pal, the world’s smallest and lightest electric pad inflator is getting smaller and lighter!
Gear talk: my 2023 electronics
Trail talk: National Outdoor Expo, 2023. Birmingham NEC
Gear talk: Fire Maple Blade, Blade 2 and Volcano remote canister stoves
Trail talk: our enjoyment of wild spaces and wildcamping is under threat (as always)
Map measure of the month: HC Universal, with compass and ‘reading glass’
Gear talk: the Oria SensorBlue Thermometer Hygrometer
Trail talk: Marche Européenne du Souvenir et de l’Amitié ‘Commemorative Medal for Army Marches’
Gear talk: GSI Infinity Backpacker Mug
Gear talk: my 2023 First Aid Kit
Knife chat: going minimal with a cheapo keychain blade
Gear talk: Fire Maple Hornet II stove
Gear talk: stuff I don’t use any more- SIGG Traveller bottles
Map measure of the month: the Automobile Association ‘scale rule’ bookmark
Knife chat: buy now! Victorinox knives are getting harder to find
Knife chat: the NexTool Mini Sailor keychain multi-tool
Gear talk: The Edelrid Hexon multi-fuel stove
Gear talk: changing the mantle on a Primus Micron lantern
Map measure of the month: George Philip & Son Rotameter
Gear talk: silicone light diffusers
Gear talk: Microspikes
Gear talk: a minimal USB-A diffused lantern
Gear talk: Sealskinz waterproof socks
Gear talk: stuff I don’t use any more- Skinners sock-shoes
Gear talk: stuff I don’t use any more- camp shoes
Gear talk: the Sofirn BLF LT1 2.0 Lantern
Map measure of the month: >W&G< Drawing Instruments- model WG/5006
Gear talk: stuff I don’t use any more- fold flat tableware
Gear talk: the Montbell crushable lantern shade
Gear talk: five favourite pieces of gear in 2022
Gear talk: servicing the UCO Original candle lantern
Gear talk: UCO Original candle lantern accessories
Gear talk: Olight Obulb
Knife chat: 84mm of Victorinox excellence, a Cadet with a difference
Gear talk: the BRS-55 gas powered ‘Dream Candle’ lantern
Map measure of the month: John Hand & Sons “Miledial”
Knife chat: Victorinox’s Flagship Store in London
Trail talk: choosing a loupe
Gear talk: the Primus Micron gas lantern, with steel globe
Gear talk: the UCO candle lantern
Knife chat: 84mm Victorinox Recruit and derivatives- the Tinker Small, Tourist and Sportsman
Gear talk: repairing holes in tent mesh
Gear talk: Nitecore NB10000 Gen2 powerbank
Gear talk: the Leica 8×20 Monovid- probably the best quality small monocular ever made
Map measure of the month: the Sakurai centimetre curvimeter
Knife chat: the SwissBuck Legend- obsolete, but still a good choice
Trail talk: Lego Backpacker (2022)
Gear talk: Pad-Pal, the world’s lightest electric sleeping pad inflator
Trail talk: Lego ‘Creator’ Boy Camper (2016)
Trail talk: the Pembrokeshire Coast Path: a backpacking itinerary
Map measure of the month: Harvey Maps 25k and 40k ‘map-measure-go!’ laces
Gear talk: the Pembrokeshire Coast Path- post-hike gear review
Gear talk: repairing a punctured Thermarest NeoAir sleeping pad
Gear talk: RovyVon Aurora A5 USB-C ‘glow-in-the-dark’ Keychain Flashlight
Gear talk: Vesuv titanium windshield
Trail talk: Pennine Bridleway. Settle to The Street, Ravenstonedale
Trail talk: Pennine Bridleway. The Settle Loop
Trail talk: Pennine Bridleway. The Mary Towneley Loop to Settle
Trail talk: Pennine Bridleway. The Mary Towneley Loop
Trail talk: Wainwright’s Coast to Coast- a new National Trail
Trail talk: dry stone walls on the Pennine Bridleway
Trail talk: Pennine Bridleway. Middleton Top to the Mary Towneley Loop
Gear talk: adding caps to my MSR Groundhogs
Map measure of the month: the Carl Zeiss Jena/Freiberger Präszisionsmechanik Kurvimeter 78
Trail talk: Lego Mountain Climber (2013)
Gear talk: peg selection
Trail talk: The first Lego ‘Creator’ backpacker (2011)
Trail talk: Maps and guidebooks for the Pennine Bridleway
Trail talk: Lego BRMC Camper (2018)
Knife chat: Victorinox Pioneer X and Pioneer Farmer
Trail talk: Lego Boy Camper (2018)
Map measure of the month: Elliott Brothers opisometer
Trail talk: a birthday reminisce
Trail talk: ‘treasure’ on the Southern Upland Way
Gear talk: a replacement of the Zpacks Duplex vestibule double-hook apparatus
Knife chat: Victorinox Pioneer and Pioneer Electrician
Trail talk: Ninjago Zane Hiker (2017)
Map measure of the month: the “Inco” Krzywomierz Turystyczny
Trail talk: The Thames Path- Shillingford/Warborough to Goring
Trail talk: The Thames Path- Abingdon to Shillingford/Warborough
Trail talk: The Thames Path- Osney Bridge, Oxford to Abingdon
Trail talk: The Thames Path- a day off in Oxford
Trail talk: The Thames Path- Bablock Hythe to Osney Bridge, Oxford
Trail talk: The Thames Path- Tadpole Bridge to Bablock Hythe
Trail talk: The Thames Path- Lechlade to Tadpole Bridge
Trail talk: The Thames Path- Cricklade to Lechlade
Trail talk: The Thames Path- Kemble to Cricklade
Trail talk: The Thames Path
Trail talk: Southern Upland Way: Part three- Moffat to Cockburnspath
Trail talk: Southern Upland Way: Part two- the Glenkens to Moffat
Trail talk: Southern Upland Way: Part one- Portpatrick to the Glenkens
Trail talk: Lego Hiker (2008)
Knife chat: Victorinox Swiss Army 1 and Swiss Army 2
Trail talk: Lego Hiker (2018)
Trail talk: maps, don’t be afraid to write on them!
Map measure of the month: a Fritz Chatelain measure
Favourite gear: GSI sipper mug
Gear talk: Fire Maple FMS-116 and FMS-116T gas stoves
Knife chat: are you flying? a look at bladeless ‘knife’ options
Map measure of the month: the Zlatoust curvimeter KY-A

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