camping

Gear talk: Matador FlatPak Soap Bar Case

Three Points of the Compass takes a glance at a lightweight soap case with 'dry through' technology. Spoiler- it's expensive, but good!

Gear

Gear talk: five favourite pieces of gear in 2024

As 2024 rolls to an end, it is time for the Three Points of the Compass annual retrospective of five items of gear that were especially appreciated on longer trails.

Trail talk

Trail talk: Arctic Circle Trail: Kangerlussuaq to Eqalugaarniarfik

Three Points of the Compass hiked the Arctic Circle Trail during the brief Greenland summer. The first four days took me into the mountains and arctic tundra, to the tidal head of the Maligiaq fjord.

Gear

Gear talk: Pure Clear have improved their water filter mouthpiece

Pure Clear have introduced a small but welcome improvement to their squeeze type water filters.

ditty bag

Trail talk: the Coast to Coast- my gear

Three Points of the Compass takes a glance at the gear he carried on a recent walk across northern England on the Coast to Coast Path

Trail talk

Trail talk: the Coast to Coast- the Moors

Three Points of the Compass enters the final part of a walk across northern England. The Coast to Coast climbs back up into the hills of the North York Moors, heading to Robin Hood's Bay.

National Trail

Trail talk: the Coast to Coast- the Vale of Mowbray, the ‘flat bit’

Three Points of the Compass heads toward the least demanding part of the trail- a couple of day's hike across low lying agricultural farmland, prior to a final National Park on this two-hundred mile walk across northern England.

National Trail

Trail talk: the Coast to Coast- the Dales

Three Points of the Compass continues his Coast to Coast. Leaving the Lake District behind to enter the Yorkshire Dales, the second of three National Parks on this two-hundred mile walk across northern England.

Trail talk

Trail talk: Skye Trail- the Storr to Broadford

After a tough day on the Trotternish Ridge, Three Points of the Compass continues his hike on the Isle of Skye. Missing one of the most magical of natural phenomenon in the process!

Gear

Gear talk: a visit to Atom Packs

Three Points of the Compass was driving to Scotland to tackle the Skye Trail. An ideal opportunity to stop by the Atom Packs workshop deep in the Cumbrian fells, both to see what was going on, and get measured up for a custom pack.

Trail talk

Trail talk: Skye Trail- Rubha Hunish to the Storr

Three Points of the Compass walked Scotland's Skye Trail over six days in May. The first two days were wet and windy. But would I get blown off the Trotternish Ridge?

Gear

Gear talk: Flextail Light Repel mosquito repellent

The Flextail Light Repel is a small lightweight portable heater element that takes less than a minute to activate mosquito repellent soaked pads. How useful is it to the backpacker and camper?

Cooking

Gear talk: Fire Maple’s Petrel heat exchanger pot and stove compatibility

Fire Maple's Petrel cook pot was specifically designed to work with their Hornet II stove. However it is not confined to just that stove. Three Points of the Compass has a glance at this heat exchanger pot and dives into his gear locker to see what else might suit.

Trail talk

Trail talk: the Corfu Trail- Liapades to Agios Spiridonas

Three Points of the Compass hiked the Corfu Trail in April 2024. Typically for so early in the year, weather had been variable, deteriorating from hot and dry, to firstly rain at night, then during the day too. Following a rest and resupply day at Liapades, it was time to get back on trail and continue northward for the remainder of this beautiful island trail.

Trail talk

Three Points of the Compass

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

camping

Gear talk: Matador FlatPak Soap Bar Case

Gear talk: five favourite pieces of gear in 2024

Trail talk: Arctic Circle Trail: Kangerlussuaq to Eqalugaarniarfik

Gear talk: Pure Clear have improved their water filter mouthpiece

Trail talk: the Coast to Coast- my gear

Trail talk: the Coast to Coast- the Moors

Trail talk: the Coast to Coast- the Vale of Mowbray, the ‘flat bit’

Trail talk: the Coast to Coast- the Dales

Trail talk: Skye Trail- the Storr to Broadford

Gear talk: a visit to Atom Packs

Trail talk: Skye Trail- Rubha Hunish to the Storr

Gear talk: Flextail Light Repel mosquito repellent

Gear talk: Fire Maple’s Petrel heat exchanger pot and stove compatibility

Trail talk: the Corfu Trail- Liapades to Agios Spiridonas

Trail talk: the Corfu Trail- Kavos to Liapades

Trail talk: a Lithuanian’s JOGLE

Gear talk: evening foot care and sleep socks

Gear talk: Pure Clear- a lightweight water filter that removes viruses

Gear talk: the Alpine BOMB, or Moulder Strip

Gear talk: the Coleman F1 Lite- was this the lightest gas lantern ever made?