Friday, 27 January 2017

Used and Abused Review: Mammut Comfort High Gore-Tex Surround Boot


HERE we look back at the Mammut Comfort High Gore-Tex Surround Boot  to see how it has coped with a years worth of abuse!


Remember to comment below with your thoughts and opinions, and if you haven't already head over to YouTube and subscribe, like and comment! If the above spiel isn't enough for you tweet us @TeamFell

Used and Abused Review: Adidas Terrex Fast R Gore-Tex Mid Boot


HERE we look back at the Adidas Terrex Fast R Boot to see how it has coped with the last two or three years of abuse!

Remember to comment below with your thought and opinions, and If you haven't already head over to YouTube and subscribe, like and comment! If the above spiel isn't enough for you tweet us @TeamFell

Thursday, 28 January 2016

Top Ten Gifts For a Fellow Outdoor Lover (or Yourself)!

I really like top tens and such like so I thought why not include one right here at TeamFell! So lets go ahead and take a fleeting look at the top ten gifts you could get for someone just like yourself… or YOURSELF without breaking the bank!

Go on – surprise someone this week and make them happy!

10/. Buff



Everyone loves a buff, and believe it or not, despite looking slightly gimmicky they are actually extremely useful. Take my word for it, my Buff and I have been through a lot together. It has kept the chill at bay as a snood. It has wicked sweat from my forehead while providing some padding for my head torch during winter night runs. It has kept sub-zero temperatures away from my nose and snow off my face in blizzard conditions as a face mask when twinned with a hat. I think you get the picture.


9/. Mountain Rescue T-Shirt



I like this idea. Two reasons. The first, it’s a t-shirt. I like t-shirts. Second the small price tag you pay goes to the Mountain Rescue. I like the Mountain Rescue.

Go on click the link and spend a fiver on a T. You can’t go wrong, helping the MRT’s and getting a shirt to show your support for a fiver. NO BRAINER!


8/. Harvey Super walker Maps



I’m in the process of collecting these maps. They might not be everyone’s cup of tea but don’t knock it till you’ve tried it! I have, and I prefer them to standard OS Explorer maps. They are clear, colourful, waterproof, tough, light and have Wainwrights in bright red. What more can I say? Give them a go!


7/. SealSkinz



Loads of you will know about SealSkinz. I like these guys. They produce waterproof accessories like gloves, socks and hats. I can vouch for both the difference they make on wet cold day and for the quality that’s making mine last ages.



6/. Books!



Books can be both inspiring and motivating so here I’m recommending a couple of crackers!

First up, Reinhold Messner’s My Life at the Limit is a window into the mind set and mentality of a mountaineering great. As an interview it’s format makes it a light read ideal for those who can’t put a solid hour into a book but it certainly packs a punch. By the end you feel like you know the guy! 

Second is Heinrich Harrer’s The White Spider. His account of the first ascent of the north face of the Eiger oozes with intelligence and eloquence. It’s a book I couldn’t put down written by another inspirational fella! Follow this up with his classic Seven Years in Tibet for a less mountainous but no less influential travel account.





5/. Opinel No.8 Trekking Knife



Practical and beautiful? A rare combination I know. But in the Opinel No. 8 trekking knife, these two attributes come together to create a light, elegant and useful pocket knife - ideal for any outdoor pursuit. The 125th anniversary edition from the French maker features an atmospheric blue detailing on the handle, showing some classic mountain scenes. 


4/. Sony Xperia Z Series Mobile Phone



Next time you choose your new mobile, stop to think about how that piece of hardware could improve your experience outdoors? I recommend taking a look at the Sony Xperia Z series of phones.

I have a Z2 and love the thing and more recent improved models are available. The camera is fantastic for all the moments you make in the great outdoors. The Google Play store offers apps that count your steps, update you on the weather and even map your walks. The last feature I really like.

Multi-day trips? No electric? No worries! The Xperia’s Stamina and Ultra-Stamina modes make the battery last much longer, in Ultra mode it disables most modern features but if you need something to rely on to phone and text in emergency cases it will last!

The build quality is excellent and having the benefit of being dustproof and waterproof means it doesn’t mind going wherever you go!


3/. Alpkit BruKit



This punchy little piece of kit is ace for a few reasons. It is very similar to the popular JetBoil stoves but at a fraction of the cost. I love Alpkit stuff and this is a serious bargain! It all compresses down into the cooking pot making stowing this thing away in the pack a doddle. Perfect for the ultimate wild camp.


2/. Wainwright Fell Map



Team Fell have mentioned this lovely poster on the blog before, but it’s worth another. I never stop looking at it! If you have someone you loves the lakes this is perfect for a study or hallway! Get one framed and pay a stylish and practical homage to Cumbria. I almost forgot! Your purchase will also help to support Fix the Fells!  


1/. Alpkit Filo Down Jacket



Number one! It goes to Alpkit and their versatile Filo Jacket. I love mine. It was the inspiration for this top ten. Claire surprised me with one and I was buzzing. So I thought why not pass on the love and get other people out there to surprise their loved ones with items from this list! It will make there day, and you won’t break the bank!



 Cheers,

TeamFell











Wednesday, 29 July 2015

The Layering System

YOU hear about this all the time, and I know some folk will know all about this but others won’t. You never know you might learn something. Lets clear up this phrase for all you ‘fellas’!

The layering system is natural, but with some refinement you can become invincible to changing weather. That sounds nice doesn’t it.

1/. Baselayer

Claire in her Under Armour Coldgear baselayer. UA make quality gear ideal for mountain days!


It’s all about starting with a baselayer. So it’s the age old wool versus synthetic debate.

It’s down to personal preference. I’ve got one or two wool baselayers such as the True Mountain Sportswool baselayer and a few synthetic tops too; some find the wool type uncomfortable so prefer the synthetic kind.

I like both and it depends on what I’m doing and the time of year. I tend to go towards the wool mix in winter as the merino adds warmth.

Yet synthetics offer a more sporting fit and are less restrictive. I use these during the rest year for protection next to my skin.

They both wick away moisture and keep me comfortable and warm.

I don’t recommend a normal cotton t-shirt as a baselayer due to cotton’s performance when wet. They soak up sweat massively then start to take heat away from your body.

The weather doesn’t have to be extreme before hypothermia can set in during this condition, so avoid these at all costs.

2/. What’s next?

My Berghaus Jorasses Soft-shell, loads of pockets and a hood make this my go to mid layer.


Next it’s your mid layer. This garment’s job is to trap in the warm air around your body and keep you comfy. This layer can be made up using a soft-shell, fleece or a thin down/insulated jacket such as the Alpkit Filoment or the Quechua X-Light.

In the summer months I tend to opt for my soft-shell and through winter I’m all over the down jackets – you can’t beat the extra warmth!

3/. Windshell

True Mountain's Stretch Windshell Smock kills the chill.


On top of your fleece or other mid layer you can add a lightweight versatile windshell. These thing little tops may not look like they will add much in terms of warmth, but looks can be deceiving.

They have been designed to cut out the wind chill factor, which results in you keeping that hard earned warm air.

These also normally have a degree of protection against showers so these are a good addition to your outdoor arsenal.

These also pack down small and light so if you are counting the grams and ounces for a trip, these are an excellent go to for some extra protection.

4/. Insulation

I know this is a little bit Michelin but my Berghaus Popena is unbeatable in sub-zero temperatures.


We have already briefly touched on insulation in the mid layer but for when you are doing cold weather activity it is ideal to take an extra jacket with some insulation to protect you from the cold during stationary/ passive periods of time.

Down jackets are ace for warmth, I love my Berghaus Popena, other alternative  jackets like the Páramo Torres are a really beneficial option.

5/. The outer shell

Berghaus Mera Peak II, my hard shell that has seen too much rain.


The outer shell or hard shell is where most people spend the most money with regard to outdoor clothing.  But we think all the layers prior to this are equally worthy of investment.

The job of the outer one is to keep out water and wind. Using coatings, membranes and other techniques these jackets hold off the wet stuff so your central heating inner layers can get to work.

The most common membrane today – Gore-Tex is the benchmark for waterproofness, some are arguably better, some are better suited to specific niches, but without beating around the bush you can’t go wrong with Gore-Tex. Just to use another cliché, it does exactly what is says on the tin.

To conclude, the colder and wetter the weather, the more of these layers you need and the warmer and calmer it is the less you wear. It’s that simple. So go forth and enjoy the outdoors from the comfort of your efficient and smart layering system.

Cheers,

#TeamFell


Monday, 27 July 2015

True Mountain Stretch Sportswool Baselayer



TRUE Mountain are the folk passionate about making their outdoor gear here in the UK. From their Preston factory they are producing some wonderful kit.



This piece is no different.

What baselayers have you got?

I know that the majority of mine are the synthetic types. This offering from TM is a bit of a gem as the merino wool mix adds so much warmth.

This was my go to baselayer for all the winter walks!

This is not scientific but this baselayer has a thickness to it, without the weight and as well as being warmer than others of mine, it offers a feeling of protection.

It is hard to explain but with this on, with its warmth, thickness, comfort and fit you feel winter proof!

The thumb holes add to this concept and stop the good warm air from escaping. When working hard this top shows is good wicking properties and when stationary it holds the heat.

I’d recommend this for all cold weather activities as for me this is the baselayer that keeps the core comfortable.

The material washed brilliantly, though it does have a slightly longer drying time than some synthetics.

It still looks brand new after seven months of use, which says a lot for the skill of manufacturer and the choice of textiles.

The two strongest suits for this gear are its durability and its warmth. It has a hardiness about it that comes from the wool in its make up but doesn’t feel heavy or restricting.

Now is a good time to add that I was unsure prior to wearing this top about its comfort. I am someone with sensitive skin and am constantly keeping eczema at bay. Yet this top was comfortable and did not irritate or inflame my skin which was an added bonus!

I like the colour of this garment, it is important to have a splash of colour on outdoor wear and the blue under the arms and side panels is a nice touch.

At the time of press this sportwool baselayer is retailing on the TM website at £60 and we here at TeamFell are impressed with the toughness of the TM gear!

So if you are looking for something with added warmth, protection and durability, we believe this product is a good buy.

That’s all folks.

Cheers,









Sunday, 26 July 2015

The History of Viggo

VIGGO is a Smooth Collie, a quite rare breed these days and I’ll cover more about his breed in another post. Viggo is a dog who couldn’t do stairs, narrow gaps, cars, run, walk on a lead and much more.

This is story of Viggo.

Here's the handsome devil himself!



This is Viggo at 19 weeks, wasn't he cute?
Viggo was born in May 2012 in Colne, Lancashire at the Cownbred breeders. He was given the first name Nando and his breeding name is Double Trouble @ Cownbred.

Claire and I had been looking at dogs for a long time. A really, really long time. You know that some people are just dog people. That’s us! Both sides of the family had dogs and it has always been something we have both wanted.



Now, living in rented accommodation meant we needed the landlord’s permission, which we thankfully got. We made the wise decision to look at adopting an older dog as opposed to a pup to avoid chewing and toileting accidents.

We were looking for a decent sized dog with a calm temperament and so the search began.

I recalled the calm, intelligent nature of my grandparent’s numerous Rough Collies but we didn’t at this point in time want all the hair. This led to the Smooth Collie. From there I researched the Smooth and looked for one in need of a home into the small hours of the morning.

He loves his bath time!
I found nothing and fell asleep.

Morning time. I greeted Claire with:

“I’ve found the perfect breed!”

That morning I looked online some more yet didn’t find anything of interest. 

Now Claire… Claire has the ability to get under the first layers of the world wide web, track down sites and find results I’d not even seen.

Claire’s perseverance led to her discovery of a small advert on a small blog.

The post said: Sable Smooth Collie needs a home.

Claire contacted the breeder. She found out more about this mystery sable Smooth. The breeder explained that this dog was overweight and to not be shocked when we met him. The breeder checked all the regular things and then eventually invited us over to see this dog.



Sunday 9th November 2014 – Colne

As an excited couple, we hopped in the car at around 9 am and headed out of Holmfirth up towards Colne.

We arrived in a steep cotton mill town at the correct address at around half past 10. We’d agreed 11 so we hung around a while and then knocked on the door.

Hey, do you come here often?
WOOF,



                 WOOF,



                               WOOF,



                                               WOOF,



                                                               WOOF!


A really loud, deep bark was rattling around through the door and front windows of the house. As we were greeted by the breeder, the background was dominated by a flabby, round dog, leapfrogging sofas and sending cushions flying while woofing with almighty lungs.

Meet Nando.

Once appropriately greeted and inside, Nando settled down and was inquisitive and happy to sniff us and check we were alright. From then, Nando was content to sleep behind the breeder and occasionally potter round and play with a ball.

At our time of visiting Cownbred, there were two more smooths, both females and a couple of whippets.

As our conversation transpired, we found out a lot about the breeder and the dogs.

The breeder’s health and mobility had deteriorated due to arthritis. This resulted in Nando hardly ever being walked. He hadn’t been for at least a year and a half. Now it was blatantly clear as to why he was carrying so much timber.

Hours passed.

Information with regard to his diet came up later. This was equally as insightful into his weight.

The three of us at the top of Bow Fell.
Nando was not fed dog food, so to speak. His daily diet started with a raw chicken carcass served on a bed of kibble. His tea consisted of some more kibble, complimented with half a pound of raw tripe, mince or lamb, all served with seasonal vegetables. On top of this, supper added to this with a bit more raw meat, of course.

Now, this diet, twinned with a total lack of exercise, had produced a two year old dog with no muscle, no experiences and a lot of extra fat on him.

It was clear that the breeder had liked us and gotten Nando’s things bagged up and ready to go. Throughout our long conversation, Claire and I felt a growing suspicion that we would be taking Nando with us that day, although this                                                           was unexpected and we were unprepared.

The time now was around 4 pm. We had been there for around five hours. Finally, we were taking him with us. The breeder put a lead on Nando and said he wouldn’t leave the house through the front door as it was too narrow!

Claire and I walked round to the rear of the house and met the breeder there. We strolled up to the car and Nando didn’t want to get in. Not because he didn’t like us; he’d been playing with me for the last two hours, as far as he was concerned, I was his new best friend.

The problem was, he’d never been in a car.

The breeder said he would probably be travel sick, as he’d never experienced the motion.

I lifted him in to the back of the car and Nando settled in the foot wells, rather than on the back seats. From there, we got on our way.

With our dog in the back, here’s where it started to sink in for me.

Having a family howling session!
About half an hour into the journey, we pulled into a McDonalds. Bearing in mind, we had not had anything to eat or drink, nor gone to the loo since leaving ours at 9 in the morning.  We nipped in to use the loos and pick up some grub.

When we got back into the car, someone perked up due to the smell of the food!

Claire and I had already agreed on a name, and had already been using it fully from the moment we left the breeders.

Meet Viggo!



We had always loved the Lord Of The Rings books and films, and our favourite character was Aragorn, played by Viggo Mortensen. Various names had been banded around, but this one stood out to me, and after a few days of persuading, I had got Claire on side as well.

About 10 minutes from home, at a local walking area, the three of us hopped out of the car and went for a walk. Viggo didn’t pull or seem worried about being out of his comfort zone.  I dropped the lead and let him potter around next to us while we exhausted his name on him.

A blisteringly cold walk in the snow.
After about 40 minutes, we were back at the car. Claire drove home to try and prepare for our new arrival, bear in mind; we had nothing ready for him.

As the light started to drop, Viggo and I walked back to make sure he was tired and would settle that night.

On arrival, we had a slight struggle to get him through the door and then as we are up a set of stairs, we had to coax him halfway up before he would start to try and take them on his own. He was one scared pup!

Viggo was happy then to start smelling around his new home, although avoiding changing rooms as he didn’t like going through doors. He was big, but he wasn’t that big!

After watching us from a different room for 10 minutes or so, we thought it time to help him through, as it was apparent that he would not do this alone. Claire put his lead back on him and gently brought him through, with some loving words and treats.

Once he was in the lounge, he was happy to explore, and soon enough, he understood doors were not his enemy. And he proceeded to explore his home.

Bedtime came around, and on his makeshift bed of a pile of towels, Viggo settled down and slept well. This was impressive, as at the breeders, he was crate-kept, so this was his first night without it.

From here, Viggo made improvements from day to day. Within a week, stairs and doors were a non-issue. Getting in cars was improving slowly, his fear of narrow spaces was diminishing and his walking on the lead was getting better.

Off the lead he was no problem, although at the sight of another fellow canine, he would leg it and develop an acute form of selective hearing in order to say hello to his new fury friend. Some dogs don’t want to be friends with Viggo. Some dogs growl and snarl. Viggo thinks this is fun.

Here's Viggo sporting his Ruffwear harness and collar.
















We’ve been training him with lots of treats, lots of praise and lots of practice to improve his recall around other dogs. We have made progress but this is the only thing we are still working on to this day. All other bad habits…gone!

The breeder had supplied us with a week’s worth of raw foods. But we wanted to phase him off it, onto a Burns complete food. We started that in the second half of that first week, cautiously.

We visited the vets for his check up and vaccinations and while there, checked his weight and discussed his diet.

His weight was around 40kg, yet a tall, male smooth collie should weigh around 30kg.

Prior to Christmas, we had got his weight down to 32.5kg, using the Burns weight control food and a good exercise routine, building his muscle up gradually.

Dog Club was great for Viggo's training.



Doing what he loves best: howling.
This year, Viggo has evolved and come on leaps and bounds. We attended a weekly dog club through Winter and this helped us with his training but the credit has to go to Viggo, who’s intellect allowed us to train him so quickly.

From knowing nothing, to picking up as many tricks as any dog, he proved what a smart breed the Smooth Collie is.

Viggo has a beautiful, friendly personality and continues to surprise us with his quirky habits, one of which is his howling. He loves to howl like a wolf if we sing or howl along with him, a genuine surprise to Claire when she was playing with him one day early on and sang to him.

In our trip to Lakeland in February, Viggo achieved his first mountains in the Langdale Pikes. The achievement proved how fit he had become and epitomised his development into the perfect, well-behaved, intelligent dog that we have today.

Viggo is now accustomed to our way of life, our camping escapades and our mountain hikes through rain or shine.

A packed car, ready for another camping trip to the Lakes.


His placid temperament takes everything in his stride and he now has a huge extended family that absolutely adore him.

If you’ve got all the way through to this point, congratulations! As a reward for your commitment and perseverance, we invite you to join his fan base on twitter @ViggoTheSmooth.

 That’s all folks,

Cheers,

#TeamFell