La Sportiva Nepal Extreme B3 Mountaineering Boots

This B3 Mountaineering boot was bought with future expeditions in mind. Initially I got them for use in the Scottish Highlands in winter but with one eye on the Alps and hopefully further afield. 


Being completely green in this area I was not sure what I was looking for in a good boot. I went to the old reliable 53 Degrees North in Carrickmines, tried on a few pairs, walked up and down the stairs etc... Luckily the salesman on the day knows his stuff and actually advised me to go to Snow and Rock in Dundrum where they sell the Nepal Extremes. I had been doing a little research beforehand and came across these boots, reviews of which were quite positive. Only the price tag put me off at around €370....


Nevertheless having tried them on I knew they were the boots I wanted and so I parted with the hard earned,not easily spared cash and got the boots. I was so excited to have finally gotten myself a pair of technical mountaineering boots that I actually wore them around the apartment for the following few days (sorry neighbors below us), I actually convinced myself I was breaking them in.... 


Unfortunately due to a prolonged knee injury I didn't have much opportunity pre Scotland to break in the boots properly, this was a big concern to me before heading off for a whole week of pretty intense climbing but armed with plenty of blister kits off I went anyway.


The other members on the trip were envious of my shining new boots on our first day out on the mountains but I was eager to get them dirty early and remove the new boot feel / look to them. 


From the first time I wore them on the actual snow and ice I knew I would have no problems with blisters. They are supremely comfortable to wear and even the additional weight to what I am used to was not so much of a problem. The only issue I had was getting the right fit on the adjustable tongue but once sorted during a rest stop ceased to be a concern. 


We spent 4 good days on the Mountains, 2 of which were 9 hour days and at no point in time did my feet feel any discomfort. They are extremely tough boots and feel like they will last for decades with some care and attention after the long trips abroad. The sole itself is Vibram which is synonymous with quality. 


I would recommend getting these boots a size larger than your regular foot size to allow for wearing a thick mountaineering sock underneath. I have read online on other reviews that some people have experienced that these boots are not the warmest available but I cannot say I had this problem. 


We used standard G12 Grivel Crampons but the boots are designed to take the cramp-o-matic design should you choose those instead, I have no preference either way. There are additional features to these boots that are above my head but are I am sure no less clever / useful. 


I was told when I bought the boots that they should be tied very tight with no play or movement in the ankle. However I found this to be uncomfortable and did not allow for a natural foot movement or ankle roll when on the approach walk or traversing / contouring. I would advise allowing a little give if not on a technical section and if on a technical climb to then tie the laces up tight where a tight fit is needed for use with the crampon. That however is just a personal thing, fiddle around with them until you get the 'setting' that works best for you. 


If anything these boots are a little above and beyond the requirement for a trip to the Scottish Highlands but don't let this be a reason to not get them. If you are at all considering a trip further afield than Scotland then these are an excellent boot choice. I really have no complaints about these boots...except for maybe the price but if nothing else will make you more regimented in the care and cleaning routine!!! 

Equipment / Gear Reviews - (5) Scarpa Thunder rock climbing shoe

This was my very first purchase following on from my first rock climb at Dalkey quarry, I discovered that if I wanted to progress and do some more challenging climbs I would have to invest in a proper pair of rock climbing shoes.

I tried my best to read up on the internet about the best pair of shoes to buy, lace ups versus velcro, half size too small, two sizes too small etc. There is a raft of information out there and I was a little unprepared for the task of going into the shop and trying a pair on, after all how will I know which ones are right for me?

The first element I can comment on is the price, just short of €95 euro for the pair. There are cheaper options out there but these are few and far between, also the brand Scarpa is well known to me so it had a bearing on my choice.

I chose a pair approx a half size smaller for my foot on advice from some members in my mountaineering club, other advice (such as the net) suggest the tighter the better, this may be true but if they are so tight that they restrict blood flow then there will be no fun in it whatsoever so for some sound advice, go a half size for beginners.

A major benefit I found with these shoes (although I have to admit I did not do this on purpose) is the carrying loops on the back of the shoe, these allow you to hook a Carabiner onto the shoe for attaching to your harness for the sometimes long walk back to your gear (This will make sense to climbers) The main advantage of these however that I love is it makes it so much easier to put the shoes on, just grab a hold of the loops and pull.

The friction that I noticed compared to the runners I had been using was almost unbelievable. I still sometimes wonder just how the smooth sole sticks to the rock but all I know is it works and the performance is super. It has been mentioned to me that the soles are not as flexible as shoes from more experienced climbers, this is the case but in all honesty I am so way off that stage yet so for now the Scarpa Thunder will do me fine

Rating 4 out of 5

Equipment / Gear Reviews - (4) The New EastWest Maps - any good?

I have bought all three of the EastWest maps available at the moment, 'Wicklow Mountains West', 'Lugnaquillia & Glendalough' and 'The Dublin & North Wicklow Mountains' at a cost of €9.95 each. This is slightly more expensive than the equivalent Discovery Series OS maps which retail at €8.60 each but you do get a whole lot more map for your money. On a recent walk with my Hillwalking club I took both versions along for a test run and not being familiar with the route we were taking that day it was an ideal experiment.

Firstly the level of detail presented on the EW maps is impressive, the scale of 1:30,000 allows for a lot more detail than the 1:50,000 scale on the OS maps, however to balance the argument most compass roamers do not have a 1:30,000 scale making route planning, distance measuring etc. difficult. Yes you can get roamers at 1:30,000.

The EW maps are aimed more at outdoor enthusiasts than general mapping and the inclusion of many well known trails at last mapped is a welcome sight, often times when route planning from home in unfamiliar surroundings such information is very useful. Yes the OS maps have some trails marked on them but the level of detail on the EW maps is nothing short of miraculous. A nice touch is naming some of the more popular trails such as the popular Zig-Zags trail when approaching Lugnaquillia.

Another feature that I like is the up to date inclusion of forestry and associated trails. Often when walking you see a forest that is not on the map or vice versa, of course one should not be relying on these features for navigation purposes but for the recreational user this information is useful. The most beneficial element of the EW maps I have found is the small 'p' markers on the maps, referring to a small roadside lay-by for parking. Again for route planning this is extremely useful information and a big advantage over the OS maps as parking is a key issue for hill walkers and walkers alike.

So much effort, time and energy has clearly been expended in preparing the EW maps, features such as Cliffs, Crags, Scree, Rocky areas, Sandpits, Peat hags, Turf cuttings, Gorse and Undergrowth (to name but a few) have all been clearly and separately marked on the map. I am a nerd when it comes to maps and the more information presented to me the better, I love to sit down and look for interesting features, places of historical importance or natural beauty and plan on going there on a walk.

I do prefer however to have the OS map in my pocket on a day's hillwalking. While the EW maps are on water resistant paper I still feel they will succumb to a truly great Irish soaking and disintegrate accordingly, time will tell.

Overall I love the EW maps, they have all the information and more that I could possibly want and are clear and easy to read. I think I will still be using my OS maps for navigation purposes but I will certainly have the EW map beside me at home when planning the routes, spotting features etc.

Excellent maps and worth every penny

Rating 4.5 our of 5

Equipment / Gear Reviews - (3) Kingcamp Trek KS3131 "Trek 300" Sleeping Bag 3/4 Season

The main driving factor for me when choosing a sleeping bag was the cost. I did not see the point in spending a fortune on an expedition style bag for what I saw as 12 nights use and maybe a few back home. I will also hold my hands up and say I did not really do any research on sleeping bags before going. All I knew was that I needed a 3/4 season bag capable of keeping me warm in temperatures of more than or equal to -15ºC.

The obvious initial advantage is the price tag, this bag cost me €20 from e Bay. It was actually an Irish company that I bought it from so delivery was free. The technical specs are as as follows:

• Weight: 1.6kg
• Material: 190T polyester, WP & Cire outer, T/C 88/64 lining, 2 x 150g/m2 warm hollow fibre filling
• Colour: Dark blue with stuff bag

Features:

• Comfortable and durable, lightweight, carry bag included, can be used in cold climate.
• Keeps in warmth, even in damp environment.
• Mummy style so extra protection for head, neck and shoulders.
• Anti-static build-up.
• Easy to compress.
• A high quality product at a competitive price.

Has I done some more research before going on trek I would have realised that a down filled sleeping bag rather than a synthetic bag like mine would be lighter, smaller but a lot more expensive. In hindsight if I was to go again I will bring a down filled bag for those reasons. My rucksack once packed was almost a third filled with my sleeping bag.

While on trek the bag performed very well. Never once did I feel cold whilst snugly wrapped up inside of it. It is easily wrapped up once you are packing it away again. One major benefit I found is that the bag can be thrown into the wash once you return unlike a down filled bag that cannot. It is a very easy bag to live with, once inside there are zips outside and inside making it tough to get stuck. The mummy style bag along with draw cord means you can almost completely seal yourself in on the really cold nights.

Overall I found this sleeping bag was ideal for what I wanted. I do not really go camping much at home so I will not have much use for it again, it is very affordable and for 12 nights in the Himalayas (all above 2600m) it never failed to keep me warm. Most people who brought down filled bags also brought silk liners to keep the inside of the bag clean and also for additional warmth. The fact that the bag is easily washed makes a big difference.

Rating 4 out of 5

Equipment / Gear Reviews - (2) Regatta Survivor 45L Rucksack

Apologies about the picture. Those of you who are observant may have noticed the 35L sign on the front whereas I am reviewing the 45L, the only difference from the picture is the 45L so it should not make too much difference (Pedantic Pats)

I bought this bag not long before heading off to Nepal in March so I didn't have much time to field test it before the trek. I had bought a smaller Hi-Tec backpack before this one which to be fair served me well, but in recent walks in the mountains I found more and more frequently the bag was getting very tight once fully loaded. The bag was a 25L-30L capacity but I found I was really having to jam everything into it before setting off.

This backpack I bought from a reputable store (online) from the UK from whom I have bought a few items in the past. It cost 39.95GBP which equate to a little under €50 including delivery costs. That is pretty good value as comparable backpacks (not exactly the same bag) cost €30 to €40 more in the stores in Ireland. You do get the advantage however of trying them on and picking one that fits your back but when push comes to shove for me cost always matters more.

The backpack itself it very well equipped and is made from hard-wearing polyester. Nearly all backpacks at the moment boast some sort of Airmesh back which allows for ventilation and this one is no different. There is a zipped lid and a cord fastening so at least if your zips break your backpack remains closed.

One feature I was looking for that my old backpack is the built in rain cover. On some bags I had seen the covers are not built in meaning on a really windy day luminous rain covers can be seen flying around Wicklow, this one however is securely attached to my backpack and neatly tucks away.

There is a frontal storage pocket which seems to fit perfectly around my Water hydration bladder which is an added bonus, my hydration bladder has a tendency to leak so being able to keep it separate from all my other gear is an advantage.

There is a padded hip belt as well as a chest strap, these are great and keep the strain off the shoulders. I used to get pains in my shoulder after particularly long walks and since getting this backpack they have been far less severe. The chest strap helps with that. Like most modern backpacks there are straps for securing walking poles, there are 2 external sides pockets for drinks bottles, flasks etc and 2 side zipped pockets for additional items. For tightening up the entire load there are side compression straps although I have not needed those as of yet.

Some drawbacks that I have found with the backpack relates to the strap quality. The frontal straps for closing the bag and securing it around your waist was extremely fragile. Now I managed to change them easily with my old bag but nevertheless it is a quality concern.

Another down side, while small is the colour. There is some cream / white elements on the bag which after a good soaking in Nepal turned the bag a very dirty colour. One I am still cleaning. This is not a major issue but if you want to use the bag for other reason, flying, gym, weekend away etc. it makes you think again.

All in all I am very happy with this backpack, it does everything I need it to do, fits all my gear comfortable and so far at least seems to be quite robust. I give this backpack a rating of 3.5 out of 5. Some areas could be improved upon but altogether a good choice for a backpack.

Equipment / Gear Reviews - (1) Garmin eTrex H GPS

I originally got this GPS for Geocaching and I will be honest and say my decision was driven by my budget. I didn't want to spend hundreds of Euro on a GPS, my knowledge of GPS technology was very basic at that time. The Garmin was the cheapest solution at the time but from my experiences of it so far it was a bargain. The units vary greatly in price but I paid around €90 for mine which is about the cheapest model available. What I like most about the eTrex H is its size and weight. It barely takes up any space in the pocket or backpack so it is not at all cumbersome. Another reason I like it is its durability. It has a waterproof rating which means should you drop it into a puddle or need to use it in the rain it should be OK. Apparently the unit will float in water but I am not brave enough to try that out just yet!

One drawback that others have pointed out to me (although I myself do not see it as a problem) is that the unit does not display in colour. The unit accepts 2 x AA batteries, depending on the quality of the batteries you should get at least a full days use (assuming you use it all day long to record a route) but if you switch the unit on and off then you will get much longer from a set. The eTrex H does not seem to like rechargeable batteries for some reason, they will work but seem to drain very quickly so if you are going to use them perhaps have a few sets as backup just in case.

Using the GPS is very easy. There are only 5 buttons on the entire unit which has its positives and negatives. The positives are that it makes the unit easy to use, there are not a million buttons for different functions, its almost a one button for forwards and yes commands, one for return and two for up and down functions. It is a very easy unit to live with. However the simplistic configuration also has a downside, say you want to input a coordinate in the field you have to individually scroll between numbers to get your coordinates. and for standard coordinates in Ireland that means 14 numbers have to be entered. This is not a terribly big deal but nevertheless it is still a downside. Also, you are not provided with a data interface cable with the unit meaning until you get one you will have to insert all the coordinates you wish to store on the unit. For those Geocachers amongst us you will know that will soon become boring. The good news however is that the interface cables are very cheap if bought on-line.

It is possible to store up to 500 waypoints on your GPS. For me that translates into almost half of the Mountain summits in Ireland can be stored on my GPS at any one time. I bought myself an Interface cable on-line to use with the GPS, you will also have to download some software that will enable you to upload and download information to your GPS but there are some excellent software packages out there free of charge. I am currently using EasyGPS and find it works well for my needs. If you are a Geocacher then you probably already know you can send coordinates directly to your GPS from the Geocaching website.

Where the unit falls down a little for me is you only have the ability to store one route. I like to plan my walks in the mountains but with this unit you can only store one at a time. Its a small detail but if you want to build an escape route into your walk then you will need to bring hand written notes of the coordinates and input these along the way. Its minor but nevertheless a drawback.

Perhaps the most useful feature is the ability to switch between grid formats. This means you can setup the device to different methods of displaying coordinates (of which there are many) and it can also be set to give you a map grid reference depending on which country you are in. The Irish Grid Reference system is included. Should I ever get lost I can easily check my position on the GPS, translate that back to the map and work out where to go from there. This is no substitute for a map and a compass but used in tandem can be a life saver, especially in Ireland where the weather can come down on you very quickly leaving you disorientated. There have been a few occasions where I have used the GPS to confirm my position when changing routes so it has its uses.

Overall I find this unit more than adequate for my needs. Yes there are better, more accurate GPS units out there that even have mapping software. However I find using this unit along with a paper map and a compass is a good combination for safety. Batteries can always run out, electronic items can malfunction, maps can blow away and compasses can crack so to rely on one is risky. I like this GPS and cannot see myself changing to a different unit any time soon. It has so far found every Geocache I have looked for and hasn't failed to work when needed. Without having used other GPS units I find it hard to give this item a rating but I think 3.5 out of 5 reflects fairly upon it.

Positives:

Inexpensive compared to other GPS receivers

Small & Lightweights, not much heavier than a mobile phone

Accuracy to within a few metres depending on overgrowth

Drawbacks:

No mapping for terrain / streets available on this model

No numeric digits on the device making inputting of coordinates in the field time consuming

You do not get a data interface cable to connect to your PC meaning you need to buy one if you wish to do use the unit with your computer