So you rate the trailstar then? I'm really looking to get one of them in the next month or so. That and a new sleeping bag will be my two main purchases as I don't like the idea of a
soaking wet inner tent to deal with and my Alpkit SH600, while a great bag, is just too heavy and bulky for something like the TGO!
Your trip report is awesome by the way! Good job mate.
KP
Cheers KP, glad you enjoyed the read
Yeah I'm really really pleased with the Trailstar, I don't think there's a 500g shelter that comes anywhere near it for strength and of course space. I've heard someone mention 50sq ft of floorspace which is hard to ignore when comparing similar shelters. Some have reservations about limited pitching due to its size, but that's complete tosh, as long as you find a flat spot to lie on you can pitch it over anything else.
Don't be tempted by the cuben version btw, I've heard it's a pig to pitch well compared to the stretchier sil version.
I'm up at Braemar for a hang on the 31st for a few days, if you're about I'll chuck it in the car?
Thanks Rich! Without a doubt the most enjoyable thread I've read to date. I hate that I missed it until recently, but extremely glad I didn't miss it entirely. I think I'll read through it another few times and actually comment on specific scenes and ask questions...very hard to process this in just a couple of reads. Had I seen it to start with I would have asked if I sent you a couple of small knives if you would have carried one on your journey and sent it back just so I could say the knife I carried had crossed Scotland
Wish I lived over that way sometimes, this being one of them, I would love to do that challenge myself.
Thanks Brian, cheers for the kind comments.
Shame about the knife crossing but it would have to have been a light one as I got a bit anal about my pack weight before we set off
Can't add anything that hasn't already been said, fair play to you!!
Thanks Badger, I think
So impressed, and a fantastic blog! I cant wait to give it a go for sure, just trying to work out if i'll make the dates next year.
Do you think you could do it without the food parcels and just pick up some grub in towns on route, i am thinking about doing something like it for charity?
Thanks Buck
You could certainly pick up food on your way but it obviously depends on your route. Our resupply options were pretty good as we passed through small villages every three or four days. You wouldn't get many options to pick up purpose made lightweight food but plenty of mini supermarkets and grocery shops in the villages.
Some folk purposely plan their route around pubs/cafes/restaurants/hotels and carry very little, some don't even camp at all. That's the beauty about the TGO, because it's not a race you can do as you please. Staying on the main tourist routes would give you lots of options but you'd deny yourself some great wild camps IMHO.
Lots of folk do it for charity
