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still requires a lot more acrobatics and manoeuvring under a limited poncho space that I'd like. Nah, I'll stick to a short walk to an appropriate spot for nocturnal arboreal irrigation. J

As someone in the 51% of the population that has limited aim when peeing that's not an option. I'd also rather not pee where I sleep, it can attract pests/predators not to mention smelling. I'll stick with a waterproof and a separate tarp, more versatile. J

Merino wool buff here. I've got 2 of them. Useful as a hat, as a scarf, as a balaclava, and as a blindfold for sleeping when there's a lot of daylight about (midsummer in the north for example). Used to have a shemagh. Too heavy and not versatile enough to use one these days. J

The big problem I have with the poncho tarp approach, having tried it using a German army Poncho is what happens when it's raining, and you want to go for a pee in the middle of the night? You can't take your shelter with you, so you're gonna have to get wet. Tried it once, got soaked watering a...

My theoretical Summer bag load out for a single night out is 1.3kg  Exped Cloudburst 25 - 280g Evernew 1.5L - 36g Platypus 0.5L bottle - 22g AMK SOL Escape Bivvi - 250g Paramo Torres jacket - 545g Compass Pouch - 7g Silva...

Re entry, there are 2 versions of the issue bag, the normal one, and the XL one, the difference is the XL one has an extra triangle of fabric in the top half, which makes getting in and out *A LOT* easier. I have this one, and it means I can almost sit up in the bag's entrance. Certainly makes...

Not warmer, you'll be exposed to the wind etc... While the wind won't cut through the goretex to your skin, it does have some cooling effect. Expecting a bivvi bag to make your sleeping bag warmer is a bit foolish. Condensation depends on how you use it. On a still night, when it's warm (think...

There's a lot of art in controlling the temperature of the fire. I found it helpful to have a pot hanger that allows you to move the pot in all 3 dimensions so you can control where the heat comes from. Also keep an eye on the wind, easy for one side of the pot to be cooler due to the wind...

I did the same with the same combo of pots as you. I used a couple of green twigs (Hornbeam I think), Rather than using the 1L pot, I ended up using the lid from the 1L pot inside the 1.6L pot. Made a successful loaf tho: Good luck. J

If you have to carry a sack of wood pellets with you, then you're kinda defeating the idea of carrying a biomass stove. Surely you'd be better off carrying a meths or gas stove? J

I wouldn't. I had one (a cheap one from ebay), I tried it, but it was a complete utter sod to use. The line between starving it of fuel, and overloading it and suffocating it is wafer thin. Add any wind and you're basically on a hiding to nothing. Three of us spent an hour feeding wood into one...

You can sinch the opening down till it's just big enough for your mouth and nose to poke out. It's how I use the bag. J

Nice video. I looked at the stanley as an option for a brew kit, but in the end decided against. I ended up with the Evernew Appalachian set, which is very light, but stupid expensive. The evernew burner is also very fuel inefficient. I've been using it with the Zelph Starlight burner, and as a...

I started with a British Army DPM Goretex bag, it's lovely, breathes really well, very roomy, nice camo, but weighs a ton. These days I use the Alpkit Hunka XL, which seems to breathe pretty well, but is about half the weight. IMHO, by the time you're looking at hooped bivvi bags you may as well...

I've had my eye on the Exped Typhoon 25 as a new day pack, dunno if that would work for you? J

I carry what started life as a Polymath products EDC Fire kit, but I replaced the tinder, and I have a compass on the top rather than the thermometer it came with. This is always in my pocket, it's proved really useful, the compass is the most useful part, I use it a lot in the urban environment...

Well, just to add a small contrary opinion. I don't like the DD 3x3, I think it's too big, and too heavy. Where I've been camping I often haven't found the space between the trees necessary to for a 3m long tarp... I have a British Army Basha, I don't use it much, it weighs over 1kg. Far too...

I would say look at the Exped Lightning 45 or 60. It carries load better than any other pack I've found, it's not cheap, and it doesn't have the same military appearance of the ones you list, But it's a great pack, plenty of room, very comfy, and durable. I wrote a review here J

Snow arrived in Kent this evening. almost an inch landed in some places, I hit the road with spikey tyre equipped bike to get some snow cycling in. I got about 4km into the ride and it stopped snowing and started sleeting then it started raining. By the time I got home My gloves were soaked...

There is a phrase for that. "Shrink it and pink it." Will never understand it, I don't like pink and it makes buying stuff a pain. Esp when there is a genuine difference in the design of the item for women (think jackets to accommodate boobs, and trousers to accommodate bum shape), then they go...