I’ve never found my Special 6 Buffalo great when immobile. It is windproof but not a great insulator. After the warm air you have trapped cools, then without moving there is no way to get that warmth back. I know I’m seeking the Holy Grail. Comfortable when moving, warm when stopped in a British climate. There is obviously compromises. I run cold so can cope with the walk in being warm. After a few hours at a checkpoint I’m rather stiff from the cold.

Nothing like a Buffalo really. Buffalo is Pile and Pertex where as the Paramo is designed to operate like animal fur. I’ve wore Buffalo for years on the hill now, but I’ve been volunteering for local hill events lately, and it is really unsuitable for my role. I carry lots of kit in, so really sweating/working hard then tend to stand about. The two situations where Buffalo are not great. I’ve been wearing an Alta 3 with a Torres over the top when I stop. Generally I feel damp though and I think it is from chilling when stopped. I thought the hybrid venting options would allow me to remain cool on the move and fortress up when stopped. Most other guys wear hardshells and traditional layering. I’m personally not a fan of hardshells at all. The kit is all borrowed at the minute just to see what suits me, I’m on the Paramo road but I need to refine it to fully trust it. Also never been out in truly horrendous weather where people are saying it quickly becomes overwhelmed due to the wind acting like you leaning against a wall. Those days hardshell is the only option, but for me at the minute it will do 75% of the time.

Have you ever worn the Velez smock with a rucsack? If so how did it fair?

Thanks ibnchris, but I’m a few hundred miles from Kent.  I’m familiar with Paramo, just attracted to the twin zip for venting. In my current Paramo I often feel damp, but I open up to check and I’m dry. Thought the extra venting would allow extra air circulation.

@Scapegoat. Do you find yourself damp in the Alta with a rucsac on?

Primarily for use on foot in the hills but would see occasional bike use. I’m wondering also with a rucsack over the top the zips would chaff your skin?

Wee Cog. Great bits of kit. Nice to buy from a small company too.

Round the lip of the bore for the bearing? If so, oversize drill bit.

Rugby player in gets drunk shocker, who would have thought. 🤔

That was enjoyable, thanks for linking. It certainly appears powerful,  but I wouldn’t like to have to shoulder it or lift it over a gate.

Cotic Solaris?

Anybody following or know anybody participating in the Montane Spine Race?  Seems like an epic affair.  Mused over the route and some parts look great for a day adventure.

Finally got a Joe Blow booster. A very substantial and almost industrial piece of kit. I was waiting until I could get one for less than a ton. Use new voucher code at Chainreaction and it was £79 which I felt reasonable.

Everyone’s appraisals are positive so I think it should be good.

The Direct is how Rab have elected to use Polartec Alpha material. It is the grid/waffle type material on the inside. It was originally developed for American Special Forces operations. The theory behind it is that on the move it keeps you neither hot nor cold. Just right. It wicks the moisture away to prevent chilling.  When stopped it is expected to provide a degree of insulation via the hot air it has trapped. Various manufacturers use it in different concepts of jacket/smocks. Broadly speaking  the weight of the material differs. More weight, (100g per metre square V’s 45g per metre square)  better insulation but less wicking. It all depends on your choose activity and if you are a hot or cold person that determines what is best suited for you.

Fantastic. I’ve never seen him in real life, only ever in books/tv. Comes across as the sort of guy that when he is around and talks, then people stop and actually listen to take heed. Not a lot of people with that quality.

Wow MrSparkle, that is an outstanding achievement and an excellent written account. Great information regards training too. Well done, and a handshake from Joss Naylor at the end too, I should think memories made on that day will last forever. A very nice personal touch pre booking The Screes,  I bet that was a good night. Have you any more challenges on the horizon?

Wow MrSparkle, did you manage to get a tankard?

I didn’t realise there was so much to do. Looks like it will be a busy Saturday and Sunday.

National Railway museum and a walk round the shambles looking  good. Is the Cathedral worth going to?

This year I’m using a Paramo Alta 3 as it has just been too warm for my normal Buffalo arrangement.

I’ve found it great. Super comfy and well tailored. No clamminess when working hard in wet and mild environment where a traditional hard shell would wet out.  Requires constant maintenance though. The Nikwax disappears at an astonishing rate, but this year winter season has been particularly wet and it is getting soaked what feels like constantly. I wash in the machine on a woolens cycle with soap flakes, them put it in bucket with warm water and the Nikwax. Leave for a while, spin cycle in the machine then leave to dry. I’ve found  this to be a better method than the Paramo suggested washing solution (too expensive) and putting the Nikwax in the machine leaves the wife complaining the next wash is ‘funny’.I’m doing this every six weeks and in that time the jacket would see approx. 24 intense use outings.

If you can’t be bothered with the faff a Keela Munro is good vfm. It is heavy and warm though, not ideal for anything other than walking.

Paramo

Keela Munro

A one off 4 miles should be ok for their longevity. It is a long way in such an aggressive sole though. Before I learned which events lent itself to soles like that I done a few mixed events in mud shoes. The worst thing was the feeling like I had football boots on and never really felt stable on hard pack ground.

I have a set of Walsh PB. Not any more traction over my Inov8 Mudclaw. Not as comfortable either. Where they win out is material selection. Very robust construction. Take a beating on the mountains, brush off, leave to dry and good as new. The sole material is also a lot denser and stiffer. Next to no give, so on a mixed course less than ideal. Anything less than total off road will wear down the spikes considerably. I’m a full size up on my normal running trainers (Nike Pegasus) and width is on the slim side so always thin socks. Any hill event you tend to be over the ankle deep in water relatively early on I find, so thin socks are ok.

Maybe dive into the history books? Our ancestors must have had a viable solution as the human race is still here. They must have had a solution to transport their lunches to the pits, fields etc? I’d guess it would be an eco friendly solution. Maybe a good excuse to eat pies and pasties as well lol.

#Tiger6791. Glad you enjoyed the book and found some motivation in it. I’m not a social media user, but I joined Instagram to see some of Davids motivation videos. He doesn’t disappoint. In the book he explains his difficulty in swimming and passing the swimming tests, on Instagram there is a short video of him with legs and arms bound, then throws himself into an open body of water! Lots of little motivation speeches too. Worth a visit if you enjoyed the book.

A book for inspiration you want. Running related which should be good from an interest point of view.

Then this is exactly what you need.

Guy is a legend in the making. Amazing mind set. Could be the inspiration you need. If you are feeling low and not in the mood to read, get it on audio and just chill and listen.

That’s exactly what I needed. Thank you.

I’ve made a gpx route of a ride I’d like to do. GPS plugged in Chromebook. Drag and drop to GPX folder. All good, I can see it on device, but only as a route, not a track. How do I get it onto GPS as a track without Basecamp?

I have the Alpine Jacket. Good when moving. Cold when stationary. Colour has faded badly around the contact areas of my bergan. It is the deep russet one and around 3 years old. In fairness in gets hammered and not much in the way of maintenance. I’ll replace it with this. Jottnar Elvar

Think the GT bikers will view this area as their playground and everybody else is intruding. I did the 10k trail run the night before the GT Sevens, and around this time last year The Mighty Deerstalker which was fantastic, but both avoided the times the Storm Troopers are in attendance.

Looking for a winter running tight that is both thermal and windproof, ideally with the Gore Windstopper material. Any recommendations?

With the Fenix 6 out now is the Instinct due an upgrade too? Anyone care to comment on how they have settled into using theirs? Has it turned into just a time telling device or do you actively use the smart features?

You have just exactly described a Jones Plus. I would look there before a Stooge.

How long does a fully charged battery tend to last on say a Lake District ride or one of the 7Stanes? Do you just unclip the battery from the bike and take indoors to charge or is the battery semi permanently attached to the bike  and you have to run a cable to it?

Once got to the start of a ride, bikes present ✓All required kit present ✓Keys to unlock the bikes from the bike rack, nah left them at the house as nipped back in after packing and left them on the kitchen worktop. Wasn’t a wasted trip though. We were in the Lakes so walked up to a wild swimming spot which was fab.

If a snap election is called around mid October, I’m a registered voter but will be out the country with work, how will I vote? I can’t seem to find anything on line and it would seem I’m too late to register for a postal vote.

All down, season it and then get it in the log burner next winter. Can’t beat free easy had wood.

Went with hatchbag. Lucky to find on gumtree. Wow. Great quality and the fit is amazing. Thanks for the advice.

I ended up using a telescopic tool that has a very strong magnet on the end for retrieving lost items in the automotive industry. Pull out to desired length and away you go. I thought it would vibrate off, but no, works a treat and still using it.

Not the exact same but similar.

I have a ventile jacket that I used for skiing for years. The only issue I ever encountered with it was when the weather was really inclement and the jacket was working hard, I went into a cafe and took it off and hung it up. When I went back to it, it was completely soaked through. Lesson learnt. In future when the jacket was covered in snow etc I took it off outside and left it with my skis. Never had an issue then. Sure it was cold and uncomfortable to put back on but was back up to temperature after the first run.

Red twice with a break in-between. Then the blue if some still left in the tank.