Outdoor Gear Chat

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Cathy and Wayne delve into what to pack when tackling the three peaks at any time of year.
What's in Cathy's rucsack? What should be on your feet? Why carry layers? Should you train? Why is the material of your socks surprisingly critical? and what is the optimum size packed lunch? (Answer: sizeable)
This Outdoor Gear Chat outlines all of those little kit decisions that can make all the difference to having a GREAT day on the hill.
Don't forget to listen to our previous podcasts to get all the extra expert info......

Listen ,learn, laugh and if you are able, please consider donating to our chosen charity: COMMUNITY ACTION NEPAL (canepal.org.uk)

To learn more about our FREE Expedition Events please click here: Expedition Event - Capel Curig 29th - 30th October — The Climbers Shop / Joe Brown Blog (theclimbersshopjoebrownblog.co.uk)
To learn more about this weeks topic click through to:
Clothing — The Joe Brown Outdoor Academy
Footwear — The Joe Brown Outdoor Academy
Knowledge - Backpacks — The Joe Brown Outdoor Academy
Hiking — The Joe Brown Outdoor Academy
Need to buy kit? www.climbers-shop.com

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Cathy and Wayne are joined by British Antarctic Field Operative Catrin Thomas who gives a fascinating insight into managing clothing systems in the harsh polar environment.
Catrin was awarded the UK Polar Medal in 2019 and describes her wealth of experience in keeping warm and dry among the many climates of the Antarctic continent - a lot of which is surprisingly similar to Scottish winter!
Learn how a mix of synthetic and natural fibres works best, why you can never have too many socks, how to keep your gloves warm when they're not on your hands, why glasses are good when you're working with Penguins, why goggles are better when you're working with Gannets and.............how to go to the loo when you're effectively living in a freezer.

Listen ,learn, laugh and if you are able, please consider donating to our chosen charity: Community Action Nepal

To learn more about our FREE Expedition Events please click here:
Expedition Event - Capel Curig 29th - 30th October — The Climbers Shop / Joe Brown Blog (theclimbersshopjoebrownblog.co.uk)
To learn more about this weeks topic please click below:
Homepage - British Antarctic Survey (bas.ac.uk)
Polar Medal winner Catrin Thomas and 17 Antarctic trips - BBC News
Joe Browns and the Climbers Shop
Joe Brown Outdoor Academy

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Cathy and Wayne are joined by Everest Basecamp Trek Leader Paul Poole to chat about what conditions to expect and what kit to pack to enjoy this iconic trek.
Paul has been travelling to the Khumbu region for 20 years and shares a host of top tips on the best time to travel, how to cope with altitude, pack size, what to wear on your feet, how many jackets are needed to star gaze comfortably and how you can save yourself from a world of discomfort just by looking after your wrists (!)

Listen ,learn, laugh and if you are able, please consider donating to our chosen charity: Community Action Nepal

To learn more about our FREE Expedition Event please click here:
Expedition Event - Capel Curig 29th - 30th October — The Climbers Shop / Joe Brown Blog (theclimbersshopjoebrownblog.co.uk)
To learn more about this weeks topic please click below:
Mountain Leader Training Course | Paul Poole Mountaineering | Wales
Need to buy kit for your trek? The Climbers Shop and Joe Brown Shops | Outdoor Clothing & Equipment UK (climbers-shop.com)
Want to know more about kit? The Joe Brown Outdoor Academy

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Be prepared for a world of eye protection knowledge as Cathy and Wayne are joined by Barnabé Grison, International Area Manager for French outdoor eyewear specialists Julbo.
From the history of the first glacier glasses to modern manufacturing techniques to fitting tips there really is all you need to know in this podcast to help you buy the right glasses for the activities you do. Learn why fully polarised glasses may not be a good thing on snow, why manufacturers are legally obliged to tell you how much light can penetrate your glasses and get the full  explanation on lens categories and their meaning.
Oh and of course......how to look cool.

Click below to find out more about this weeks subject:

Buyers Guide to Eye Protection
Julbo Sunglasses - Gear Review by Alpinist Tom Livingston
Sunglasses And Goggles | The Climbers Shop And Joe Brown Sho (climbers-shop.com)
The Joe Brown Outdoor Academy

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Cathy and Wayne are joined by Dr Will Duffin, Joint Medical Director at World Extreme Medicine to chat about why carrying a first aid kit is a REALLY good thing to do when you are out and about in the great outdoors. Among the usual suspects (plasters, paracetamol etc) there are plenty of other things to consider including sanitary towels, duck tape, Buffs and walking poles.
Learn what THE most important piece of first aid equipment is, why you should never take Ibroprufen during an endurance event, what applications of a tampon to avoid and why a tick remover is now an essential piece of kit. All this AND Dr Will's "All You Need To Know About Blisters in 60 seconds" makes this podcast an essential listen for anyone who loves venturing outdoors.

To learn more about this week's topic click through to.....
First Aid And Survival | The Climbers Shop And Joe Brown Sho (climbers-shop.com)
Blisters. Aaaaaaargh! — The Climbers Shop / Joe Brown Blog (theclimbersshopjoebrownblog.co.uk)
Mountain Medical Matters — The Climbers Shop / Joe Brown Blog (theclimbersshopjoebrownblog.co.uk)
Expedition Medicine | Wilderness Medicine | World Extreme Medicine

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Cathy and Wayne are joined by the Czar of Carabiners: Chris Rowlands from DMM Climbing in Wales. If you have ever wondered why Carabiners come in so many different shapes and sizes, if you were looking for the answer to why you shouldn't use WD-40 to maintain your crabs, if you are unsure whether Carabiners should begin with a "C" or a "K" or perhaps considered why there might be a requirement for an Aluminium cookbook.........then clip in, lean back and enjoy.

To learn more about this weeks topic click through:

Buyers Guide to Carabiners — The Climbers Shop / Joe Brown Blog (theclimbersshopjoebrownblog.co.uk)

Climbing Knowledge — The Joe Brown Outdoor Academy

The Climbers Shop and Joe Brown Shops | Outdoor Clothing & Equipment UK (climbers-shop.com)

DMM factory tour | DMM Wales

Search: DMM Drone Tour on You Tube. It's amazing!

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There's innuendo aplenty as Cathy and Wayne talk about tents, poles, fly sheets and pegs, pegs, pegs. Listen in for tips on getting it up in bad weather, what constitutes as fondling with your erection and of course - bell ends.
Expect tales of getting wet, how to deal with condensation, pesky moles and even flying tents among such astonishing trivia as why the colour of your tent can be really rather important.

Want to know more about choosing the right tent for you - read here:
Buyers Guide To Tents — The Climbers Shop / Joe Brown Blog (theclimbersshopjoebrownblog.co.uk)
You can read through a wealth of tent tips here:
Knowledge - Tents — The Joe Brown Outdoor Academy
For a great choice of high quality tents click here:
Tents And Footprints Camping | The Climbers Shop And Joe Br (climbers-shop.com)
For a great choice of Bivvies, Bothies and Tarps click here:
Bivies, Bothies And Tarps Camping | The Climbers Shop And J (climbers-shop.com)

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"Lakeland Legends" Cathy & Wayne are veterans of a number of Lakeland 50's but why has neither of them stepped up to the Lakeland 100 start line?
Sponsored by Montane, this podcast describes the high's and low's of their respective 50 mile trots around the Lakeland fells, their favourite kit and top training tips. Amid all of the technical info you can also learn why one of them called their Mum, the concerning question of whether being given watermelon by a semi-naked man in the dead of night was, in fact, a reality and just how, exactly Wayne can see to your every need (!)

Perhaps this podcast just goes to prove that what happens on the trail should stay on the trail......

Don't forget to enter our amazing competition to win £250 of Montane kit!!!!! ***Competition is now closed

Enter the competition here: Montane Competition
Lakeland Kit Unboxing with Montane Athletes: Montane Lakeland 50 & 100 - Unboxing the Kit List 2021 - YouTube
Shop the Montane range here: The Climbers Shop and Joe Brown Shops | Outdoor Clothing & Equipment UK (climbers-shop.com)
Joe Brown Outdoor Academy:  The Joe Brown Outdoor Academy
Running Concierge: The Running Concierge – Bespoke guided running in the Lake District

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Cathy & Wayne are joined by Scott Umpleby from The Brathay Trust, event organisers of the fantastic Ambleside Trail 25 & 50k races.
Join them as they discuss how this event began, how a full Lakeland breakfast and a frittata were highlights the first year and what delectable comestibles will be on offer this year....
Offering not just breathtaking views, great trails and incredible checkpoints The Ambleside Trail 25 & 50k events also raise vital funds for the  work Brathay do with young people in Cumbria and Yorkshire, improving their life chances and mental health.
There is, as always, plenty of talk about kit: what to use, how to choose and favourite items as well as food, trails and where to find information for folks new to trail running.
Sponsored by Montane, this podcast ties in with a fantastic competition to win a Montane Trailblazer LT 28 Pack from Joe Browns and The Climbers Shop. Want to know how to enter? - just take a listen..... ***Competition is now closed
 
Learn more about the Brathay Trust and their work with young people
Stay at Brathay in their Lakeside accommodation: Staycations - Brathay Trust

Sadly the Ambleside  25 & 50k Event had to cease in 2023, however, during that time we were supported by our fantastic suppliers:

A massive thank you to the Ambleside 25 & 50k race sponsors:
Hawkshead Brewery: Hawkshead Brewery. Beer From The Lakes – HawksheadBrewery
Voom Nutrition: VOOM Nutrition | Leading sports nutrition & sport energy products
La Sportiva: Search Results Page (climbers-shop.com)
Ultimate Direction: Search Results Page (climbers-shop.com)
Montane: Montane On-Sale | The Climbers Shop And Joe Brown Shops (climbers-shop.com)

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Cathy & Wayne are joined by Montane Sponsored Athlete Debbie Martin-Consani, first woman to cross the finish line of The Spine Race 2022.
Debbie discusses the highs and lows of completing all 268 miles of The Pennine Way in January; the darkness, the bogginess and how much she enjoyed herself as she carried enough equipment to keep herself alive throughout her non-stop 108 hour challenge.
Sponsored by Montane, this podcast ties in with a fantastic competition to win a Montane Spine Jacket from Joe Browns and The Climbers Shop. There's a lot of love for the Spine Jacket among runners - just take a listen and see.....  ***Competition is now closed

Enter the competition: Montane Spine Jacket Competition (mailchi.mp)
Shop the Montane Range:Montane On-Sale | The Climbers Shop And Joe Brown Shops (climbers-shop.com)
Debbie's Spine Race blog: DEBBIE MARTIN-CONSANI (ultrarundmc.com)
Chris Worton's Spine Race blog: Confessions of a long distance runner (chrisjworton.blogspot.com)