Outdoor Gear Chat

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Wayne and Cathy are joined by British Mountain Guide Adrian Nelhams who shares his gargantuan knowledge and experience of ice axes. Together they cover why you might need to carry one, when you definitely need one and talk about why an ice axe is only part of your winter safety kit. Covering everything from walking axes to technical tools they also discuss the big question: to leash or not to leash? And why exactly does going leashless involve still using a leash?? All will be revealed........including what Adrian keeps close to his chest.

Want to know more about choosing the right ice axe for you - then take a read here:
Buyers Guide to Ice Axes — The Climbers Shop / Joe Brown Blog (theclimbersshopjoebrownblog.co.uk)
Watch Adrian's video about choosing ice axes here:
A look at some of the different types of ice axes available | ISM (alpin-ism.com)
Book a course with the International School of Mountaineering:
Guided Alpine Mountaineering Courses, Ice Climbing, Ski Touring… | ISM (alpin-ism.com)
For a great choice of local Guides click here:
Winter Climbing — The Joe Brown Outdoor Academy
Winter Mountain Walking — The Joe Brown Outdoor Academy
Play "Name That Shaft" here:
Name That Shaft! — The Climbers Shop / Joe Brown Blog (theclimbersshopjoebrownblog.co.uk)

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Cathy and Wayne are joined with new Lake District legend and part time Ambleside staff team member James Gibson as he talks about being the first person ever to complete a continuous round of 214 Wainwrights in the winter of 2021. James had wanted full winter conditions - and he definitely got them, with Storm Barra making an appearance too. Listen to his accounts of snow, blizzards, jaw dropping sunrises, fantastic camaraderie and how he is coping with his new found fame. There's even a bit of talk about kit!

You can read a "realtime account" on The Climbers Shop and Joe Brown Blog here:
Winter Wainwright Attempt 2021 — The Climbers Shop / Joe Brown Blog (theclimbersshopjoebrownblog.co.uk)

To learn more about James and his achievements click through to his website:
James Gibson I Adventure Runner and Mountaineer I No Limits Adventuring (gibsonrunandclimb.co.uk)

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Wayne quizzes Cathy on the amazing history surrounding the two shops and learns how they were interlinked from the very start - way before Cathy and her husband Paul became the owners of both. Listen to stories of climbing and fell running royalty, why the shops are pivotal in their local outdoor communities and how Cathy explained to the climbing legend; Mr Joe Brown her ideas for a unique competition involving his nether regions!

You can read the full Big History here: The Big History — The Climbers Shop / Joe Brown Blog (theclimbersshopjoebrownblog.co.uk)

Why not take part in our permanent challenges:
Ali's Round — The Climbers Shop / Joe Brown Blog (theclimbersshopjoebrownblog.co.uk)
Ali's Family Round — The Climbers Shop / Joe Brown Blog (theclimbersshopjoebrownblog.co.uk)
Cumbrian Centurion Challenge 100 — The Climbers Shop / Joe Brown Blog (theclimbersshopjoebrownblog.co.uk)

Read the list of climbs involved in the Anniversary celebrations:
50th Anniversary: The Hunt For Joe's Golden Nuts — The Climbers Shop / Joe Brown Blog (theclimbersshopjoebrownblog.co.uk)
60th Anniversary “Nuts of Legends” — The Climbers Shop / Joe Brown Blog (theclimbersshopjoebrownblog.co.uk)

Sign up for the Ambleside 25/50k:
Brathay Challenges | Ambleside 25K
Brathay Challenges | Ambleside 50K

Read more about Joe Brown - arguably one of the worlds best all round climbers:
About Joe Brown — The Joe Brown Outdoor Academy
Joe Brown Biography and first ascent list — The Climbers Shop / Joe Brown Blog (theclimbersshopjoebrownblog.co.uk)

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Join Cathy and Wayne as they chat about the wonderful world of insulated clothing. Learn the difference between feather and down, why "fill power" is a good thing to know and understand why most insulated jackets aren't waterproof. There's laughter, there's techy stuff, there's the word "poofiness", there's an explanation of why you need tennis balls to wash a down jacket and perhaps most impressively, another of Cathy's podcast visualisations!


Links:
Buyers Guide to Insulated Clothing — The Climbers Shop / Joe Brown Blog (theclimbersshopjoebrownblog.co.uk)
Clothing — The Joe Brown Outdoor Academy

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Cathy and Wayne take a light hearted look at the science of headtorches: learning about lumens, marveling at "intelligent" lighting, discovering what exactly an IP rating is along with the revelation of what type of inflatable impresses Cathy!!! If you have a pony tail, wear a helmet or are fed up with getting blinded by your tent mate then this is the podcast for you!

Incidentally - SOS in morse code is ... --- ...

Listen ,learn, laugh and if you are able, please consider donating to our chosen charity: Wayne Singleton is fundraising for Brathay Trust (justgiving.com)

To learn more about this weeks topic click through to:
Buyers Guide to Choosing Lighting — The Climbers Shop / Joe Brown Blog (theclimbersshopjoebrownblog.co.uk)
Camping — The Joe Brown Outdoor Academy

Lighting Headtorches | The Climbers Shop And Joe Brown Shops (climbers-shop.com)
Lighting Lanterns | The Climbers Shop And Joe Brown Shops (climbers-shop.com)
Lighting Handheld | The Climbers Shop And Joe Brown Shops (climbers-shop.com)

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Join Cathy and Wayne as they talk about rucksacks and load carrying. Learn the importance of your squishy bits when it comes to measuring backsize, why most rucksacks aren't waterproof, why you might want to consider a "rucksack filing system" and how, when it comes to what you put on your back; big may not always be better!

Listen ,learn, laugh and if you are able, please consider donating to our chosen charity: Wayne Singleton is fundraising for Brathay Trust (justgiving.com)

To learn more about this weeks topic click through to:
Buyers Guide to Rucksacks — The Climbers Shop / Joe Brown Blog (theclimbersshopjoebrownblog.co.uk)
Knowledge - Backpacks — The Joe Brown Outdoor Academy

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Wayne's getting into his climbing and wondering if he needs to buy rock boots. This week's talk with Cathy journeys through rubber, precision placements, flat toes, squished toes, slip lasts, leather and why tear inducingly tight climbing shoes might not always be a good thing. Good footwork, however, most definitely is!

Listen ,learn, laugh and if you are able, please consider donating to our chosen charity: Young Minds Matter Appeal | Brathay Trust

Buyers Guide to Choosing Rock Shoes — The Climbers Shop / Joe Brown Blog (theclimbersshopjoebrownblog.co.uk)
Footwear — The Joe Brown Outdoor Academy

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Cathy and Wayne talk stoves and fetishes in this episode - just how many stoves does a person need? Joining them is special guest Stuart Smith whose experience using stoves across the globe in hot, cold and wet environments shines through with descriptions of fire rainbows, sinking stoves and little prickers. Learn the difference between integral canister systems, multi-fuel stoves, why all gas is not equal and just how reading gas canister instructions helped Stu become an accomplished linguist.

Listen ,learn, laugh and if you are able, please consider donating to our chosen charity: Young Minds Matter Appeal | Brathay Trust

Buyers Guides to Stoves — The Climbers Shop / Joe Brown Blog (theclimbersshopjoebrownblog.co.uk)
Knowledge - Cooking — The Joe Brown Outdoor Academy

For Events, Skills, Guiding and Event Safety:
NAV4Adventure

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Wayne's getting into trad climbing so he and Cathy are joined by British Mountain Guide, Author and DMM Ambassador Libby Peter to discuss what gear he should select for his first rack and why. Learn about why there are so many different types of nuts, cams, hex's and krabs, when you may want to use an extender, why coloured karabiners are a great idea and how Cathy unintentionally made an American climber very, very happy!

Listen ,learn, laugh and if you are able, please consider donating to our chosen charity:
Young Minds Matter Appeal | Brathay Trust

To learn more about this weeks topic click through to:
Buyers Guide to Building Your First Trad Rack — The Climbers Shop / Joe Brown Blog (theclimbersshopjoebrownblog.co.uk)
Skills : Climb — The Joe Brown Outdoor Academy
Climbing Knowledge — The Joe Brown Outdoor Academy
The British Mountaineering Council (thebmc.co.uk)

You can buy Libby's book here:
Rock Climbing: Essential Skills and Techniques (climbers-shop.com)

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Join Cathy and Wayne for a second season of science stories and laughter. This episode explains why there are so many boots to choose from, the differences between fabric and leather, how boots should fit, why colour shouldn't matter, the importance of lacing and why the size you were expecting to buy might not be the size you walk out with. There is also mention of saveloy!

Listen ,learn, laugh and if you are able, please consider donating to our chosen charity: Young Minds Matter Appeal | Brathay Trust

To learn more about this topic please click through to:
Buyers Guide To Walking Boots
— The Climbers Shop / Joe Brown Blog (theclimbersshopjoebrownblog.co.uk)
How To Lace Your Walking Boots — The Climbers Shop / Joe Brown Blog (theclimbersshopjoebrownblog.co.uk)
Blisters. Aaaaaaargh! — The Climbers Shop / Joe Brown Blog (theclimbersshopjoebrownblog.co.uk)
Footwear — The Joe Brown Outdoor Academy