Sleeping Mat Options

As highlighted in a previous post, I’m looking for a new and ideally inflatable sleeping mat, with view to backpacking adventures, beginning with The Ridgeway in May.

My current mat (at 1800mm long and 40mm thick) is deemed to be too bulky in its pack size. Anything equal to or less than my two-season sleeping bag is what I’m aiming for.

Continue reading “Sleeping Mat Options”

OEX Compact Self-Inflating Sleeping Mat

Eighteen-months after purchase, I review the OEX Compact 4.0 self-inflating sleeping mat. This post also includes a link to the video I created.

With a view towards walking The Ridgeway in May [yes, I’m actually going to do it, this year], I recently started looking back over the kit I intend to carry with me. Much of which was purchased between 2016 and 2017.

I’d like to share some thoughts on the self-inflating sleeping mat I currently own, before I speculate upon potential weight and space-saving improvements. Continue reading “OEX Compact Self-Inflating Sleeping Mat”

Planning The Ridgeway: Food

Even if I was to wild camp my way along the eighty-seven mile trail and utilise available water taps as I go, I am still going to need a regular serving of food in order to complete even a single day on The Ridgeway (especially Day One, which still looks like it’s going to be a twenty-six miler…)

So, in this post, I’ll be looking at my current plans and thoughts towards feeding myself while following this National Trail, next month.

Continue reading “Planning The Ridgeway: Food”

Planning The Ridgeway: Accommodation

This is something I’ve not written about for a while but I do still hold on to an interest in walking the entire eighty-seven mile length of The Ridgeway long-distance footpath.

September has always seemed to be an ideal time of year – not too hot and hopefully, we’ve already received enough rain in August to have earned a dry month… If I’ve been procrastinating on one thing, it’s been the planning. But, I’m pleased to say I have been looking at my options for accommodation along the trail. Continue reading “Planning The Ridgeway: Accommodation”