Laugavegur Trail

I recently spent a week in Iceland. What a wonderful landscape. There is a saying that if you get lost in Iceland, just stand up! Unfortunately, I had bad weather, but the experience was a joy. Excellent huts that are fully equipped. I  took my own dehydrated food but there was no need to take stove\pots.
Check out some photos. There is a lot of info on the web re this trail, so I will save my typing fingers!                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         
https://www.ultimategearlists.com/destinations/laugavegur-trail-iceland

Gloves - Mittens

I am doing a lot of day hikes around my home town of Wanaka. I have always found lightweight finger gloves do not keep my finger ends from going numb!

I decided to purchase these combo gloves as a trial. They worked!

I like the ability to flip the mitt to allow the naked thumb or finger to use iPhone navigation.

They are light in weight and I like the hemming around the finger ends - well made - no risk of fraying.

Two criticisms, I use walking poles and I note the fleece on these gloves are causing wear. Secondly, the domes to hold back the finger or thumb flaps have aggressive secures - be careful to hold both the male and female edges of the dome to avoid pulling it through the fabric.

Overall, good hand warmth and they keep the fingers warm. At $NZ30 they are a snap!

He's the link to buy (I am not on any affiliate program!)

https://www.kathmandu.co.nz/flip-top-mitts.html?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=71700000047244820&utm_content=CjwKCAjwvJvpBRAtEiwAjLuRPZzAbwvxKeZMyMViq1ItEXS8WEFnvKvy-VcKtHAwEf9ONyEBtPTl5RoC630QAvD_BwE&gclid=CjwKCAjwvJvpBRAtEiwAjLuRPZzAbwvxKeZMyMViq1ItEXS8WEFnvKvy-VcKtHAwEf9ONyEBtPTl5RoC630QAvD_BwE

Solar sCharger 5

A couple of years back I posted details about my newly purchased Suntactics solar sCharger5. At the time it was a ground-breaker at 245grams and very efficient.

Suntactics has just released a new Ultralite version coming in at 159 Grams (5.6oz)!

They have improved the solar cells, waterproofness and hinging.

Testing of the updated version in direct sunlight on an iPhone 7 proves the charging speed to be almost identical to a fixed power source using an Apple power plug - about 2 hours to charge from zero to one hundred per cent.

The price is also very acceptable at $US109.95 - of course, NZ purchasers will have to add shipping unless you are going stateside or have a friend holidaying there.


You can learn more at - https://www.suntactics.com/scharger5-portable-solar-charger?utm_campaign=sCharger5%2FLite&utm_medium=email&utm_source=newsletter

A Must See Movie

Hi fellow outdoor's lovers. I have just been to see ’Free Solo’. I have never sat through such a tense, nail-biting movie in my life. It's the story of rock climber Alex Honnold’s free climb of El Capitan - 3200ft, no ropes or clips. Just a man and a bag of chalk. Took him 3 hours & 56 minutes. This must go down as one of the greatest human achievements ever, albeit, stupid! You'll understand the motivation when you see the movie. You must see this doco! It's fabulous! The guy is a rockstar! 

See the movie trailer HERE

Zpacks Duplex on The TA Trail NZ

My buddies Simon and Lee are on the Te Araroa Trail in NZ. I will be joining them for a couple of sections in the South Island. You can follow them at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1500092416757668/
Nice to see they took on my Zpack tent suggestions. Well, almost. I was suggesting the Soloplex, but I think they are hoping to host guests :-)
Here are a couple of pics of their Duplex tents a couple of weeks into the hike. #zpacks