Outdoor Gear Chat

Get in touch! This week Cathy and Wayne talk about head protection with Petzl sponsored athletes and climbing giants: Emma Powell and Neil Gresham. Whether you are trad, sport, winter climbing or dry tooling we delve into why you might choose to wear a helmet when you climb, different construction types, testing, safety, how to check your helmet, how to tell when your helmet should be retired and...

Get in touch! Cathy and Wayne talk about the NEW Mountain Goat Circuit/ Cylchdaith Yr Afr Fynydd, a spectacular 50km loop in Snowdonia along the skyline from the Joe Brown's Capel Curig shop to Llanberis and back. Joined by Rab Global Sales Operations Manager Chris Vanderhoven, they discuss how the idea came about, the route, the terrain and there are lots of tips on what kit you'll need...

Get in touch! Cathy and Wayne are joined live from Colombia by Ben Davies and Felix Sullivan from the El Rio Hostel in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta Mountains. This very special episode talks not just about the kit needed for the nearby trek to the Lost City but also the unique relationship between The Climbers Shop and the El Rio Foundation. Listen to how buying great kit from...

Get in touch! Join Cathy and Wayne with Dr Matt Fuller, for a fascinating insight into down and it's amazing ability to keep us warm! Matt has a PhD in Feather and Down Structure and is Product Engineer at Mountain Equipment. This episode is a real journey, explaining how ethically sourced down ends up in your jacket, sleeping bag, or suit  from source. Learn how down is almost structurally p...

Get in touch! Cathy and Wayne are joined by outdoor cook and all round smashing bloke Harrison Ward to talk about getting out in the fells to cook. Perhaps better known by his Instagram handle @Fellfoodie, Harrison shares his own version of haute cuisine among his native Lakeland Fells alongside his personal recovery from alcoholism and poor mental health. Harrison openly describes how combining h...

Get in touch! Cathy and Wayne are joined by Voom Brand Manager and Team GB Triathalete Beau Smith to seriously geek out on nutrition for endurance sports. Listen and learn what energy bar ingredients mean, the difference between caffiene and guarana, what are the key causes of stomach issues (and potential solutions), why hydration is so critical alongside energy foods, how electrolyte drinks work...

Get in touch! Cathy and Wayne are joined once again by the brilliant Stuart Smith to discuss  undergarments. You'll hear all about why a baselayer should be close fitting to work effectively in our climate, how they work, why some niff more than others, how to make a stinky baselayer smell better (and last longer), the difference between natural and man made fibres and what is good merino vs...

Get in touch! Are you baffled by the number of different ropes available? Cathy and Wayne talk with Edelrid UK Representative Alex Smurthwaite and discover how not all ropes are equal...... Learn the difference between single/half/twin and triple ropes, why there are so many diameters, how a dry treatment keeps out more than just water, why colour is important, how to wash your rope, what the Blue...

Get in touch! If trekking in Nepal is on your bucket list then join Cathy and Wayne as they chat with Denise Prior at Community Action Treks. She has 20 years experience and along with Nicola Terry from parent charity Community Action Nepal, explains not just the importance of packing the right kit but also how to travel and trek while having a positive impact on the country you are travelling in....

Get in touch! In September 2023 Outdoor Gear Chat Co-Host Wayne Singleton stepped into the water at Bowness-on-Solway on the North Cumbria coast to "celebrate" an upcoming birthday. Some say he'd taken a wrong turn as originally, he'd started out planning to swim the English Channel. When he couldn't find a pilot he decided on a different type of swim challenge, one no-one...

Get in touch! Cathy & Wayne are joined by Author, Walking Leader and Outdoor Swimming Instructor Suzanna Cruikshank to talk about women's technical clothing for sizes beyond the norm. This fascinating insight into clothing fit follows on from our extremely successful online symposium held back in 2021. Listen as we discuss what is available, the difficulties of finding technical equipment...

Get in touch! In this episode Cathy and Wayne are joined by The Climbers Shop Manager and Spine Race veteran Chris Worton to talk about the wonderful world of trail shoes. Why are there so many different types? How is a trail running shoe different from a road running shoe? Can the right shoes make you feel less tired? How can you make shoes last longer? What is the difference between pronation an...

Get in touch! Cathy and Wayne are joined by engineer, sewer and outdoor equipment and clothing repair specialist; Rosanna Watson from Snowdonia Gear Repairs to delve into how to make your gear last longer. Learn about tapes, sealants, zips, seams and all the little replacement gizmo's available to make your own repairs as well as the wealth of fixes that can be done to clothing, sleeping bags...

Get in touch! Ever wondered how to zip up a jacket when you only have the use of one hand? Or how to get in and out of a tent when half your body is paralysed? Cathy and Wayne are joined by the inimitable Paul Pritchard who re-defines "disabilty" with his continual adventures and expeditions after suffering a severe brain injury during a climbing accident. This podcast is a fascinating i...

Get in touch! Cathy & Wayne are joined by Rab athlete Jon Gupta who has a wealth of experience climbing and guiding the worlds highest peaks - so many, in fact, just listening to the intro is exhausting! Kick back and join in the mirth as this chat offers a rare insight into life at high altitude and how little bits of kit and experience can make all the difference to being successful on a maj...

Get in touch! Cathy and Wayne are back to talk about the humble hat and the many headwear items designed to protect your head from the cold, the heat, the sun and vicious biting mcbeasties. What fabrics work well, what features should you look out for, why is a hat so important, does a hat define who you are, when would you want to wear one under a hood, why did Wayne look like a member of the Fre...

Get in touch! Cathy and Wayne are joined by Scarpa UK Core Sales Director Glyn Padgett to discuss what sets mountain boots apart from regular walking boots. Learn the difference between B1, B2 & B3, why stiffness is critical when using boots with crampons, why size matters (even more than usual), why you shouldn't get the hump with gaiter zips, why it's not just materials that make a...

Get in touch! Cathy and Wayne are joined once again by World Extreme Medicine Joint Medical Director Dr Will Duffin as they tackle the murky world of water purification and how to keep healthy in the wilderness. Learn the difference between filtration and purification, understand the different types available and why there are so many, how to choose your water source, why it's not just drinki...

Get in touch! Climber, Alpinist, Himalayan Mountaineer, International Mountain Guide, and Award Winning Author Andy Cave joins Cathy and Wayne to talk about life before Gore-Tex, ye olde plastic boots, fibre glass ice axes, layering, sweat management, why feathers are fab, glove choices, harness culture (yes, it is a thing!), why paying extra for a dry treated rope is well worth it and just when i...

Get in touch! 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...

Get in touch! 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...

Get in touch! 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 comfo...

Get in touch! 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. L...

Get in touch! 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 wh...

Get in touch! 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 consider...