Peter would live his life under canvas if it were socially acceptable. He has about three different tents, four sleeping bags, five hiking boots and a partidge in a pear tree. Like other outdoorsmen, he can be hard to buy for as he already has so much kit. If you are similarly stuck, consider one of these Christmas gifts for campers, handpicked to suit all budgets. The post 10 great Christmas gifts for campers appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
I’m not the sort of person who hankers after luxury items. I’m more likely to shop at Asos than I am at Harrods and I’m just as happy at Nando’s as I am at a Michelin restaurant. One arena in which I do fork out, however, is outdoor apparel and gear. The difference between a high-quality hiking boot and one that’s “good enough” is substantial – something I learnt the hard way on the slopes of Cotopaxi. High quality, of course, comes with a price tag – one not easily affordable giving the rising cost of living. I personally have had to become more strategic with my spending, so when I saw that the REI winter sale was live, naturally I took a peek. The post 10 great deals from the REI winter sale – up to 60% off appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
Technical outdoor gear is not cheap. I dread to think what I’ve spent on it over the years. Backpacks, sleeping bags, Gore-Tex jackets, fleeces, waterproof trousers, tents… it all adds up. What do these items all have in common? The humble fastener, AKA the zipper. The post How to never break a zipper again appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
Since I first started climbing, I must have spent hours typing “when is the best time to climb…” into search engines and then crawling through websites to find the key piece of information I needed. Only when I have a date in mind can I start to think about the practicalities of actually trying to climb a mountain (i.e. booking time off work, flights, budget, gear etc). To solve this problem once and for all, Atlas & Boots has put together a mountaineering calendar of the world’s greatest mountains and the optimal time of year at which to climb them. Drawing on Adventure Consultants’ expedition calendar, we list the world’s major mountains and ranges month by month. The list is not entirely inclusive as it would take too long to list every mountain on the planet. Likewise, to avoid re...
Last spring, I spent the best part of three weeks climbing Denali, the highest peak in North America. There were few opportunities to stay clean on the mountain so by the time I got off the slopes, I – along with all my gear – was in a pretty nasty state. The post How to look after your hiking gear: 12 kit checks appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
Some of my most unforgettable moments have taken place under canvas. From unzipping the porch to reveal the needlepoint summit of Laila Peak on the K2 base camp trek to listening to the snap, crackle and pop of Greenland’s Russell Glacier under a midnight sun, these were experiences I could not have had in a hotel. The post How to behave at a campsite: 12 dos and don’ts appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
Our detailed and easy-to follow guide on how to build a campfire will ensure you can always enjoy a satisfying and safe campfire when camping. Many a man claims to be an expert firestarter – in the same way many a man claims he does not need to ask for directions... Alpha male or not, nothing should get between a camper and a glorious night spent around a campfire beneath the stars. This step-by-step guide on how to build a campfire will have even the most reluctant urban dweller embracing this long-standing tradition of the wild. The post How to build a campfire: a step-by-step guide appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
In 2019, I was seven days into the eight-day Arctic Circle Trail in Greenland when the trail ahead began to fill with smoke. I had unwittingly walked into the middle of a wildfire during an unprecedented summer in the Arctic. The post Will the new iPhone make satellite messengers obsolete? appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
I am not one of those women who move through the world looking sleek, elegant, aloof and inscrutable. You know the ones. They’re usually wearing clothes that are ‘dry clean only’ and their wrists drip with expensive accessories. Men find them attractive but also a little frightening – as if they might turn you to stone if they should deign to look at you. The post On travelling solo as a small brown woman appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
In theory, an expert diver should be writing this post. Logically, he or she could tell you what to expect, give you insider tips and prepare you for the challenge ahead. That said, I have one distinct advantage over the experts: I know just how hard it is for nervous first-timers. The post How to pass the PADI Open Water Diver course appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
This year has been a life-changing one for us. Three-and-a-half years after we moved to the country, we took the decision to move back to London. We missed our friends and family too much and, after two years under the pandemic, knew it was important to be close to them. And, so, in February, we sold our house and moved 240 miles across the country. We are now settled in our new home in East London and happier than we’ve ever been, despite the change in our finances (hi, London prices). Things feel settled, but, of course, being inveterate travellers, we are never settled for long. The post 12 Christmas gifts for travellers appeared first on Atlas & Boots.
This year has been a life-changing one for us. Three-and-a-half years after we moved to the country, we took the decision to move back to London. We missed our friends and family too much and, after two years under the pandemic, knew it was important to be close to them. And, so, in February, we sold our house and moved 240 miles across the country. We are now settled in our new home in East London and happier than we’ve ever been, despite the change in our finances (hi, London prices). Things feel settled, but, of course, being inveterate travellers, we are never settled for long. The post 12 Christmas gifts for travellers appeared first on Atlas & Boots.