UKBouldering.com
the shizzle => bouldering => Topic started by: Monolith on December 06, 2012, 03:41:29 pm
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I've noticed a couple of innovative/cheap winter bouldering accessories on a few recent trips out and always keen to hear of a bargain. I think it was a UKB regular some months ago that drew my attention to these bad boys from Decathlon:
Boots (http://www.decathlon.co.uk/mens-winter-bootsbr-arpenaz-snow-400-blue-id_8227770.html)
After a friend's recent road test and rave review of the previous year's model at a bone chllingly cold Illkley, I have a pair on order for Christmas. Anything with a fleece-like lining gets my vote for between attempts.
Another has invested in a Zippo handwarmer which looks to be a great item for circa £15 off ebay.
Zippo (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BLACK-ZIPPO-DELUXE-HANDWARMER-KEEPS-WARM-UP-TO-12-HOURS-/250971472176?pt=UK_Collectables_Tobacciana_Smoking_LE&hash=item3a6f10c130)
Any bargain winter beta welcome!
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FLASK with strong herbal tea and whisky in it.
LADDER for cleaning snowy top-outs.
LARGE BRISTLE BRUSH for brushing off snow without grinding it into holds.
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Handwarmers - I got a couple of Karrimor gel ones (you boil them to recharge) for £2 a pair from JJB last week - only tested em once and they're OK. One pair will be an xmas pressy for Mum (not her only present I add...)
Mits. Gloves are a pain, Mits are great. I've a pair of winter climbing ones (Helly Hansen I think) that great. You can bunch/stretch fingers better in mits than in gloves (for me anyway - no tape getting caught on fingers of gloves etc..)
Keep your rock boots inside your down jacket in the bottle pocket it it has one - or wedged under your armpits. This works really well and keeps em soft to get them on our feet..
Rest of my advice is usual shizzle - thermals, hat, flask etc..
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Hot lemon & ginger juice in a flask is immense!
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got the decathlon boots, they are pretty good, not amazing but pretty good. They are only 12 fuck all's after all.
I couldn't be bothered with hand warmers, a good set of gloves does me.
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TKMAXX sell Karrimor leather Duck Boots for £35- They are waterproof and warm
60l Raincover to stop you getting your pad wet if you get caught on a long walk in, ace for covering a medium sized pad i.e. snap bun
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12 rips Jim? Am I missing a deal? Only seen em at 29.99.
The 60l raincover is a simple idea that I hadn't thought of, props for that. Not seen those Karrimor boots but I did pick up some decent Extremities mitts from Sports Direct last year pretty cheaply.
Richie, what brand is that cordial you have? Need something other than coffee/tea in the flask.
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1 fuck all = £2.50
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Heated car seats are a boon
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Don't take the kids or wife - they moan it's too cold, start shaking, get blue lips and stop you taking advantage of perfect grit conditions (plus they drink all your flask).
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heated butt plug is nice on a cold day (horses tail optional extra)
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Heated car seats are a boon
You can replicate the same warming feeling at the crag Dense - just sit on a plastic bag and piss yourself. ;)
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Re handwarmers, gloves work well enough for my hands but I use reusable handwarmers inside my shoes while they're inside my jacket. It makes them fractionally more pleasant to put back on, really pliant and super sticky ever so briefly.
I also drive & walk to the crag with my shoes inside my jacket which saves them getting cold in the sac.
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One of those cheap blue 6' x 4' tarps you can get from various places like Wilko - keeps the mat out of the snow/mud/ice and sacs and other gear off the snow/ice/mud
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A few carpet samples from the floor coverings shop of your choice are a good shout as well.
You can pick them up for free / v cheap and they're dead handy for keeping feet out of mud / show if you're spotting inbetween goes on stuff, and I reckon they get feet dry / cleaner than the thin wiry carpet mats that get included with pads.
I can't believe it took me so long to realise that thermals were a must - spent years shivering in the cold with multiple layers on when a decent pair of long johns and a thermal top would have been far better!
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Just been to Decathlog.. Plenty of choice in winter footwear. Knowing my Almscliff predilections I picked up a pair of heir cheap plastic low cut wellies with furry inside for 6 fuck alls (£15) #bling
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heated butt plug is nice on a cold day (horses tail optional extra)
The horses tail has NEVER been optional! Love the Denton style conversion rate too Jim.
I saw a pair of heated Black Diamond gloves the other day. £300. Make a cracking yuppie purchase!
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I can't believe it took me so long to realise that thermals were a must - spent years shivering in the cold with multiple layers on when a decent pair of long johns and a thermal top would have been far better!
Thermals AND layers ;D
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Just been to Decathlog.. Plenty of choice in winter footwear. Knowing my Almscliff predilections I picked up a pair of heir cheap plastic low cut wellies with furry inside for 6 fuck alls (£15) #bling
I have them too, they are a bit of a revelation really. who knew that you could have warm dry feet and look good at the same time :)
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I can't believe it took me so long to realise that thermals were a must - spent years shivering in the cold with multiple layers on when a decent pair of long johns and a thermal top would have been far better!
Thermals AND layers ;D
Of course I mean thermals, a nice check shirt and a lemon yellow v-neck Lacoste sweater!
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I love the feeling thermals give me when climbing (apart from the increased warmth) makes me feel safer, like ive don my own iron man suit or something!!
Hand warmers in chalk buckets and spit on fingertips when they get too cold and turn soapy.
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Couldn’t help myself, just bought a zippo handwarmer on ebay. The thought of being able to warm hands and shoes the next time I’m out was too tempting.
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I can't believe it took me so long to realise that thermals were a must - spent years shivering in the cold with multiple layers on when a decent pair of long johns and a thermal top would have been far better!
Thermals AND layers ;D
Of course I mean thermals, a nice check shirt and a lemon yellow v-neck Lacoste sweater!
My friend, the Broccoli Man, has a lovely neon green thermal (from Decathlon) he wears with a neon orange t-shirt when we go to the crag. He looks interesting...
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I had one of those Zippo devices but could rarely get it to stay lit. No matter how much I long I spent trying to light it with a cigarette lighter, the smouldering invariably went out when I placed the outer cap back on (the lighter fluid didn't seem to wick up and sustain the burning). Other people have said they're great though, so perhaps mine has defective packing inside; whatever, I just found all that messing about with lighter fluid and flames too much of a faff (also I'm a fire investigator so a bit paranoid - it would be a bit embarrassing if I burned my house down trying to light a hand warmer).
The handwarmers that are recharged by boiling get nice and hot but only last around twenty minutes. These days, I just settle for those disposable charcoal shakebags . They don't get enormously hot, but they do last a good few hours and can make the difference. Having one in my chalk bag has got me through a few cold days at Malham.
Baselayers with thumb-loops are my weapon of choice for cold days though. Never tried long johns - do they really make much of a difference? My legs never feel cold, though perhaps the effort of keeping them warm is what leaves the rest of me frozen?!
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...Never tried long johns - do they really make much of a difference?..
Yes. I won't go outdoors in the winter without them
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for the record, warming the holds with a blowtorch in between attempts is definitely not allowed, even if you're famous.
and, +1 to the long johns suggestion.
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So to recap
Personal Clothing
- Thermal Baselayers
- Puffy
- Good Mitts
- Good Warm Boots
- wind protection
Gear
- cheap blue 6' x 4' tarp
- FLASK with strong herbal tea and whisky in it.
- Ladder for cleaning snowy top-outs.
- LARGE BRISTLE BRUSH for brushing off snow without grinding it into holds.
- handwarmers
- Zippo Heater?
- Car with heated seats :)
- small Carpet pieces
Other tips
- Don't bring whiners, kids, spouse
- Stick shoes in coat / put handwarmers in shoes to keep warm
- Stay out of wind
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Patio heater ;)
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It seems wearing a hat and growing a thick winter beard to stave off windchill has been overlooked!
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I didn't want to give away the important stuff Ritchie
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I used to put my boots on the dashboard and crank up the heater to the max on the drive to the crag, then put the boots in the duvet jacket when walking in. This worked well until they started to stink the car out.
New beta as follows. Small sig type bottle filled with hot water, stuff ends of the bottle into boots and then wrap boots in a fleece or similar inside the pack before you leave home. Boots are toast when you put them on and the bottle then works as a handwarmer for the first 30 minutes or so too.
This works a treat. Today I packed up at 8.30am, dropped the kids at school, drove to Churnet and boots/bottle were still warm at 10.30. Found this works better than handwarmers. I still carry a couple of rechargeable handwarmers for later in the day.
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Neck Warmers (http://EDZ_Lightweight_Thermal_Neck_Warmer_Lg.jpg) are brilliant. Plus you can cover up most of your face when it's super cold. I sometimes wear ear warmers (http://midletonfc.com/shop/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/earwarmers.jpg) under my hat, they work well too.
The snow boots mentioned earlier are much better for winter than normal boots because they are waterproof and don't get soaked when you plod through snow. Might not be robust enough for long treks though. Proper woolly socks are de riguer.
Old towels are very useful for drying things. Maybe tin foil (that's "aloominum" for merkins) for undriable holds - haven't tried yet but it seems like a good idea.
Foldable shovel for digging out snowbound starts/finishes.
Headtorch.
Malt loaf.
Heated bouldering mats would be good.
And footservants to carry all this crap and serve the tea and cake.
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The boots-in-jacket beta is to put them right against your skin, not just under the jacket. cold at first but it keeps your boots the warmest!
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Er, how about a bit of MTFUping?
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Proper woolly socks are de riguer.
Heat Holders socks come recommended, they've made many a day of snowy digging that bit more bearable:
http://www.heatholders.com/uk/products/mens.php (http://www.heatholders.com/uk/products/mens.php)
Often on special at cheapo outdoors shops like Yeomans.
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I can't climb in thermal trousers (long johns), don't ask me why but I can't.
Getting boots out of the bag and by the car heater on the way to the crag and then keeping them in you coat except when on your feet is good knowledge.
Also a black lexus with heated seats is good knowledge too.
and a flask of hot vimto, none of this hippy bullshit herbal tea etc.... VIMTO
thats right kids, VIMTO, it'll make a man of you ;D
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Saw a class little foldable metal snow shovel for 99p in the 99p store in Leeds city. Ideal for off piste dump burial ceremonies too.
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any other price would have been taking the piste.
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Great name for a problem that- off piste dump :-)
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A cheap £3 picnic blanket. Waterproof bottom and you put it down next to your pad can put all your stuff on it keeping it dry and put your boots on, on it and dry them. Fold flat and goes in pad taking up no room.
Also drink plenty of water, dehydration will make you weak and no one thinks you get dehydrated when its that cold but you do, it takes effort staying warm and wind will sap you as well.
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the 99p store
Don't you mean "one of the many 99p stores"?
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Old school scarf, preferably tartan.
Thin socks under boots. Pretty essential if you are unlucky enough to get chilblains.
Flask of spiced ribena. I like to throw in a whole dried chilli, a few pepper corns, slices of ginger, cinnamon, star anise, cloves as the basics and then sometimes a few other randoms.
Hip flask. Usually a single malt, otherwise sloe gin.
Don't bring dark chocolate. It tastes like gravel when cold
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Don't bring dark chocolate. It tastes like gravel when cold
Good knowledge. The result of my experiments, in a previous life as a mountaineer, was that that galaxy seemed to have the lowest melting point and therefore went down best when it is Baltic, and mars bars and double deckers will claim teeth.
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Flask of spiced ribena. I like to throw in a whole dried chilli, a few pepper corns, slices of ginger, cinnamon, star anise, cloves as the basics and then sometimes a few other randoms.
Hip flask. Usually a single malt, otherwise sloe gin.
Chilli and spices in the flask: genius. I might have to give that a go with my usual hot Vimto. Myself, I like to add a slug of the Rochester non-alcoholic ginger wine they sell in Holland and Barrett (often on special - 3x750ml bottles for a tenner). It's strong stuff and adds a nice kick (makes a good whisky mac style drink too, and can settle roiling guts).
The hip-flask is always tempting.... a Laphroaig would definitely have made a few winter sessions seem less like a arduous punishment and more like a leisure activity (I hear that some people relax and enjoy their weekends... takes all sorts I suppose). That said, I probably drink whisky too many nights anyway without adding an extra daytime opportunity!
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Old school scarf, preferably tartan.
Thin socks under boots. Pretty essential if you are unlucky enough to get chilblains.
Flask of spiced ribena. I like to throw in a whole dried chilli, a few pepper corns, slices of ginger, cinnamon, star anise, cloves as the basics and then sometimes a few other randoms.
Hip flask. Usually a single malt, otherwise sloe gin.
Don't bring dark chocolate. It tastes like gravel when cold
Tick on number one but it's a Borussia Dortmund Champions League winners scarf in lime green.
Number two is precisely the sort of concoction I was looking for.
Number three is something else I can add to the Christmas list. Thanks Bonjoy.
Myself, I like to add a slug of the Rochester non-alcoholic ginger wine they sell in Holland and Barrett (often on special - 3x750ml bottles for a tenner). It's strong stuff and adds a nice kick (makes a good whisky mac style drink too, and can settle roiling guts).
Sweet, thanks for the shout moose I'll get involved. I'm tired of drinking only coffee.
Some good shouts there cheers yall.
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I test drove these £15 decathlog beauties at the Cliff yesterday. 10/10. My feet were toasty - whilst Nai and 3T had to go for periodic runs to warm their feet up - I was able to just slob in toasty toed luxury (its all relative on a windy day at the cliff..)
(http://pbs.twimg.com/media/A9iq1jiCEAAtWHB.jpg:large)
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I test drove these £15 decathlog beauties at the Cliff yesterday. 10/10. My feet were toasty...
Very natty(!) I could have done with a pair at Brimham - especially on Saturday when the car-park was an ice-rink (a delivery van jack-knifed). Still, I am now a convert to longjohns; I found I had a never-used pair in a drawer and managed full-length sessions both days this weekend. Unheard of for me at this time of year - normally I retreat to the plastic in October and don't emerge until March/April - desperate for rock and with raging tendonitis! Think an online shopping spree may be in order: more thermals and some furry boots - justify it to myself as useful for work inspections too... and winter's not really started yet.
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Just been to Decathlog.. Plenty of choice in winter footwear. Knowing my Almscliff predilections I picked up a pair of heir cheap plastic low cut wellies with furry inside for 6 fuck alls (£15) #bling
These fly bad boys?
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/mens-winter-bootsbr-weasy-brown-id_8157557.html (http://www.decathlon.co.uk/mens-winter-bootsbr-weasy-brown-id_8157557.html)
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Just been to Decathlog.. Plenty of choice in winter footwear. Knowing my Almscliff predilections I picked up a pair of heir cheap plastic low cut wellies with furry inside for 6 fuck alls (£15) #bling
These fly bad boys?
http://www.decathlon.co.uk/mens-winter-bootsbr-weasy-brown-id_8157557.html (http://www.decathlon.co.uk/mens-winter-bootsbr-weasy-brown-id_8157557.html)
Yup - though I went for Black.. (as in two posts above ;) )
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Yup - though I went for Black.. (as in two posts above ;) )
Ah, didn't spot the pesky second page. A mate had those last winter and they looked the ticket. On my Christmas list.....
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Myself, I like to add a slug of the Rochester non-alcoholic ginger wine they sell in Holland and Barrett (often on special - 3x750ml bottles for a tenner). It's strong stuff and adds a nice kick (makes a good whisky mac style drink too, and can settle roiling guts).
Was going to say the same, this stuff is good either warm (microwave and flask) or cold. I carry a hipflask of it for winter routes and ski tours too. And ginger is a stimulant.
Decent wooly hat (russian army style) to stick on your head is a lot better than any wool or fleece beanie.
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Decent wooly hat (russian army style) to stick on your head is a lot better than any wool or fleece beanie.
[/quote]
Would that go with a vest?? :-\
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Decent wooly hat (russian army style) to stick on your head is a lot better than any wool or fleece beanie.
<pedant>
Is that because they're usually fur rather than wool or fleece?
(http://www.russian-ushanka.com/images/categories/ush303.jpg)
</pedant>
:hug:
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I've been known to pack a large flask of mulled wine for cold days out. Particularly suitable to New Years in Font. Also useful if the weather craps out and you just end up getting pished in the forest and having a snowball fight :thumbsup:
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Is that because they're usually fur rather than wool or fleece?
Russian Army STYLE
You can go get a genuine one of you want.
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шапка
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mars bars and double deckers will claim teeth.
:agree: also from personal experience add to that list Picnic Bars, Caramel digestives, anything else with toffee/caramel :(
Foodwise fruit cake, tiffin cake, ginger cake are all good and high in the essential food groups - also consider talking a small pan & stove or a disposable barbie for fresh bacon rolls at the crag :)
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Is that because they're usually fur rather than wool or fleece?
Russian Army STYLE
You can go get a genuine one of you want.
Are the fur ones any warmer than fleece ones? :-\
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Don't know, do some stats on it.
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Got some data on which I can do stats on?
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Make some up.
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like Jim said, hot Vimto is great
coffee before 11am, Vimto after
hot chocolate is suitable for ladies and small children
one of my winter requirements is an upper body base layer long enough to tuck well into my trousers - I dislike the sensation when my thermal top rides up to expose my lower back
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I have some of those Decathlon snow boots in grey after referring to Ben 's as mongoloid shoes. After a boggy walk into the plantation I went out and bought a pair. Make sure you also add another layer to the sole as they are quite thin.
Jim's also on the money with Vimto
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I'm more of a Ribena man than Vimto but I'm southern so what can you do.
Lagers is on the money with the thermal. An exposed lower back is a horrible feeling.
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May I suggest buying a thermal that fits
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May I suggest buying a thermal that fits
I hadn't thought of this. Thanks
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If you had lagers you would never have known ones that don't fit ride up your back :whistle:
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Vimto is an anagram of Vomit. Just saying.
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I'm more of a Ribena man than Vimto but I'm southern so what can you do.
Lagers is on the money with the thermal. An exposed lower back is a horrible feeling.
Surely both you and Lagers have enough natural back fur to keep warm?
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:D
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Got some heat-warmers or heat-Huggies socks from matalan. Just over 2 fuck alls aka £6. They're warm! Bit bulky, you can't really wear em wi tight shoes
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you and Lagers have enough natural back fur to keep warm?
:'( It's mostly covering my shoulders and an un-nerving dense area mid back so no use in this application.
My chest, however, is never cold (insert manly emoticon here)
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Lee these socks sound boss. Me ma bought me some fleece welly liners last Christmas for fishing but I have a suspicion they'll be good overshoe socks if sat down between rests.
Honestly, you should all look at those initial Decathlon boots for 30 rips. I'm psyched for mine to arrive.
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If you had lagers you would never have known ones that don't fit ride up your back :whistle:
that's too deep for me
never could get my head around that Counterfactual Conditional shit
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Tried those Decathlon wellies at Burbage last night, very good for £15. Took all of 5 minutes before I'd trodden in dog shit though :furious:
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rechargeable hand warmers....
hmmm
3-in-1 Rechargeable Hand Warmer USB Battery Pack & Torch (Head to Head) (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nH97woCUrLg#ws)
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Lagers that is an excellent shout. My dad listens to Keith Arthur's fishing show on Talksport each Sunday morning and told me they were debating the tits off handwarmera this morning. Apparently the Peacock handwarmer is a force to be reckoned with. Going to order the big guy one for Christmas so hopefully can feed back soon.
http://www.peacockhandwarmers.co.uk/ (http://www.peacockhandwarmers.co.uk/)
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Tried those Decathlon wellies at Burbage last night, very good for £15. Took all of 5 minutes before I'd trodden in dog shit though :furious:
I've noticed that as they're made of shiny plastic (including the soles) that mud/shit washes off them really easy..
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Bought some of that Rochester non-alcoholic ginger wine that Moose gave the heads up on, awesome stuff. On offer at the mo (buy one get one half price). Took some out in a flask, hot with Ribena the other night, lovely! :thumbsup:
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Tried those Decathlon wellies at Burbage last night, very good for £15. Took all of 5 minutes before I'd trodden in dog shit though :furious:
I've noticed that as they're made of shiny plastic (including the soles) that mud/shit washes off them really easy..
Is a car battery powered pressure washer necessary for inclusion in the inventory for cleaning everything down?
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One simply needs to find a suitably large puddle near the car to roll around in. Perfect.
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I've been doubling up on hats lately. I've got a nice woolly, fleece lined one but it's even warmer with a second hat underneath. I like a warm head.
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Johnny Two Hats (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y8K1fTZaR7w#)
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I got Mrs Starfish a Zippo hand warmer for Christmas -tested it out in the Secret Testing Ground (cellar, not Area 52) overnight - lit it at about 2pm yesterday; still hot at 7am this morning...
instructions did say to fill it with twice the normal amount of fuel for the first session, so maybe that leads to a longer "burn" on the first go
I was concerned that the cheap fuel I got from Poundland for £1 might not be good enough, but it worked fine
without the bag/pouch the warmer is hot to hold - almost too hot against my ladylike skin
with the pouch it's merely warm
somewhere in between would be good for warming hands up quickly - maybe use a thinner material for the pouch - old sunglasses bag? bit of bed sheet?
seems like it would be fine to light at home in between making hot Vimto and de-icing the car and be fine for a a full bouldering session, not that she'll be using it for this of course
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Crag tested my half-welly, half-price fur lined boots yesterday bought from Cotton Traders (http://www.cottontraders.co.uk/invt/aq10502) for £22.50. Kept my feet warms between
redpoints goes on the Green Traverse.
They are unisex, honest...
(http://i.ebayimg.com/00/s/MTIwMFgxNjAw/$T2eC16VHJGQE9noM,Kt3BQTzW3(9Gg~~60_35.JPG)
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Bought some of that Rochester non-alcoholic ginger wine that Moose gave the heads up on, awesome stuff. On offer at the mo (buy one get one half price). Took some out in a flask, hot with Ribena the other night, lovely! :thumbsup:
Word. Just bought a bottle in town and heated it up on the hob with a star anise. Tastes very good but I wonder if you need a fair bit of the cordial-water in the mix?
You mention mixing with Ribena too Obi? I'm well down for experimenting as Bonjoy mentions he does.
Thanks again for the shout Moose!
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been making it happen in the 20s out here...its all about the hot hands packets in the chalkpot IMO. shit lasts a couple days sometimes, and its super soothing to have toasty chalk in the gym as well :-*
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been making it happen in the 20s out here...its all about the hot hands packets in the chalkpot IMO. shit lasts a couple days sometimes, and its super soothing to have toasty chalk in the gym as well :-*
"20s" would be warm in the UK, although I guess you're using the imperial Fahrenheit.
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been making it happen in the 20s out here...its all about the hot hands packets in the chalkpot IMO. shit lasts a couple days sometimes, and its super soothing to have toasty chalk in the gym as well :-*
"20s" would be warm in the UK, although I guess you're using the imperial Fahrenheit.
Of course he is.
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Just got myself a pair of down tent slippers.....for the house. Lovely
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Seeing as it's getting colder, thought I'd get my flask out, to find that I couldn't find it. Anyone got any recommendations for the ultimate bouldering flask?