Synmat Basic 7.5

I don't do many gear type reviews (even though I do like shiny new things) mainly cause I don't feel like I know anything or get out and use things enough.  One exception is the Exped Synmat Basic 7.5 which I have owned for nearly 2 years now.

In desert action!

I must of used it over 50 times now in varied conditions, hot summer, desert, gravel, tent, cold, etc.  I take care with what I put it on and try to use a tarp or groundsheet underneath it but due to use in festivals I might not have always been as careful as I should of been!  (drunken Andy is not as dainty or lightfooted...). 

Peddars Way Preparation

Peddars Way Preparation

It's fair to say I'm not as prepared as I should be.  By that I mean I have not done anywhere enough walking recently.  Knocking out an 8-10 miler tomorrow would not cause me much worry but 53 miles in four days is something different.  Tender spots become blisters and aches become pains.  Saying that, I'm looking forward to it!

The planning (done by Nick on this trip) breaks the trek into 4 days, 17.05, 11.5, 12.6 and 12.29 miles.  The first day is the obvious killer.  Whilst there is little ascent, it will be the furthest I've ever walked in one go.  And to top it off we are camping so we are carrying our full packs.

Luckily I've been quite strict with what I'm packing and as such my base load (pack with no food or water) should be around 9kg's.  Depending on the weather I might get that below 9, but cold nights this week have lead to some changes.  Exped Synmat in the place of the Exped Airmat UL and the addition of a down vest and Icebreaker leggings.  These changes alone add over 1Kg.

My quest to save Kg's might seem perverse to some, as I'm weighing everything I'm taking, when I am 10's of kilos overweight!  Well the simple answer is that I'm 'used' to my weight and addition weight in the pack is as noticeable to me as someone who weighs 10 stone wet through.

Now how heavy is that Pot Noodle?

Gear of 2011

Well what worked and what didn't... to be honest I didn't do that much this year but a few things stood out.  The Exped Synmat Basic 7.5 was used over 24 nights in the USA and at a couple of festivals in the summer, and proved to be a great purchase.  Easy to inflate and deflate, warm, relatively lightweight and tough.  The mat lacks an internal pump but to be honest I never had too much trouble blowing it up manually.  Most nights I slept directly on the mat and used my sleeping bag as a quilt, this might be a sign it was too warm. 

A late buy in the year was a Rab Latok Alpine jacket, it's only had two outings so far but the eVent material is proving to be a far superior offering than the Hyvent based jacket it replaced.  OK, it should be better than the Hyvent as it costs over twice as much and is by all accounts the most breathable material out there.  I'm a fat lad, so I break into a sweat putting on my shoes, the old jacket used to get wet in the forearms and it seemed that this was where the sweat accumulated (nice..).  On the SWCP earlier in the year there was times I could wring out arms (even nicer...).  The Latok Alpine has had none of these issues so far, comes with a good hood, fairly lightweight and has to big pockets.  These are a touch high up for my tastes (high up to allow use with a climbing harness), so it's hard to stand around with my hands in my pockets!

The LED Lenser H7 is a very bright (too bright at times) headtorch that I use at work and out and about camping.  At 140 Lumens it packs a big punch of 3 AAA's.  Many a time I've forgot how bright it is and half blinded friends and workmates, oops sorry.  It does however have one flaw in that more than once it has been turned on in my bag and drained the batteries without me knowing.  This could prove dangerous in the hills but can be planned for (being careful of how its placed in bag or taking a battery out in the day).