Still scratching my head over choice of sleeping mats...a trawl on here and other places seems to suggest Synmat 7 as the current mat of choice for comfort/weight/VFM and pack size...so in my usual way I've been trying to find the best deals around and during this quest I came across the Synmat 5 on...

The £20 came about when we were looking to book a similar journey: train from Skipton to Glasgow Central was £X but to Queen Street it was higher. It may have been £20 but I've a feeling it was quite a bit more. Just checked (trainline.com) and showing the same price, definitely not my memory, defi...

Had to get this from France as they aren't available here for some reason...looking forward to getting out and testing it soon...

Pushed the button on that snow peak set - thanks for the pointer!

Sorry, I mean mug/pot hybrid thingies? 650ml capacity room for a gas canister/stove and cutlery - rather than just something to drink out of?

Given that these seem to be everyone's ideal mug for lightweight bikepacking is there any alternative I should be aware of - Alpkit have sold out,

Looking in various online places only seems to throw up £40-£60 ones and obviously the £20 Alpkit is a bit more palatable! Anyone?

Brand new brake lever! For the bairn's pushchair...

I did read that before buying Satanorm - your words of wisdom helped me take a punt on this. Though when I was in the garden I couldn't remember what you said about angles of the guy lines! Will read up again before I head out for real...

This was delivered a couple of weeks ago but an unexpected grandparent relief effort meant I've had a bit of spare time on my hands this afternoon. So rather than cleaning the bathroom or attacking the oven I had a go at putting up the Alpkit Delta I bought SH off the Singletrack classifieds a few w...

Aldi has camping gear special offers this Thursday including a hiking 1 person tent with claimed weight of 1.5kg for the princely sum of £19.99.

https://aldi.in/8892

Was thinking "surely that should be waiting on two frames but think my slow mind has caught up now...

<ahem>

If you're considering selling the Loop separately I'd be very interested!?

Like those, good choice!

Liked that, thanks!

Zippy - thanks but a bit too dear for me at the minute

AlasdairMc - now scouring thru 100s of pages of stuff on Alibaba.com, a new site to me!

ATK - no rush let me know what you decide...

Thanks so far folks

Bit of a lurker on here and been buying some gear after reviews on the Bearbones blog and advice on the forum. Now I'm after last few bits and bobs to complete my gear.... 1. Sleeping mat - synmat UL7 seems to be the favourite on the forum just now but a bit spendy for me at the minute anyone got a ...

Oooft! The paintwork Russell produces looks amazing. Not sure about the gold bits but as you say this is personal so fair do's! Kids running rings round me just now will check out the blog later on...

I do fancy tarp and bag set up for minimalism but the midge fear is strong! not sure I'd be able cope TBH...

Thanks for that. Saw that one mentioned elsewhere so it's good to hear another favourable mention...

Ah well! That's that then...almost back to the original choices and more £££ for mats and quilts and stoves and God knows what other bits of stuff I'll probably start obsessing about!

Satanorm - I'd looked at Needlesports earlier and the bug liner has sold out.... And Rudedog - sure someone earlier in the thread said those two were inner first, and both together only? Maybe I'm misreading things, to be honest between trying to decide on the tent quandary and looking at sleeping m...

Well. Been a away looking at various options thrown up by this thread (and others). Still no further forward! My mind is now abuzz with all the different possibilities, very nearly pushed the button on the zephyros, then that Vango Zenith......however doubts about inner first pitching stopped me. I'...

Thanks for that, laid out like that explains the difference much more clearly than just figures on spec sheets for the respective tents...still not sure I can spring for the Laser though...

I know what you mean about coffin - I actually had a try of the Soloista and it would be a case of lying down at all times. Ok next question - I've seen the Terra Nova Laser mentioned before in favourable terms. If this is based on the Zephyros where would the extra money go if I were to opt for the...

Ok, I'm new to this and exploring shelter options. I'm well aware that of massive range of prices for bike gear but can someone explain a few things specific to bikepacking? This tent is £30 http://m.gooutdoors.co.uk/hi-gear-soloista-p217173 The Wild Country by Terra Nova with which looks as if it s...