Mountain Equipment Helium 400 Sleeping Bag

I bought this sleeping bag in 2009 and used it while walking El Camino de Santiago. The best feature is how small it packs down. It has nice soft lining and a rip stop outer which has proved effective.

It was perfect in spring and summer. Combined with a good sleeping bag liner it could be useful during autumn but I don't think it would be thick enough for wintry conditions. It comes with two storage sacks - one compression sack which makes it unbelievably compact and another net sack for lofted storage at home. It is a bright orange which might not suit everyone's taste but it doesn't bother me, and it could even make it useful as a signal in an emergency.



Weight 780 grams
Manufactured
Available from Downbags

Trangia 27-1 UL Stove

I have always used Trangia stoves and swear by them. They are compact, robust and very cleverly designed. There are a number of nice design touches - the lid for example can be flipped over to form a frying pan. They heat up very fast and work well in the wind as the flame is sheltered.

They burn methylated spirits which can sometimes be a challenge to source and is an additional weight to consider. The new light-weight designs are a welcome addition to the line and make them even better for weight-conscious long distance walkers.



Weight 720 grams (without fuel)
Manufactured Sweden
Available from Trangia (list of distributors)

Opinel Traditional #8 Stainless Steel Knife

I was given an Opinel knife by a good friend in France and instantly converted. The #8 knife has a nice long blade and it is extremely sharp. It safely folds into itself when packed away and there is a cleaver locking system to keep the blade in place when using it.

The wooden handle feels nice in your hand and the blade is sharp enough to slice though a tomato without squashing it. It also makes a great French souvenir or gift - I gave one away for Christams!



Weight 50g
Manufactured France
Available from Opinel (list of distributors)