Summer...

Haaaa, the summer, The time when the birds start to live again and the nature comes up out of the earth and calls us.
The time when whe trekkers fill our backpacks and head out in to the wilderness where we forget about the world that fools us in believing that going forward is the only good option. When the wild takes us and carries away our souls to a world wich I love and embrace.

Now let's talk logistics: This summer i'm gonna walk the belgian coast it will be about 70-80 km. I tend to do it in 5 days but I gonna take 7 days so I can take day of rest, or just a day of lazyness.

I'm gonna hold log of the travel and translate parts of it ( or all of it) and post it here.
My plan is to go with the tent and walk from camping to camping. I hope to cover about max 20 km a day. It might sound (no, it is) very understated. But start small thay say ha?


Now come all the planning and maybe some small training. Till next time.


Dries

My Stuff 1...

I've talked about the stuff I like to have or do. Now lets talk about the stuff I have now. A little review. In the next coming blogs I will talk about the stuff I own.

1) Coleman Kraz™ X¹ Tent.

Weight: 1,6 kg
Flysheet: 210T polyester ripstop, PU 4000 mm
Floor: 190T nylon taffeta, PU 5000 mm
Repair kit included

A very nice tent. Lovely colours and roomy sleeping-compartment.
High enough to sit in.
If your a bit structured you can cook in it.
It sets-up real easy and quick. It only uses 2 U-poles and I think 10 pegs.

Some negative points:
Small and low vestibule. (BIG problem for me)
Only 3-season tent.

I slept in it for 1 night at a campsite at sea. Had a very nice night aside from the loud road next to the campsite. There was a lot of condensation between the inner and outer tent, but it didn't drip on me, so no problem. I really like that there is like +10 cm between the inner and outer tent. So when condensation collects on the inside of the tent it has no chance of getting to the inner tent.

Sadly I have not tested in it during the rain or strong wind. But it looks (and most importantly) feels very sturdy.

So in short, Very nice tent. But to bad that the vestibule is so small. I really irritates me. It's possible to live in it, but only if you have structure.


Next one will be about my Trangia stove


;-)
Dries

Tents and neighbour

The day before yesterday (17/4/2010) I went to the biggest tent show of Belgium. It was real nice to finally see some tents alive: Here is my Top 3 favorite tents:
- The Hilleberg Akto:

€ 479
I really likes this tent. I heard lot about Hilleberg. All of them where positive. The only thing I heard that was a bit negative about it was that it has alot of condensation.
Very spacy , a real all-season tent and very light. Very easy to setup because this tent has only 1 pole in its construction.

Weight: 1,6 kg
Pro's: Light, Real strong, Nice design, Roomy
Con's: Very wide pitching lines
Based upon review http://www.backpacking.net/hilleberg-akto-review.html

The Hilleberg Nallo 2 or Nallo 2 GT

Nallo: € 629 Nallo GT: € 729
I choose this tent because I maybe want a two person tent for in the future. You never now what might happen. But I like it because you have alot of space, and it is also perfect if you need a cold well. Also very nice Design. The difference between the Nallo and the Nallo GT is that the GT has an extra vestibule. (this is the one in the picture)

Weight: 2,2 kg - 2,7 kg
Pro's: Fits 2 persons, much space for stuff
Cons: A bit heavier for 1 person, More poles so a bit more "difficult" to setup

The Fjällräven Sälka 1-2

± € 449 (Don't know the price exactly)

I just love this brand. It's also swedish and they have designs you cannot see any else where. This is the follow up of the Foxlite 1-2. Only there is more space. The Big plus for me is that I can sleep alone in it but it can fit JUST an extra person. So its not really an 1 or 2 person tent.

Weight: 3 kg
Pro's : For 1 and 2 persons, very roomy
Con's: heavy

I talked yesterday (18/4/2010) to my neighbour. Here son went to africa for like a year. She told me if I can't go now for a travel, I really shouldn't forget it. She told me to keep int in the back in my head, keep planning and gathering info. Good advice.


Wolves have no king,


Dries