| Category | Name | Comment |
| Riding kit | Helmet | My helmet has a slide-down sun visor which I used a LOT. It would also double as short term eye protection if the main visor got broken. |
| Riding kit | Gloves | Summer gloves. These got extremely wet in a sudden rain-storm and took a LONG time to dry. If there's enough threat of rain to justify water-proof clothing, you also need waterproof gloves. |
| Riding kit | Buff x2 | ADV style jacket and waterproofs cover the neck - didn't use these at all |
| Riding kit | High viz | Never leave home without this - it just lives on the bike |
| Riding kit | Waterproof over trousers | Didn't actually use these and got very wet in a storm as a result |
| Riding kit | Waterproof over jacket | Didn't use this in a HEAVY storm, and the ADV jacket wasn't adequate |
| Riding kit | Spare gloves - waterproof winter | Should have used these more. Were very nice to have when on the motorway for over an hour in the rain. |
| Riding kit | Ear plugs x10 | Used about half of these, although re-used the ones that I did open a lot. Worth using a fresh pair for long motorway slogs |
| Riding kit | Textile Jacket | RST Adventure 3. Surprisingly cool with all its vents open. OK for light/medium rain with the waterproof liner fitted |
| Riding kit | Textile Trousers | RST Adventure 3. Acceptably cool with vents open. OK for light/medium rain with the waterproof liner fitted. Failed miserably in heavy rain |
| Riding kit | Riding jeans | Wore these to ride 50% of the time when weather was good. Wore them to the pub in the evenings. Well worth the space in my luggage. |
| Riding kit | Map | Mostly used a mobile phone + Google maps. Was glad it was there as a backup. |
| Riding kit | Gopro | Not at all happy about my camera setup. Mostly just used my mobile to take stills. |
| Riding kit | Tripod | Used this a few times to hold my mobile with a delay. Should have made more of an effort with it in hindsight as shots were good |
| Riding kit | Balaclava | Didn't use this at all. The weather report showed it was never going to get below about 10 deg centigrade at worst so didn't need winter kit like this. |
| Riding kit | Paracord | Took about 20 meters, used about 20cm. Useful, but don't need much. |
| Bike | Tools | Thankfully didn't need these |
| Bike | Tyre weld | Thankfully didn't need this, but wouldn't take a long trip without it based on previous experience |
| Bike | Puncture repair kit + glue | Thankfully didn't need this. Probably redundant when already have tyre weld, but is very small and portable. |
| Bike | Waterproof bags | Heavy duty bags containing bedding. Were strapped to the outside and kept everything dry. Great bits of kit |
| Bike | Bungies | Didn't use this. In the event the "main" bungy snapped, it would have been possible to patch it back together, Won't be taking a spare bungy again. |
| Bike | Disc lock | Used this a lot. Acts as a "tip over" and tamper alarm during the night on campsite for peace of mind. Used "reminder" wire to secure helmets to bikes during the day on occasion. |
| Bike | Security wire | Didn't use this, although very small to pack and have been useful in the past |
| Bike | Zip ties | Fitted in tool kit. Didn't actually need one |
| Bike | 12v USB charger | Used this a lot to re-charge power-brick on the go. Took ages to charge the brick. Used the brick to charge mobile at night. |
| Camping | Tent | 3 man Eurohike (as per 2017 trip). Great tent, got the job done. Insect mesh screen in door was invaluable for this trip |
| Camping | Mosquito "hat" | Invaluable. Would have been pretty much impossible to camp by Loch Lomand without it |
| Camping | Sleeping bag | 4 Season. Slept on top of it when warm, and was nice and cozy when it was cold. Perfect. |
| Camping | Pillow | I will never ever go camping without a proper pillow again. It made the experience so much better. |
| Camping | Roll mat | Had this for about 20 years. As good on this trip as when it was new. |
| Camping | Torch x2 | Tent "lamp" generally handy. Used head-torch for reading at night. |
| Camping | Lighter | Part of cooking kit. Piezo starter on stove failed, so it's a good job I had this |
| Camping | Water bottle | Sigg 1 litre. Not a great shape for a top box, but a good size and reliable |
| Camping | Pen knife | 4 inch carbon steel. Great knife, but overkill for trip, mostly used for slicing spicy sausage. |
| Camping | Can opener | Used once to open can without ringpull. Should just buy cans with ring pulls. |
| Camping | Cooker | Piezo starter failed but was otherwise good |
| Camping | Gas | Coleman 500. Chris also took one. We could have coped with a single 300. |
| Camping | Pans | Used a few times, although needed Chris's kit at same time to cook for 2 people. |
| Camping | Cups | 2x insulated mugs. Keep tea hot for too long - makes stopping for a quick cuppa time consuming |
| Camping | Sporks | Used a few times, did what you'd expect. Good decision to take these |
| Camping | Phone + charger | Didn't use this. A combination of pre-charged power bricks, modern phone batteries and bike charging made it redundant |
| Camping | USB powerbank | Took 2, used 1. |
| Camping | Baby wipes | Used about 10% of pack, mostly for cleaning visors each day. Quite bulky, will only take a half pack in future. |
| Camping | Book | Doing 1200 miles in 5 days meant I was pretty tired so didn't read much. |
| Camping | Water filter kit | Used this a few times. Quite handy. Only need the basic kit (1 bladder, 1 filter, 1 pipe, 1 backflush) |
| Camping | Headphones | Didn't use these |
| Camping | Pot washing pad + detergent | Used these a few times. Very handy |
| Camping | Clothes pegs | Didn't use these |
| Camping | Toilet Roll | Didn't use this - we touched civilisation enough that facilities were available |
| Food | Booze | Didn't use this |
| Food | Water | 1 litre + filter. Made sure to buy drinks whenever possible. |
| Food | Chilli beans | Very bulky to carry |
| Food | Steak | Very bulky to carry |
| Food | Rice | Quick cook. Good, but only with something else. |
| Food | Mixed nuts | Should have taken more of these |
| Food | Sweets | Wine gums - didn't melt. Was nice to have a few each day |
| Clothes | Socks x3 | 2 days per pair |
| Clothes | Pants x3 | 2 days per pair |
| Clothes | Shirt x3 | 2 days per shirt |
| Clothes | Trousers - lightweight, non riding | Didn't really use these |
| Clothes | Warm hat | Didn't use this. Better planning would have shown it was going to be plenty warm enough |
| Clothes | Towel | Use a couple of time. Was slightly difficult to get dry after use as it needed to go back on the bike |
| Clothes | Wallet / keys | Don't forget these. Even in remote Skye, all fuel stations accepted Visa. Cash for camping. |
| Clothes | Comfy shoes | New ADV boots not great for pub use, so used these a few times. Could have put jeans over boots for pub. |
| Wash bag | Sun cream | Obviously |
| Wash bag | Insect repellent | DEET. Strongest you can find. Use lots |
| Wash bag | Paracetamol (cold/flu) | Didn't need these, but would still take them again |
| Wash bag | Toothbrush / toothpaste | Obviously |
| Wash bag | Antiseptic cream | Used this on insect bites that were under sweaty gloves and threatening to get infected |
| Wash bag | Ibuprofen gel | Didn't use this, but very small and would take again |
| Wash bag | Insect bite cream | Used a lot |
| Wash bag | Antibac hand gel | Used a few times |
| Wash bag | Deodorant | Obviously |
| Wash bag | Loose change for showers | Didn't need this, but very small space required |
Tuesday, 5 June 2018
Skye trip 2018 kit list + thoughts afterwards
Been to Skye for a week with Chris. Took food and wild camped and couple of nights, stayed on campsites and went to the pub for the rest. Kits and thoughts:
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