Cotswold Outdoor Blogs (Staff)

Give a toss...appearing in Northern Echo and Durham Times newspapers

Thu, 29 Oct 2009 19:13:57 GMT

Fantastic news from our Durham store! Mark, assistant manager at Durham, rang today to tell me that the local press was very interested in the clothing appeal. They came down to take some photos and are writing a story about our efforts to help Andean communities in need. So if you live in and around Durham, keep your eye out in tomorrow and Saturday's edition of the Northern Echo and next week in the Durham Times. He also said that his collection bin is already full and wil...

Give a toss...

Sun, 25 Oct 2009 22:00:28 GMT

...throw your spare outdoor clothing our way! We got an idea, some imagery, put it together...and have come out with 50 collection bins, thousands of leaflets and a lot of Sunday work pulling all of the items together to get out to the stores! But if it helps us reach our goal of collecting 1 tonne of clothing for Andean communities in need, then well worth it. The bins should be showing up in stores over the next week so if you are thinking of dropping a few unwanted items off, best to ...

It's a boy!!!

Wed, 21 Oct 2009 11:08:11 GMT

We have a new addition to our trip..we are very proud to announce that it's a boy. A big bundle of joy from the St Albans store - Phil Kirk will be the fourth member of our expedition to Morocco. Bring on the 6th of November!!

Collecting used clothing for Andean communities in need

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 22:47:49 GMT

and how we're going to get it there...ourselves For a few years now, my wife Sarah and I have been planning to take a sabbatical to volunteer and travel in South America. We see it as our last big adventure before ‘settling down’. While researching charity projects in South America – a place we’ve always wanted to visit – we thought about another option; pulling together our contacts and using our marketing know-how to make a bigger impact than we could by si...

We could go clean skin but are happy and proud to be branded

Mon, 19 Oct 2009 13:06:44 GMT

It's less than 3 weeks away and the tension is building. Landy number 2 has been jacked, stacked and now just needs to be packed. Landy number 1 has been ready since forever but now sports some rather fabulous stickers from a selection of our amazing suppliers. So far Mountain Equipment is supplying sleeping bags and tents, Icebreaker and Mountain Hardware are providing essential clothing (we could go clean skin but are happy and proud to be branded!), Montane are kitting us out with trekking a...

"Dogs can swim but they can't tow a sledge through water...

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 10:01:33 GMT

...which is what's needed now" - Pen Hadow announces Catlin Arctic Survey findings You may have seen some of our past stories this year on the Cotswold sponsored Catlin Arctic Survey. If not, check out past blogs here for details. In a nutshell, the survey was undertaken by Pen Hadow, Ann Daniels and Martin Hartley to gather measurements and other scientific data on the state of the Arctic sea ice. This data was then analysed by leading scientists at the University of Cambrid...

Tanzania

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 23:19:35 GMT

Another trip to East Africa, this time to Tanzania, the excuse; a friend’s wedding followed by a quick trip to Tarangire National Park and a brief visit to a children’s home. This year I decided to travel light and took my Berghaus Optimus 40, which is great as you can wheel it or use the rucksack straps. The only downside was that I didn’t have that much room to bring back heaps of souvenirs; however, I brought enough and besides it helped to keep my bank balance more healthy...

The SE ridge of Sgorr Bhan

Sun, 04 Oct 2009 12:26:07 GMT

The following events are recorded by the survivors of an epic ascent of a virgin peak deep in the Glen Coe backcountry: Sgorr Bhan - A 33,600 inch nail of rock hammered up through some of the most extreme weather on Earth. First Ascent: B Coombs, D Weeks, C Froud, L Pearce, I Drake and M Leeds, 2nd February 2003. Grade: 580m, ED3+/A4, 5 pitches of Scottish IX (10) Time: 3 ½ hours from “Dead mans point” to the pub Equipment: Ropes, axes, crampons, ice pitons, etriers, insan...

Welcome to our new website!

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 18:56:07 GMT

Welcome to the new website we have launched to allow all of our customers, staff, brands and partners communicate online. We hope you will all share your experiences in the outdoors, take advantage of direct contact to proffesional athletes, quiz our staff on kit questions and, well, just enjoy your time online with us as much as you tell us you do in our stores! Michael

Petersfield - London - Sydney Overland

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 13:49:25 GMT

The text below is a brief outline of our expediton. Please take a look at our website, www.londonsydney.co.uk, and read on! Joe Myers and I, Tom, are driving the above route, from our hometown of Petersfield, Hampshire via London to Sydney, overland in a Land Rover. We are both 18 years of age, and are on our Gap Year, having recently finished our A levels and going on to University in 2010. Therefore, we will be the youngest ever people to complete such an expedition on our chosen...

1000 miles down....only 200 more to go!

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 12:37:33 GMT

On the 13th July 2009 Steve Hughes set off on an epic 20hour train journey from Southampton, the first ordeal in his epic 1200mile trek from John o Groats to Lands End. Steve is now well over the 1000mile mark and somewhere near Okehampton, and in a few weeks he wil be at the end of his marathon trek where staff from Cotswold Southampton will be waiting to congratulate him, no doubt with a pint and a meal at the nearest pub. You can follow Steves story so far and read about th...

Wearing our Jeans for a Great Cause!

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:59:06 GMT

Come in store on Friday 2nd October and you’ll notice we’re a little more casual than usual. We’ll be wearing our jeans! Cotswold Outdoor is supporting Jeans for Genes Day across all our 44 stores and at our Head Office in Kemble. Jeans for Genes is a national charity which raises money to fund care and support for children and families affected by genetic disorders, as well as funding research into the causes and potential cures of these conditio...

TAKING ON THE ALPS!

Thu, 01 Oct 2009 11:15:42 GMT

In the early hours of the 28th of August, Mark Parry (school friend) and I set off for Chamonix, France, for two weeks' mountaineering and with an aim to climbing Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in (Western) Europe. We had spent many months sorting out kit, practicing rope work, budgeting and generally doing no fitness training! After a ferry at one o clock in the morning (we had a rather tight budget, hence the nasty-hours ferry!) we arrived some 8 hours later, exhausted ...

Helping Heros - Shaun Lloyd Climbs for our Armed Forces.

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:16:16 GMT

In October 2009, Shaun Lloyd is aiming to walk Kilimanjaro - the highest freestanding mountain in the world. Walking for Help for Heros, Shaun is aiming to raise £3500.00 for the charity, which is very close to him. “My trek takes the less-trodden Machame route, allowing us to camp and fully appreciate the splendour of our surroundings. This is a challenging trek at altitude, climbing one of the most impressive and well-known mountains in the world. I was a member of the Brit...

Dart Rock Climbing Centre team up with Cotswold Exeter

Mon, 28 Sep 2009 03:17:59 GMT

Devon's newest dedicated indoor climbing centre has opened and is pleased to join forces with Cotswold Outdoor. Dart Rock Climbing Centre brings the best of indoor climbing to the area known for the best outdoor climbing in Devon. With 420m2 of climbing surface, 25 leadable lines and over 70 routes, special areas for teaching, traversing, and classroom activities, Dart Rock caters to climbers of all abilities from complete novices to seasoned crag rats. And this is ju...

Merida MTB 100 Marathon

Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:48:22 GMT

Kit List: Bikes Spares Kit (inner tube, pump, Multi tool, puncture repair, shock pump) Leatherman Wave with Bit Kit Osprey Talon 33 Source 2L bladder SIS energy gels and powders Chocolate Peanuts Haribo SIS Rego (for after) Training: 44mi bike ride over the dark peak area. Loads of running, A pint of Blood and some drinking Stuart Air’s Preparation. My aim is to complete the Merida 100km mountain bike marathon and the Snowdonia marathon (road run). B...

Kenton Cool comes to Cotswold!

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:22:34 GMT

Ex-Cotswold employee Kenton Cool visits 5 of our stores with his lecture 'Mad, Bad and Dangerous to Know - 5 Years of Guiding with Sir Ranulph Fiennes'. This lecture, including a Q&A session, will cover Kenton Cool's past climbing and guiding achievements focussing specifically on his guiding of Sir Ranulph Fiennes up the North Face of the Eiger and on Everest.'People often ask what it is like climbing with Ran, well, in a nutshell, bloody frustrating! In a way he i...

Morocco by 4's - we need YOU!

Wed, 23 Sep 2009 12:18:43 GMT

4 Weeks in 4WD's covering 4 countries and so far there are 3 of us and we would like a fourth..do YOU want to be the fourth?We have 7 weeks to go..we leave Keswick on Friday the 6th of November and we get back on Sunday 6th of December. We have 2 Land Rovers kitted out and ready for an epic expedition.David Kearns (Grasmere shop), Rory O'Gorman and Rachel Kearns (Keswick shop) are heading into the wilds of Morocco for 4 weeks of fun, adventure and challenges! After leaving Keswick our&#...

Daniel Bent's 15,000km Dream Cycle to Chembakolli, India

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 12:33:04 GMT

Danny Bent left his home, family and job as a junior school teacher in July 2009 to pursue a 20 year dream. A dream to cycle round the world raising as much money for charity as possible. He is travelling 15,000km by bicycle to southern india where he will work in a Slum in Bangalore and a village school in Chembakolli as a teacher.He has been welcomed into strangers homes, been chased by wild dogs, wept at Auschwitz, danced and song with hardcore football fans, seen the consequences of wa...

Cotswold Droitwich sponsor Mount Kilimanjaro climb for charity

Mon, 21 Sep 2009 11:50:37 GMT

Local Team to scale Mount KilimanjaroA group of friends from Bromsgrove and Droitwich reached their peak when they took part in a charity climb. Louise Chance, 32, Anna Carriero, 32, Nick Byng, 27 and Gary Byng, 24, from the two towns started their scaling of Mount Kilimanjaro on Friday 7 August. The team walked six to eight hours each day, covering 18 kilometres in order to reach the summit 5895 metres high, in the early hours of Thursday 14 August. The team completed a six month training progr...

First look at the Cullin Ridge

Fri, 18 Sep 2009 10:09:15 GMT

A reccy of the finest ridge traverse in the UK I have to post a quick one about the latest adventure...still can't forget the fantastic views and weather! Andy and I took a quick break last weekend to check out the Cullin Ridge on the Isle of Skye; one of the top big mountaineering days out in the UK hills without a doubt... The main ridge traverse takes in 12kms of grade 1-3 scrambling with a few pitches of up to Diff level climbing. Check out this great article fro...

Community site up and running

Thu, 17 Sep 2009 18:22:31 GMT

Cotswold's new community site for customers, staff, brand athletes and more... Well the community site is underway and this screengrab shows how it looked before we began using it or pulling in the content from our old blog www.wegetoutdoors.com. Why a community site you ask? Well we have had a lot of feedback from customers and staff that they would like somewhere online to communicate and share stories about what they get up to in the outdoors. This sharing happens all the time i...

Win a weekend ski break in Ski amadé for you and your friends...

Thu, 10 Sep 2009 02:40:59 GMT

with the launch of our 2009 Winter Clothing and Equipment range You may have gotten the email last week announcing the launch of our 2009 Winter Clothing and Equipment range. If not, make sure you register or update your subscription preferences here.In the newsletter we announced a competition to win 3 nights in Ski amadé, Austria for 4 people including half-board, ski passes, flights and transfers. You can enter the competition on our website here. Competition en...

2 falls and a swim, Day 3 of the TransWales

Wed, 09 Sep 2009 02:42:20 GMT

2 Falls and a swimDay 3 started bright and breezy, we start the same as every day: get to the front with all the fast guys and try and hang on for as long as possible. just by giving it the beans early on we manage to gain a few vital minutes letting us tail off during the day but still getting home inside the critical 7hrs cut off and missing the ride home in the broom wagon. Today starts with a killer hill it feels like sea level right up to the top of Snowdon in one hit. P...

Shop Fit Team gets outdoors everywhere.

Sun, 06 Sep 2009 05:50:00 GMT

Adventures of the Shop Fit TeamBy day, we rise early, haul large boxes (some larger than us - Sarah Myles (Silverburn) could fit easily into most of the boxes she lifts) and process all the new shiney stuff like a well oiled machine. We hang, tag, cube like you've never seen before. We are helping to build the Cotswold Empire.By night - we sleep (and have been known to have the odd drink!!). However, on our day off (usually Sunday mid fit) we have been seen 'getting outdoors'!!! Shoc...

Staff kit test: Helly Hansen longsleeved crew

Wed, 02 Sep 2009 09:58:17 GMT

Worn by: Craig Nills, Glasgow store Owned for: 14 monthsUsed for: winter mountaineeringSee the Helly Hansen Longsleeved Crew online hereThe thing that sets this baselayer apart from others is that it has two layers of fabric. Next to the skin is the normal Helly Hansen synthetic fabric that you'd find on most of their baselayers, but then that is overlaid with a Merino wool outer. The two layers work together really well: the synthetic wicks the sweat away from the skin and then...

Staff Kit Test: Grivel G12 Newmatic crampons

Mon, 31 Aug 2009 11:08:00 GMT

Used by: Michael Austin, web guru, head office Used for: Scottish winter and Alpine mountaineeringHad for: 1 year See the Grivel G12 Newmatic Crampons online hereI've never been quite so glad of these crampons as when I was falling into a bergschrund when climbing near Chamonix. A bergschrund is a crevasse that is created as a glacier moves away from static ice. A bergschrund can be deep, dangerous and, without the right skills and equipment, very hard to get out of. We were filming ...

Have we "Climax"ed to soon? ;-)

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 12:59:05 GMT

Day 2 Transwales 2009, 79kSurprisingly fresh this morning! Looking forward to the first of the "special stages" this is a 10k loop in the forests above Machynleth. Renowned as one of the best/longest man made descents in wales, i'm stoked to be riding it for the first time Only problem is, it's after 60k of riding! There was a fair bit of road riding yesterday, which, while good for warming up your legs, doesn't half get a bit tedious, this isn...

Staff Kit Test: Marmot Women's Angel Fire Down Sleeping Bag

Thu, 27 Aug 2009 04:31:00 GMT

Used by: Zoe Averill, Human Resources, Head Office Used for: 3 yearsUsed for: Climbing Kilimanjaro and most camping trips sinceSee the Marmot Women's Angel Fire Down Sleeping Bag online hereI love I had always aspired to owning a down bag so when the opportunity to climb Kilimanjaro came up in 2006, I finally had an excuse to buy one. I slept in it the night before we summitted and it lived up to all my expectations. The bag is extremely warm, soft and comfortable. It's also made especia...

Where do you want to go today?

Tue, 25 Aug 2009 01:50:27 GMT

travel inspiration from a Cotswold Cirencester customer's photo blog Kili in the sunDave Briggs – davestravelpics.blogspot.comDave got in touch with me about his blog as a lot of the kit that he and his wife took on their amazing travels around the world was purchased from our Cotswold Outdoor Cirencester store. I had a look and must say that there are some great photo's and video's on Dave's Travel Pics so if you are looking for a bit of inspiration when planning your next

Summer stripped bare

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 09:12:05 GMT

Simple pleasures are good for the soul.I have just caught myself daydreaming with a glimmer of sunshine breaking through the clouds out my window. With the summer holidays in full swing for many, and the temperature warming up over the weekend, this led me to wonder what getting outdoors means to each of us.To me it means sunshine. Getting dirty. Walking barefoot in the grass. Wild swimming. The smell of barbeques smoking up the evening. Catching your breath at...

6 Scottish Days

Mon, 24 Aug 2009 02:32:24 GMT

Well, we made it! Tired, scratched and hobbling, but we made it.6 days Orienteering in ScotlandHere's a day by day account of our progress.Day 1, DalruzionTom- Out of the start and straight into an inhospitably dense conifer plantation, which stretched almost to the finish - being able to determine which parts of the forest were impassable, and which were merely unpleasant, seemed to be key to success here. There was a real risk of becoming impossibly lost in the darkness of the vegetation. For...

Staff Kit Test: Berghaus women's SS Tech Tee

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 04:15:00 GMT

Used by: Sophie Tynan, Durham store Used for: Walking and runningHad for: 6 monthsSee the Berghaus women's SS Tech TeeI wore this baselayer to walk the Hadrian's Wall national trail. As a group we only had a week off work so we decided to try and do it in five days. We were averaging 15 miles a day which is trying to do it ridiculously fast! It was very hard work. I wore this baselayer every day and you wouldn't believe it but it wasn't too pong-y at the end! This is because it h...

Oxford Road, Rock Bottom help Starbucks climb Kili

Wed, 19 Aug 2009 11:30:38 GMT

After climbing 5898 metres, Jenny will probably need a coffee herself...On 31st October this year, Starbucks District Manager, Jenny Warrillow will attempt to fulfil her dream of climbing Kilimanjaro. To show their support, our Manchester Oxford Road team have passed on their knowledge to Jenny, giving hints and tips on how best to approach the climb. "We have some experienced mountaineers in store who have passed on some sound advice to Jenny. We were also able to give her some discount on the ...

Should it be this hard?

Sun, 16 Aug 2009 04:42:10 GMT

Day 1 Transwales 2009, 84kmWe have just finished stage 1 and to be honest it was much harder than both of us were expecting. There was a lot of road to ride on during the day, the organisers estimated 30% but it felt more like 60%, when we went offroad though it was fantastic, really fast with lots of interesting sections. We've just downed a bottle of sis rego each and are starting to think about what to have for dinner. The showers at this 1st campsite are refreshing, freezing might be a ...

Gore Bike Wear TransWales

Fri, 14 Aug 2009 03:47:31 GMT

550km of distance, 16,500 m of ascent over 7 days of intense mountain biking.The Gore Bike Wear Transwales is a 7 day stage race, long linking stages mixed with short technical special timed stages. Stu and I are taking part in this years event which starts tomorrow in Builth Wells, if we can get the technology to work we will be updateing our progress through the week. For the time being below is a video from last years event.

Cotswold Staff on Stella Alpina Rally, Italy July 2009

Thu, 13 Aug 2009 05:17:04 GMT

Mountains, Motorbikes, Tents and Energy Bars " Mike just accept it - we cant all be Bear Grylls or Charley Boorman"That's what a friend of mine said to me recently. He was of course referring to the everyday commitments that allegedly restrain our opportunity to get outdoors or have adventures.Not so was my response and to highlight it this is the story of our own little Overland Adventure,Cotswold employees John Decker (Training) and Mike Stevens (Retail Ops) along with 3 friends Colin, Chris ...

Twentyfour 12 four good

Wed, 12 Aug 2009 12:49:58 GMT

Bontrager TwentyFour12 The Bontrager TwentyFour12 enduro race has a special place in the calendar. It is known for its great courses and atmosphere of pure bike mad dedication. Less festival; more just a bunch of friends getting together to ride. This may have something to do with the location at Newnham Park near Plymouth; quite a trek for most competitors.Bike mad Whatever the hardships and hassles getting to and competing in this race it is guaranteed to leave you feeling more bike mad ...

Staff Kit Test: Womens Mountain Equipment Shroud Jacket

Mon, 10 Aug 2009 04:00:00 GMT

Worn by: Sarah Makin, St Albans store Worn for: 6 monthsUsed for: Everyday use and hillwalkingSee the Mountain Equipment Shroud Jacket online hereThis is a really soft, comfortable jacket. It's got Polartec's POWERSTRETCH panels down both sides which makes it a good snug fit and great for when you want to get active. I like the fact that it's got a hood, for chilly evenings which is made of Powerstretch fabric as well. I wore this jacket last spring when I did the coastal path...

Staff Kit Test: MSR Whisperlite International Stove

Sun, 09 Aug 2009 12:41:00 GMT

Used by: Pete Bishop, Designer, head office Owned for: 12 yearsUsed for: Mountain walking, cycling trips, campingSee the MSW Whisperlite International Stove online hereI love This is the ultimate expedition stove, brilliantly fit for purpose because it is incredibly lightweight (weighing just 330g) and burns multiple fuels. I bought it for a cycling trip around West Africa. I cycled down through Europe, into Morocco, got a Landrover lift across the Sahara and then explored West Africa on...

Staff Kit Test: Meindl Burma Hiking Boots

Fri, 07 Aug 2009 12:03:00 GMT

Worn by: Pete Bishop, designer, head office Worn for: 1 yearUsed for: High mountain walkingSee the Meindl Burma Pro Hiking Boots online hereI love This is the second pair of these boots I've had and I wore the first ones out! My most memorable trip in them was the high mountain route across the Pyrenees. It was an incredible, wild trek which took seven weeks and I wore my Meindl Burmas for every single one of those days. I've had lots of boots in my lifetime and I've done lots...

First time for a Tri

Thu, 06 Aug 2009 01:16:10 GMT

Long way from homeSarah the 'swimmer', Rachel the 'runner' and Dave the cyclist all converged on Norwich on Saturday afternoon, collected numbers, funky free bags and a swim hat for Sarah. Sarah travelled 5 hours from the South of the Country while Dave and Rach travelled from the Midlands (where they were both helping to build the newest in the Cotswold Empire - Solihull)...all of us however, are Australians and that's a long way away! Sunday morning was overcast and looked...

Staff Kit Test: Lowe Alpine Airzone 35+10

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 10:01:00 GMT

Used by: David Hague, Marketing rep, Belfast store Used for: 6 monthsUsed for: Mountaineering and seakayakingSee the Lowe Alpine Airzone 35+10 online hereI love The best thing about this bag is that you can get so much in it for such a small 'sack. I always travel light – especially when seakayaking – so that's a key feature for me. It has excellent features such as the little stuff pocket with a separate zip and the side zip that means you get stuff out of the botton without spen

Staff Kit Test: Jack Wolfskin Tundra III RT Tent

Wed, 05 Aug 2009 04:23:00 GMT

Used by: Suzanne Goldsmith, Designer, Head Office Used for: My first ever camping trip! Used for: 1 week See the Jack Wolfskin Tundra III RT Tent online hereFor my first ever camping trip we decided to visit the Outer Hebrides and those in the know at Cotswold (which is just about everybody!) recommended I take this tent. We were doing a mixture of campsite and wild camping so I needed a tent that was light enough to carry around and easy to put up and take down regul...

Kilimanjaro Trek to raise money for Motorcycle Health Charity

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 11:26:24 GMT

Kilimanjaro Trek to raise money for Motorcycle Health CharityFrom the 16th to the 27th September Derek Skinner a Cotswold Exeter customer will be climbing and scrambling 5,895m up Kilimanjaro. Matt and the team at Cotswold Exeter have been supporting Derek with advice on kit, products and raffle prizes in order to help him achieve his goal.Derek is doing this to raise as much money as possible for the registered charity Motorcycle Outreach, in memory of Simon Milward (1965-20...

'the most curious skateboard trip undertaken in the UK'

Mon, 03 Aug 2009 01:47:57 GMT

A Skateventure around the North Sea Laura Hatwell has been skating for three years, she initially embarked on a skateboard journey across Australia in order to raise money for children's charities. This adventure is a personal challenge for herself and a promise made to a grieving partner of a brave marine in the aid to raise money for Help for Heroes.Click here to check out a video of Laura on route>> Laura explains 'The aim of this trip is to travel fast and light. No messi...

Staff Kit Test: Osprey Exos 46 Rucksack

Fri, 31 Jul 2009 03:51:00 GMT

Used by: Rowan Edwards, manager, Kingston-upon-Thames Used for: 6 monthsUsed for: Day treks and lightweight overnightersSee the Osprey Exos 46 RucksackLike all Osprey 'sacks this bag is designed to make you feel like you're carrying less than you are. It has really good ergonomics so you can fine tune the fit and make it sit exactly where it should on your back. I'm always amazed by how much heavier the 'sack feels in my hand compared to on my back. I usually take this bag...

A week of the finest orienteering Britain has to offer!

Wed, 29 Jul 2009 11:17:38 GMT

The Scottish 6 Days, Perth 2009Or a week of desperately dragging an exhausted body through rain-soaked, midge infested wilderness. It all depends on your outlook!We, Tom and Laurence Cowton (Grasmere store), will be taking part in this event from the 22-29th August. The competition comprises six individual races on six consecutive days, over a diverse range of terrain from exposed mountain sides to dense pine forests to intricate coastal sand dunes. For those unfamiliar with the discipline of ...

Staff Kit Test: Vango Spectre 300 tent

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 10:14:00 GMT

Used by: James Setters, Cardiff store Used for: 6 monthsUsed for: Spontaneous family camping tripsSee the Vango Spectre 300 online hereI love This tent is compact enough that it can be chucked in the car if we ever make a quick decision to go off camping for the night. We do have a large family camping kit, complete with big tent, tables, chairs and all the gear, but pulling all that together on the spur of the moment is quite an operation. Our Vango Spectre 300 sits in a bo...

Staff Kit Test: Garmin Forerunner 405

Tue, 21 Jul 2009 03:34:00 GMT

Worn by: Roo Bolden, Assistant manager, Norwich store Worn for: 1 yearUsed for: Duathlon trainingSee the Garmin Forerunner 405 online hereI love For people who are serious about getting fit, this is the ultimate gadget. I use it to log all my miles, work out my average pace and monitor my heart rate. It will tell me when I'm over training because my heart rate will be a lot faster that it should be; it will calculate my split times and, using the GPS function, it will measure the speed and d...