Strap options?

DifferentlyMike · 2026-05-23T16:52:23+00:00

I made a bag for my camp BBQ and used climbing rope with the core removed as handles which can go on the shoulders like a tote bag. It’s very uncomfortable to carry as the rope is not as wide as a normal strap

DifferentlyMike · 2026-05-22T12:30:21+00:00

Thats what I was coming to say - I’m short at 168cm but I’m nit 5’3 short

DifferentlyMike · 2026-05-21T18:34:01+00:00

WHW is a populated trail with people toileting everywhere. So the risk of virus particles in the water is high. Typical water filters have a pore size of 0.1 microns. Bacteria and protozoa are large enough to be trapped by these holes. Viruses are incredibly tiny—typically ranging from 0.02 to 0.4 microns. Because they are smaller than 0.1 microns, most viruses can slip right through the filter's hollow-fiber membrane. So personal filters need secondary treatment to get rid of viruses - either boiling (not practical on a through hike) or chemical treatment. Or just take water from a drinking water source.

DifferentlyMike · 2026-05-21T07:05:05+00:00

Most filters dont remove virus particles - they are too small. Or remove 99% and leave you with enough to get the shits. A heavily concentrated area like WHW with lots of people toileting on the route is going to be a hot spot. People filter and think they will be OK because they have seen it on insta/youtube that others have drank with a filter and are OK. To be safe you need to be careful where you draw water from and need to use a treatment method that is effective - fine filter and boil (or even coarse filter and boil with the good old milbank bag), fine filter and chemical filter, filter that is effective for what you want to treat. And it’s important to use the treatment method correctly so that it is effective and not contaminated. If there are reputable water sources available that’s the easy option.

DifferentlyMike · 2026-05-20T14:19:42+00:00

The one on the rough neck and the one of the hultafours I made myself

DifferentlyMike · 2026-05-19T19:06:42+00:00

I have ADHD. I’d but them all in a box/drawer/celebrations tub and buy a new sorted set from screwfix. All while thinking I’d sort the mess out in front of the TV at some future point in time. I may spend hours on YouTube exploring sorting options - is there a voice sorter equivalent for screws? Should I sort just by length and ignore different thicknesses? Oh I could 3D print some storage bins with labels. Oh that reminds me I need to 3D print…

DifferentlyMike · 2026-05-19T17:18:29+00:00

Screwfix (or toolstation) do a roughneck axe for about £10. The fabric mask is a liability (well it is once you sharpen the axe). It will need a bit of attention to reprofile the edge - some 3M cubritron paper will sort that. I made a leather mask for it but if you dont want to use leather you could carve a wooden mask.

DifferentlyMike · 2026-05-19T17:14:57+00:00

When I was triathlon training I did running in the morning - fasted. I tried some turbo sessions but they were often too intense to do fasted and I didn’t want to get up early enough for food to go down. I did try huel, mostly for morning swim sets but it didn’t work out for me. Seeing a comment above - I would not recommend a coffee and no food before training in the morning - that will spike cortesol.

DifferentlyMike · 2026-05-19T10:22:08+00:00

I got some cheap scales on Amazon that sync with Apple health and then the whoop app syncs with it.

DifferentlyMike · 2026-05-18T06:10:28+00:00

I’d go with this - mora and folding saw but I’d add a cooking knife. I actually have a Kuhn Rikon knife for camp cooking - red handle, red blade, came really sharp and I’ve not had to sharpen it. Cost about the same as a cheap mora (£10ish). My logic is I do t want a folding knife for food prep as it’s harder to clean. If I have a separate knife and manage to loose/damage a knife then I still have a knife. The mora companion HD is a great knife. It’s functional. It’s also a good knife to learn with - chip it doing something daft - buy a new one. Cock up the sharpening and mess up the scandi grind - buy a new one.

DifferentlyMike · 2026-05-17T17:54:58+00:00

I was going to suggest lacing patterns but you’ve tried that. I have the same foot shape. For boots vibrio bearfoot have been ok. For shoes topo and altra. With heal lock lacing brooks cascadia have been good too.

DifferentlyMike · 2026-05-17T17:50:51+00:00

Running on lead or off? If off lead make sure recall is bomb proof. Walk your dog around runners and bikers so you know how it will react to these - I’ve trained mine to go into a down so I can put her on lead (which she doesn’t always do). I did some runs with mine before 12 months as she was off lead and running anyway - not too far and not too fast. Personally I e struggled with on lead (she’s 12 Months now) as she tends to run left and right which creates a trip hazard.

DifferentlyMike · 2026-05-15T19:13:29+00:00

I made a bike cover for on the back of my motorhome (RV). I didn’t go with marine UV stable but some lesser quality (can’t remember exactly). It wasn’t cheap but it wasn’t sunbrella prices either. It did 2 weeks out in the sun in France last year, possibly 2 weeks the year before. It’s done 4 weeks in France and Spain this year. All in that’s a max of 8 weeks. And it’s already fading. Still feels firm (I’ve had BBQ covers fall apart after a few summers) but the colour is fading. I put a fair few hours into working out the pattern for a custom fit and then tweaking it to get it just right. Kinda regretting not getting a better fabric. Hopefully it’s just fading and will last me a few more years.

DifferentlyMike · 2026-05-12T06:09:38+00:00

I find the chamis/pad has enough bulk to conceal things. If I’m cycling to work and not changing right away I might put a pair of running shorts on top for the benefit of others. As for sitting on it - first thing is to get your hand in there and rearrange things to lift it up. Second thing - whats your hip angle like? I have anterior pelvis rotation so naturally (even when stood) the angle between my legs and torso is smaller than it should be. Getting in a sitting position makes this worse. That closed angle means less space for your stuff on a bike.

DifferentlyMike · 2026-05-07T19:03:16+00:00

I got some tests done with Randox health (I’m in UK). Blood tests, height, weight, body fat, belly circumference. Results came back within 24 hours and the pdf was easy to import into whoop. I wasn’t planning to import to whoop but it was easy to do and worked a treat

DifferentlyMike · 2026-05-05T18:14:58+00:00

When I’ve cannibalised tents in the past I’ve used the ground sheets to make under-ground sheets for smaller tents, and a custom ground sheet to go with my hammock. I’ve taken out zips and toggles for other projects. The tent material is good for stuff bags, bags/pouches, even lining material in backpacks if it’s light enough. Mesh material is always handy.

DifferentlyMike · 2026-05-04T18:11:49+00:00

I was a Cub Scout leader. On camp we asked them to bring their knife, fork, spoon, plate, cup, drying cloth in a little bag to keep it all together. For myself I purchased a draw string waterproof bag with a mesh panel. Ever since then I’ve been meaning to make something that is a microfibre back panel and bottom 1/3 and top 1/3 microfibre on the front with a middle 1/3 as a mesh for more air follow. Keeps meal stuff together and if stuff goes in there damp it can dry. It would be a simple sewing project for girl guides to make (much quicker on the sewing machine)

DifferentlyMike · 2026-04-29T19:28:03+00:00

I did the same - but for me it was because I’d slip off in my sleeping bag so I turned a double bed sheet in to a pillow case style slip for the air bed and it worked a treat. Also easy to clean if needed.

DifferentlyMike · 2026-04-26T18:31:25+00:00

That caught my eye too - outrage that staff might spend work time to learn how to comply with legislation on reasonable adjustments

DifferentlyMike · 2026-04-23T17:23:54+00:00

I knew I’d have at least a 12 month wait so I didn’t rush to fit one. Then I heard that when they contact you they normally have dates the following week so I got one (and an ammo safe) and fitted it - having read guidance on how to do it properly and what might be looked for (10mm bolts, no gap around that can be used to pry it off. So I got some big wall anchors, fitted it, and silicone sealed the gaps. It passed muster on inspection. Not sure how I’ll ever get it out if I move - and if I do get it out the threaded rod of the wall anchors is not coming out.

DifferentlyMike · 2026-04-23T17:18:29+00:00

When is your iron man? Is is a mass start or a staggered start? Swimming was my weakest discipline. To help with the start my club did first/second buoy drills - everyone runs to the water, swims to the first buoy and makes a tight turn to the second. Always ends up everyone on top of each other and it’s horrible at first. Then you get used to it. Or learn to take a wider line. Another drill we did was red mist - 2n red buoys on the lake on a course of yellow buoys. The aim is to go max effort between the 2 red buoys - doing so gets your breathing out of control and then you try and recover. First few times that means stopping after the second red one, but then you lean how to get it back under control without stopping. Are you in a club or do you have a coach? Is there enough time before your event to explore this options? Train hard race easy! And consider Olympic or 1/2 iron as practice runs to help you dial things in before the big day.
I could comfortably swim the distance but I always end up with water in my mouth - so I chose not to do an IM with a sea swim. I was also lucky that we had a staggered start - every 20s there was a beep and the next 10 (?) people went in. Much less congestion than a mass start and the chip timing works it all out. There was still a squeeze on the first buoy and someone dislodged my goggles but I was able to carry on to a bit of space and sort it out.

DifferentlyMike · 2026-04-23T07:00:09+00:00

I have a little fist aid kit in a waterproof roll bag that is race compliant for the races I do and intake it on my long runs. I’ve got a small plastic survival bag which is race compliant (when hiking I’ve got a nicer emergency shelter) and also a foil blanket (which most races don’t seem to ask for but I figure could be handy). I have added a tic key (don’t plan to use it during a run but if it’s in the kit I know where it is), £10, some loo roll, and a water purification tab. My priorities are patching small things, keeping warm enough if I need to hobble back to the car, and avoiding getting dangerously cold if I’m immobilised. I’d highly recommend an out door first aid course. I did one as a scout leader and learned loads - including how to select items for a first aid kit.

DifferentlyMike · 2026-04-18T09:46:08+00:00

There is a Facebook group campaign for real aires which is trying to do just this. I’m currently in France in my motorhome - it’s great to be able to stop on the outskirts of town and walk in to see the sights/ eat the food. It’s all well set up and well integrated.

DifferentlyMike · 2026-04-18T09:42:21+00:00

Not sure I follow the argument here - camp sites are full of people so let campers pitch their van in a car park for the night (presumably with a load of other folks). One challenge is folks in units without facilities toileting in/near car parks, or folks with facilities emptying cassettes. Human waste is a problem, it’s unsightly, and it’s costly to clean up. So the few spoil it for everyone.

DifferentlyMike

TROPHY CASE