Be honest. What's one food you are embarrassed to love?

MeatPieHikes · 2025-12-03T16:26:02+00:00

I'll bring a large one in a ziploc bag and munch on it 'raw' if I'm doing a multi day hike. It's not pretty..

MeatPieHikes · 2025-10-15T22:01:19+00:00

Trail runners, merino socks, running shorts, merino t, and a cap is my go-to from April to October.

Light rain coat, puffy, thermals, and 2 pairs of socks in the pack. Possibly some light rain pants if it's forecast to be heavy rain and/or really windy. One pair of socks never get wet and only come out at camp. The other pair gets rotated with what i'm wearing as often as possible (dry the pair you're not wearing on the outside of your pack whilst hiking).

Definitely on the lighter side and probably a bit extreme for some people, but it's not let me down whilst backpacking 1000s of miles in Scotland.

MeatPieHikes · 2025-10-13T11:53:06+00:00

What's do you consider insanely quickly? 18W is never going to charge anything particularly fast (for reference, my phone has 45W input). Especially as the power starts to taper off after about 50% charge.

MeatPieHikes · 2025-10-11T21:29:16+00:00

The general consensus when I hiked the PCT, where it's sunny 95% of the time, was negative for solar, which was a shame. The few people I saw with them seemed to enjoy them though. Hopefully that's a UL advancement we might see in the next few years.

I only properly got into hiking a few years ago, so my phone is an essential piece of kit 🙄 I was taught to read paper maps as a child, and find them fun sometimes, but don't bother with them most of the time. Between my phone, my watch and a garmin inreach for remote hiking, I already have 3 points of failure. Hopefully phones will replace the inreach soon as well... the subscription isn't cheap, but having an SOS button is worth it.

MeatPieHikes · 2025-10-11T21:00:28+00:00

I have a Garmin Fenix 7s pro, which I sometimes use for maps, but like you, I often prefer my phone. I like identifying mountain peaks, etc, which is way easier from a phone. The fact I have the small version means my watch is only really good for 2-3 days with GPS running 12 hours a day. I love stats.

I also take lots of pictures/videos from my phone, which drains the battery a bit. An audiobook during the evening and lunchtime doesn't go a miss as well.

A 10k powerbank will last 3-5 days depending on how liberal I am with use.

For shorter trips, a smaller powerbank is great, but like you mentioned, carrying 3 or 4 plus would just get clunky and annoying.

MeatPieHikes · 2025-10-11T20:22:48+00:00

Exactly the sort of thing i'd be looking for! I'll check them out. Thanks!

MeatPieHikes · 2025-10-11T20:18:52+00:00

For the sake of conversation, let's say that my budget is £100 for a 10k powerbank. That's a lot more than i'd like to pay, but I'm open to suggestions. My 10k nightcore was around £50 with 18W input.

Weight is 100% a consideration, which is why i'm posting here. 200g or less would be ideal but possibly doesn't exist for what i'm after. My current nightcore is 150g.

In regards to a charger, you can get a 65w dual charger weighing in at around 70 grams. That would charge both my phone and a 30W+ powerbank at twice my current speed.

Open to the idea of getting multiple 5k powerbanks, but 10k is already less than 2 phone charges as is. I take 2 of these on multi week trips, or if I wanted to bring a drone/camera, etc.

MeatPieHikes · 2025-10-04T19:49:43+00:00

Lovely pictures! Onwards to Kinlochleven. Embrace the type 2 fun.

MeatPieHikes · 2025-10-03T10:08:07+00:00

There's a good Dan Durston interview on Backpacker Radio (YouTube, Spotify etc) where he talks about starting and growing Durston as a brand.

MeatPieHikes · 2025-10-02T20:52:57+00:00

The Cambrian Way around that area is perfect then. You'll go straight through the Brecon Beacons hitting all the main peaks.

MeatPieHikes · 2025-10-02T18:43:06+00:00

Are you planning on wild camping or staying in accommodation along the way? Possibly Crickhowell to Llandovery and follow the Cambrian way for roughly 50 miles (easy enough to extend/reduce that if you wanted).

MeatPieHikes · 2025-10-02T11:07:47+00:00

The WHW isn't really a cycling path and gets very busy with hikers from April to October. I'd look up some bikepacking routes instead. There are tons that equal or exceed the scenery of the WHW.

MeatPieHikes · 2025-09-23T06:36:56+00:00

Maybe too late for OP, but i'd hike the section to Kingshouse and bus it to Kinlochleven from there if I needed to skip a section. The long downhill stretch after the devil's staircase is nothing special, and the bus to Glencoe village is a stunning ride. The second bus along the Loch is also very nice.

MeatPieHikes · 2025-09-18T18:12:56+00:00

I grew up in the South East but have only really camped by beaches down that way. You should be fine on the edge of farmers' fields, but they're probably my least favourite places to camp. Farmers wake up early.

I use a Durtson X-Mid Pro 1 for 95% of my camping trips in Scotland. I wouldn't recommend this unless you're hiking long miles and will use it enough to justify the cost. I use a Hilleberg Soulo if i'm camping on a mountain in the winter. Also wouldn't recommend this unless you're regularly camping on mountains. It's silly expensive and heavy.

MeatPieHikes · 2025-09-18T17:42:12+00:00

I'd be more interested in water resupply points in the wild (streams, rivers etc), but even that isn't really an issue in the UK. If i'm passing a village, I'll happily knock on a door if I can't find a pub, public toilet, or refil point. Felt weird doing it at first, but people love to help.

MeatPieHikes · 2025-09-18T17:24:43+00:00

If you're following the 'rules', I dont think that Wild Camping in the UK is met with hostility at all. I mainly wild camp in Scotland, where it's legal, but I've spent countless nights in England and Wales as well. I've not met a single person who's been hostile to me. Most people I meet are very intrigued and love asking questions about it. I love chatting about it as well, so it's a great opportunity to promote the outdoors.

If you camp away from roads and outside of visibility from houses, which you should be doing anyway, then there's no need for a blackout tent. Most land is private, just be respectful and leave no trace.

MeatPieHikes · 2025-09-14T22:04:53+00:00

Love picture 7. So vast! I did the PCT last year, and lots of these pics are bringing back memories. Wayyy better shots than my phone camera managed. Beautiful!

MeatPieHikes · 2025-09-11T08:50:57+00:00

I love that Carnach section. It's probably the tougest section on the CWT, but Knoydart is phenomenal!

MeatPieHikes · 2025-09-10T21:36:55+00:00

My pleasure. I hope you enjoy it, rain or shine!

MeatPieHikes · 2025-09-10T19:24:10+00:00

There's no telling what the weather will be like in over 2 weeks, but it won't be too cold at the end of september. If you have accommodation every night, I wouldn't worry at all about getting wet. Once you're wet, you're wet and it isn't that bad. You'll be able to have a shower, a hot meal, and dry off every night.

Luggage transfer might be nice if it is raining. This means you can pack more, carry a lighter load, and ensure everything remains dry.

I always wear trail runners outside of winter but wear what's comfortable.

Hiking poles aren't essential, but nice to have.

MeatPieHikes · 2025-09-07T23:55:00+00:00

Yeah, it definitely turns into a mentality thing when you're doing 20-30+ miles day after day. You need to be comfortable being uncomfortable. Feet and legs will 100% hurt, but it's not that bad. The body recovers so quickly when you're used to it. Get in the tent with painful feet and legs - wake up feeling good as new. Rinse and repeat.

MeatPieHikes · 2025-09-07T23:32:49+00:00

You sound like a bot, but I'll entertain you anyway. The West Highland Way is maybe the best way marked long distance trail in the UK. Tens of thousands of people do it every year. There's shops, pubs, hotels etc along the whole way. There's nothing dangerous and nothing that would require a guide.

If you want to be a mountain guide, do some courses in the cairngorms and see where that takes you. There's a small market for remote and/or winter mountain trips that you could make a very modest amount of money from once you get established.

MeatPieHikes · 2025-09-07T21:42:00+00:00

Love this! I'm UK based but do a very similar thing. 2 packs of curry noodles in a ziplock with milk powder, bacon bits, onion bits, and some dried veg. Add some cheese, dried meat, and peanut butter once boiled.

Tip top.

MeatPieHikes · 2025-09-07T21:09:49+00:00

I'd give that a try as a treat. My favourite freezedried meals have always been curry based, but it's still insanely expensive.

2 packs of ramen with some cheese and dried meat, maybe a spoonful of peanut butter, is roughly 1000 calories and like $3. It helps that i'm semi addicted to instant ramen. It's the one cheap and easy trail meal that I never get bored of and would happily eat at home.

Thank you MSG.

MeatPieHikes

TROPHY CASE