Tales and adventures of a Belgian lady and her fourteen furry friends
Photo by Linda Balode Back in the fall of 2017 Helsport came out with the Rago line, their lightest line of sleeping bags yet. At the time I was still using my Cumulus sleeping bag but looking for a replacement as it was worn out after lots of use both on long-distance trails and during… Continue reading Helsport Rago Lady sleeping bag
The Acapulka Vidda is a backpack with a large array of integrated features ready to be used on many different winter adventures. Most importantly, the pack comes with solid D-rings that can serve to pull a pulk with it. There are those in favor and those in doubt about using a backpack while skiing, but… Continue reading Acapulka Vidda 38
Acapulka has a reputation for producing the 'Rolls Royce' on the pulka market. We were more than excited to have them support our crossing of Norway and very keen on testing out their sleds. In consultation with the company we opted for the Expedition Tour 170, a sled with a capacity to hold up to… Continue reading Acapulka Expedition Tour 170 and Dragging Bar “Wire” system
Helsport's distinctive red-and-yellow four season tents have long been regarded as some of the most reliable in their market segment. The X-trem products are designed to withstand cold, wind and snow while keeping you comfortable inside. Spitsbergen is one of the flagship models in the range and has been used in the harshest conditions on… Continue reading Helsport Spitsbergen X-Trem
In the dead of Norwegian winter the temperatures drop far below freezing during the day and when the sun sets they continue to drop, especially high above the arctic circle. A good nights sleep is key in these harsh and at times hostile environments in order to properly recuperate and regain strength. In order to… Continue reading Helsport Kongsfjorden X-Trem sleeping bag
Since gas is only occasionally available in Nepal, we wanted to take a stove with us that could burn whatever fuel we found available on the way. After lots of research we decided to take the Primus Omnilite Ti in cooperation with Sqoop.no, a titanium and lighter version of the Primus Omnilite. Though not the… Continue reading Primus Omnilite Ti
Wool is the most basic of items anyone going out in winter should have with them. Wool not only keeps you warm, it also keeps you dry: wool absorbs sweat and can regulate body temperature so you neither cool down nor overheat too much. Staying dry is important during winter to avoid hypothermia and frostbite.… Continue reading Devold of Norway: Island/Ålnes and Breeze products
Arc’teryx is well known to make top-notch shell jackets. Their Alpha product line focuses on alpinism and climbing and stands for “lightweight, minimalist climbing and alpinism products that protect from alpine environments.” Weight was a main concern while researching our gear list for the Great Himalaya Trail: we needed to have gear warm enough to… Continue reading Arc’teryx Alpha SL Hybrid women’s jacket
The coldest hours of our days in the Himalayas were the nights. It could be nice and warm during the day – even up to the point where we could walk in t-shirt, but temperatures consistently fell below freezing during the night. This regularly included double-digit negatives: it was not uncommon experiencing -15ºC after dark,… Continue reading Helsport X-Trem Kvitbreen Lady Review
Breathable, lightweight and durable pants are a must-have for any long hike in the backcountry. I’ve used the Bitihorn pants on two separate long-distance hikes: the Bitihorn lightweight pants in New Zealand (the zip-off model did not exist yet at this time) and since I was happy with them I wanted to use one again… Continue reading Norrøna Bitihorn Zip-off pants
Lost in the Hills 