by Mollie Millington | Jul 11, 2018 | clothes, product review
I know what you are thinking. #woolinsummer? Am I crazy? I assure you, I am not. In previous blog posts, I have waxed lyrical about the benefits of merino wool. I wear merino socks all year round and merino base layers in the winter. When we went to New Zealand a few years ago, we visited the Ice Breaker outlet four times and stocked up on cycling gear, socks, running tops, and base layers.
Icebreaker recently contacted me about their Cool-lite(TM) range. It helps make their clothes more comfortable and breathable in hot and humid temps (exactly what we have been experiencing in London). Aside from the other benefits of merino (no smell build up and moisture wicking), Cool-lite(TM) also is made from sustainably-sourced eucalyptus. Nearly 100% of the solvent used to make up one of the components of Cool-lite(TM) is recycled too. Sounds good to me!
This long heatwave has given me ample opportunity to put Cool-lite(TM) to the test. I wore the Cool-Lite(TM) Sphere Short Sleeve Low Crewe Cook Reflected shirt (130g for those that know their base layers) a few days when we had some time scheduled outdoors with dog walks and meeting friends in the park. The short sleeves, rather than a vest, were nice as it prevented my shoulders from burning. My husband didn’t report any smell issues by the third day of wear. Although I was warm in the direct sunlight, it wasn’t unbearably hot in my t-shirt. The sizing of the shirt seems a little big. I usually wear a medium in shirts (large if it is a womens cut). The shirt I am wearing is a medium and felt a bit roomy. On the other hand, maybe all of my calorie counting is paying off! If you decide to order one, you might want to double check the sizing guide first.
Based on this trial run, my Icebreaker shirt is already packing in my duffle bag for Love Trails Festival this weekend. It will be perfect for wearing around camp in between runs. It will dry fast on my clothes line and shouldn’t smell too bad by the time I get back to London. I am also bringing:
- Camping clothes lines to dry out wet gear
- Swim suit for run/swim
- Sunscreen
- Bagels and peanut butter for easy portable snack
- Luchodillitos for energy on a run
- Headlamp to pitch tent in the dark
- Mermaid bunting to hang on the outside of my tent to make it easier to find
- Kindle for reading and writing
- Spiky ball for massaging
- Sunglasses
- Reusable water bottle
- Quick drying towel for swimming and 3 min showers
- Flip flops for camp
- Antihistamines and nasal spray
- Solar charger power pack
- Cash and card for food and drink vendors (fingers crossed they stock Diet Coke)
I have never been to Love Trails (or any kind of festival, really) and would appreciate any and all advice you have about what to pack and what to leave at home. I am hoping my packing list for a 24 hour relay race will be a good starting point. The tricky thing will be carrying everything on the Tube to get on the coach to the festival site in Wales. Hopefully my 90L duffel bag from Kilimanjaro can hold everything, including my tent and sleeping bag. We shall soon see.
Thanks to Icebreaker for gifting me this shirt for review. All opinions are honest and my own.
x
by thinkmarsh | Jul 11, 2018 | clothes, product review
I know what you are thinking. #woolinsummer? Am I crazy? I assure you, I am not. In previous blog posts, I have waxed lyrical about the benefits of merino wool. I wear merino socks all year round and merino base layers in the winter. When we went to New Zealand a few years ago, we visited the Ice Breaker outlet four times and stocked up on cycling gear, socks, running tops, and base layers.
Icebreaker recently contacted me about their Cool-lite(TM) range. It helps make their clothes more comfortable and breathable in hot and humid temps (exactly what we have been experiencing in London). Aside from the other benefits of merino (no smell build up and moisture wicking), Cool-lite(TM) also is made from sustainably-sourced eucalyptus. Nearly 100% of the solvent used to make up one of the components of Cool-lite(TM) is recycled too. Sounds good to me!
This long heatwave has given me ample opportunity to put Cool-lite(TM) to the test. I wore the Cool-Lite(TM) Sphere Short Sleeve Low Crewe Cook Reflected shirt (130g for those that know their base layers) a few days when we had some time scheduled outdoors with dog walks and meeting friends in the park. The short sleeves, rather than a vest, were nice as it prevented my shoulders from burning. My husband didn’t report any smell issues by the third day of wear. Although I was warm in the direct sunlight, it wasn’t unbearably hot in my t-shirt. The sizing of the shirt seems a little big. I usually wear a medium in shirts (large if it is a womens cut). The shirt I am wearing is a medium and felt a bit roomy. On the other hand, maybe all of my calorie counting is paying off! If you decide to order one, you might want to double check the sizing guide first.
Based on this trial run, my Icebreaker shirt is already packing in my duffle bag for Love Trails Festival this weekend. It will be perfect for wearing around camp in between runs. It will dry fast on my clothes line and shouldn’t smell too bad by the time I get back to London. I am also bringing:
- Camping clothes lines to dry out wet gear
- Swim suit for run/swim
- Sunscreen
- Bagels and peanut butter for easy portable snack
- Luchodillitos for energy on a run
- Headlamp to pitch tent in the dark
- Mermaid bunting to hang on the outside of my tent to make it easier to find
- Kindle for reading and writing
- Spiky ball for massaging
- Sunglasses
- Reusable water bottle
- Quick drying towel for swimming and 3 min showers
- Flip flops for camp
- Antihistamines and nasal spray
- Solar charger power pack
- Cash and card for food and drink vendors (fingers crossed they stock Diet Coke)
I have never been to Love Trails (or any kind of festival, really) and would appreciate any and all advice you have about what to pack and what to leave at home. I am hoping my packing list for a 24 hour relay race will be a good starting point. The tricky thing will be carrying everything on the Tube to get on the coach to the festival site in Wales. Hopefully my 90L duffel bag from Kilimanjaro can hold everything, including my tent and sleeping bag. We shall soon see.
Thanks to Icebreaker for gifting me this shirt for review. All opinions are honest and my own.
x
by thinkmarsh | Jul 6, 2018 | clothes, Kilimanjaro, product review
|
| First outdoor campout in the UK was with Adventure Queens along North Downs Way |
I am fairly certain my body struggles to regulate its temperature. When I get cold, I tend to stay that way. Sleeping as a child, I would have 10-15 blankets on my bed. To this day, I always sleep with socks on and religiously wear merino wool during the winter. On the flip side, such as this Wednesday, London was so hot I couldn’t cool down on my midday run. I was so desperate to cool off I took my shirt off and ran in my sports bra.
Staying warm was one of my big concerns for Kilimanjaro. We climbed on the cusp of the rainy season which meant the weather would be unpredictable and probably wet. I religiously use an electric blanket in the winter back home and wasn’t confident a hot water bottle would be sufficient on the mountain. Luckily, the good people at Polartec sent me the Norrona Lofoten Alpha Raw zip made with Polartec Alpha to test out. The hoodie is bright orange, which is very handy when I need to find in a dark tent. It also makes me easy to spot at a busy campsite. It has a insulating hood, integrated hand gaiters, and warming pockets. It is also very light and packs down small in a vacuum bag when travelling.
 |
| How I slept during my Kilimanjaro trek |
With my luggage weight on Kili limited to 15 kg, I wanted to test out the hoodie before my trip. In January, I joined the Adventure Queens for an overnight wild campout along the North Downs Way. I chose to bring my two person tent rather than sleep outside under the stars. It was due to rain a bit that weekend and being mid-winter, the temperatures were already low. I packed the hoodie in my rucksack and put it on once the sun started to set. The cold damp was starting to creep into my bones as we sat around the campfire telling stories and roasting marshmallows. I ended up sleeping in the hoodie and stayed fairly warm overnight. As I emerged from my tent the next morning, I found the air to be crisp so kept all of my upper layers but swapped my thermal tights for jeans.
 |
| Post-breakfast hike with new friends |
After breakfast, we broke into groups and too a very low-key hike through the local woods. There were a few hills which took some effort due to mud and warmed me right up. I had to tie the hoody around my waist to prevent overheating in my two other layers.
 |
| Along the way to the top of Kilimanjaro with the hoodie under my rain jacket |
The Lofoten Alpha Raw zip passed the test for me after this campout and made it onto my packing list for Kilimanjaro. I used the same approach on Kili as I did on the January camp out, sleeping in the hoody every night but also used it as one of my eight layers on summit night. The guides recommended seven layers but I get cold so I added an extra. It turned out that seven would have been the correct number! We summited at 8:30am and were so hot by the time we got to the top. I stripped most of my layers off at that point and carried them down in my rucksack. If I had a choice, I would always choose to be a little bit warm over a little bit cold so I didn’t mind carrying the extra weight.
 |
| At the top with eight layers on top and four on the bottom |
The Polartec Alpha fabric was originally designed for U.S Special Forces to be used in both dynamic and static situations. It is extremely breathable, lightweight, and dries fast. This means you don’t need to stop mid-activity and add or remove layers. It washes well and the hoodie didn’t leave fuzz everywhere even though the texture is fluffy.
Polartec Alpha is a fabric I will be sure to lookout for in the future when I am investing in new pieces for future outdoor adventures. Being lightweight, packable and versatile for layering makes it a good staple to keep in your rucksack.
How do you keep warm on your outdoor adventures? Leave a comment below and let me know.
by Mollie Millington | Jul 6, 2018 | clothes, Kilimanjaro, product review
|
| First outdoor campout in the UK was with Adventure Queens along North Downs Way |
I am fairly certain my body struggles to regulate its temperature. When I get cold, I tend to stay that way. Sleeping as a child, I would have 10-15 blankets on my bed. To this day, I always sleep with socks on and religiously wear merino wool during the winter. On the flip side, such as this Wednesday, London was so hot I couldn’t cool down on my midday run. I was so desperate to cool off I took my shirt off and ran in my sports bra.
Staying warm was one of my big concerns for Kilimanjaro. We climbed on the cusp of the rainy season which meant the weather would be unpredictable and probably wet. I religiously use an electric blanket in the winter back home and wasn’t confident a hot water bottle would be sufficient on the mountain. Luckily, the good people at Polartec sent me the Norrona Lofoten Alpha Raw zip made with Polartec Alpha to test out. The hoodie is bright orange, which is very handy when I need to find in a dark tent. It also makes me easy to spot at a busy campsite. It has a insulating hood, integrated hand gaiters, and warming pockets. It is also very light and packs down small in a vacuum bag when travelling.
|
| How I slept during my Kilimanjaro trek |
With my luggage weight on Kili limited to 15 kg, I wanted to test out the hoodie before my trip. In January, I joined the Adventure Queens for an overnight wild campout along the North Downs Way. I chose to bring my two person tent rather than sleep outside under the stars. It was due to rain a bit that weekend and being mid-winter, the temperatures were already low. I packed the hoodie in my rucksack and put it on once the sun started to set. The cold damp was starting to creep into my bones as we sat around the campfire telling stories and roasting marshmallows. I ended up sleeping in the hoodie and stayed fairly warm overnight. As I emerged from my tent the next morning, I found the air to be crisp so kept all of my upper layers but swapped my thermal tights for jeans.
|
| Post-breakfast hike with new friends |
After breakfast, we broke into groups and too a very low-key hike through the local woods. There were a few hills which took some effort due to mud and warmed me right up. I had to tie the hoody around my waist to prevent overheating in my two other layers.
|
| Along the way to the top of Kilimanjaro with the hoodie under my rain jacket |
The Lofoten Alpha Raw zip passed the test for me after this campout and made it onto my packing list for Kilimanjaro. I used the same approach on Kili as I did on the January camp out, sleeping in the hoody every night but also used it as one of my eight layers on summit night. The guides recommended seven layers but I get cold so I added an extra. It turned out that seven would have been the correct number! We summited at 8:30am and were so hot by the time we got to the top. I stripped most of my layers off at that point and carried them down in my rucksack. If I had a choice, I would always choose to be a little bit warm over a little bit cold so I didn’t mind carrying the extra weight.
|
| At the top with eight layers on top and four on the bottom |
The Polartec Alpha fabric was originally designed for U.S Special Forces to be used in both dynamic and static situations. It is extremely breathable, lightweight, and dries fast. This means you don’t need to stop mid-activity and add or remove layers. It washes well and the hoodie didn’t leave fuzz everywhere even though the texture is fluffy.
Polartec Alpha is a fabric I will be sure to lookout for in the future when I am investing in new pieces for future outdoor adventures. Being lightweight, packable and versatile for layering makes it a good staple to keep in your rucksack.
How do you keep warm on your outdoor adventures? Leave a comment below and let me know.
by Mollie Millington | May 15, 2018 | product review
Often times when I dream, I am able to fly or bounce really high. I am taking this as a sign that flying should be my superhero power. Teleporting would be a close second but I only think this when I am wide awake. Other choices could be invincible, massive strength, running really fast, but for me flying would it. I have never really considered sky diving as an activity because it is just too scary for me. Jumping out of a plane, depending on parachutes, just seemed a bit risky, even if your first jump is tandem.
As you read last week, I recently made a trip out to Milton Keynes to ski at Snozone, an indoor snowsports facility. While I was looking at a map how to get there, I noticed that next door was iFly, an indoor skydiving facility. iFly is a worldwide company with three locations in the UK, who also operate wind tunnels all over the world.
What is indoor skydiving?
Indoor sky diving using a vertical wind tunnel to create the forces needed for you to be elevated off of the ‘ground’. The bottom of the tunnel wire mesh so the wind can travel through it yet provide a place to stand on. It simulates what it would feel like should you be fall through the sky, but gives you peace of mind because you are never more than 2 stories up in the air. The Milton Keynes tunnel is a wee bit smaller, but the other UK locations have the following stats:
- Max air speed of 180 mph
- Average flying height of 6 feet
- Maximum flying height of 39 feet
- Flight chamber diameter of 14 feet
My experience
I booked in last minute as there was a cancellation. Of course, I was super excited. The facility often books up ahead of time so you need to do a bit of planning if you want to go. iFly ask that you arrive an hour before your flight time to go through the safety process. First, you need to read and sign a declaration saying you release iFly of liability and that you have never has a shoulder dislocation or injury. After I did this, I then checked in at the reception desk, where I was again asked if I had a previous shoulder injury or dislocation. Thirty minutes before flight time, our instructor, Emma, gathered our small group of six flyers and took us into a separate room to watch a safety and instructional video. The video showed us the three important hand signals we would be using in the wind tunnel (chin up, straighten your legs, and relax)) and stated that if you have had a shoulder injury or dis locational,you need to tell the instructor. (See the theme here?). Emma came back in and went through the hand signals again and asked if we had any questions. Half the group were young boys with their moms there to watch. Then it was me and two men about my age.
Emma explained there would be an opportunity for two additional flight options while we are in the wind tunnel for additional cost. The first is spinning up to nearly the top of the tunnel with the instructor holding on to you. This would be in your second fly if you successfully demonstrate control and listening skills in your first fly. On a Saturday afternoon, this was £6. The other option was an additional flight (one minute) in the tunnel for £12. This is only available if there is time left at the end of the session and a pretty steep discount if instead you were to come.back for another visit.
After the video, we got suited up with goggles, helmet, and ear plugs. We also got a jumpsuit. Everything had to be locked up- rings, watches, earrings, so nothing could potentially fall off in the wind tunnel. You are required to wear shoes that tie, like a trainer (sneaker). I had my hiking boots on because of sledging next door which they said would be fine. Guess they are worries that shoes might fall off during your experience.
Once we were suited and booted, we climbed a flight of stairs to the viewing platform. There was a few benches and chairs for people who are with friends and family but not flying. We saw the end of the session before us. Before the group left, the instuctor had two minutes to literally fly all over the tunnel -spiralling down head first, swooping up at the last minute, hovering over the ground. It looked like CGI- the moves he made and the quick changes. It was amazing!
Finally, it was our turn. As a beginner, you get 2 one minute flights. The young boys went first and showed zero fear. At times, they struggled to understand that when Emma corrected one arm position, that meant they should do the same on the other side. As they were small and light, Emma was able to easily move them around so mom could get a good photo and they could try staying afloat near to her.
Then it was my go. I was able to float up well above Emma on my own. I tried to listen as best I could to her feedback and smile for the official camera at the same time. I did wish I had someone there to take photos of videos of me from the viewing platform but i knew i coukd buy the photos and videos that ifly take. Each minute does seems like a long time, especially when your body is bent in a way it isn’t used to and you are trying to stay relaxed as you go higher and higher. I felt like Charlie after he drank the Fizzy Lifting Drink at the Wonka Chocolate Factory.
Of course, I opted to go the top for the bonus spin. It was really fast, which kinda made me dizzy. We went up and down twice and I even drooled (hopefully just due to the force and not my old age).
The young boys each got an extra fly after mom’s approved from across the viewing platform. We were treated to Emma’s flying performance at the end which was spectacular. It really inspired me to develop this as an actual skill. We were told before leaving the tunnel waiting area that we could purchase additional flight packages at a discount that day as a “returning flyer”. I got a really good deal for my next visit which gives me six minutes of flight time. It was emailed to me and expires in three months. I need to book in soon so I don’t miss out!
We walked back down to the ground floor where we turned in our goggles, helmets and jumpsuits. Emma quickly processed our personalalized certification. You get rated on the essential manoeuvres to document how well you did in case you return. Emma told me I was a natural when I started asking her about the physics of the flying- how to turn your hands to start spinning or using leg position to go up and down. I observed her coaching the guy who was a returner, trying to figure some of these things out (the wind is way too loud to hear anything so you mostly rely on hand signals and exaggerated movements). I don’t know if I am really a naturual or just able to follow instructions. If I lived closer, I would consider making this a regular activity. Milton Keynes is just a wee bit far from where I live in London though to train on a regular basis.
All of the iFly staff was super nice. When booking in, I was on my phone on the train so I kept dropping in and out. The team was incredibly patient. Emma impressed me so much that I want to tell the manager. The person at reception said to leave a review on Trip Advisor and mentioned her. Of I did that, she would get a little treat at the end of the month. So I did.
Be sure to tell the truth about previous injuries
The most important thing I would say is to disclose any shoulder injuries you have ever had to your instructor. One of the guys in my group only told Emma about his shoulder dislocation at the age of 15 when we were turning in our equipment. I am a health and safety nut, but I think the fact they ask 3-4 times would clue participants in that this is a big deal.
In short, I loved it so much I bought another jump. If you are curious about skydiving and live in the UK, definitely check out iFly. And ask for Emma.
Thank you to IFly for having me out to try their facility. All opinions and stories of drooling are honest and my own.
by thinkmarsh | May 15, 2018 | product review
Often times when I dream, I am able to fly or bounce really high. I am taking this as a sign that flying should be my superhero power. Teleporting would be a close second but I only think this when I am wide awake. Other choices could be invincible, massive strength, running really fast, but for me flying would it. I have never really considered sky diving as an activity because it is just too scary for me. Jumping out of a plane, depending on parachutes, just seemed a bit risky, even if your first jump is tandem.
As you read last week, I recently made a trip out to Milton Keynes to ski at Snozone, an indoor snowsports facility. While I was looking at a map how to get there, I noticed that next door was iFly, an indoor skydiving facility. iFly is a worldwide company with three locations in the UK, who also operate wind tunnels all over the world.
What is indoor skydiving?
Indoor sky diving using a vertical wind tunnel to create the forces needed for you to be elevated off of the ‘ground’. The bottom of the tunnel wire mesh so the wind can travel through it yet provide a place to stand on. It simulates what it would feel like should you be fall through the sky, but gives you peace of mind because you are never more than 2 stories up in the air. The Milton Keynes tunnel is a wee bit smaller, but the other UK locations have the following stats:
- Max air speed of 180 mph
- Average flying height of 6 feet
- Maximum flying height of 39 feet
- Flight chamber diameter of 14 feet
My experience
I booked in last minute as there was a cancellation. Of course, I was super excited. The facility often books up ahead of time so you need to do a bit of planning if you want to go. iFly ask that you arrive an hour before your flight time to go through the safety process. First, you need to read and sign a declaration saying you release iFly of liability and that you have never has a shoulder dislocation or injury. After I did this, I then checked in at the reception desk, where I was again asked if I had a previous shoulder injury or dislocation. Thirty minutes before flight time, our instructor, Emma, gathered our small group of six flyers and took us into a separate room to watch a safety and instructional video. The video showed us the three important hand signals we would be using in the wind tunnel (chin up, straighten your legs, and relax)) and stated that if you have had a shoulder injury or dis locational,you need to tell the instructor. (See the theme here?). Emma came back in and went through the hand signals again and asked if we had any questions. Half the group were young boys with their moms there to watch. Then it was me and two men about my age.
Emma explained there would be an opportunity for two additional flight options while we are in the wind tunnel for additional cost. The first is spinning up to nearly the top of the tunnel with the instructor holding on to you. This would be in your second fly if you successfully demonstrate control and listening skills in your first fly. On a Saturday afternoon, this was £6. The other option was an additional flight (one minute) in the tunnel for £12. This is only available if there is time left at the end of the session and a pretty steep discount if instead you were to come.back for another visit.
After the video, we got suited up with goggles, helmet, and ear plugs. We also got a jumpsuit. Everything had to be locked up- rings, watches, earrings, so nothing could potentially fall off in the wind tunnel. You are required to wear shoes that tie, like a trainer (sneaker). I had my hiking boots on because of sledging next door which they said would be fine. Guess they are worries that shoes might fall off during your experience.
Once we were suited and booted, we climbed a flight of stairs to the viewing platform. There was a few benches and chairs for people who are with friends and family but not flying. We saw the end of the session before us. Before the group left, the instuctor had two minutes to literally fly all over the tunnel -spiralling down head first, swooping up at the last minute, hovering over the ground. It looked like CGI- the moves he made and the quick changes. It was amazing!
Finally, it was our turn. As a beginner, you get 2 one minute flights. The young boys went first and showed zero fear. At times, they struggled to understand that when Emma corrected one arm position, that meant they should do the same on the other side. As they were small and light, Emma was able to easily move them around so mom could get a good photo and they could try staying afloat near to her.
Then it was my go. I was able to float up well above Emma on my own. I tried to listen as best I could to her feedback and smile for the official camera at the same time. I did wish I had someone there to take photos of videos of me from the viewing platform but i knew i coukd buy the photos and videos that ifly take. Each minute does seems like a long time, especially when your body is bent in a way it isn’t used to and you are trying to stay relaxed as you go higher and higher. I felt like Charlie after he drank the Fizzy Lifting Drink at the Wonka Chocolate Factory.
Of course, I opted to go the top for the bonus spin. It was really fast, which kinda made me dizzy. We went up and down twice and I even drooled (hopefully just due to the force and not my old age).
The young boys each got an extra fly after mom’s approved from across the viewing platform. We were treated to Emma’s flying performance at the end which was spectacular. It really inspired me to develop this as an actual skill. We were told before leaving the tunnel waiting area that we could purchase additional flight packages at a discount that day as a “returning flyer”. I got a really good deal for my next visit which gives me six minutes of flight time. It was emailed to me and expires in three months. I need to book in soon so I don’t miss out!
We walked back down to the ground floor where we turned in our goggles, helmets and jumpsuits. Emma quickly processed our personalalized certification. You get rated on the essential manoeuvres to document how well you did in case you return. Emma told me I was a natural when I started asking her about the physics of the flying- how to turn your hands to start spinning or using leg position to go up and down. I observed her coaching the guy who was a returner, trying to figure some of these things out (the wind is way too loud to hear anything so you mostly rely on hand signals and exaggerated movements). I don’t know if I am really a naturual or just able to follow instructions. If I lived closer, I would consider making this a regular activity. Milton Keynes is just a wee bit far from where I live in London though to train on a regular basis.
All of the iFly staff was super nice. When booking in, I was on my phone on the train so I kept dropping in and out. The team was incredibly patient. Emma impressed me so much that I want to tell the manager. The person at reception said to leave a review on Trip Advisor and mentioned her. Of I did that, she would get a little treat at the end of the month. So I did.
Be sure to tell the truth about previous injuries
The most important thing I would say is to disclose any shoulder injuries you have ever had to your instructor. One of the guys in my group only told Emma about his shoulder dislocation at the age of 15 when we were turning in our equipment. I am a health and safety nut, but I think the fact they ask 3-4 times would clue participants in that this is a big deal.
In short, I loved it so much I bought another jump. If you are curious about skydiving and live in the UK, definitely check out iFly. And ask for Emma.
Thank you to IFly for having me out to try their facility. All opinions and stories of drooling are honest and my own.
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