MY GEAR

OEX BANDICOOT II (V1)
This 2 man tent was an absolute god send when I bought it. It's quite low profile but very spacious inside and there's great headroom in the porch so in poor conditions, you can still rustle up some goodies and a brew. I've been out in all seasons and some pretty rough conditions and it's never budged or leaked so it's still an active part of my kit. It does make me wonder how this stacks up against the likes of the Hilleberg. Maybe when i'm rich i'll get to make some comparisons. Now, as I mention in the title I got this tent when it was first released and while it's stood the test of time, it's quite a weighty beast in at 3.2kg whereas the current version weighs half that (1.6kg) while claiming to be just as tough so if I were you, i'd opt for that.

OEX PHOXX 1 (V1)
I was debating for a long time weather or not I should get this 1 man tent. I loved the fact it was black for the stealth factor plus it weighs half of the Bandicoot at just shy of 1.6kg. While this is great and keeps you well hidden it does have it's drawbacks. I'm 6ft 2 and can only just get into it (as in my feet and head are touching both ends). The door is only 1 sided which has been reviewed in the newer version. The biggest drawback to this tent is the lack of any storage area. You can squeeze gear in on the non-zipped side, but it is a squeeze. Also it's an inner first pitch so if it's raining, it will get wet. That said, it really comes into it's own in good weather conditions as only pitching the inner allows you to sleep under the stars while keeping the midgies off. So while it becomes a bit of a coffin in poor conditions, it really finds it's place over the summer.

SNUGPAK BERGEN 100L RUCKSACK
If you're like me you've been through a good few rucksacks. My first one didn't even make it out of the door without falling apart (I paid £24 on ebay... waste of money). One thing I would say to you is opt for space over size of pack. I always struggled with a 60 litre pack resulting in some gear ending up on the outside. Now this Bergen not only allowed me to pack everything away with space to spare but the sheer amount of customisation you can make to it is incredible. The two huge pouches on the sides can hold a 1 man tent and an inflatable mat in each leaving the interior for whatever else, like your beer. Don't need the pouches? Just remove them as they're only zipped and strapped. The whole thing is made from thick material too and it just feels built to last.

NEW: VANGO TREK 3 COMPACT SLEEPING MAT
This was one of the latest pieces of gear i added and was bought in a hurry as i discovered my old mat had a failed valve and i was due to head out on ruck01 the following day. It boasts an R rating of 4.0, weighs 850g and promises for a comfortable sleep while out on the hills. What i would say is its no different to similar, unbranded mats although the material does feel tougher than cheaper alternatives. Its still very thin being just over half an inch thick so will only provide minor protection from the cold ground. I'll be replacing this later in the year but it'll do for now.

NEW: OEX BUSH PRO BIVVI
It's my first bivvi and I love how small and light it is (370 grams!). It's waterproof, breathable and has a hydrostatic head of 5000. I bought this as an emergency shelter should my tent suffer the worst in the night. I will have to test it out as my sole shelter in some wet conditions. It does, however, work great when you stick your sleeping bag in it in the tent. Holds your body heat nicely so should it epicly fail when used as a shelter, it will remain part of my gear for use in the tent.

MSR POCKET ROCKET
Now I don't know how this thing even works but it really does! I used to have the MSR Dragonfly which was fueled by Petrol. It's a great stove but it's weighty, especially once you've filled the fuel bottle. Enter the Pocket Rocket which genuinely fits in the palm of your hand and folds out into a small stove, enough for your pan. Lights with a flint and runs off your normal gas canisters, so all you need to pack is one of those button canisters. Fantastic bit of kit if you're looking to keep the weight down. In extremely low temperatures make sure you keep your gas canister somewhere warm. If left out overnight, stick it in your sleeping bag for an hour or the gas will be too cold to light.

MSR TRAILSHOT WATER PURIFIER
Now this is incredible. I always packed my water for every trip, adding incredible weight to my pack (starting to realise why my £24 ebay pack fell apart). I found this randomly abandoned down an aisle in GoOutdoors and was impressed by what it could do so bought it there and then. This can purify water on the fly. Drink from any, lake, stream, waterfall, hell even muddy puddles! The only downside is while that muddy puddle water won't make you ill anymore, the colour won't be changed, nor will the taste. I'd still recommend sourcing your drinking water from flowing streams and tarns, not stagnant pools or said muddy puddles, purely for it not tasting like Gandhi's flip flop (as my mum would say). Still, in an emergency the option is there.

EVERYTHING ELSE...

Obviously I don't take all of this out all year around. Things get added and removed as the conditions change but this is everything I have to choose from.

CLOTHING

Regatta Birchdale Waterproof Jacket (10000 Hydrostatic Head and Breathable... what more could you need)
OEX Waterproof Trousers (with zips down the sides for ventilation)
Hi-Gear Trekker Gaiters
Boots (New ones being purchased as we speak)
Boot Spikes (Winter use only)
Spare socks and underwear (Just bliss after you get soaked)
Spare clothing (packed according to the current season or conditions)
Woolly hat
Fingerless gloves
Thick gloves and socks (once everything is done)
Aqua Shoes

NAVIGATION

Ordnance Survey Map
Silva CompasS
smartphone with GPS mapping of the area

THE RUCKER GALLEY

Cooking Tins (With removable handle for easy packing)
Gas Canister (enough for the duration of the trip)
TBS Army Firesteel (No need for matches)
OEX Windblocka (Foldable Stove Wind Shield)
Wildo Foldacup Collapsible Cup
Spork
Pack of Anti-bacterial Wipes
Nescafe 3 In 1 Coffee Sachets
2 litres of Water
Small packets of Salt, Pepper and Sauce

FILMING AND PRODUCTION

Samsung S22 Smartphone (waterproof and has a fantastic camera)
Maxcam LED Floodlight (for low light recordings)
UURIG TP-02 Tripod / Selfie stick
Rode Videomicro microphone with deadcat
Anemometer (For checking wind speeds and temperature... cough, geek, cough)

miscellaneous

Cudeman Full Tang Knife (For Bushcraft... or a stubborn steak)
First Aid Kit
Tick Remover
Insect Repellent
Hand Sanitiser
Deodorant
Survival Shelter
Loads of repair tape (Duct Tape, PVC Repair Tape, etc for air mattress or a ripped tent or tarp)
Loads of Carabiner Clips
Spare Paracord
Bluetooth Speaker
Small Towel (For tent condensation or to dry off)