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As an outdoor writer and photographer, I spend a lot of time on the trail. Long days with a fully-laden pack is part of my job so I am constantly looking for products which help me lighten the load, without a reduction in performance. A sleeping bag is one of the heaviest items that a backpacker carries and the differences in weights between products can be large. The very lightest sleeping bags are light because they incorporate the lightest products available and these are pared down to the bare minimum. Very light bags normally use goose down as the fill because it offers the most favourable warmth to weight ratio: obviously, the more fill you include, the heavier the bag. However, the outer materials of sleeping bags vary greatly from manufacturer to manufacturer. To keep weight down they tend to be very thin. And very thin material is often not very durable so that is something that I pay close attention to. The holy grail of sleeping bags is therefore one that is very warm, very light and very durable. And I have to say that Zpacks’ Full Zip Sleeping Bag is as close to perfection as I have seen.
However, before we get into that in detail, let’s go over a few basic facts about sleeping bags. Each bag has a ‘comfort rating’: this is the lowest temperature at which the standard woman should enjoy a comfortable night’s sleep. There is also a ‘lower comfort limit’ which is for men. That may sound simple but it is not. Although all reputable sleeping bag manufacturers use the same independent standard, the bags are not tested in the same place so there is a lack of consistency amongst ratings. Also, the ratings are designed with an average man and woman in mind but every person is different: some people get colder than others. The ratings should therefore be used as a guide only and it is wise to choose a bag with a comfort rating which is a few degrees lower than the night temperatures that you will encounter. I have used a lot of sleeping bags over the years but have rarely found that the very lightest bags perform well at the lower end of their intended temperature range. Now it is fair to say that, as I am skinny, I tend to ‘sleep cold’ and am therefore pushing my sleep systems to the limit: I rarely find that I can get a comfortable night’s sleep if outside temperatures drop to the bottom of the sleeping bag’s comfort limit. Accordingly, I think that my body provides science with a sensible guinea pig to test bags in the real world.
Fitting At 183cm tall, I was in the middle between the medium and the long size. I chose the long length and I did not regret this choice. Zpacks’ sizing seems very accurate. Although, it was slightly too long for me, it has no integrated hood so I was able to snuggle down and pull the material up around the side of my head. I hate having my feet wedged against the bottom of a smaller bag. Anybody slightly smaller than me might go for the medium.
The outer is water-repellent and the down is water-resistant so I found that the bag did not lose heat even when the outer was damp with condensation. This is a very important consideration when cold weather camping because condensation is unavoidable. The draft tube along the zip was effective and I did not feel that much heat escaped from there. I found no ‘dead spots’ in the insulation either: it is obvious that this is a premium product. I liked the draw cord which was thin but easily strong enough. It is clear that many manufacturers are over-specing drawcords. I also liked the clip at the top of the zip which stops unintentional unzipping. I was concerned about the lack of an integrated hood but in fact, this has completely changed the way that I look at sleeping bags. The separate goose hood was a revelation for a front/side sleeper like me. You can twist and turn in the sleeping bag without the main body of the bag turning too. This ensures that you stay warm all night. It works so much better than an integrated hood if you do not sleep on your back. My only slight niggle is the zip which seems overly robust and heavy compared to the zips used by some other manufacturers such as Thermarest. Could there be a potential weight-saving here?
Durability: Backpacking in the wild puts a lot of pressure on gear. However, over 7 days I noticed no wear at all on the outer and I found it to be very robust. Of course, there will be bags that have tougher outers but not at this weight. Personally, I would rather carry a very light bag and try to take good care of it. Conclusion The Zpacks’ Full Zip Sleeping Bag 10F is now my ‘go-to’ bag for backpacking in temperatures below zero. It has easily the best ratio of warmth to weight that I have ever experienced and it is the lightest bag I have ever used that actually keeps me warm at -8°C. I expect that those who sleep warm would easily be able to use it down to 10F/-12°C. Unlike many other bags, it has both water-resistant outer and down which is an important and much-overlooked characteristic. It also comes with a waterproof Dyneema bag which is extremely tough and light. The outer seems to be sufficiently robust if you take good care of it. The full zip provides welcome flexibility: if you ever get too warm you can simply stick your feet out the bottom. Bags with ¾ length zips do not allow for that. At $469, it is not cheap but if you like to travel ultralight then it is a price worth paying. Without hesitation, I would honestly say that this is the gold standard for sleeping bags. And it comes in four different colours: see images below. If I had to find a fault, it would be the zip which seems to be a little over-speced. Could Zpacks not save even more weight by using a lighter zip such as the one on the Thermarest Hyperion? But honestly, that is the only fault I can find with this exceptional sleeping bag
Andrew McCluggage is an outdoor writer and photographer. He is also the CEO of Knife Edge Outdoor Guidebooks. He has written a large number of books for walking and trekking including Tour du Mont Blanc, Trekking the Dolomites AV1, Trekking the Corsica GR20, Trekking the West Highland Way, Trekking the Hadrian’s Wall Path and The Haute Route: Chamonix to Zermatt. Follow Andrew on Facebook and Instagram: @knifeedgeoutdoor Tour du Mont Blanc
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Complete guidebook for planning and trekking the Tour du Mont Blanc, the world's most famous trek Real maps for each stage: 1:25,000. No need to carry a separate map! Unique Itinerary Planner: plan a bespoke itinerary to match your ability and vacation schedule. All difficult calculations of time, distance and altitude gain are done for you Everything the trekker needs to know: route descriptions, costs, budget, difficulty, weather, how to get there, and more Full accommodation listings: spectacularly situated mountain huts, villages and hamlets Full section on camping: a complete list of camping locations 10 exciting variants to the main route! Information for both self-guided and guided trekkers Trekking the West Highland Way: Two-way guide
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Available December2021/January 2022. Pre-order now to get one of the first batch. The definitive two-way guide to the West Highland Way: both northbound and southbound routes are described in full. Real Maps: Full Ordnance Survey Explorer mapping inside (1:25,000) 17 different itineraries: schedules of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 days for hikers and runners. Includes both southbound and northbound itineraries. Difficult calculations of time, distance and altitude gain are done for you. Also includes:
Trekking the Dolomites AV1
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Available Now! The only guidebook exclusively for the AV1. Real maps inside (Tabacco 1:25,000): the finest maps available for the Dolomites. ​ Everything you need to know to plan and walk Italy's most popular long distance route. Also includes: Numbered waypoints linking maps to text Unique Itinerary Planner: plan a bespoke itinerary to match your ability and vacation schedule. All difficult calculations of time, distance and altitude gain are done for you 7 Proposed Itineraries of between 6 and 11 days Everything the trekker needs to know to plan the route: route descriptions, costs, budget, difficulty, weather, how to get there, and more    Full accommodation listings: spectacularly situated mountain huts Section on Camping Exciting variants to the main route Information for both self-guided and guided trekkers ​ Edge to edge colour: the most modern and beautiful guidebooks Walking Chamonix Mont Blanc
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​The 20 hikes in the Chamonix Valley that need to be on your Bucket List. No fillers. Only must-do hikes are included. ► Real IGN Maps inside: 1:25,000 ► Detailed information on public transport, including cable cars ► Our secret tips on how to get away from the crowds ► Numbered waypoints linking the Real Maps to our clear descriptions ► Graded routes to suit all abilities ► Everything the hiker needs to know: route descriptions, difficulty, weather, how to get there, and more ► Information on Wildlife and Plants Our walks have been carefully selected to enable easy access by public transport, including the Chamonix Valley’s incredible cable car network. Chamonix is the most famous mountain town in the world. It is where mountaineering began. ​ Its peerless reputation owes everything to the mighty Mont Blanc, the highest peak in Western Europe: our hikes will take you to the finest viewpoints of the mountain and its glaciers. Walker's Haute Route: Chamonix to Zermatt
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Trekking the Corsica GR20
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Available now! The only two-way guide to the GR20: both northbound and southbound routes are described in full. Real IGN Maps included (1:25,000): no need to carry separate maps. 15 different itineraries: schedules of 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 days. Includes both northbound and southbound itineraries. Difficult calculations of time, distance and altitude gain are done for you. Also includes:
Trekking the Hadrian’s Wall Path
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Available now! Real OS maps 1:25,000 The definitive two-way guide to the Hadrian’s Wall Path: both eastbound and westbound routes are described in full. 14 different itineraries: schedules of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 days for walkers and runners. Includes both northbound and southbound itineraries. Difficult calculations of time, distance and altitude gain are done for you. Also includes:
Hadrian’s Wall was one of the Romans’ most ambitious structures. When completed, it ran for 73 miles between the west and east coasts of Northern England. It crossed the crags and hills of some of Britain’s wildest and most beautiful terrain. The Hadrian’s Wall path is one of England’s official ‘National Trails’. It leads you on an unforgettable journey of discovery along the route of the Wall. Discover the incredible surviving sections of the Wall and its forts, milecastles and turrets. Walking Brittany
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32 epic coastal walks Brittany in France Real IGN Maps inside: 1:25,000. No ‘fillers’! Only unmissable walks made the cut. Wild coastline: towering cliffs, remote headlands, forgotten islands and stunning beaches which would not be out of place on a Caribbean island. Northern Ireland: the Unmissable Walks
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The definitive guidebook for walking in Northern Ireland: 36 epic walks hand-picked by a County Down local. The only guidebook for Northern Ireland with real OSNI maps inside: this makes navigation easy. The Causeway Coast, the Glens of Antrim, the Mourne Mountains, the Sperrins and much more. Also includes:
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 The Mer de Glace seen from Signal Forbes People are constantly asking me how they should spend their spare days in Chamonix after trekking the TMB. So here is a link to an article I have written on my bucket list of epic viewpoints in the Chamonix Valley. These are the places which you simply CAN NOT miss! It should help you start your planning. 
Walking Chamonix Mont Blanc
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​The 20 hikes in the Chamonix Valley that need to be on your Bucket List. No fillers. Only must-do hikes are included. ► Real IGN Maps inside: 1:25,000 ► Detailed information on public transport, including cable cars ► Our secret tips on how to get away from the crowds ► Numbered waypoints linking the Real Maps to our clear descriptions ► Graded routes to suit all abilities ► Everything the hiker needs to know: route descriptions, difficulty, weather, how to get there, and more ► Information on Wildlife and Plants Our walks have been carefully selected to enable easy access by public transport, including the Chamonix Valley’s incredible cable car network. Chamonix is the most famous mountain town in the world. It is where mountaineering began. ​ Its peerless reputation owes everything to the mighty Mont Blanc, the highest peak in Western Europe: our hikes will take you to the finest viewpoints of the mountain and its glaciers. 
Tour du Mont Blanc
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Complete guidebook for planning and trekking the Tour du Mont Blanc, the world's most famous trek Real maps for each stage: 1:25,000. No need to carry a separate map! Unique Itinerary Planner: plan a bespoke itinerary to match your ability and vacation schedule. All difficult calculations of time, distance and altitude gain are done for you Everything the trekker needs to know: route descriptions, costs, budget, difficulty, weather, how to get there, and more Full accommodation listings: spectacularly situated mountain huts, villages and hamlets Full section on camping: a complete list of camping locations 10 exciting variants to the main route! Information for both self-guided and guided trekkers 
Walker's Haute Route: Chamonix to Zermatt
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Trekking the Dolomites AV1
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Available Now! The only guidebook exclusively for the AV1. Real maps inside (Tabacco 1:25,000): the finest maps available for the Dolomites. ​ Everything you need to know to plan and walk Italy's most popular long distance route. Also includes: Numbered waypoints linking maps to text Unique Itinerary Planner: plan a bespoke itinerary to match your ability and vacation schedule. All difficult calculations of time, distance and altitude gain are done for you 7 Proposed Itineraries of between 6 and 11 days Everything the trekker needs to know to plan the route: route descriptions, costs, budget, difficulty, weather, how to get there, and more    Full accommodation listings: spectacularly situated mountain huts Section on Camping Exciting variants to the main route Information for both self-guided and guided trekkers ​ Edge to edge colour: the most modern and beautiful guidebooks 
Tour of the Ecrins National Park
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Real maps for each stage: 1:25,000. No need to carry a separate map! Complete guidebook for planning and trekking the Tour of the Ecrins National Park. The GR54 is arguably the finest trek in the Alps. Unique Itinerary Planner: plan a bespoke itinerary to match your ability and vacation schedule. All difficult calculations of time, distance and altitude gain are done for you Everything the trekker needs to know: route descriptions, costs, budget, difficulty, weather, how to get there, equipment and more Full accommodation listings: spectacularly situated mountain huts, villages and hamlets Full information on camping ​ Exciting variants to the main route! 
Walking Brittany
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32 epic coastal walks Brittany in France Real IGN Maps inside: 1:25,000. No ‘fillers’! Only unmissable walks made the cut. Wild coastline: towering cliffs, remote headlands, forgotten islands and stunning beaches which would not be out of place on a Caribbean island.  The AV1 starts at the magnificent Lago di Braies It is no exaggeration to state that the Dolomites AV1 is one of the world’s most beautiful treks. And it is therefore no surprise to learn that it is also very busy. In a normal year, in July and August, almost every bed in every refuge, gîte and hotel will eventually be booked up and not just by AV1 trekkers: weekenders and day walkers also want to experience this magnificent terrain. Of course, Covid changed the world and 2020 was a very different year. Travelling to the Dolomites was a challenge for those who did not reside in Continental Europe and few English-speaking trekkers have walked this year. Even the number of UK trekkers willing or able to cross the English Channel was very small. Those that did find a way to get to the Dolomites had an overwhelmingly positive experience: walker numbers were far fewer than at any other time in recent years and you could sometimes book accommodation at the last minute. Often people had to move heaven and earth to get there but they were richly rewarded, enjoying an exceptional Alpine ‘honeypot’ without the crowds. Italy had its serious Covid outbreak before other western countries and as a result, it was one of the first to recover. Whilst Covid is still present, it appears that the situation is being kept under control. Those that did trek in 2020 have mostly reported that they felt very safe. The rifugi, by all accounts, handled Covid very well and the sanitary and distancing measures that they put in place seemed to please most.
However, I think that those desperate to walk the AV1 should not put plans completely on hold. The Dolomites trekking season is very short (approximately 10-12 weeks depending on the year). With a popular trek like the AV1, it can be difficult to get the stars to align to get on the trek within this short period. And these days, it is very difficult to plan the AV1 at the last minute if you are not camping. We do not get much notice when governments change rules or when airlines start up flights again. If you have not done some planning and preparation before that happens then you will probably miss out. Those who have already done their homework will be able to move faster. Furthermore, because so many people missed out in 2020, there is going to be massive pent-up demand for the AV1 in the next few years. And the rifugi will probably continue to run at reduced capacity in the next few seasons. Accordingly, AV1 accommodation for the foreseeable future is going to be like gold dust.  An AV1 marker on the route to Rifugio Pramperet So, this is what I think you should do: Plan your itinerary now: buy the guidebooks and maps; work out how many days you want to spend on the trek; design an itinerary that matches your capabilities and vacation schedule; and make a list of the places you want to stay. Take your time. Get yourself into a position to be able to start booking accommodation the moment that you feel it is right to do so. Forget about flights for now: those can be booked later on, if and when, they become available. If they do not become available, then you have not wasted any time: your itinerary planning work will still be good for the following season. Consider booking AV1 accommodation: there are ways of booking accommodation so that it can be cancelled later or moved to future dates. Most of those who booked for 2020, but could not travel, obtained refunds or were permitted to shift their dates to subsequent seasons. If done right, you should not lose any money if you have to cancel or postpone. If booking accommodation independently, choose rifugi/hotels that allow cancellation or amendment. Or book with a self-guided/guided tour company that allows you to cancel or change your dates. In any case, most accommodation requires only small deposits of €15-20 so the risk is not huge. If you start booking in October 2020, then you should get the choice accommodation: private rooms, etc. If you wait until flights open up next year than you may get nothing. If travel is impossible next year then you should have lost nothing more than a little time. On the other hand, if you do not put the work in now then it seems likely that you will miss out with the accommodation operating at such reduced capacity. Please feel free to ask me any questions!
 Finish the TMB on this incredible balcony below le Brevent It is no exaggeration to state that the Tour du Mont Blanc is exquisite. And it is therefore no surprise to learn that it is also very busy. In a normal year, in July and August, almost every bed in every refuge, gîte and hotel will eventually be booked up and not just by TMB trekkers: weekenders and day walkers also want to experience this magnificent terrain. Of course, Covid changed the world and 2020 was a very different year. Travelling to the Alps was a challenge for those who did not reside in Continental Europe and few English-speaking trekkers have walked this year. Even the number of UK trekkers willing or able to cross the English Channel was very small. Those that did find a way to get to the Chamonix Valley had an overwhelmingly positive experience: walker numbers were far fewer than at any other time in the modern TMB era and you could sometimes book accommodation at the last minute. Often people had to move heaven and earth to get there but they were richly rewarded, enjoying an exceptional Alpine ‘honeypot’ without the crowds. Those that did trek in 2020 have mostly reported that they felt very safe. The refuges, by all accounts, handled Covid very well and the sanitary and distancing measures that they put in place seemed to please most.
But what the hell do I know?! Well, while I cannot profess to be an expert on contagious disease or economics, I do know that the current environment is deterring most people from making travel plans, especially in places like the US where Covid has continued to spread over the summer. Most people will wait for flights actually to open up before starting to plan a trip. There is of course common sense to this: what is the point of planning a trip if there is no way of getting there? However, I think that those desperate to walk the TMB should not put plans completely on hold. The Alpine trekking season is very short (approximately 10-12 weeks depending on the year). With a popular trek like the TMB, it can be difficult to get the stars to align to get on the trek within this short period. And these days, it is almost impossible to plan the TMB at the last minute if you are not camping. We do not get much notice when governments change rules or when airlines start up flights again. If you have not done some planning and preparation before that happens then you will miss out. Furthermore, because so many people missed out in 2020, there is going to be massive pent-up demand for the TMB in the next few years. And the refuges will probably continue to run at reduced capacity in the next few seasons. Accordingly, TMB accommodation for the foreseeable future is going to be like gold dust.  Col de la Croix du Bonhomme on the TMB So, this is what I think you should do:
If travel is impossible next year then you should have lost nothing more than a little time. On the other hand, if you do not put the work in now then it seems likely that you will miss out with the accommodation operating at such reduced capacity. Please feel free to ask me any questions!
Walking Chamonix Mont Blanc
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​The 20 hikes in the Chamonix Valley that need to be on your Bucket List. No fillers. Only must-do hikes are included. ► Real IGN Maps inside: 1:25,000 ► Detailed information on public transport, including cable cars ► Our secret tips on how to get away from the crowds ► Numbered waypoints linking the Real Maps to our clear descriptions ► Graded routes to suit all abilities ► Everything the hiker needs to know: route descriptions, difficulty, weather, how to get there, and more ► Information on Wildlife and Plants Our walks have been carefully selected to enable easy access by public transport, including the Chamonix Valley’s incredible cable car network. Chamonix is the most famous mountain town in the world. It is where mountaineering began. ​ Its peerless reputation owes everything to the mighty Mont Blanc, the highest peak in Western Europe: our hikes will take you to the finest viewpoints of the mountain and its glaciers. Walker's Haute Route: Chamonix to Zermatt
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Real maps for each stage: 1:25,000/1:50,000. No need to carry a separate map! Also includes:
Trekking the Dolomites AV1
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Available Now! The only guidebook exclusively for the AV1. Real maps inside (Tabacco 1:25,000): the finest maps available for the Dolomites. ​ Everything you need to know to plan and walk Italy's most popular long distance route. Also includes: Numbered waypoints linking maps to text Unique Itinerary Planner: plan a bespoke itinerary to match your ability and vacation schedule. All difficult calculations of time, distance and altitude gain are done for you 7 Proposed Itineraries of between 6 and 11 days Everything the trekker needs to know to plan the route: route descriptions, costs, budget, difficulty, weather, how to get there, and more    Full accommodation listings: spectacularly situated mountain huts Section on Camping Exciting variants to the main route Information for both self-guided and guided trekkers ​ Edge to edge colour: the most modern and beautiful guidebooks Tour of the Ecrins National Park
£13.99
AVAILABLE NOW!
Real maps for each stage: 1:25,000. No need to carry a separate map! Complete guidebook for planning and trekking the Tour of the Ecrins National Park. The GR54 is arguably the finest trek in the Alps. Unique Itinerary Planner: plan a bespoke itinerary to match your ability and vacation schedule. All difficult calculations of time, distance and altitude gain are done for you Everything the trekker needs to know: route descriptions, costs, budget, difficulty, weather, how to get there, equipment and more Full accommodation listings: spectacularly situated mountain huts, villages and hamlets Full information on camping ​ Exciting variants to the main route! Tour du Mont Blanc
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Complete guidebook for planning and trekking the Tour du Mont Blanc, the world's most famous trek Real maps for each stage: 1:25,000. No need to carry a separate map! Unique Itinerary Planner: plan a bespoke itinerary to match your ability and vacation schedule. All difficult calculations of time, distance and altitude gain are done for you Everything the trekker needs to know: route descriptions, costs, budget, difficulty, weather, how to get there, and more Full accommodation listings: spectacularly situated mountain huts, villages and hamlets Full section on camping: a complete list of camping locations 10 exciting variants to the main route! Information for both self-guided and guided trekkers As an outdoor writer and photographer, I spend a lot of time on the trail. Long days with a fully-laden pack is part of my job so I am constantly looking for products which help me lighten the load, without a reduction in performance. Often one of the heaviest things a backpacker carries is the backpack itself and the differences in weights between products can be large. The very lightest packs are light because they incorporate the lightest products available and these are pared down to the bare minimum. Very light materials tend to be very thin. And very thin material is often not very durable. The holy grail of backpacks is therefore one that is light and durable and still performs well. I have used a lot of packs over the years and have never found the very lightest packs to be very good. Sometimes the straps are too flimsy to be comfortable. Sometimes the material just does not last very long. Well the Zpacks Arc Blast 55 has changed everything for me. Over here in Europe, I had been hearing great things about Zpacks, a US manufacturer, for a few years now. So, I was very keen to get my hands on one of the packs. I chose the Zpacks Arc Blast 55 which has a good reputation in the US as an ultralight option for multi-day treks. Normally, I travel long-distance trails with a 45-litre pack which requires very careful packing to ensure that overnight gear and food fit in. The Arc Blast 55 would give me a little more space and yet at 569g it was still much lighter than 45-50 litre packs from other manufacturers.  Zpacks Arc Blast 55 Backpack on the South Downs Way
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Conclusion The Arc Blast 55 is now my ‘go-to’ pack for long-distance treks. It is easily the lightest pack that I have ever used. In fact, it is almost unbelievably light. Yet I found it to be stable, durable and very comfortable. Unlike most other packs, it is almost completely waterproof. Despite the lightweight construction, it performed extremely well. At $325 it is not cheap but if you like to travel ultralight then it is a price worth paying. But can I not find any faults at all? OK then, I have just one: please Mr Zpacks can we have a whistle on the sternum strap?! Honestly, that is the only fault I can find with this exceptional backpack.
So here is my advice:
Depending upon how events play out and exactly when the refuges open, it is possible that the TMB and AV1 are the quietest they have been in decades. And that is something that I am going to see. NEVER STOP DREAMING!!!
 Last summer I set out to hike the Tour du Mont Blanc again. But this time I was aiming to complete it in less than 7 days. Did I succeed? I tell all in my article: just click on the link below. This article was originally published in TGO magazine in October 2019 
TMB Booking Strategy: Which refuges on the Tour du Mont Blanc get booked up most quickly?21/10/2019 TMB Accommodation ‘Pinch Points’  Refuge du Col de la Croix du Bonhomme on the TMB Common ‘pinch points’ are as follows (clockwise from the start at les Houches): 1. Refuge de la Croix du Bonhomme (‘RCB’), les Chapieux and Refuge des Mottets (Stage 2c, 2d and 3a): not wanting to push too hard at the start of the trek, most break their first day at les Contamines. This means that the natural stopping point on day 2 is RCB or les Chapieux (14-19km). If you push on from les Chapieux, it is another 6.5km to the next refuge which makes for a very long day. If you cannot get a booking at les Chapieux or RCB then you will probably be faced with one very long day followed by one very short one (or vice versa). Accordingly, these two places often get booked up very quickly. Refuge des Mottets takes the overflow and so it can be hard to secure too. Try to get this section booked as a priority as very long days can be problematic near the start of a trek when you are not yet ‘battle hardened’.
By booking well in advance, you can ensure that you get your accommodation of choice. However, it is wise to give the booking of the ‘pinch points’ priority as these will likely fill up first. If you book everything else and then find that you cannot secure accommodation at a ‘pinch point’ then you may have to go back to square one and rebook everything again. 2. Rifugio Walter Bonatti (Stage 5b/v5b): this refuge is well placed between Courmayeur and la Fouly so, from a scheduling point of view, it is fair to say that it is probably the best place to stop for the night. Furthermore, on the trail you often hear people talking about their future stays at Bonatti with a kind of reverence. And the older guidebooks certainly seem to have contributed to its excellent reputation. And this reputation means that it is almost always booked up (except at the start and end of the season). Personally, I find it to be a bit of a ‘TMB factory’, processing TMB walkers in an austere manner albeit offering clean and largely comfortable facilities. And it has to be said that the location is spectacular. Nevertheless, there are other good options not too far away and I prefer to stay at Rifugios Bertone or Elena (which are admittedly both 2 hours away, one before Bonatti and one after). However, if you have your heart set on Bonatti then get it booked as soon as they start accepting bookings.
5. Refuge la Flégère/Refuge du Lac Blanc (Stage 10/v10): if you cannot get one of these two refuges booked then, unless you are camping, you are faced with a massive double day all the way to les Houches or you have to take the cable car down to Chamonix for the evening. In my opinion a stay at one of these two places is a TMB highlight: they are the best locations for sunsets on the whole trek as the sun lights up the whole Mont Blanc Massif. They both fill up fast.
 Stage v5b of the Tour du Mont Blanc
 Stage 3 of the GR221 was a complete contrast to the epic panoramas of the previous two stages. The path took us slightly inland to see a Mallorca hidden from most: balmy, aromatic Holm Oak forest and a wonderful historic mountain village. On this stage you really start to understand why the GR221 is known as the Drystone Way...... 
The Mourne Mountains: 30 best hikes
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30 epic walks in Northern Ireland's highest mountains. ​ The only Mournes guidebook with Real OSNI Maps inside (1:25k): no need to carry separate maps! The only Mournes guidebook written by a local walker with decades of experience. Also includes: ▶ Numbered waypoints linking the Real Maps to our clear descriptions ▶ Graded routes to suit all abilities ▶ Everything the hiker needs to know: route descriptions, difficulty, weather, how to get there, and more ▶ 4 different ways to summit Slieve Donard, Northern Ireland's highest peak ▶ The 21 mile Mourne Wall challenge walk ▶ List of Irish place names ▶ Information on Wildlife, Plants & Geology ▶ Game of Thrones film locations ▶ Section on accommodation 
Northern Ireland: the Unmissable Walks
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The definitive guidebook for walking in Northern Ireland: 36 epic walks hand-picked by a County Down local. The only guidebook for Northern Ireland with real OSNI maps inside: this makes navigation easy. The Causeway Coast, the Glens of Antrim, the Mourne Mountains, the Sperrins and much more. Also includes:
Big Hikes in the Mourne Mountains
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A collection of epic long-distance routes for walkers and runners in Northern Ireland's highest mountains, which sweep majestically down to the Irish Sea at the pretty seaside town of Newcastle. Real OSNI Maps inside
The routes have been hand-picked and clearly written by a local walker with decades of experience. Wild mountain terrain: beautifully long ridges, magnificent summits and vibrant heather and gorse covered slopes.
Walker's Haute Route: Chamonix to Zermatt
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Real maps for each stage: 1:25,000/1:50,000. No need to carry a separate map! Also includes:
Tour du Mont Blanc
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Complete guidebook for planning and trekking the Tour du Mont Blanc, the world's most famous trek Real maps for each stage: 1:25,000. No need to carry a separate map! Unique Itinerary Planner: plan a bespoke itinerary to match your ability and vacation schedule. All difficult calculations of time, distance and altitude gain are done for you Everything the trekker needs to know: route descriptions, costs, budget, difficulty, weather, how to get there, and more Full accommodation listings: spectacularly situated mountain huts, villages and hamlets Full section on camping: a complete list of camping locations 10 exciting variants to the main route! Information for both self-guided and guided trekkers |
Andrew McCluggageblogs about life on the Knife Edge Archives
November 2021
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