Hiking Archives | Snowys Blog

Ep 203 – What’s New at Jetboil? With Nicole Walbran

Ben Collaton — Mon, 25 May 2026 02:48:23 +0000

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From a one-trick water-boiler to a whole new way of cooking at camp…

JetBoil is shaking up the kit you thought you knew. Fresh off last year’s chat with Mike Hebert, Ben and Lauren welcome JetBoil’s International Sales Manager Nicole Walburn into the studio to unpack the brand’s biggest range refresh in years. From the Flash 1.8L that quietly steps in for the much-loved Sumo, to the all new Trail Cook stoves, and the ever-popular Genesis two-burner — our gear gurus dig into what’s changed, why it’s changed, and which JetBoil suits the way you actually camp. Along the way: regulated vs unregulated stoves, the great Mini Mo loyalty debate, the truth about ceramic coatings, and even the wartime backstory behind Duck Camo.

Be it a fast-boil purist, a backcountry chef, or a car camper after one clever stove that does it all — tune in for the full rundown on JetBoil’s 2026 lineup!

James pushing his Jimny to the lmits.

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Welcome, and meet JetBoil’s Nicole Walburn
00:53 – Picking up where last year’s chat with Mike Hebert left off
02:29 – Nicole’s path through the outdoor industry, from Red Bull to JetBoil
04:39 – Where the range is heading: a clear split between boil and cook
05:57 – Backpacking’s dip and the rise of car camping and overlanding
08:11 – The Fast Boil series, and the Flash 1.8L that replaces the Sumo
10:10 – The rest of the Fast Boil lineup, plus the new WindFlash
11:44 – Inside the new Trail Cook pots: ceramic, handles, and removable lids
12:57 – The “Laurenism”: why the Mini Mo lock-in still wins hearts
18:43 – Regulated vs unregulated, and what really matters in the cold
20:55 – Will the Trail Cook pots ever be sold separately?
22:55 – Ceramic vs hard anodised: durability, care, and a science tangent
26:29 – The Genesis two-burner: ten years on and still booming
28:37 – Why the Genesis keeps its rigid regulator arm
30:46 – The melting shroud question, answered by the quality team
32:53 – Daisy-chaining with the JetLink hose and Luna burner
34:59 – New colourways, and the story behind Duck Camo
36:07 – Teasers out to 2032, and wrapping things up

Mentioned in this episode:

Products:

Fast Boil Series

Precision Cook Series

JetBoil Trail Cook 1.2L
JetBoil Trail Cook 2.0L
JetBoil MiniMo (no linger part of Snwys range)
JetBoil MicroMo (not part of Snowys range)
JetBoil MightyMo

2 Burner Series & Cookware

Podcasts & Blogs:

Ep154 – JetBoil Stove Systems with Mike Hebert

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!

Thanks for tuning in to this week’s episode of the Snowys Camping Show Podcast. Don’t forget to subscribe to us on YouTube, Spotify, iTunes, Amazon Music, iHeartRadio, Pocket Casts, or Podcast Addict so you never miss an upload.

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep 203 – What’s New at Jetboil? With Nicole Walbran appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep 198 – Eat Well, Camp Better: Q&A Edition

Ben and Lauren — Mon, 16 Mar 2026 01:03:44 +0000

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From the campfire to the cooktop — every camp cooking question you’ve ever had, answered

Whether you’re chasing the perfect camp coffee, cooking through a total fire ban, or wondering if freeze-dried meals are actually worth it — Ben and Lauren have served up a feast of answers. In this Q&A compilation episode, our video guy, Larry, has raided four years’ worth of content to collate your most common camp cooking and food questions into one well-seasoned episode.

From camp oven lamb shanks and the great damper debate, to induction cooker realities, 12V oven limitations, and the AeroPress fan club — our gear gurus dish out practical advice on planning your camp menu, prepping smarter at home, and making the most of whatever cooking setup you’ve got.

Tune in for a blast from the past — and a whole lot of food for thought!

Image credit: Campfire

Shortcuts:

00:00 — Intro & episode format explained

03:54 — What’s your favourite recipe for camp stove and open fire?

07:00 — Camp meal ideas, preparation & tips for stove-only cooking

09:14 — What cooking options do you recommend for total fire ban days?

14:43 — Induction cooking is on trend — what’s available for camping?

21:26 — What are the best coffee makers for camping?

24:43 — Best ultralight crockery and cutlery for hiking at the lowest price

27:13 — What’s your favourite meal to cook when camping?

29:12 — Have you reviewed BackCountry/Outdoor Gourmet freeze-dried meals?

36:18 — Wrap up

Mentioned in This Episode:

Products:

AeroPress

Wacaco espresso makers

Camp ovens

Travel Buddy 12V ovens

Portable induction cookers

Jaffle irons

Sea to Summit cook & tableware range

BackCountry Cuisine freeze-dried meals

Outdoor Gourmet freeze-dried meals

Radix Nutrition freeze-dried meals

Retort packaged meals

Fire To Fork Cookbook

Podcasts:

Ep45 – Fire Ban Seasons with the CFS

Ep 194 – 12V Appliances Are A Thing Now

Ep2 – Tips for Keeping Camping Food Fresh

Ep13 – Camping on a Budget

Ep27 – Must-Have Kitchen Gadgets for Camping

Ep55 – Food for Adventure with Kate Grarock

Ep39 – Fridges Vs. Iceboxes

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep 198 – Eat Well, Camp Better: Q&A Edition appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep 196 – Sea to Summit Design Process & New Gear 2026 with Tim Miller

Ben and Lauren — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 02:48:53 +0000

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From the drawing board to the sleeping bag, great gear doesn’t just happen…

…it takes 13 years, a children’s IKEA desk, and a whole lot of passion.

In this episode, Ben and Lauren sit down with Sea To Summit’s senior product designer Tim Miller — the mind behind some of the brand’s most iconic gear — for an inside look at what it really takes to design outdoor equipment that lasts. From the Xpot’s award-winning origins to the engineering upgrades behind the new Ultralite XR air mat, Tim pulls back the curtain on the design decisions, trade-offs, and material innovations that keep Sea To Summit at the pointy end of the market.

Be it the bombproof weld construction of the updated air mat range, the clever Memory Lux pillow solving the ‘home pillow hogging the boot’ problem, or the tantalising tease of an airbeam mozzy net on the horizon — tune in for an hour and a half of product insights straight from the source!

Real world testing. Credit: Sea To Summit

Shortcuts:

0:00 — Intro & welcome: Ben and Lauren introduce Tim Miller, senior product designer at Sea to Summit

1:45 — Tim’s background: How he stumbled into Sea to Summit after university, starting unpaid at a children’s IKEA desk

5:00 — The design team: How the long-tenured team of six designers collaborates and avoids working in silos

8:40 — Sea to Summit’s design philosophy: Ground-up original design vs the “me-too” factory approach common in the industry

11:00 — Manufacturing process: Factory visits, quick prototyping, and the story of designing a machine when no existing equipment could make what they wanted

13:10 — Field testing & expeditions: Design team Kimberley packraft trips, testing prototypes in the wild, and the brutal feedback culture

17:15 — Working 2 years ahead: The challenge of designing for 2028 while reacting to what competitors launch today

19:20 — The ultralight balance: Why Sea to Summit won’t sacrifice durability for weight claims, and the lightest-isn’t-always-best debate

25:15 — Sustainability: Sea to Summit’s approach — durability as the best environmental policy, solution-dyed fabrics, and replaceable buckles

31:45 — 2026 sleep systems: Deep dive into the new Circuit sleeping bag — the spiritual successor to the original Trek

37:15 — Women’s fit sleeping bags: Lauren makes a passionate case for keeping women’s specific sizing in the range

39:00 — Air mat updates: The new Ultralite XR — thermally reflective film insulation, dramatically reduced bulk, and the improved weld construction

45:40 — The Comfort Deluxe mat: The 10cm car camping mat that actually folds up properly

51:45 — Pillows: The upgraded Premium Pillow, Down Pillow, and Tim’s passion project — the Memory Lux adjustable pillow

54:40 — Liners: Thermalite vs Coolmax fabrics explained, Tim’s controversial hot tip for the Breeze liner

1:05:30 — Other new products: Pack taps refresh, hydration bladders, and the X range and dinnerware updates

1:06:50 — Community questions: Mat longevity in humid climates, sleeping bag temperature ratings, what’s in the pipeline for 2027/28

1:09:10 — The big teaser: Tim drops the airbeam sealed mozzy net passion project — Sea to Summit entering the airbeam category

Mentioned in This Episode:

Products:

Podcasts:

Ep11 – Sleep System Ratings with Sea to Summit

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep 196 – Sea to Summit Design Process & New Gear 2026 with Tim Miller appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep191 – What’s Hot This Summer At Snowys

Ben and Lauren — Mon, 19 Jan 2026 01:06:30 +0000

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Summer’s sizzling sellers: what’s heating up the Snowys shelves right now…

Ben and Lauren kick off from their shiny new studio, reflecting on 2025’s highlights before diving into Snowys’ top summer sellers. Our gear gurus unveil the ten products dominating sales right now – from Coleman’s instant setup heroes and JetBoil’s cooking wizardry to Exped’s comfort champions and Hard Korr’s legendary lanterns (affectionately dubbed “Hot Cross Buns”).

The conversation covers everything from reversing cameras and director’s chairs to mega shelters and sleeping mats, plus an honourable mention for the 360° Degrees Furno combo that’s turning heads. With insights into the Snowys Club monthly giveaway and bold winter predictions, tune in to discover what gear has captured Australia’s camping obsession this season.

Snowys unplugged: our gear gurus go off-grid, and off-script!

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro & New Studio

03:05 – Reflecting on 2025.

06:53 – Snowys Club & Monthly Giveaway

09:15 – Product #1: Coleman Instant Up Screenhouse

11:03 – Product #2: Coleman Packaway Table and Bench Set

12:44 – Product 3: Exped Widget Pump

14:40 – Product 4: Jetboil Genesis 2-Burner Stove

19:05 – Product 5: Coleman Instant Up 10P Northstar Tent

23:55 – Product 6: Blackwolf Compact Director’s Chair

25:29 – Product 7: Coleman Event 15 Deluxe Shelter

27:22 – Product 8: Exped MegaMat

31:45 – Product 9: Oricom Wireless Reversing Camera

34:20 – Product Item #10: Hard Korr “Hot Cross Buns” (U-Lite Lanterns)

39:10 – Honourable Mention: 360° Degrees Furno Stove and Pot Set

42:00 – Winter Predictions

Mentioned in This Episode:

Products:

Coleman Instant Up Screenhouse

Coleman Packaway Table and Bench Set

Exped Widget Pump

Jetboil Genesis Basecamp 2-Burner Stove System

Coleman Instant Up 10P Northstar Tent

Blackwolf Compact Director’s Chair

Coleman Event 15 Deluxe Shelter

Exped MegaMat

Oricom Wireless Reversing Camera

Hard Korr “Hot Cross Buns” (U-Lite Lanterns)

360° Degrees Furno Stove and Pot Set

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep191 – What’s Hot This Summer At Snowys appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep190 – Inside Camp Life with the Snowys Team

Ben and Lauren — Wed, 17 Dec 2025 03:11:55 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

**Snowys unplugged: our gear gurus go off-grid and off-script! Here’s what the team really packs for a camping trip…**

Ben and Lauren pull back the curtain on their personal camping preferences, revealing favourite gear, hilarious camp fails, and the luxury items they can’t leave behind. Our hosts share insights from across the Snowys team about what equipment really earns its place, explore campsite selection wisdom, and decode which gear trends are rising (and which are on their way out).

The conversation covers weird and wonderful camping hacks that actually work, lightbulb moments that changed their outdoor approach, and the honest difference between true essentials and nice-to-haves. Yep, even the experts have failures, favourites, and unexpected indulgence!

Snowys unplugged: our gear gurus go off-grid, and off-script!

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

03:26 – What is Ben and Lauren’s Favourite Piece of Camping Equipment?

12:19 – Snowys Staff’s Favourite Camping or Outdoor Item

18:40 – What to Look for When Choosing a Campsite

22:37 – What Camping Gear is Trending Vs Phasing Out?

27:39 – Ben and Lauren’s Funniest Camp Fails and Best Lightbulb Moments

33:03 – Weird and Wonderful Camping Hacks, Gadgets, or Solutions

38:40 – Ben and Lauren’s Luxury, Non-Essential Camping Items

41:05 – Ben and Lauren’s Personal Essential Camping Items

49:06 – Summary

Mentioned in This Episode:

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep190 – Inside Camp Life with the Snowys Team appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep183 – From The Archives: Fire Ban Seasons with the CFS

Ben and Lauren — Mon, 20 Oct 2025 21:37:34 +0000

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They’re our hot weather heroes…

…fighting the flames and forewarning the community of dangerous conditions. While every state and territory have a rural fire service of their own, Ben and Lauren chat with Phil from the South Australian Country Fire Service (CFS) and extinguish any confusion around Fire Ban Seasons.

From considerations in campfire cooking, to seeking the right refuge – in this heated throwback episode of the Snowys Camping Show, Phil cools the coals and clarifies all regulations that are relevant to travellers and tourers during the Fire Danger periods.

Phil from the South Australian Country Fire Service (CFS) extinguishes confusion surrounding the Fire Ban Seasons.

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

00:50 – Introducing Phil from the CFS

01:43 – Gas Stove Regulations

04:16 – Travelling During the High Season

08:17 – Radios

09:14 – Protection in Bushfire-Risk Zones

13:08 – Bushfire Refuges

18:04 – Travelling on Foot

20:36 – Identifying a Fire

22:59 – The Fire Ban Season: Unpacked

28:03 – Braziers and Above-Ground Fires

29:20 – Comfort Fires

29:57 – Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Legislation

32:15 – “Gas” Stove Terminology

33:33 – Use of Gas Appliances

35:30 – Generators

37:45 – Induction Cooktops

40:00 – Extinguishing a Fire

45:08 – Find Out More or Get Involved!

Mentioned in This Episode:

Products:

Personal Locator Beacon (PLB)

Solar and power devices

Other:

What Can I Do / What Can’t I Do?

Bushfire Safer Places and Bushfire Last Resort Refuges

Emergency WA – Fire Danger Ratings

CFS SA – Fire Danger Season Dates

Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service – Campfires and Cooking

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep183 – From The Archives: Fire Ban Seasons with the CFS appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep175 – How Much Water to Carry

Ben and Lauren — Mon, 25 Aug 2025 01:30:00 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

Your liquid lifeline: a guide to water wisdom when you’re miles from a water main!

You can’t go hiking or camping without water. Why? Ben and Lauren tackle the topic water storage and rationing while camping, suggesting how much H2O separates a successful adventure from a survival situation. From Ben’s recommended daily drinking quantities to the reserves that could save your bacon, our gear gurus address the sobering reality of basic survival minimums. The conversation flows through emergency versus everyday calculations, smart storage solutions, and the best refilling strategies for different expedition styles.

Water planning isn’t just another box to tick – it prevents your outdoor adventures from becoming waterborne wake-up calls!

Water planning prevents your outdoor adventures from becoming waterborne wake-up calls!

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

02:27 – Water Storage, Refilling, and How Much to Carry

03:33 – How Much Water to Carry, Daily: A Serious Topic

05:32 – Ben’s Suggested Quantity of Drinking Water

07:00 – Additional Water Rations and Reserves

08:25 – The Least Amount of Water Needed for “Basic Survival”

10:30 – Calculating Water Rations: Day to Day Vs Emergencies

14:44 – Water Storage

15:40 – Best Options for Refilling

18:41 – Summary

Mentioned in this Episode:

Products:

All Food & Water Storage

Bulk Water Storage

Hoses and Filters

Jerry cans

Platypus GravityWorks Water Filter System 4 Litre

Sawyer Filter/Filtration Systems

Katadyn Micropur Forte Tablets

Podcasts and Blogs:

Ep14 – Water Storage Options for Camping

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep175 – How Much Water to Carry appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep172 – Getting Back Into Camping

Ben and Lauren — Mon, 04 Aug 2025 01:19:01 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

Your camping comeback: when the great outdoors feels a little too great…

Ben and Lauren tackle the daunting prospect of returning to camping, addressing everything from solo adventure anxiety to navigating gear choices with physical limitations and tight budgets. Our gear gurus break down the sleep system essentials that actually matter, decode camp cooking without the complexity, pull up a seat to discuss why your choice of chair can make a difference, and lay everything out on the table about how the ultimate slat-top can elevate your time outdoors.

A go-getting, geared-up guide for anyone who’s as ready to get out there as they are frozen at the front door – tune in for the conversation that paves the way for your new outdoor mojo!

A go-getting, geared-up guide for anyone who’s as ready to get out there as they are frozen at the front door!

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

02:17 – The Intimidating Side of Camping Alone

04:01 – Getting Back into Camping as a Beginner with Limitations

07:26 – Sleep Systems: Sleeping Bags and Mattresses

16:11 – Food Storage, Prep, and Cooking

23:13 – Tables

29:04 – Chairs

35:10 – The Two Camp Items Not to Skimp On…

36:04 – Summary

36:41 – Ben’s Suggestion For a Tent

Mentioned in this Episode:

Products:

Zempire Monstabeds – Single and Twin

OZtrail 3D Fatmat

Coleman Pilbara sleeping bags

Coleman Mudgee sleeping bags

Sea To Summit Basecamp Down Sleeping Bag

Darche Cold Mountain sleeping bags

23ZERO Arctic Black sleeping bags

EvaKool IceKool iceboxes

Fridges & Coolers

Food & Water Storage

Wandalite tables and chairs

Wildtrak Leisure Australia Compact 70cm Table

Zempire Kitpac Pro Camping Tables

Zempire Slatpac Camp Tables

Quest Outdoors Camp Tables

Quest Outdoors Versalite BBQ 120 Multi Height Table

Helinox Chairs

Darche Revolver Chair

Darche Flat Pack Chair

BlackWolf Compact Directors Chair

Frontrunner Expanders Camping Chair

OZtrail King Goanna Chair

OZtrail Cooler Arm Chair

Coleman King Cooler Arm Chair

Zempire Aerospeed 6 Air Tent

Podcasts and Blogs:

Ep13 – Camping on a Budget

Ep39 – Fridges Vs. Iceboxes

Ep153 – Fridge Capacity: Is Bigger Better?

Ep64 – Compare the Chairs

Best Camp Chairs for 2025

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep172 – Getting Back Into Camping appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep171 – Roof Rack Storage

Ben and Lauren — Sun, 27 Jul 2025 23:36:23 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

From forehead tattoos to foolproof roof rack setups…

Our podcast playlist is officially racking up with this week’s packed-in episode of content that stacks up!

First, Lauren asks the million-dollar question that tests Ben’s brand loyalty – before our gear gurus tackle the art of roof rack storage without losing your gear to the elements. The conversation covers waterproofing strategies, Ben’s personal setup secrets, and his top three tips for keeping everything secure and accessible. Our outdoor experts debate the merits of top-loading versus end-loading waterproof bags, explore different packing philosophies, and prove that there’s more than one way to conquer roof rack organisation.

Shout it from the roof racks, and tune in for the ultimate guide to practical packing up top!

This week’s episode is packed with content that stacks up!

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

01:08 – Lauren Asks: Would Ben Tattoo a Brand Name on His Forehead for $1M?

04:09 – The Best Way to Stow Gear on Your Roof Rack

04:23 – Waterproofing Gear on a Roof Rack: Is it Possible?

07:05 – Ben’s Roof Rack System: Setup and Waterproofing

10:48 – Ben’s Top 3 Tips to Roof Rack Storage

11:40 – Top-Loading Vs End-Loading Waterproof Bags

17:27 – There’s No Right or Wrong Way…

18:22 – Closing Comments and Summary

Mentioned in this Episode:

Products:

Darche Nero Gear Bags

Caribee Expedition Waterproof Kit Bag

23ZERO Transpac 60L Bag

Tiegear Tie-Downs

OZtrail Heavy Duty Poly Tarp

Rightline Gear Moki Ascent Car Door Step

Podcasts and Blogs:

The Ultimate Guide to 4WD Roof Racks

Ep148 – How to Mount a Roof Top Tent

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep171 – Roof Rack Storage appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep170 – The Snowys Story with Richard Wescombe

Ben and Lauren — Tue, 22 Jul 2025 17:03:38 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

From shearing sheep and dishing pizza to doorsteps, to shepherding outdoor adventurers with the right gear, get-up, and guidance…

Ben unlocks the rich, robust, entrepreneurial past of Snowys Outdoors founder Richard Wescombe, from his humble beginnings to today’s outdoor retail royalty. Richard’s early ventures with Dial-A-Dino’s pizza delivery service, Stanford Mowers, and Ring-A-Ling Brothers Chinese food together built the solid foundation of experience and know-how to found his proudest establishment and asset to every Aussie adventurer – Snowys Outdoors.

From the inspiration behind the Snowys brand to the art of building a team that sticks around, Richard tells a story of true grit, Aussie wit, and team spirit, underpinned by his all-too authentic passion for people. Tune in for a feel-good, warm-and-fuzzy discussion about a business driven not by dollars and cents, but customer service, collaboration, and connection.

The business driven not by dollars and cents, but customer service, collaboration, and connection.

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

00:31 – Introducing Founder of Snowys Outdoors, Richard Wescombe

02:12 – From Humble Beginnings on a Sheep Farm

05:19 – Richard’s Business Portfolio

06:06 – Dial-A Dino’s

08:54 – Remembering Greg

09:58 – Stanford Mowers

10:46 – Ring-A-Ling Brothers

12:04 – Building the Snowys Brand: The Inspiration, Name, and Logo

16:01 – The Adelaide Market in 1995

18:15 – Richard’s Approach to Choosing the Right Team

19:59 – The Evolution of Snowys’ Advertising

21:51 – Ben: A Snowys Asset!

24:56 – ‘Build Your Own Brand’: Richard’s Philosophy on Fostering Employee Growth

25:52 – Branding Strategies

27:55 – Snowys Brand Values: the ‘Why’ Behind the Business

29:18 – Growing the Snowys’ Web Business and E-Commerce

34:45 – Challenges and Set Backs

40:27 – Business Expansion

43:46 – Opening the Snowys Stores

47:28 – The ‘Leaner’ Team of Today: Efficient, Committed, and Multi-Skilled

49:09 – Phasing Out Footwear and Apparel

52:58 – Doubling Down on Snowys Principles

55:20 – The Feathers in Ben’s Cap

56:11 – Running a Family Business

01:00:15 – Richard’s Dreams for Snowys Outdoors

01:04:05 – Summary

Mentioned in this Episode:

‘Dial a Dino’s’ Pizza Delivery

Stanford Mowers

Snowys Outdoors

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep170 – The Snowys Story with Richard Wescombe appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep169 – Gear Up: Top 10 Best Sellers Right Now!

Ben and Lauren — Tue, 15 Jul 2025 17:07:08 +0000

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The gear that’s got everyone going!

In this episode, Ben and Lauren bust open the bag and let cat go rogue – revealing the top 10 best sellers that are flying off the Snowys’ shelves!

From the ever-proving-popular Hard Korr lanterns to Darche’s Cold Mountain sleeping bags that boast superior warmth for a bargain – our gear gurus decode what’s driving these camping cravings, and which products are genuinely worth the hype.

Ben and Lauren decode what’s driving the camping cravings!

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

01:33 – Top 10 Best Sellers

02:20 – Hard Korr U-Lite Dual Colour LED Lanterns

03:57 – Rock Tamers Mud Flaps

06:00 – Oricom Wireless Reversing Camera

08:03 – Exped Mega Pump

11:28 – KickAss 12V 120Ah Deep Cycle AGM Battery

14:29 – KickAss Portable Vacuum Cleaner

17:30 – Milenco Mirrors

20:52 – Muk Mats

22:21 – Exped MegaMat Max

24:45 – Darche Cold Mountain Sleeping Bags

29:48 – Other Best Sellers

32:30 – Summary

Mentioned in this Episode:

Podcasts and Blogs:

Ep145 – New Year, New Gear

Products:

Hard Korr U-Lite Dual Colour LED Lanterns 4-Pack

Darche Mini Multi LED Camp Light 3-Pack

Rock Tamers Mudflap Systems

Oricom Wireless Reversing Camera with Magnetic Base WRC001

Exped Mega Pump

KickAss 12V 120Ah Deep Cycle AGM Battery

KickAss Portable Vacuum Cleaner

Milenco Mirrors

Muk Mats

Exped MegaMat Max

Darche Cold Mountain Sleeping Bags

Hex Pegs

Aqua Soft Toilet Paper 6-Pack

Joolca GottaGo Modular Separating Toilets

Gear Aid Seam Grip

Tiegear STEADFAST Guy Ropes

OZtrail Loomie Line String Lights

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep169 – Gear Up: Top 10 Best Sellers Right Now! appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep168 – Sea to Summit Sleep Mats with Ross Smith

Ben and Lauren — Tue, 08 Jul 2025 22:41:26 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

From sleeping rough to sleeping right, we hear from the mat masters!

Ben and Lauren roll out the welcome mat for their all-time favourite guest, Ross from Sea to Summit, to discuss the ins, outs, and updates to their sleeping mat range. Our gear gurus explore the impact of global legislation on manufacturing, unpack updates to the Ether Light series, and discover the science behind the Delta Core technology in the Pursuit range. Plus, Ross hints at some developments still on the down-low, while Lauren declares that gear aesthetics aren’t optional – they’re scientific fact!

Tune in for insider insights from the brand turning rough ground into royal slumber.

Ben and Lauren roll out the welcome mat for their all-time favourite guest, Ross from Sea to Summit.

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

01:04 – Introducing Our All-Time Favourite: Ross from Sea to Summit!

02:12 – The Changes to Legislation and Manufacturing of Sleeping Mats

04:05 – Balancing Legislative Requirements Across the Globe

04:46 – Updates to the Sea to Summit Ether Light Series

09:47 – Durability and Reliability of a Sea to Summit Sleeping Mat

16:30 – Minimising Leaks

17:49 – Mat Insulation

21:52 – Gender-Specific Sleeping Mats Vs Bags

24:01 – R-Value

25:02 – Updates to the Sea to Summit Pursuit Self-Inflating Mats

27:32 – Delta Core Technology

29:53 – Where Does the Pursuit Sit in Sea to Summit’s Current Range?

32:13 – Pack Size

34:21 – Sea to Summit Sleep Systems: Is There a Magic Combination?

35:45 – An Ideal Sleep System for an Adelaidean

37:21 – Updates to Pillows, Accessories, and Sleep Systems

39:15 – Considering Colours

41:14 – Lauren’s Stance on Underestimating Aesthetics: ‘You Can’t, It’s Science!’

42:16 – Summary: Secrets and Exciting News?

Mentioned in this Episode:

Podcasts and Blogs:

The Sea to Summit Sleep Systems

Ep11 – Sleep System Ratings with Sea to Summit

Ep106 – Sea to Summit Tents with Ross Smith

Ep109 – Behind the Scenes with Sea to Summit

Products:

Sea to Summit Sleeping Mats

Sea to Summit Ether Light XR Insulated Air Sleeping Mat

Sea to Summit Ether Light XR Pro Insulated Air Sleeping Mat

Sea to Summit Pursuit Self Inflating Mat

Sea to Summit Pursuit Plus Self Inflating Mat

Sea to Summit Reactor Liners

Sea to Summit Aeros Down Pillow

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep168 – Sea to Summit Sleep Mats with Ross Smith appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep167 – The HipCamp Story & 5 Hidden Camping Gems

Ben and Lauren — Mon, 30 Jun 2025 15:46:09 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

Reshaping outdoor access, one private paddock at a time…

In this episode, Ben and Lauren pull up a chair at the campsite with HipCamp’s Global Social Media Strategist, Brooke, to discuss how this clever concept is solving the camping shortage by unlocking access to private properties. Our gear gurus explore the journey from ‘YouCamp’ beginnings to navigating state regulations, booking systems, and the fine art of balancing host happiness with camper satisfaction. The conversation covers self-contained camping requirements, community reviews, and the ongoing tussle with local council red tape – plus, Brooke reveals five hidden camping gems that remain humbly off the beaten track.

Brooke reveals five hidden camping gems that remain humbly off the beaten track.

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

01:28 – Introducing Brooke from HipCamp

03:00 – From YouCamp to HipCamp

07:10 – What Makes HipCamp Different?

08:40 – More Than Just a Camping Airbnb…

10:10 – State Rules and Regulations

11:25 – Listings

13:34 – Booking Through HipCamp

16:12 – Hosting on HipCamp: Facilities Vs Self-Contained Camping

20:40 – Reviews: Support for Hosts and Campers

29:51 – Hosting on HipCamp

30:48 – Aligning with State Rules and Regulations

39:14 – The Scenic Rim Petition

45:00 – 5 Hidden Camping Gems

49:20 – The HipCamp Social Media Community

51:14 – Summary

Mentioned in this Episode:

Podcasts and Blogs:

Ep161 – Ghost Camping Crackdown and a Camping Fee Overhaul

Other:

HipCamp

The Scenic Rim

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep167 – The HipCamp Story & 5 Hidden Camping Gems appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep166 – Is It Normal for Your Tent to Get Flooded?

Ben and Lauren — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 02:26:57 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

That sinking feeling of a flooded tent: are they an unfortunate reality or a gear failure red flag?

Ben and Lauren drain the delusion from this soggy subject by diving into condensation versus leakage, separating the drips from deluges, and revealing which tent floor materials keep you high and dry. Plus, our gear gurus explain what happens when the weather stress-tests every stitch and seam.

Tune in for a no-nonsense guide that reassures campers their shelter should repel water – not collect it!

Tune in for a no-nonsense guide that reassures campers their shelter should repel water – not collect it!

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

00:59 – Is It Normal for Your Tent to Get Flooded?

02:00 – Firstly – NO!

02:51 – Some Exceptions and Condensation

05:50 – Condensation Vs Leakage

09:58 – Best Types of Tent Floors

15:39 – Unprecedented Rain

16:37 – Summary

Mentioned in this Episode:

Products:

Family Camping Tents

Hiking Tents

Tarps & Matting

Podcasts and Blogs:

Ep165 – What Makes a Fabric Waterproof?

Ep16 – Tent Waterhead Ratings with Zempire

Ep9 – Dealing with Tent Condensation

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep166 – Is It Normal for Your Tent to Get Flooded? appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep164 – How to Choose a Headlamp

Ben and Lauren — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 20:55:04 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

In this episode, Ben and Lauren have several lightbulb moments…

Our gear gurus navigate the headlamp highway, shedding light on choosing the perfect hands-free lighting solution for your outdoor adventures. This 25-minute breakdown is as bright as it is tight, exploring the technical details from lumens versus lux ratings to flood versus spotlight beam patterns.

The conversation covers power options, red light function, and practical considerations for both night hiking and campsite dynamics. Tune in for illuminating advice on how to choose the best headlamp for you!

Our gear gurus shed light on choosing the perfect hands-free lighting solution for your outdoor adventures.

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

01:48 – How to Choose a Headlamp

02:53 – Ben and Lauren’s Headlamps

04:29 – The Petzl Range

05:41 – Lumens

08:19 – Lux

09:07 – Night Hiking

09:57 – Flood and Spotlight Beam

11:03 – Value for Money

12:28 – How a Headlamp is Powered

16:46 – The Red Light Function

18:49 – Petzl Vs Black Diamond

22:49 – Summary

Mentioned in this Episode:

Brands:

Products:

Petzl Tikkina 300 Headlamp

Petzl Tikka 350 Headlamp

Petzl Tikka Core 450 Headlamp

Petzl Swift RL 1100 Headlamp

Black Diamond Spot 400 Headlamps

Black Diamond Cosmos 350 Headlamps

Hardkorr headlamps

Podcasts and Blogs:

Best Headlamps for Hiking & Camping – 2025 Review

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep164 – How to Choose a Headlamp appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep163 – What Makes a Fabric Waterproof?

Ben and Lauren — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 01:43:45 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

Water meets its match: fabric technologies demystified!

When it rains, it pours – but it doesn’t have to bore! In this episode, Ben is presented with another opportunity to geek out, and this time our gear gurus unfold the complex world of waterproof fabrics. From the fundamental differences between waterproof, water-resistant, and water-repellent, to hydrostatic head ratings and coatings – Ben and Lauren decode every last drop.

The conversation flows through PE versus PU treatments, siliconised fabrics, laminated materials, and the beading beauty of DWR coatings. Tune in for a masterclass in fabric technology that proves keeping dry is equal parts chemistry, engineering, and outdoor know-how!

From the differences between waterproof, water-resistant, and water-repellent, to hydrostatic head ratings – Ben and Lauren decode every last drop.

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

00:45 – Another Excuse for Ben to Geek Out…

02:06 – Waterproof, Water-Resistant, and Water-Repellant

03:55 – Maintaining Realistic Expectations

06:23 – Waterhead and Hydrostatic Head

08:49 – Coatings and Laminations

11:37 – Hydrophilic Coatings and Preventing Hydrolysis

13:01 – PE Vs PU Coatings

13:53 – Siliconised Fabrics

15:21 – Laminated Fabrics

16:23 – Durable Water Repellant (DWR)

18:20 – Canvas Vs Polyester

27:14 – Re-Waterproofing

31:01 – Another Geek-Out Done!

Mentioned in this Episode:

Products:

All camping tents

Canvas camping tents

Polyester camping tents

All swags

Canvas swags

Polyester swags

Podcasts and Blogs:

Ep16 – Tent Waterhead Ratings with Zempire

Tent Waterhead Ratings: Explained

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep163 – What Makes a Fabric Waterproof? appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep162 – All About myCOOLMAN with Charlie Graham

Ben and Lauren — Sun, 25 May 2025 23:30:00 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

A deep-freeze dive into myCOOLMAN with the guy who keeps his cool for a living…

Staying cool under pressure is both an art and a science. In this episode, Ben and Lauren sit down with myCOOLMAN’s Technical Sales and Product Specialist, Charlie Graham, to unpack what makes this Aussie fridge manufacturer tick. Our gear gurus explore the brand’s ground-up origins, tap into the Blue-Gen compressor technology, and discover the hidden features that set myCOOLMAN apart from the frosty competition.

From efficiency and quality control processes to battery integration and secrets to reducing noise, tune in for the cold, hard truth on how local engineering expertise builds the best fridges for Australian adventures.

In this episode, Ben and Lauren sit down with myCOOLMAN’s Technical Sales and Product Specialist, Charlie Graham.

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

01:35 – Introducing Technical Sales and Product Specialist, Charlie Graham

08:26 – Brands Beneath the myCOOLMAN Umbrella

08:57 – The Origin of the myCOOLMAN Name

11:47 – The Team Involved From the Ground Up

14:44 – What Makes myCOOLMAN Different (and Better)?

18:14 – The Blue-Gen Compressor

26:35 – The Recreational Series

29:17 – myCOOLMAN’s Hidden Secrets and Features

32:03 – Efficiency

38:11 – Testing Standards and Quality Control

40:18 – Insulation

42:08 – Battery Power Packs

47:35 – Example myCOOLMAN Setup

49:43 – Reducing Noise

53:00 – Troubleshooting: Service Agents, Spare Parts, and Warranties

55:38 – The myCOOLMAN Aesthetic

1:04:00 – What’s in myCOOLMAN’s Future?

1:05:51 – Charlie’s Final Notes

1:09:48 – Summary

Mentioned in this Episode:

Brands:

Products:

All Fridges & Coolers

myCOOLMAN Fridges & Coolers

myCOOLMAN Portable Fridge Power Pack CPP15

myCOOLMAN Recreational Series

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep162 – All About myCOOLMAN with Charlie Graham appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep161- Ghost Camping Crackdown and a Camping Fee Overhaul

Ben and Lauren — Mon, 19 May 2025 17:48:22 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

No-shows, know-hows, and new fees: the camping reservation revolution…

In an episode as haunting as it is helpful, Ben and Lauren unpack the NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service’s proposed camping fee reforms, from new facility-based pricing tiers to the crackdown on ‘ghost camping’ – the frustrating practice of booking sites that go unused. Our outdoor experts examine the results of the 2022 survey that sparked these changes, debate the effectiveness of various booking systems, and share their own approaches to responsible reservation practices.

From Ben’s unwritten campers’ code to comparing cancellation policies across Australia, tune in for an honest conversation about balancing access, affordability, and accountability in our cherished natural spaces.

Tune in for an honest conversation about balancing access, affordability, and accountability in our cherished natural spaces.

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

01:17 – Camping Fees Reformed: NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service

04:53 – Hipcamp

06:33 – Booking Systems

09:21 – 2022 Survey Topics of Note

10:41 – Fees and Charges

12:07 – The Proposal: Facility-Based Fees

14:40 – Unpacking the 6 Tiers: Inclusions and Party Numbers

17:34 – Cancellations

18:42 – Ghost Camping Crackdown

24:40 – Lauren’s Approach to Ghost Camping

29:05 – Last Minute Changes and Cancellations

30:50 – An Unsaid Campers’ Code!

35:25 – Addressing Ghost Camping as the Primary Issue

39:10 – Cancellation Policies in VIC, QLD, SA, and WA

41:13 – Speculative Bookings

43:33 – Lauren’s Key to Preventing Ghost Camping

45:25 – Feedback Due on May 25

46:10 – Summary

Mentioned in this Episode:

NSW National Parks and Wildlife Service

Hipcamp

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep161- Ghost Camping Crackdown and a Camping Fee Overhaul appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep160 – Decoding LP Gas & Choosing a Stove

Ben and Lauren — Mon, 12 May 2025 21:06:15 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

Fueling your flames: the gas-tronomy of camp cooking…

Our gear gurus demystify LP gas and camping stoves, breaking down the crucial differences between high-pressure sizzlers and low-pressure simmers.

In a fired-up discussion, Ben and Lauren go from propane, n-butane, and isobutane science, to practical connections, canister considerations, and selecting stoves that best suit your style of camp cuisine. Tune in for a technical yet digestible guide to understanding why your flame might fizzle at altitude or freeze in colder conditions!

Our gear gurus break down the crucial differences between high-pressure sizzlers and low-pressure simmers!

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

03:55 – Ben’s Episode Overview

04:22 – Thanks, Tugboat!

07:33 – High Pressure Vs Low Pressure Stoves

08:43 – Low Pressure Stoves: How Regulators Work

11:43 – Maintaining a Steady Gas Output: From 800kPa to 2.75kPa!

12:02 – The Effect of External Temperature

12:49 – High Pressure Stoves: No Regulator

13:59 – kPa of Single-Use Propane Cylinders?

15:25 – What Exactly is LPG (Liquified Petroleum Gas)?

16:28 – Propane: External Temperatures, Internal Pressure, and Boiling Points

17:28 – N-Butane and Isobutane: External Temperatures, Internal Pressure, and Boiling Points

22:20 – Connecting the Right Gas to the Right Stove

24:04 – Weather Performance

26:59 – Cylinder and Canister Types

33:39 – Choosing a Stove

42:14 – Accessories

43:30 – Summary

Mentioned in this Episode:

Brands and Products:

All Coleman stoves

Coleman HyperFlame FyreKnight Camping Stove

Coleman Cascade 3 in 1 – 2 Burner Stove

Coleman Peak 1 Trekking Stove

All Companion stoves

Companion 2 Burner High Output Stove

Companion Wok Cookers

Companion stove windshields

All Dometic stoves

Dometic Cadac 2 Cook 3 Pro Deluxe 2 Burner Stove

All Jetboil stoves

MSR PocketRocket Hiking Stoves

Stove stands

Blogs & Podcasts:

Blogs:

Understanding Gas for Camping and Caravan Stoves & Appliances – by Ben Collaton

Podcasts:

Ep83 – LCC27 Gas Regulations: The New Standards

Other:

LG Accounting Solutions

Australian Gas Association

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep160 – Decoding LP Gas & Choosing a Stove appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep159 – Bedrolls for Camping

Ben and Lauren — Mon, 05 May 2025 16:49:13 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

Bedrolls for bushcraft: when simplicity beats sophistication…

Ben and Lauren unfold the timeless charm of bedroll camping for those seeking simplicity under the stars. From envelope-style swags to canvas-covered mats and sturdy stretcher beds, our gear gurus roll through both commercial options and clever DIY solutions for every budget and backroad.

Covering practical aspects of different designs, tune in for an overall glimpse at minimalist sleeping arrangements that reconnect you with camping’s rugged roots while still delivering a decent night’s rest.

Ben and Lauren roll through both commercial options and clever DIY solutions for every budget and backroad.

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

04:12 – Best Options for a Bedroll Sleeping Arrangement

06:07 – Pole-Free, Envelope-Style Swags

07:39 – Canvas-Covered Sleeping Mats

08:34 – Stretcher Beds

09:34 – If Money Was No Objection…

10:38 – Ben and Lauren’s DIY Bedroll Suggestions

14:03 – Yoga Mats Vs Canvas

15:18 – Summary

Mentioned in this Episode:

Brands and Products:

23ZERO Dual Swags

Darche Dusk to Dawn Swags

Explore Planet Earth Pegasus Deluxe Stretcher

Zempire W-Leg Stretcher Bed V2

Helinox Cot One Camp Stretch

Blogs & Podcasts:

Blogs:

Sleep Options for the Restless Camper

How to Choose the Best Sleeping Bag

Best Sleeping Mats for Camping: 2025 Review

Toasty Tips for a Warmer Sleep

Podcasts:

Ep91 – Selecting Your Dream Sleeping Mat

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep159 – Bedrolls for Camping appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep158 – Camping Clothes, Hats, & Shoes for All Weather

Ben and Lauren — Tue, 29 Apr 2025 01:12:32 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

From boots to beanies, Ben and Lauren unpack the camping gear on the cusp of convenient and comfy…

Our outdoor experts wade into the footwear debate, untangle cotton versus synthetic, and reveal why merino wool is Best On (Camp)Ground for all-round, all-weather performance.

From mozzie-deterrent strategies to the unexpected uses of dishwashing gloves, the focus remains on adaptable and practical camp clothing. Tune in for an essential guide to resilient outdoor attire – your first line of defense against the elements in unpredictable weather!

Tune in for an essential guide to resilient outdoor attire!

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

01:36 – Clothing Recommendations for Camping in All Weather

02:49 – Lauren’s Footwear Stance

03:43 – Ben’s Footwear Selections

05:40 – Crocs, Tevas, and Standard Flip-Flops

07:34 – Shorts and Long Pants

08:42 – Cotton Vs Synthetic

09:22 – Managing Milder Weather

10:36 – Packing and Dressing for Comfort

11:37 – Managing Mozzies

12:43 – Merino Wool

13:33 – Gloves, Beanies, and Hats

16:30 – Merino Liners and… Dishwashing Gloves?!

17:10 – Fleece and Jackets

19:30 – Summary

Mentioned in this Episode:

Brands and Products:

Blogs & Podcasts:

Blogs:

Tips for Packing & Travelling Like a Minimalist

Podcasts:

Ep8 – Dealing With Wind & Rain When Camping

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep158 – Camping Clothes, Hats, & Shoes for All Weather appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep157 – How to Store a Self-Inflating Mat

Ben and Lauren — Tue, 22 Apr 2025 14:50:19 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

Putting it all out in the open(cell): the mat storage methods that matter!

In this episode, Ben and Lauren unpack the proper storage techniques for self-inflating sleeping mats, addressing the critical balance between compression damage and storage space. Our gear gurus explain the science behind foam cell recovery, differences between bonded and single-layer mats, and practical solutions for preserving your mat’s loft and longevity.

From Ben’s space-saving suggestions to Lauren’s maintenance tips – tune in for a concise guide to ensuring your sleeping mat remains comfortable for countless adventures to come.

In this episode, Ben and Lauren unpack the proper storage techniques for self-inflating sleeping mats.

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

00:40 – Ben’s New Favourite Snack?!

02:59 – How to Store a Self-Inflating Mat

03:36 – The Result of Compressing

04:36 – Bonded Mats

05:10 – The General Rule: Store it Uncompressed

05:57 – Managing Space

06:07 – Ben’s Recommendation

06:59 – Lauren’s Tips for Mat Care

08:26 – Storing Your Mat Loosely Compressed

09:38 – Thanks, Kelly!

Mentioned in this Episode:

Products:

Self-inflating camping mats

Self-inflating hiking mats

Blogs & Podcasts:

Blogs:

Best Sleeping Mats for Camping: 2025 Review

Podcasts:

Ep91 – Selecting Your Dream Sleeping Mat

Ep94 – Back to Reality: Camp Gear Storage

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep157 – How to Store a Self-Inflating Mat appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep156 – How Long We’d Last on ‘Alone’ and Our 10 Must-Have Items

Ben and Lauren — Tue, 15 Apr 2025 00:21:12 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

From bushcraft to breaking point…

Ben and Lauren tackle the ultimate outdoor enthusiast’s question: how long would they last on the survival show ‘Alone’? Our gear gurus dive into both the physical and psychological challenges of true isolation, while revealing their personal top 10 survival items.

This episode covers everything from fishing and hunting gear to sleep and hygiene considerations, peppered with plenty of candid self-assessment of their survival skills! Tune in for an entertaining glimpse into what separates gear knowledge from true survival expertise, and whether our hosts have what it takes to endure the outdoors – completely alone.

Tune in for an entertaining glimpse into whether our hosts have what it takes to endure the outdoors – completely alone.

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

02:33 – Shout Out to Jack!

03:37 – How Long Would We Last on ‘Alone’ (and What Are Our 10 Must-Have Items)?

04:50 – Fish Talk

06:13 – The Psychological Pressure of Being Alone

08:08 – Lauren’s Answer

09:20 – Ben’s Must-Have Items

11:15 – The ‘Alone’ Gear List

13:37 – Sleeping Gear and Hygiene

14:24 – Hunting Items

15:16 – Ben and Lauren’s Top Ten Items

17:31 – Summary

18:55 – Thanks, Heather!

Mentioned in this Episode:

Products:

Cast iron camp ovens

Steel camp oven

Multi-functional knives

Campfire Tin Billy

Tarps

Lightweight sleeping bags

Blogs & Podcasts:

Blogs:

Introducing Kate Grarock

Podcasts:

Ep55 – Food for Adventure with Kate Grarock

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep156 – How Long We’d Last on ‘Alone’ and Our 10 Must-Have Items appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep155 – Which Tents Are Wind-Resistant?

Ben and Lauren — Sun, 06 Apr 2025 20:50:41 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

Nature’s stress test: which tent designs pass the windstorm challenge?

From boxy tents to shapes that shed the wind – Ben and Lauren sweep through what truly anchors a tent against wild winds. Our gear gurus unfold the mysteries of structural integrity, air out the differences between waterhead and wind ratings, and pitch manufacturer claims against real-world scenarios.

Tune in for their gusty guide; a whirlwind of everything from inflatable shelters and guy rope strategies to frame construction and proper pegging techniques!

From boxy tents to shapes that shed the wind – Ben and Lauren sweep through what truly anchors a tent against wild winds.

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

02:54 – What is ‘Wind-Resistance’?

03:48 – ‘Will I Feel the Wind Sitting Inside?’

05:23 – Structural Integrity

06:02 – Waterhead Rating Vs Wind Rating

07:20 – Wind Tunnel Testing

07:50 – Air Tents

08:49 – Claims and Expectations

10:21 – Dome and Sloped Tents Vs Boxy Tents

10:47 – Fabrics

11:37 – Guy Ropes, Eyelets, and Trace Springs

14:22 – Frame Size and Construction

16:26 – Anchoring Your Tent

19:15 – Tarp-Buddies

20:02 – Summary

Mentioned in this Episode:

Brands:

Products:

Inflatable Tents

BlackWolf Turbo Tents

OZtrail BlockOut Lumos Tents

Coleman Instant Up Tents

Supa Peg Polycarbonate Sand Pegs

Pegs, Ropes, and Fittings

Blogs & Podcasts:

Ep8 – Dealing With Wind & Rain When Camping

Ep54 – Talkin’ Tent Pegs

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep155 – Which Tents Are Wind-Resistant? appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep154 – JetBoil Stove Systems with Mike Hebert

Ben and Lauren — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 02:51:17 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

Where brilliance meets boiling point: inside the JetBoil phenomenon…

In this episode, Ben and Lauren’s hour-long episode bubbles over in a hot-to-go interview with JetBoil’s Mike Hebert, uncovering the brand’s revolutionary journey from concept to camp essential! Our gear gurus crank the heat on JetBoil’s evolution, exploring everything from early prototypes to engineering challenges, international standards, and the science behind those lightning-fast boil times.

Tune in for a comprehensive look at what sets the authentic product apart from imitators, feature variations across the globe, and intriguing hints about where this innovative cooking system might be heading next.

Our gear gurus crank the heat on JetBoil’s evolution.

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

01:28 – Introducing Mike Hebert from JetBoil

03:08 – The Beginnings of JetBoil

05:23 – From the PCS to the Flash, and the Protoypes in Between

07:18 – JetBoil’s Footprint

08:37 – Timeline: From Initial Concept to Packaged Product

11:37 – Mike’s Favourite JetBoil Product

13:50 – JetBoil’s Range Review

14:36 – The Flash: Versions From 2019 to Now

14:43 – The Flash 1.0L and Zip 0.8L: Model Updates

20:18 – Improvements and Enhancements

22:40 – The Pot Support

24:09 – The Cook Pot

27:11 – ‘Light before attaching the pot’?

28:28 – Sell Us the Zip!

30:11 – Reheating Food

31:55 – Regulators

35:08 – Gas Mixers

37:55 – Engineering Challenges

40:28 – The Real Deal Vs Dupes

45:15 – International Standards

55:17 – One Product, Multiple Countries: How Many Feature Variations?

57:28 – Google: ‘Robot from Flubber’!

58:28 – Products in 2026?

58:57 – The Future of JetBoil: Inhouse or Global?

01:01:00 – BTU Rating

01:03:51 – Testing Boil Time and Gas Consumption

01:06:20 – Summary

Mentioned in this Episode:

Brands:

JetBoil

Products:

JetBoil Flash Hiking Stove

JetBoil Flash 1.0L

JetBoil Zip Hiking Stove

JetBoil Zip 0.8L

JetBoil MiniMo Cooking System with Pot Support

JetBoil Sumo Hiking Stove

JetBoil Genesis Basecamp Stove

Blogs & Podcasts:

The Basics and Best of Hiking Stoves

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep154 – JetBoil Stove Systems with Mike Hebert appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep152 – What Size Solar Panel Do I Need?

Ben and Lauren — Tue, 18 Mar 2025 18:36:27 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

**So… watt solar panel size is the missing piece to your power puzzle?**

From recharging depleted batteries to powering your camp kitchen, Ben and Lauren shed some (sun)light on the complexities of solar panel sizing. Our gear gurus break down the practical differences between 100W and 200W panels by explaining controller requirements, power station compatibility, and real-world limitations.

Tune in for a sun-soaked discussion of valuable amp calculations, plug-and-play recommendations, and Ben and Lauren’s personal approach to solar setups, so you can keep the campsite powered up off the grid.

Ben and Lauren shed some (sun)light on the complexities of solar panel sizing.

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

02:59 – What Sized Solar Panel Do I Need?

03:44 – The ‘One-Line’ Answer…

04:45 – Considering a 200W Vs 100W Solar Panel

06:06 – Limitations

07:06 – Considering a Solar Controller with Your Panel

10:01 – The Companion Rover 500 Power Station

11:50 – What Would Ben Do?

14:12 – Amp Replenishment

15:45 – Plug ‘N Play

18:07 – Summary

Mentioned in this Episode:

Brands:

Products:

Companion Rover 500 Power Station

Hard Korr 200W Heavy Duty Solar Mat MKII with 15A Lithium Compatible Regulator

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep152 – What Size Solar Panel Do I Need? appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep147 – When Camping Goes Wrong!

Ben and Lauren — Mon, 10 Feb 2025 16:36:41 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

So the pegs won’t peg, the storm won’t settle, and you’re all wheel, no drive?

From flyaway tents and flooded campsites, to painful neighbours and malfunctions in the middle of nowhere – Ben and Lauren unpack how to handle camping catastrophes with a productive, spring-back attitude. Be it battening down the hatches or packing up early, our gear gurus share their hard-won wisdom on making the call between riding out the storm or hitting the road.

Ben and Lauren unpack how to handle camping catastrophes with a productive, spring-back attitude.

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

01:20 – When Camping Goes Wrong

02:02 – Covering the Basics

03:10 – The Right Mindset

03:56 – Lauren’s Stance

05:03 – Fix the Problem, or Hit the Road

06:04 – Resilience and Resourcefulness

09:48 – Weather, Health, and Safety

11:18 – Campsites and Neighbours

14:08 – Additional Advice

17:27 – Summary

Mentioned in this Episode:

Podcasts:

Ep98 – Staying Safe on the Road

Ep61 – Finding the Best Campsites

Ep58 – How to Camp Cosy

Blogs:

Camping Etiquette: Being the Best Camper

How to Get the Best Weather for Your Lap of Australia

How to Repair a Broken Tent Pole

How to be a Self-Sufficient Camper

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep147 – When Camping Goes Wrong! appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep145 – New Year, New Gear

Ben and Lauren — Tue, 28 Jan 2025 02:31:16 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

From first-time investments to upgrading the essentials… what’s worth watching in 2025?

Starting fresh doesn’t always mean starting from scratch. In this episode, Ben and Lauren kick off the year with a showcase of 2025’s most promising gear innovations. From TOAKS’ ultralight cooking solutions, to MPOWERD’s innovative lighting system, and Dometic’s latest fridge technology to surprising new players in the roof top tent game – tune in as our gear gurus unpack what’s worth watching in the world of outdoor gear.

Tune in as our gear gurus unpack what’s worth watching in the world of outdoor gear!

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

01:52 – Lauren’s Fan Moment!

02:48 – New Brands

03:08 – TOAKS: Lightweight Hiking

06:36 – KAON: Fixing and Mounting Tools

09:10 – Oz Braai

10:11 – Dometic CFX5 Fridge/Freezers

14:42 – Darche Alien Light and Speaker, Solar Fan and Light, and Magic Magnets

17:57 – Darche Datachable Roof Top Tent

21:40 – Darche Solar Roof Top Tent

22:05 – Harry Fisher’s ‘Fire II Fork’

23:05 – Quest Outdoors Pop Top Camp Cupboards

24:28 – Companion Recycled Ground Mat

25:19 – Companion Caravan Awning Clothesline

25:32 – Companion Deluxe Towing Mirrors

25:50 – Companion Aero Breeze Fan

26:50 – MPOWERD Luci Solar Site Lights

29:59 – Coleman Event 15 Deluxe Shelters

32:17 – Teasers

32:37 – Exped Sleeping Mats: Overhaul!

36:49 – Sea to Summit Updates

37:30 – Oztent Roof Top Tents?!

39:26 – KickAss Air Conditioner

40:55 – 23ZERO Yowie Aluminium-Shell Roof Top Tent

42:07 – New Concepts from Inspired Overland

42:44 – Summary

Mentioned in this Episode:

Products:

Dometic CFX5 Fridge/Freezers

Darche Alien Light and Speaker

Darche Solar Fan and Light

Darche Magic Magnets 3 Pack

Darche Datachable Roof Top Tent

Harry Fisher’s ‘Fire II Fork – More Camp Cooking’

Quest Outdoors Pop Top Camp Cupboards

Companion Recycled Ground Mat

Companion Caravan Awning Clothesline

Companion Deluxe Towing Mirrors (Set of 2)

Companion Aero Breeze Fans

MPOWERD Luci Solar Site Lights

Coleman Event 15 Deluxe Shelter

Brands:

YouTube:

Dometic CFX5 95DZ Dual Zone Fridge/Freezer 94L

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next fortnight’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep145 – New Year, New Gear appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep144 – Season 4 Wrap-Up

Ben and Lauren — Sun, 15 Dec 2024 22:30:00 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

From jam-packed interviews to banter bites, Season 4 wrapped up with… Vegemite croissants?

Following chats with industry legends, product deep-dives, and plenty of banter about Ben’s beard – in this episode, Ben and Lauren recount their favorite moments of 2024.

From touching base with some of our favourite brands, introducing Tilda’s insights on a stylish campsite, and Zempire’s latest lineup – tune in for a year’s worth of highlights, some surprising stats about what you loved watching, and who we’re keen to see in the hot seat for 2025!

In this episode, Ben and Lauren recount their favorite moments of 2024.

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

01:00 – A Tumultuous Season!

04:28 – S4’s Most Listened To / Watched Episodes

07:10 – Ben and Lauren’s Favourite Episodes

09:06 – Snowys’ Brick and Mortar – Brendale, QLD and Adelaide, SA

10:54 – Interviewing OZtrail

12:10 – Glamping Gear and Maddy Bockett from Tilda Outdoors

14:28 – Interviewing Joolca

16:16 – The Banter on Ben’s Beard!

20:21 – Zempire’s New Range

21:23 – Snowys’ First OZ Braai Product!

22:13 – Cam’s Back on YouTube!

24:03 – Ben’s Biggest Realisation (4 Seasons Later)

25:20 – Who Do You Want Us to Interview in 2025?

27:30 – Sea to Summit Vs Zempire Models

29:27 – Vegemite Croissants…?

30:56 – Happy Christmas from Ben and Lauren!

Mentioned in this Episode:

Products:

OZtrail rooftop tents

OZtrail Sundowner swags

Zempire Monstabeds

Zempire Hexolite camping tables

Zempire Aerospeed tents

OZ Braai Camp Braai

Podcasts:

Ep123 – Weird & Wonderful Camping Gear #3

Ep126 – New Season, New Gear: Winter ’24

Ep122 – Keeping it Clean with Camp Showers

Ep120 – Beach & Island Camping with Dave & Bec from Snowys Brendale

Ep114 – Rooftop Tents with Dave & Jacob from Snowys Brendale

Ep125 – Rooftop Tents, Awnings, & Everything OZtrail 2024 with Michael & Ben

Ep133 – Tilda Outdoors with Maddy Bockett

Ep142 – Joolca with Maciek Slodyczka

Ep138 – Zempire: Innovating the Outdoors with Richard Knauf

YouTube:

Sea to Summit Detour Stainless Steel Pan with Cam

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next fortnight’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep144 – Season 4 Wrap-Up appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep143 – Is It Covered Under Warranty?

Ben and Lauren — Sun, 08 Dec 2024 22:30:00 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

That awkward warranty moment, when ‘lifetime’ doesn’t mean forever and ‘covered’ comes with conditions.

From manufacturing faults to wear and tear, the world of warranties isn’t always black and white. In this episode, Ben and Lauren decode the difference between warranties and consumer guarantees, share real-world warranty stories, and explain why providing more information up front leads to better outcomes.

Tune in for the clear facts about your consumer rights and the steps to take to make a claim!

Tune in for the clear facts about your consumer rights and the steps to take to make a claim!

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

00:50 – ‘Is It Covered Under Warranty?’

02:44 – Inclusions and Exclusions

03:47 – ‘Lifetime’ Warranty: Explained

04:35 – Manufacturing Faults Vs Wear and Tear

06:58 – Managing a Warranty and Customer Experience

08:15 – Lauren’s Real-Life Example

10:10 – Manufacturing Warranties Vs Consumer Guarantees

11:57 – The More Information, the Better

13:43 – Education on Products

14:57 – Summary

Mentioned in this Episode:

Podcasts:

Ep8 – Dealing with Wind & Rain When Camping

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next fortnight’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep143 – Is It Covered Under Warranty? appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep142 – Joolca with Maciek Slodyczka

Ben and Lauren — Sun, 01 Dec 2024 22:30:00 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

From civil construction to creature comforts: Joolca’s founder Mack pulls back the curtain on how simple ideas become outdoor innovations…

Hot showers, composting toilets, and even a portable hot tub – in this episode, Ben and Lauren dive deep with the man behind Joolca’s most intriguing designs. They explore everything from the birth of the Hottap to what’s heating up on the horizon – including tent warming solutions!

Tune in for an hour of product evolution stories, quality control insights, and why sometimes the simplest ideas make the biggest splash in the outdoor world!

From civil construction to creature comforts…

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

01:30 – Introducing Mack from Joolca

06:05 – Design and Engineer Process of the Hottap V1

07:59 – From Civil Engineering to Portable Outdoor Camping Showers

10:30 – Where Did Joolca’s Successful Ideas Come From?

11:35 – The GottaGo: How Could a Camping Toilet be so Interesting?!

16:27 – The ‘Pooca’

18:26 – Introducing Creature Comforts into the Outdoors: Design and Practicality

20:57 – The Joolca Ensuite Shower Base

22:12 – The Joolca Hottub

24:35 – Quality Control and Troubleshooting

29:56 – Approach to Re-Works

31:20 – Customer Feedback

33:52 – What’s on the Horizon?

36:41 – The ‘Joolca’ Name

37:35 – Dual-Purpose Products

38:59 – Tent Heating

41:13 – Gas Certification: Safety and Testing

46:43 – Summary

Mentioned in this Episode:

Products:

Joolca HOTTAP V2

Joolca GottaGo Toilet

Joolca ENSUITE Shower Base

Blogs:

Smarttek Vs Joolca: Comparing Two Hot Water Heavyweights

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next fortnight’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep142 – Joolca with Maciek Slodyczka appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep140 – Christmas Gift Guide ’24

Ben and Lauren — Sun, 17 Nov 2024 22:30:00 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

Stumped for a stocking stuffer? Banking on something a little bigger?

From compact coffee makers to endless after-dark movie nights under the stars, this year’s Christmas lineup has landed. Be it lightweight, luxury, simple, or practical – in this episode, Ben and Lauren unwrap their top picks for 2024, featuring fresh releases like the KickAss Projector and Sea to Summit’s new Detour range, alongside tried-and-tested favorites (even for four-legged campers).

Be them coffee connoisseurs, tech enthusiasts, or rug rats running amuck and ready to hit the trail – tune in for your complete outdoor adventure gift guide!

In this episode, Ben and Lauren unwrap their top picks for 2024.

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

02:25 – KickAss Projector

04:45 – OZtrail Loomie String Lights

07:23 – Other Compact Lighting Options

09:25 – Camelbak and LifeStraw Drink Bottles

12:13 – Camelbak Mini Mule and Kids Eddie Drink Bottle

13:20 – Wacaco Minipresso GR2

14:54 – Sea to Summit Stainless Steel Detour Mugs

16:10 – Sea to Summit Detour Camp Cooking Range

17:52 – Quest Outdoors Air Sofa

20:55 – Flextail and Exped Compact Pumps

22:27 – Sea to Summit Classic Sleeping Bag Range

24:08 – Naturehike Tarp Shelter

25:24 – Blacksmith Camping Supplies Bags

27:10 – Muk Mats

27:47 – Beach Shelters and Camp Wagons

30:02 – Dometic Cool-Ice Iceboxes

31:20 – Outdoor Connection Quad-Fold Dog Bed

32:41 – 23ZERO Woof Den

33:30 – KickAss Jaffle Maker

34:27 – Tiegear Lite Terra Pegs and Guyropes

36:25 – Buff

37:59 – Staun Tyre Deflators

40:33 – Helinox and Wanderlite Compact Chairs

40:45 – Summary

Mentioned in this Episode:

Products:

KickAss Projector & 100″ Eyelet Screen Cinema Package

Hardkorr U-Lite Dual Colour LED Lanterns 4-Pack

MPOWERD Luci lights

BioLite SiteLight String

Zempire Megadome lanterns

Ledlenser lanterns

Black Diamond Moji lanterns

Camelbak drink bottles

LifeStraw water bottles

Dometic Thermo Bottle

Camelbak Mini Mule Kids Hydration Pack

Camelbak Eddy+ Kids Bottle

Wacaco Minipresso GR2 Portable Espresso Machine

AeroPress Original Coffee Maker

Sea to Summit Detour Stainless Steel Collapsible Mugs

Sea to Summit Detour range

Sea to Summit Detour Stainless Steel Utensil Set – 4 Piece

Quest Outdoors Air Sofa

FLEXTAIL pumps

Exped pumps

Sea to Summit sleeping bags

Naturehike Cloud Skies Tarp

Blacksmith Camping Supplies bags

Muk Mats

Beach shelters

OZtrail Collapsible Camp Wagon

Dometic Cool-Ice Iceboxes

Outdoor Connection dog beds

23ZERO Woof Den Dog Swag

KickAss 12V Camping Jaffle Maker

Tiegear STEADFAST Terra Driver Lite T40 Hex

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next fortnight’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep140 – Christmas Gift Guide ’24 appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep138 – Zempire: Innovating the Outdoors with Richard Knauf

Ben and Lauren — Mon, 04 Nov 2024 22:30:00 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

What happens when New Zealand innovation meets camping comfort? Zempire founder Richard Knauf pulls up a Hexolite table to share the story.

From lightweight yet sturdy camp tables to their ‘Lasagna of Glory’ Monstabeds – in this episode, Ben and Lauren unpack Zempire’s latest gear innovations with the man who helped dream them into existence. They dive deep into the tech behind the Aerospeed Air Tent range, discuss the balanced stance on blackout fabric, and discover why air poles might just be stronger than you think.

Tune in for an hour of product insights, the lowdown on designs, and how feedback from real campers turns a ‘what if’ into a rustic reality!

In this episode, Ben and Lauren unpack Zempire’s latest gear innovations with the man who helped dream them into existence.

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

00:28 – Introducing Rich from Zempire

01:17 – Richard’s Story

02:22 – Zempire’s Hottest Products

02:39 – Hexolite Camp Tables

03:48 – Achieving Lightweight but Sturdy Strength

06:30 – Heat Resistance

06:54 – Adjustment Mechanism

07:58 – Hangdome Lanterns

08:09 – Monstabeds

15:00 – Inflating the Monstabed (for a ‘Lasagna of Glory’)

16:25 – Total Weight and Pack Size

16:46 – Puncture Resistance

18:27 – Aerospeed Air Tent Range

25:30 – Size and Weight Comparison: Aerospeed 10 Air Tent

26:15 – User Experience for Air Tent Beginners

26:43 – ‘Something’s Gotta Give – What’s the Catch?’

32:27 – Burst Strength of Zempire Air Poles (PSI)

33:09 – UV Resistance

35:51 – Aerospeed Air Tent Storage Bags

40:16 – Aerospeed Air Tent Walls and Door Configurations

43:20 – ‘Blackout’ Fabrics

47:22 – Aerospeed Air Tent Accessories

49:09 – Roof Covers

50;52 – One Product, Many Markets

51:46 – Connectivity

53:18 – Compatibility of Aerospeed Link with Legacy Models

54:35 – The Feedback Loop and Design Process

57:15 – Zempire Pumps

01:02:13 – Summary

Mentioned in this Episode:

Products:

Zempire Hexolite Camp Tables

Zempire Monstabeds

Zempire Aerospeed Air Tents

Podcasts:

Ep16 – Tent Waterhead Ratings with Zempire

Ep21 – Camp Furniture Setups with Zempire

Ep40 – All About Air Tents with Zempire

Blogs:

5 Reasons to Own an Air Tent

YouTube:

Zempire Monstabed Camp Bed

Zempire Monstabed Camp Bed – How to Set Up & Pack Away

Zempire Monstapump Rechargeable Inflator/Deflator

Zempire Aerospeed Air Tent – How to Set Up & Pack Away

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next fortnight’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep138 – Zempire: Innovating the Outdoors with Richard Knauf appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep137 – How Do Camping Toilets Work?

Ben and Lauren — Sun, 27 Oct 2024 22:30:00 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

On the go, but gotta go? A camping toilet can be the clean solution to a road-side dump.

From chemical cassettes to composting solutions, the topic of portable toilets can get a little deep for the first-timer (despite the shallow bowl!). In this episode, Ben and Lauren unclog the brain-drain and break down exactly how camping toilets work, diving into tank designs, chemical requirements, and the ins and outs of the Joolca GottaGo.

Listen up to get to the bottom of every outdoor toilet doubt!

From chemical cassettes to composting solutions, the topic of portable toilets can get a little deep for the first-timer.

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

01:55 – How Do Camping Toilets Work?

02:42 – Chemical Toilets

04:33 – Recommended Chemicals

05:48 – What Do the Chemicals Do?

06:08 – Toilet Tank Design

06:47 – Joolca GottaGo Toilets

08:18 – Bagged and Composting Toilets

09:04 – Most Common Toilet Types

10:05 – Can I Buy Another Waste Tank for my Thetford Porta Potti?

10:58 – Other Suggestions

11:42 – Summary

Mentioned in this Episode:

Products:

Camp Toilets

Joolca GottaGo Toilets and Cassettes

Thetford Porta Potti

Podcasts:

Ep 51 – Taking Care of Business with Camp Toilets

YouTube:

Thetford Porta Potti 565E & 565P Camp Toilet

Joolca GottaGo Eco Cassette

Joolca GottaGo Modular Separating Toilet

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next fortnight’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep137 – How Do Camping Toilets Work? appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep136 – Can I Use My Stove with This Camp Table?

Ben and Lauren — Sun, 20 Oct 2024 22:30:00 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

When the sizzle of your stove meets the surface of your camp table – is this combo is about to cause a campground meltdown?

Can your blow-moulded camp table handle the heat of your two-burner? Is your steel-top about to become a scorched memory? In this episode, Ben and Lauren serve up the facts about pairing camp stoves with camp tables, from materials and design to heat-resistant hacks.

Tune in for all the camp stove Vs tabletop know-how, including the lowdown on induction cookers, smokers, spillage solutions, and secrets to keeping that table stable!

Ben and Lauren serve up the facts about pairing camp stoves with camp tables.

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

01:50 – Can I Put My Stove on this Camp Table?

02:30 – Common Camp Table Materials

03:02 – Steel-Topped Camp Tables

03:55 – Blow-Moulded Plastic Camp Tables

04:53 – Induction Cookers and Hotplates

05:22 – Other Stoves and Scenarios

06:06 – Self Trialing and Testing

06:55 – Heat-Resistant Layers

07:12 – Smokers

07:35 – Other Tips and Suggestions

07:53 – MDF Laminate vs Other Materials: Spillage

09:41 – Camp Stove Stands

09:59 – Considering the Table’s Size and Stability

10:48 – Summary

Mentioned in this Episode:

Products:

Camping Tables

Camping Stoves

Quest Outdoors Razor Table 120

Zempire Hexolite 160 Camping Table

Podcasts:

Ep41 – Camp Stove Comparisons

Ep88 – Top Tables for Every Trip

Other:

Camp Cooking with Cam

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next fortnight’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep136 – Can I Use My Stove with This Camp Table? appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep134 – First Aid For Your Tent

Ben and Lauren — Sun, 29 Sep 2024 23:30:00 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

Is your tent looking more hole-y than heavenly?

Today we’re talking tent repair! Ben and Lauren are back with a practical episode all about fixing your camping shelter. They’ll cover common tent issues like tears, broken zippers, and leaky seams, sharing their top tips for easy DIY repairs.

Whether you’re dealing with a small rip or a major malfunction, our hosts have got you covered with budget-friendly solutions to keep your tent in top shape for many adventures to come. So grab your repair kit and join us for some canvas first aid!

Ben and Lauren are back with a practical episode all about fixing your camping shelter.

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

01:34 – Wombat Attacks…?

04:30 – Fabric Repairs: Patches and Tapes

08:59 – Fabric Repairs: Glues

11:08 – Pole Repairs

15:50 – Ben’s Recommended Way to Avoid Pole Breakages

17:29 – Air Poles

19:32 – Zippers

23:21 – Summary

23:38 – What’s Your Worst Repair Story? Ever Had a Wombat Attack Your Tent?

Mentioned in this Episode:

Product:

Repair and Treatment

Australian RV Heavy Duty Awning Repair Tape

Tear-Aid Type A Fabric Repair Tape

Gear Aid Seam Grip + WP Sealer & Adhesive

Poles

Trace Springs

Pegs

Blogs

Repairing and Caring for a Camp Mattress

Guide to Camping Gear Maintenance & Repair

Podcasts:

Ep12 – Caring for Your Camping Gear

Other:

FixnZip

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next fortnight’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep134 – First Aid For Your Tent appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep131 – Down Vs Synthetic Insulation

Ben and Lauren — Sun, 18 Aug 2024 23:30:00 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

Dive into the fluffy world of sleeping bag insulation!

It’s time to unpack the down vs synthetic sleeping bag debate to help you stay cozy on your next adventure.

In this episode of the Snowys Camping Show, Ben and Lauren dive into the age-old debate of down versus synthetic insulation for sleeping bags. They’ll unpack the pros and cons of each, covering everything from warmth-to-weight ratios and packability to performance in wet conditions. Whether you’re a fair-weather camper or a hardcore winter adventurer, this episode will help you choose the right sleeping bag to keep you toasty on your next outdoor escape.

In this episode, Ben and Lauren unpack how a fast-pitch style tent can upgrade your campsite. Image: OZtrail.

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

02:36 – Down Insulative Construction

04:47 – Synthetic Insulative Construction

06:08 – Key Considerations When Choosing a Bag

06:54 – Warmth and Temperate Ratings

09:38 – Moisture, Condensation, and Damp Conditions

12:03 – Breathability

13:43 – Weight and Compressibility

17:42 – Durability and Longevity

20:45 – Cost and Value

25:40 – Summary of Down: Advantages and Disadvantages

27:16 – Summary of Synthetic: Advantages and Disadvantages

28:29 – Ben and Lauren’s Dream Sleeping Bag

Mentioned in this Episode:

Products:

Down sleeping bags

Synthetic sleeping bags

Sea to Summit Altitude At1 Women’s Sleeping Bag (-4C)

Sea to Summit Spark Women’s Down Sleeping Bag (-9C)

Sea to Summit Basecamp Down Sleeping Bag (-9C)

Sea to Summit Spark Pro Down Sleeping Bag (-9C)

Podcasts:

Ep11 – Sleep System Ratings with Sea to Summit

Ep 9 – Dealing With Tent Condensation

Ep102 – Sleeping Bags Unpacked

Blogs:

The Best Sleeping Bags for 2024

The Sea to Summit Sleep Systems

How to Choose the Best Sleeping Bag

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next fortnight’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep131 – Down Vs Synthetic Insulation appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep127 – Managing Mouldy Gear

Ben and Lauren — Mon, 24 Jun 2024 05:47:05 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

If there was ever a topic to associate with a Monday morning, it’s mould.

This week, Ben and Lauren embrace the Monday blues by touching on something just as dampening and dull, but nowhere near as nice on a cracker with quince and a glass of room-temp red: mould.

Nevertheless, this episode builds on how to prevent, remove, and recover your tents, shelters, and swags from the ultimate vampire of longevity that feeds on humidity but fries in UV!

This episode builds on how to prevent, remove, and recover your tents, shelters, and swags from mould. Image: OZtrail

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

00:57 – Overview: Materials, Humidity, and Prevention

04:04 – Cleaning Your Gear

06:13 – Drying and Airing Out Your Gear

07:34 – Storing Your Gear

10:21 – Moisture Preventatives

11:17 – Cleaning and Removing Mould: Best Methods and Applications

17:46 – Treating Synthetic Tents

20:48 – Durable Water Repellence

21:52 – Sunlight

22:22 – Summary

Mentioned in this Episode:

Podcasts:

Ep94 – Back to Reality: Camp Gear Storage

Products:

Hiking Tents

Nikwax: Tent & Gear Solar Proof

Camping Tents and Shelters

Other:

YouTube: How to Re-Waterproof Your Tent

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next fortnight’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep127 – Managing Mouldy Gear appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep126 – New Season, New Gear: Winter ‘24

Ben and Lauren — Tue, 11 Jun 2024 03:28:16 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

In this episode, Lauren lifts a rooftop tent with one hand and spins it on her forefinger like a basketball.

…OK, that’s not entirely true. But now that we have your attention – this week on the Snowys Camping Show, Ben and Lauren crack into the ~cool~ new gear fresh to the Snowys floor this winter!

From ultralightweight roof top tents and steadfast tent pegs to new and improved sleeping bags and hiking gear redefined, tune in for the gear that’s good to go ahead of your next outdoor getaway.

From steadfast tent pegs to hiking gear redefined, tune in for the gear that’s good to go ahead of your next outdoor getaway! Image: Naturehike

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

00:49 – Naturehike

04:22 – Joolca

08:39 – Inspired Overland

15:00 – Tiegear’s STEADFAST Range

20:55 – Sea to Summit’s Upgraded Sleeping Bag Range

26:45 – Summary

Mentioned in this Episode:

Naturehike

Joolca

Inspired Overland

Tiegear’s STEADFAST range

Sea to Summit’s updated sleeping bag range

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next fortnight’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep126 – New Season, New Gear: Winter ‘24 appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep121 – Off-Grid Communication

Ben and Lauren — Mon, 18 Mar 2024 03:10:28 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

‘Don’t call me unless it’s an emergency’ should be taken just as seriously as ‘don’t talk to me until I’ve had my morning coffee.’

In this episode, Ben and Lauren discuss the kind of communication that requires a gadget caught between the all-out, ‘get me out’, sending-out-an-SOS Personal Locator Beacon, and the in-range, down-the-road, yarn-with-Mum mobile phone.

From connecting to satellites and choosing the right device, to navigating, recharging, and maintenance – we’re sending our own important message to every outdoor adventurer ahead of their next off-grid escape.

Ben and Lauren discuss the gadget that falls between the Personal Locator Beacon and the mobile phone. Image: Zoleo

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

02:06 – Citizen Band (CB) or Ultra-High Frequency (UHF) Radios

03:21 – Short- and Long-Distance Communication

06:36 – Connecting to Satellites

07:09 – Satellite Communication Networks

08:50 – Satellite Navigation Systems

09:35 – Satellite Phones

11:24 – Satellite-Based Communication Devices

14:02 – Zoleo

14:40 – Spot Messenger

15:43 – Choosing the Right Device

18:02 – Maintenance and Recharging

18:26 – Starlink

21:58 – Summary

Mentioned in this Episode:

Podcasts:

Ep49 – PLB Comparisons

Ep36 – UHF Radios with GME

Brands:

Oricom

Products:

Zoleo Global Satellite Communicator

Spot Satellite Messenger

Oricom 2 Watt Floating IPX7 UHF CB Radio UHF2600−1

Oricom Waterproof IP67 5 Watt Handheld UHF CB Radio DTX600

Oricom 0.5 Watt Handheld UHF CB Radio Twin Pack PMR795

Oricom 1 Watt Handheld UHF CB Radio Twin Pack UHF1400

Oricom 5 Watt IP67 Waterproof Handheld UHF CB Radio Trade Pack DTXTP600

Oricom Plug and Play Micro 5 Watt UHF CB Radio Pack UHF310

Oricom Micro 5 Watt UHF CB Radio + 6.5dBi Antenna UHF390GP

Other:

Iridium Satellite Communication Network

Thuraya Satellite Communication Network

GLONASS Satellite Navigation System

COSPAS-SARSAT International Satellite System

GALILEO Global Navigation Satellite System

Starlink

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next fortnight’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep121 – Off-Grid Communication appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep118 – Campsite Q&A’s #7 with Ben & Lauren

Ben and Lauren — Mon, 05 Feb 2024 03:20:28 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

With the abundance of budding adventurers and outdoor enthusiasts across the country…

…comes a plethora of keen, campsite questions to be answered!

In this episode, your favourite gear experts prepare their notes, park themselves behind the poddy mics, and produce yet another Q&A episode, addressing your most common queries posed across our Snowys YouTube and social media platforms.

With the abundance of budding adventurers comes a plethora of keen campsite questions! Image: Companion

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

01:52 – Cooking Options for Total Fire Bans?

07:28 – Advancements in the Outdoor Industry?

13:24 – Perfect Pop-Up, WP, Couple’s Tent for Overnight Boat and Island Camping?

17:11 – Bit of Kit That You No Longer Keep but Wish You Did?

24:36 – Next Guest on the Show?

25:20 – Best Way to Secure Gazebos in High Winds?

30:54 – Weirdest and Most Wonderful Camping Hacks: Genius or Ridiculous?

32:22 – What if Your Husband Hates Camping…?

37:40 – National Parks Annual Passes

39:49 – Pros and Cons of Camp Toilet and Shower Options?

46:08 – Summary

Mentioned in this Episode:

Podcasts:

Ep45 – Fire Ban Seasons with the CFS

Ep114 – Roof Top Tents with Dave & Jacob from Snowys Brendale

Ep57 – Weird & Wonderful Camping Gear

Ep96 – Weird & Wonderful Camping Gear #2

Ep44 – Ben’s Half Lap

Ep51 – Taking Care of Business with Camp Toilets

Blogs:

‘”You’re Taking THAT?!” The 5 Weirdest Items in my Hike Pack’ by Kate Grarock

‘Weird, Wonderful & Disturbingly Strange Camping Gear’ by Ben Collaton

Products:

Westinghouse Single Induction Cooktop (2000W)

Swag Poles

Darche Dusk to Dawn Composite Swag Pole Set

Air Tents

Rooftop Tents

Solar Panels

Hard Korr Zeal 12V AGM Deep Cycle Batteries

Sleeping Mats

Sleeping Bags

Lightweight Sleep Gear

Dome Tents

BlackWolf Classic Dome

Knives

Down Sleeping Bags

Hard Korr U-Lite Dual Colour LED Lanterns 4 Pack

Pegs

Supa Peg Polycarbonate Sand Pegs

Guy Ropes and Trace Springs

Coleman Instant Up Lighted Gazebo 3×3

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next fortnight’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep118 – Campsite Q&A’s #7 with Ben & Lauren appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep116 – That’s a Wrap on Season 3

Ben and Lauren — Mon, 18 Dec 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

‘I flicked through all the episodes, and I saw one that was related to pizzas… I don’t remember talking about pizzas?!’ ~ Ben

‘I just feel like I’ve spent a large portion of this year inside an operating washing machine.’ ~ Lauren

Generating the majority of 2023’s content from their stellar new studio, Ben and Lauren unpack the most notable moments of what could be considered a scramble of sound, yet successful series: Season 3!

From their ever-growing Facebook group to the jam-packed chats with some of the best brands – tune in to your favourite gear gurus as they wrap up Season 3, and toss it under the tree!

Ben and Lauren unpack the most notable moments of Season 3.

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

01:58 – How was your 2023?

03:28 – Fortnightly Structure

04:39 – New Studio

05:13 – Q&A Sessions

05:57 – Facebook Community

06:30 – YouTube Channel

07:34 – General and Car Camping

10:26 – ‘Snowys Camping Banter’

10:37 – Setup Developments

12:27 – ‘Hot Cross Buns’!

13:28 – Interviews and Brand Features

19:28 – Our Brendale, QLD Family

24:24 – Our Resident Camp Cook, Cam

27:38 – Vegemite, Promite, or Marmite?

28:01 – ‘Data Ben’

29:42 – Zempire Tent Tour

31:31 – The Copywriter

32:40 – The Most ‘Boss Camp Kitchen’ Lauren Has Ever Seen

35:24 – Ben and Lauren’s Dynamic

38:23 – A Christmas Surprise, from Ben and Lauren to You

39:49 – That’s a Wrap!

Mentioned in this Episode:

LIMITED DISCOUNT CODE:

PODSQUAD5 for 5% off order total at checkout
Valid until midnight 31/12/23

Podcasts:

Ep 90 – Top This: Camp Pizza Prep

Ep106 – Sea to Summit Tents with Ross Smith

Ep92 – Campsite Q&A’s #5 with Ben & Lauren

Ep113 – Car Camping Without Cramming

Ep87 – Building a Bucket List with Mariska Threadgold

Ep93 – Dometic Fridges with Paul Montaut

Ep101 – Evakool Fridges with Leana and Jaimie

Ep95 – Guide to Hiking Packs with Deuter

Ep114 – Roof Top Tents with Dave & Jacob from Snowys Brendale

Ep107 – How the Big Blokes Camp

Products:

Hard Korr U-Lite Dual Colour LED Lanterns (4 Pack)

Zempire Tents

Other:

YouTube: Snowys Outdoors

Facebook Group (Podcast): Snowys Camping Banter

Thanks for listening, tune in again on January 15, 2024, for next season!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep116 – That’s a Wrap on Season 3 appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep115 – Christmas Gift Guide ‘23

Ben and Lauren — Sun, 03 Dec 2023 22:34:47 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

Well, Silly Season has officially hit the Snowys podcast room…

In this episode, gear gurus Ben and Lauren work their way down their wish lists, detailing the gear and gadgets fit for every outdoor adventure.

From perfectly practical stocking fillers to perfectly portable water faucets, solar-powered string lights, and Sundowner swags – watch or listen for the ultimate gift guide, bundled together with a bow by your favourite, festive outdoor experts!

Watch or listen for the ultimate gift guide!

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

01:29 – ‘Tis the Season!

05:09 – Ben and Lauren’s Wishlist

06:02 – Tiegear Tiedown Equipment

07:26 – Blacksmith Camping Supplies Wheel Bag

08:50 – Dometic Hydration Faucet*

10:33 – Telescopic Camping Toasting Forks*

11:21 – BlackWolf Quick-Fold Lightweight Chair

12:31 – OZtrail Sundowner Swags

14:56 – Opinel Products

16:54 – MPOWERD Luci String Lights*

19:33 – Wacaco Coffee Maker*

20:24 – Camp Blanket*

22:34 – Dometic Iceboxes*

24:04 – Everclear Drinkware*

25:51 – Hard Korr Multi-Tool Shovel and U-Lites*

27:13 – C-Gear L-Shaped Mats*

28:17 – Firepits

30:35 – Folding / Pop-Up Washing Basket

34:24 – Summary

Mentioned in this Episode:

Blogs:

A Snowy(s) Christmas: Gift Guide 2023

Podcasts:

Ep82 – Christmas Gift Guide ’22

Ep6 – Do You Need a Portable Firepit?

Products:

Tiegear Tiedown Equipment

Blacksmith Camping Supplies 4WD Wheel Bag

Dometic GO Hydration Water Faucet Portable Self-Powered Tap

AFN Fishing & Outdoor Telescopic Camping Forks

BlackWolf Quick Fold Lightweight Chair

OZtrail Sundowner Swags

Opinel Products

My First Opinel

MPOWERD Luci Solar String Lights

Wacaco Minipresso Espresso Machine

Wacaco Nanopresso Espresso Machine

Coleman Outdoor Blanket

OZtrail Drover’s Roll Blanket

23ZERO Canvas Trail Blanket

Dometic Cool Ice CI 15 Icebox

Dometic Cool Ice CI 28 Icebox

Everclear Drinkware

Hard Korr Multi-Tool Shovel

Hard Korr U-Lite Dual Colour LED Lanterns

C-Gear L-Shaped Multimats

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next fortnight’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep115 – Christmas Gift Guide ‘23 appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep113 – Our Pitch on Picking a Tent

Ben and Lauren — Sun, 05 Nov 2023 23:39:00 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

They’re your bedrooms in a bag. Your portable fortresses. Your on-the-road abodes.

They’re tents.

In this episode, Ben and Lauren go back to basics, detailing the main considerations when choosing a tent. From size, space, and weight, to ‘future-proofing’, vestibules, and product reviews – tune in for the most beneficial 45 minutes of tent-talk to date!

In this episode, Ben and Lauren go back to basics, detailing the main considerations when choosing a tent. Image: BlackWolf

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

02:23 – Choosing a Tent

05:18 – Basic Considerations

05:52 – Environmental Conditions

07:02 – Size and Space

11:19 – ‘Future-Proofing’ and Accessories

15:29 – Pack Size and Weight

20:25 – Pitching

27:04 – Connectivity

30:40 – Additional Features: Walls, Awnings, and Vestibules

32:35 – Waterhead Rating

35:32 – Windows

36:48 – Internal Storage

38:41 – Weather-Protected Ventilation

39:31 – Making the Final Decision

42:05 – Product Reviews

43:58 – Online Camping Groups

Mentioned in this Episode:

Products:

Dome tents

Inflatable / air tents

Coleman Instant Up Northstar tents

Coleman Bedrock 2P Hiking Tent

Blogs:

‘What Are Waterhead Ratings on Tents?’ – By Ben Collaton

Podcasts:

Ep10 – Camping with Teenagers

Ep16 – Tent Waterhead Ratings with Zempire

Ep97 – Camping with Kids

Other:

YouTube: product videos

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next fortnight’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep113 – Our Pitch on Picking a Tent appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep112 – The Inside Track on Trekking Poles

Ben and Lauren — Sun, 22 Oct 2023 23:22:51 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

In this episode, Ben and Lauren (flick) lock, rock, and roll!

From twist-locking and compact folding, to ‘flex tips’, good grip, and snow baskets – trekking poles provide a no-pressure solution to taking on the rocky trails and slopes to the summit.

Take comfort into your own hands from your palms to the path, and watch or listen here!

From twist-locking to compact folding, Ben and Lauren unpack everything trekking and hiking poles. Image: Leki

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

01:38 – Hiking Poles: Why Should We Use Them?

04:03 – Muscle Engagement and Weight Distribution

05:28 – Stability and Balance

07:49 – Speed

08:45 – Traction

09:32 – Depth Guage

10:36 – Types of Poles

11:38 – One or Two?

11:59 – Features, Materials, Mechanisms, and Accessories

13:51 – Telescopic or Folding Poles?

16:35 – Carbon, Aluminium, or Alloy?

20:47 – Adjustable or Fixed?

23:32 – Height Adjustment and Sizing

25:14 – Twist-Lock or Flick-Lock?

31:30 – Variations to Features and Mechanisms

32:25 – Handles and Grips

36:20 – Wrist Straps

38:59 – Men’s and Women’s-Specific Poles

40:50 – Leki Wanderfreund Makalu Pole

42:38 – Anti-Shock Feature

46:08 – Accessories and Replacements

50:07 – Summary

Mentioned in this Episode:

Products:

Hiking Poles

Leki Wanderfreund Makalu Single Pole

Brands:

Black Diamond

Leki

Elemental

Blogs:

Hike Faster, Easier, and Safer with Hiking and Trekking Poles

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next fortnight’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep112 – The Inside Track on Trekking Poles appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep111 – Hiking Stoves for Compact Cooking

Ben and Lauren — Mon, 09 Oct 2023 00:26:54 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

In this episode, Ben and Lauren keep it light.

Of everything on your lightweight pack list, your hiking stove is the essential bit of kit! Turning the dry into rehydrated, it’s your cooking comrade on every alfresco escape.

In this episode, our gear experts throw everything into the pot, touching on fuel types, burners, and tips on how to make the most of your compact cooking package. Let’s crank the heat!

Turning the dry into rehydrated, the hiking stove is your cooking comrade on every alfresco escape. Image: MSR

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

01:01 – Hiking Stoves

02:56 – Multi-Functions

04:28 – Blog

05:11 – Types of Stove Burners and Systems

06:30 – Types of Fuel

09:25 – Canisters

12:08 – Efficiency

14:09 – All-In-One Systems

16:55 – Ultralight Hiking

19:10 – Single-Burner Stoves

22:11 – Wind Protection

23:01 – Liquid Fuel Stoves

30:27 – Carrying Liquid Fuel

31:12 – Don’t Try This at Home…

32:46 – Other MSR Stoves

34:56 – Other Brands

35:50 – Camping and Hiking (Crossover Features)

38:31 – Stoves for Compact Car Camping

46:00 – Summary

Mentioned in this Episode:

Blogs:

The Basics and Best of Hiking Stoves for 2023

Products:

MSR PocketRocket Deluxe

MSR Whisperlite

360 Degrees Furno Stove and Pot Set

Trangia

Dometic Cadac Safari Chef 30

Fuel Bottles

Other:

Product Review (YouTube): Dometic Cadac Safari Chef

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next fortnight’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep111 – Hiking Stoves for Compact Cooking appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep109 – Behind the Scenes with Sea to Summit

Ben and Lauren — Mon, 11 Sep 2023 03:50:12 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

From the infinite horizon where the sea meets the sunlight, to the mountaintops that pierce the sky…

the range of outdoor gear by Sea to Summit covers the curves and contours of adventures that take on both water and land.

In this episode, Ben and Lauren check back in with Sea to Summit’s Brand Manager Ross Smith to reveal the parts, parcels, and processes behind the brand’s ever-growing success – from their first logo to their future innovations.

Tune in for their trailblazing tale!

The range of outdoor gear by Sea to Summit covers the curves and contours of adventures that take on both water and land. Image: Sea to Summit

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

01:29 – Introducing Ross from Sea to Summit

03:46 – Who Are Sea to Summit?

05:14 – Distribution and Representation

09:40 – Considerations and Limitations of Aussie Distributing

12:22 – The Story Behind the Name

13:18 – Sea to Summit on an International Level

14:04 – The Head Office

15:17 – The Product Range

17:30 – The Sea to Summit Team

18:48 – Field Testing and Quality Control

20:16 – What Determines a Successful Range?

22:14 – Australian Manufacturing

25:08 – The Story Behind the Alpha Pots

30:01 – Additional Steps in Quality Control

31:43 – How Often do Products Need Revamping?

33:35 – What’s in the Pipeline?

34:39 – Sustainability

36:15 – Product Range in Australia Vs Overseas

37:25 – Post-Sales Process

38:57 – Support and Service

39:42 – Ross’s Favourite Sea to Summit Product

40:34 – Ben’s Favourite Sea to Summit Product

42:07 – Lauren’s Sea to Summit Product(s)

43:30 – Parting Words

44:02 – Summary

Mentioned in this Episode:

Podcasts:

Ep11 – Sleep System Ratings with Sea to Summit

Ep106 – Sea to Summit Tents with Ross Smith

Blogs:

The Sea to Summit Sleep Systems

Products:

Sea to Summit – full range

Sea to Summit – sleeping bags

Sea to Summit – women’s sleeping bags

Sea to Summit Alpha range

Sea to Summit X-Pot Kettle

Sea to Summit Hydraulic Packing Cubes

Sea to Summit ultralight tents and accessories

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next fortnight’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep109 – Behind the Scenes with Sea to Summit appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep108 – New Season, New Gear: Spring ‘23

Ben and Lauren — Mon, 28 Aug 2023 05:45:12 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

For the outdoorsy type, a good drink bottle is like a good handbag.

Be it new bottle brands like Nalgene or new colours from Grayl – the Snowys warehouse is brimming with new gear, just in time for Spring. This week, Ben and Lauren harvest the outdoor gear in full bloom!

From storage bags and awning brackets, to camp tables and solar blankets – in this episode, Ben and Lauren detail the new camp clobber fit for the budding adventurers.

In this episode, Ben and Lauren detail the new camp clobber fit for the budding adventurers. Image: Tiegear

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

02:13 – Tiegear

06:24 – RacksBrax

11:04 – Oztent Storage Bags

13:54 – Nalgene Water Bottles

16:38 – Grayl GeoPress Water Bottles (New Colours)

18:05 – Oztent and 23ZERO Chainsaw Bags

20:08 – Wanderlite Camp Chairs and Table

25:33 – Zempire Links, Wall Sets, Roof Covers, and Groundsheets

29:03 – Hardkorr 300W Portable Solar Blanket

33:14 – Surprise Product!

Mentioned in this Episode:

Tiegear

RacksBrax

Oztent Gear Bags

Oztent Hanging Storage Pockets and Shelves

Blacksmith Camping Supplies drawer bag

Exped Mesh and Vista Organisers

Nalgene Water Bottles

Grayl GeoPress Water Bottles

Oztent Chainsaw Bags

23ZERO Chainsaw Bag

Wanderlite Camp Chairs and Table

Zempire Links, Wall Sets, Roof Covers, and Groundsheets

Hardkorr 200W Portable Solar Blanket

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next fortnight’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep108 – New Season, New Gear: Spring ‘23 appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep106 – Sea to Summit Tents with Ross Smith

Ben and Lauren — Mon, 31 Jul 2023 03:25:55 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

From mountainside to campsite,

the new ultralight tent range by Sea to Summit offers ultimate versatility for ventures beyond suburbia. In this episode, Ben and Lauren sit with Brand Manager Ross Smith to discuss the success of their most recent tent line.

Be it breaking into the tent market, the argument for aluminium, or engaging ‘Hangout’ mode, here’s their pitch for why the Alto and Telos ultralight tents are the gear guru’s choice for off-grid getaways – from the sea to the summit!

From mountainside to campsite, the new ultralight tent range by Sea to Summit offers ultimate versatility. Image: Sea to Summit

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

00:43 – Introducing Sea to Summit’s Tents

01:26 – Introducing Ross from Sea to Summit

04:28 – The Sea to Summit Tents

09:11 – Breaking into the Tent Market

09:56 – The Design Process

14:27 – Time Frame

16:30 – Manufacturing

17:39 – Collaboration

18:36 – Why Aluminium?

19:45 – Field Reparability

12:02 – Flooring

23:55 – Keeping the Finger on the Pulse

24:39 – Materials and Construction

26:15 – Fly

28:00 – Storing the Inner and Fly

28:39 – Damaged Tent Components and Repair

29:44 – The Alto and Telos Tent Range

31:30 – Optional Footprints

33:12 – Alto Vs Telos

34:27 – Mesh Vs Solid Inner

38:27 – Bikepacking Versions

42:15 – Packing and Versatility

44:39 – Lightbar

46:35 – ‘Hangout’ Mode

48:17 – DAC Pole Frame

48:59 – The Ikos Tent

51:43 – Keeping Relevant: Future Products

55:13 – Summary

Mentioned in this Episode:

Podcasts:

Ep11 – Sleep System Ratings with Sea to Summit

Products:

Sea to Summit – full range

Sea to Summit ultralight tents and accessories

Sea to Summit Alto tent range

Sea to Summit Telos tent range

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next fortnight’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep106 – Sea to Summit Tents with Ross Smith appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep100 – Top 10 Number 1’s for 2023

Ben and Lauren — Mon, 08 May 2023 06:35:50 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

The best campers are the ones who…

…can pitch a tent in the dark without glowing guy ropes. Produce the perfect, char-spotted crust on a damper. Pack their boot like Ben. Van-life like Lauren.

But what about the gear that gets them through?

In their 100^th episode of the Snowys Camping Show, Ben and Lauren discuss the top 10 best-of-the-bests. From touring tents and camp lights, to stoves, swags, and gear for the hikes – they’ve got 99 episodes, but this is THE one!

From touring tents and camp lights, to stoves, swags, and gear for the hikes, Ben and Lauren discuss the top 10 best-of-the-bests. Image: Oztent

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

01:14 – Talking ‘Best Of’ Categories for 2023

04:13 – The Data

07:09 – 4WD and Touring Tents: Oztent RV

12:56 – Family Tents: Coleman Instant Ups

17:37 – Camping Mattresses: Exped MegaMat 10

21:29 – Camping Stoves: Coleman HyperFlame FireKnight

24:32 – Camping Lights and Lanterns: Hardkorr U-Lite Dual Colour Lights

29:56 – Camping Swags: 23Zero Dual Swag

34:07 – Coffee Makers: Wacaco Nanopresso

37:06 – Hiking Tents: Explore Planet Earth Spartan 2 and 3

40:33 – Hiking Stoves: JetBoil Flash

42:58 – Hiking and Lightweight Sleeping Mats: Sea to Summit Ether Light

47:40 – Summary

Mentioned in this Episode:

Blogs:

Camping

Best 4WD & Touring Tents for 2023

Best Family Camping Tents for 2023

Best Camping Mattresses for 2023

The Best Camping Stoves for 2023

Best Camping Lights and Lanterns for 2023

Best Camping Swags for 2023

Guide to Coffee Makers for Camping, 2023

Hiking

The Best Hiking Tents for 2023

The Basics and Best of Hiking Stoves for 2023

Best Hiking & Lightweight Sleeping Mats for 2023

Products:

Oztent RV-5

Coleman Instant Ups

Exped MegaMat 10

Coleman HyperFlame FireKnight

Hardkorr U-Lite Dual Colour Lights

23Zero Dual Swags

Wacaco Nanopresso

Explore Planet Earth Spartan 2 and 3

JetBoil Flash

Sea to Summit Ether Light

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next fortnight’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep100 – Top 10 Number 1’s for 2023 appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep96 – Weird & Wonderful Camping Gear #2

Ben and Lauren — Mon, 03 Apr 2023 06:45:14 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

Remember when things got weird in Episode 57…?

There was talk of portable beer kegs for al fresco frothies, canned sandwiches, and even luminous loo roll – the camping gear on the cusp of clever and the tackle that barely tickles normal.

There’s more where that came from! Be it a barbecue from a galaxy far, far away, torches on your shoes, or full-body bug suits – in this episode, Ben and Lauren have 24 products, 52 minutes, 2 microphones, and a whole lot of laughs.

Tune in for the camping gear that’s too weird for words… until it’s not!

The camping gear on the cusp of clever and the tackle that barely tickles normal! Credit: Hard Korr

Shortcuts

00:00 – Intro

00:16 – Weird & Wonderful Gear

02:24 – Star Wars Voyager BBQ

04:05 – YeCup

05:40 – Blub Blub Bottle

07:38 – ‘Random’ Multi-Tool

09:31 – Portable Wind Turbine

11:22 – Glow-In-The-Dark Rope

12:57 – Tree Tent

14:24 – Rainman Camp Shower

15:59 – Mystical Fire

17:44 – Inflatable Lanterns and Coloured Camp Lights

20:25 – Shoe Torches

22:36 – Waterproof Socks

25:19 – SUV Tent (or Dometic Tailgater)

27:42 – Motorcycle Tent

29:27 – Hiking Trailer

31:46 – Krapp Strap

33:28 – Trailer Hitch Lock Box

34:52 – Wearable Umbrella

38:30 – Survival Cards

39:34 – Unightie

43:00 – Clip-On Dragon Flies

44:42 – Full Body Mesh Bug Suit

46:54 – Vortex Blender

48:37 – Eco Camping Dishwasher

Mentioned in this Episode:

Podcasts:

Ep57 – Weird & Wonderful Camping Gear

Blogs:

Weird, Wonderful & Disturbingly Strange Camping Gear

Products:

Star Wars The Fighter BBQ

YeCup Temperature Adjustable Mug

Blub Blub Bottle (Electric Drinking Portable Dispenser)

Hard Korr Multi-Tool Shovel

Portable Wind Turbine

Glow-In-The-Dark Rope

Tree Tent

RainMan Camp Shower

Mystical Fire Coloured Flames

Inflatable Lanterns and Coloured Camp Lights

Shoe Lights

Bridgedale Waterproof Socks

Dometic Tailgater AIR

Motorcycle Tent

Hiking Trailer

Krapp Strap

Trailer Hitch Lock Box

Full Body Mesh Bug Suit

Vortex Blender

Eco Camping Dishwasher

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep96 – Weird & Wonderful Camping Gear #2 appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep95 – Guide to Hiking Packs with Deuter

Ben and Lauren — Mon, 27 Mar 2023 01:26:45 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

Built for the kick-butt hikers, hit-the-road bikers, and all-round outdoor explorers!

Deuter travel and hiking bags and packs boast a superior construction from a multi-step design, test, and reassessment process.

In this episode, Ben and Lauren chat with Manfred from TMO Sports – Deuter’s Australian representative for over 25 years – to unpack the history, commonly asked questions, and essential features of their premium backpack, hiking bag, and rucksack range.

Ben, Lauren, Mandred from Deuter unpack the essential features of their premium backpack and rucksack range. Credit: Deuter

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

00:41 – Introducing Manfred from TMO Sports

01:46 – Manfred’s Involvement with Deuter

04:33 – The History of Deuter

06:11 – The Deuter Range

07:34 – Harness Systems: Advantages and Disadvantages

10:54 – Travel Packs Vs Hiking Packs

18:02 – Daypacks

19:15 – Hybrid Packs

21:20 – Capacity: How is it Measured?

25:00 – Guide to Size Selection

27:56 – Slimline (SL) Sizing

30:15 – Recommended Pack Weight

31:14 – Weight Ratings

32:48 – Designing, Testing, and Revising

38:58 – Harness Systems: Adjustability

41:47 – Pack Features: The Essentials

44:43 – The Price of Premium

49:27 – New Innovations

51:02 – Is a truly waterproof pack possible?

53:18 – Is an ultra-light model on the radar?

54:51 – Are external frames making a comeback?

55:30 – Summary

Mentioned in this Episode:

Deuter Products:

Slimline (SL) Rucksacks

Slimline (SL) Daypacks

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep95 – Guide to Hiking Packs with Deuter appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep91 – Selecting Your Dream Sleeping Mat

Ben and Lauren — Mon, 13 Feb 2023 01:21:03 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

‘Bought a sleeping mat yesterday. It still hasn’t woken up.’

From the old-school inflatables to self-inflating technology, Ben and Lauren discuss the queries and considerations involved in choosing your dream sleeping mat.

We understand if you’d rather sleep on it first – but if you snooze, you lose! Watch or listen to the ultimate lullaby right here.

Ben and Lauren discuss the considerations involved in choosing your dream sleeping mat.

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

00:53 – New Gear

08:34 – ‘What Sleeping Mat Should I Choose?’

11:45 – Weight and Packed Size

13:18 – In-Use Thickness

14:19 – R-Value

17:36 – Price

18:41 – Styles

28:51 – Width

31:48 – Fitted Sheets

32:47 – Mat Couplers

33:28 – Compatibility: Stretchers and Swags

36:27 – Story of the Week

Mentioned in this Episode:

Other Episodes:

Ep11 – Sleep System Ratings with Sea to Summit

Ep56 – Will That Stretcher Fit?

Blogs:

R-Value & ASTM Standard for Sleeping Mats Explained

Brands:

Products:

New or Updated Gear

Petzl Tikka 350 Headlamp

Petzl Tikka Core 450 Rechargeable Headlamp

Petzl Tikkina 300 Headlamp

Petzl Actik 450 Headlamp

Petzl Actik Core 600 Headlamp

OZtrail Fast Frame 3 Person Tent

Skratch Labs

Sleeping Mats and Accessories

Darche 900 Wide All Terrain Mattress

Exped MegaMat

OZtrail 3D Fatmat 1500

Exped MegaMat Max 15 LXW Self Inflating Mat

Zempire sleeping mats

Sea to Summit Comfort Plus Self Inflating Rectangular Sleeping Mat

Air Filled Mats

Self-Inflating Mats

Foam Mats

Sea to Summit Sleeping Mat Coupler Loops

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep91 – Selecting Your Dream Sleeping Mat appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep88 – Top Tables for Every Trip

Ben and Lauren — Mon, 23 Jan 2023 00:56:31 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

In this episode, we lay everything out on the table.

Be them the ultimate snack-top flattops, fold-out outdoor kitchens, or benchtop henchmen – Ben and Lauren unpack the tables best suited to your campsite setups.

Tune in for the conversation across the podcast table, where our gear gurus touch on everything from designs and adjustable heights, to aluminium, melamine, and outdoor dining!

Tune in for the conversation across the podcast table. Credit: Zempire

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

00:48 – New Gear

07:13 – Considering Your Table

10:05 – Table Materials

19:24 – Table Features

27:30 – Table Styles

35:46 – Story of the Week

Mentioned in this Episode:

New Gear

Dometic Pico FTC 2×2 TC Inflatable 2-Person Swag

Dometic Pico FTC 1×1 TC Inflatable 2-Person Swag

Coleman Peak 1-2 Burner Stove

Darche Dirty Dee 900 CP Swag

Darche Dirty Dee 1100 CP Swag

Darche Dirty Dee 1400 CP Swag

Tables

All tables

Coleman Pack Away Table & Bench 3 Pce Set

Plastic and Polyethylene tables

Folding tables

Coleman 4 Foot Fold in Half table

Slat tables

Zempire Kitpac Large V2 Camp Table

Coleman Camp Kitchen

Coleman Deluxe Utility Table

Carry bags and storage

Peer Sorensen picnic tables

Zempire Kitpac Spike Table

Helinox Cafe Table

Helinox Table One

Ultralight tables

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep88 – Top Tables for Every Trip appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep86 – That’s a Wrap on Season 2

Ben and Lauren — Sun, 11 Dec 2022 23:53:07 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

We’ve learned a lot this year.

Ben knows a thing or thirty about water filtration. Lauren secretly rates groundsheets. Adding red cordial to a brand new water bladder helps to eradicate the plastic-like flavour. There is such thing as a ‘swent’ (or is there?), and it is possible to talk for 30 minutes about tent pegs.

From burning toilet paper to boiling salt in water – tune in for the laughs, learnings, and most-loved moments of the Snowys Camping Show: Season 2.

We’ve learned alot this year.

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

01:47 – Our New E-Mail Address!

02:54 – The Wrap Up

04:05 – Ben and Lauren: Pure Talent?!

05:26 – Lauren’s Learning: The Sea to Summit Kitchen Sink

07:28 – Ben’s Observation: Season 2’s Swear Words!

09:14 – Lauren’s Favourite Episode

10:17 – Ben’s Water Filtration Episode

11:27 – Lauren: ‘”Swents” Don’t Exist!’

12:59 – Lauren’s Change of Tune on Groundsheets

14:47 – That Time We Talked Tent Pegs for 30 Minutes…

16:21 – The Long, Technical, PLB Episode…

16:50 – Conversations with the CFS

19:02 – The Red Cordial Tip

22:45 – Burning Ben’s Toilet Paper…

24:15 – Adding Salt to Boiling Water

27:06 – Lauren’s Crocs

28:18 – The Beauty of Darkroom Tents

30:00 – The Riverland Camp Oven Festival in Renmark

31:38 – The Australian Camp Oven Festival

32:15 – Wrapping Up the Wrap-Up…

Mentioned in this Episode:

Podcasts:

Ep55 – Food for Adventure with Kate Grarock

Ep70 – ‘Fire to Fork’ with Harry Fisher

Ep75 – Water Filtration

Ep50 – Swag, Tent, or ‘Swent’?

Ep69 – From the Ground Up: Talking Groundsheets

Ep54 – Talkin’ Tent Pegs

Ep63 – Talkin’ Tent Pegs: Hiking Edition

Ep49 – PLB Comparisons

Ep45 – Fire Ban Seasons with the CFS

Ep51 – Taking Care of Business with Camp Toilets

Ep74 – One Pot Wonders

Ep81 – Coleman Instant Up Tents

Ep77 – Camp Cooking Competitions with Cam

Ep78 – Camp Ovens with Kingbrown and Mick Viller

Ep79 – Aus Camp Oven Festival ’22 Wrap-Up

Other:

The Seasoned Chef

Camp Cooking with Cam

The post Ep86 – That’s a Wrap on Season 2 appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep82 – Christmas Gift Guide ‘22

Ben and Lauren — Mon, 14 Nov 2022 01:08:48 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

Or watch the video version here:

Jingle bells, jingle bells,

Ben and Lauren here,

Bringing you our gift guide for

The best time of the year…

Who says Christmas in Australia can’t get a little Snowy? In this episode, our gear gurus unwrap the Snowys products they believe will be the most well-received, come Christmas Day.

From Muk Mats and MiniMeis, to beer kegs and knife sets – tune in for the ultimate sleigh ride of a gift guide!

Ben and Lauren unwrap the Snowys products they believe will be the most well-received for Christmas. Credit: iStock

Shortcuts

00:00 – Intro

02:05 – A Snowys Christmas Gift Guide for 2022

03:21 – Portable Coffee Maker

04:53 – Muk Mats

06:42 – Growlers and Beer Kegs

08:17 – Scorpro Explorer Box with Wine Glasses

09:53 – JetBoil

10:37 – Insulated and Silicone Drinkware

13:57 – Engel’s 60^th Anniversary Limited Edition Fridge/Freezer

16:28 – Picnic Tables

18:27 – Scrubba Wash Bag

20:01 – Beach Shelters

22:39 – Camp Knife Sets

25:54 – Cookbooks

26:58 – MiniMeis Child Carriers

29:13 – Zippo Products

30:12 – Water Sports and Aquatic Gear

31:12 – Lawn and Camp Games

Mentioned in this Episode:

Podcasts:

Ep17 – Coffee Options for Camping

Ep38 – Awnings, Shelters & Shades for Summer

Ep70 – ‘Fire to Fork’ with Harry Fisher

Brands:

Stanley – no longer ranged by Snowys

Avanti

Dometic

Peer Sorensen – no longer ranged by Snowys

Hollie & Harrie

Opinel

CampBoss

MiniMeis – no longer ranged by Snowys

Zippo

Categories:

Growlers & Kegs – no longer ranged by Snowys

Products:

AeroPress Portable Coffee Maker

Muk Mats

Scorpro Explorer Box with Wine Glasses – no longer ranged by Snowys

JetBoil MiniMo Cooking System – discontinued, check out the Jetboil range here

Avanti Silicone Stemless Wine Glasses – no longer ranged by Snowys

Dometic Thermo Beverage Cooler

Stanley Classic Camp Vacuum Mug

Engel MT-V45SY 60th Anniversary Limited Edition 40L Fridge Freezer

Scrubba Wash Bag

Scrubba Wash Bag & Dry Kit

Oztent Malamoo 4-Hub Beach Shelter

Caribee Collaroy Beach Shelter

Tramontina Low & Slow BBQ Knife Package – no longer ranged by Snowys

SICUT Low & Slow BBQ Knife Package – no longer ranged by Snowys

Fire to Fork Adventure Cooking by Harry Fisher

About That Much – Volume 1 by Jase Andrews

MiniMeis G4 Child Shoulder Carrier – no longer ranged by SNowys

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep82 – Christmas Gift Guide ‘22 appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep75 – Water Filtration

Ben and Lauren — Mon, 26 Sep 2022 01:30:17 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

Or watch the video version here:

From billabongs to bayous, water pools in nooks and crannies all over the world.

In this episode of the Snowys Camping Show, Ben notes some of the best water filters for camping, leading the discussion on how to safely filter and purify water for those thirsty, off-track travels beyond the towns and trusted water mains.

Be it filter cartridges, chemicals tablets, silver ions, or chlorine brine, our outdoor experts run the tap on the ways to effectively remove bacteria and heavy metals – so your water is as weightless as you on those free-spirited, outdoor retreats.

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

01:28 – Water for Hiking, Camping, and Travel

02:26 – Why do we Treat Water?

03:11 – How Does Water Become Contaminated?

04:24 – Protozoa, Bacteria, Viruses, and Heavy Metals

07:20 – Boiling Water

08:56 – Filter Pumps, Life Straws, and Bottle Filters

13:12 – UV Light

15:49 – Chemical Treatment

18:38 – Iodine

19:04 – Silver Ions

21:17 – Chlorine Dioxide

22:27 – Other Filtration Technologies

23:49 – Activated Carbon

24:37 – Ion Exchange

25:20 – Pyrenees

27:44 – Exceptions and Combinations

30:29 – Removing the Chlorine Taste

31:57 – Filtration Recommendations for Your Adventures

35:58 – Considerations When Purchasing a Filter

36:26 – Cross-Contamination

Mentioned in this Episode:

Blogs:

Guide to Safe Outdoor Hydration & Water Purification – By Ben Collaton

Category Pages:

Water Purification

Products:

Life Straw Water Filter

Life Straw Go Bottle 2-Stage Water Filter Bottle

Life Straw Go Bottle 2-Stage Replacement Filter

MSR MiniWorks EX Microfilter

Grayl UltraPress Water Filter & Purifier Bottle

Grayl GEOPRESS Portable Purifier

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

Ben and Lauren discuss how to safely filter and purify water for those thirsty, off-track travels beyond the trusted water mains. Credit: Grayl

The post Ep75 – Water Filtration appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep73 – Operation Flinders with Brendan Raets

Ben and Lauren — Mon, 12 Sep 2022 03:49:35 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

Or watch the video version here:

From the creature comfort of a campfire, to the rock and rubble of the off-track,

our outdoor experts Ben and Lauren sit down with Brendan Raets to chat Operation Flinders.

Trekking up to 100 kilometres of barren, sunbaked tracks – roughly 70 kilometres north of Adelaide – the young adventurers of Operation Flinders also take part in bushcraft, Indigenous culture, and abseiling.

Brendan details how he and his team travel the red, rugged roads of Outback Australia with them, transforming their lives far from the metropolitan maze.

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

00:39 – Introducing Brendan from Operation Flinders

02:54 – Operation Flinders

04:13 – Participants

04:44 – Community Referral

05:50 – Program Experiences

07:17 – Navigation

08:47 – Bush Bashing

10:08 – Team Leaders: How They Manage

13:01 – Program Frequencies

14:39 – Distance Covered

15:13 – ‘Adventure Therapy’

18:25 – Gear

23:00 – Footwear

24:43 – Gear Maintenance

27:10 – Planning, Groundwork, and Volunteers

31:44 – Replacing and Repairing Gear

32:53 – Safety and Emergency Considerations

34:57 – Interstate Teams

37:15 – Considering ‘Adventure Therapy’

38:29 – Get in Touch!

Mentioned in this Episode:

Hiking Daypacks

Compasses

Lightweight Sleep Gear

Hiking Footwear

Hygiene & Safety

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

Young adventurers involved in Operation Flinders often trek up to 100 kilometres over eight days. Credit: Operation Flinders

From the creature comfort of a campfire, to the rock and rubble of the off-track. Credit: Operation Flinders

The post Ep73 – Operation Flinders with Brendan Raets appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep63 – Talkin’ Tent Pegs: Hiking Edition

Ben and Lauren — Mon, 04 Jul 2022 02:04:26 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

Or watch the video version here:

Remember a few weeks ago when Ben and Lauren spoke for thirty whole minutes about tent pegs?

Same.

Remember how impressed, albeit surprised, you were?

Same.

Could you handle any more peg-talk?

Neither.

Hear us out, though – what if there was an entirely new conversation to be had on the humble, handy, unpretentious tent peg? Would you spare another thirty minutes? ‘YES,’ we hear you shout into your smartphone while your hiking tent bellies into itself and the guy ropes start to sag?

Great – because this week’s episode of the Snowys Camping Show has been written, recorded, reviewed, and released. Ben and Lauren discuss the tent pegs suited specifically to hiking – from the styles that are no-fuss and straightforward, to those more tightly wound (so you can loosen up).

Shortcuts

00:00 – Intro

00:37 – Hiking Edition

01:20 – The Right Pegs for the Right Tents

05:03 – Included Pegs

08:09 – Peg Styles

11:15 – Peg Shapes

20:11 – Sand and Snow Pegs

22:38 – Peg Materials

30:42 – Summary

Mentioned in this Episode

Podcasts:

Ep54 – Talkin’ Tent Pegs

Ep18 – Camping, Waste, & Leaving No Trace

Products:

OZtrail Nomad 2 Hiking Tent

Outdoor Connection Howqua 2 Hiking Tent

Vaude Campo Compact 2P Tent

OZtrail Hiker Fly

Explore Planet Earth Spartan 2 Hiking Tent

Hiking tent pegs

MSR Hook Tent Stakes 6-Pack

Supa Peg Polycarbonate Sang Pegs

Zempire Guy Rope Set Adventure – 5-Piece

MSR Groundhog Tent Stakes 6-Pack

Sea to Summit Ground Control Peg

Hampton Aluminium Angle Peg 17cm

Zempire Aluminium Tri Pegs 4-Pack

MSR Stake Hammer

Other:

Ologies Podcast

YouTube | Kate Grarock: Big Rock Little Rock

Hiking Edition

Much to their amazement, Ben and Lauren discovered how easy it is to talk about tent pegs for half an hour during Ep54 – Talkin’ Tent Pegs.

Nonetheless – can the same be done on a topic specific to hiking pegs?

The Right Pegs for the Right Tents

Within the outdoor community, there will always be different opinions on which hiking pegs work best for certain setups. In this episode, Ben and Lauren detail the range of hiking pegs available, where materials, shape, and overall design differ from one to the next.

For the most part, hiking pegs aren’t constructed with heavy materials like steel. This is due to weight considerations, where most hiking pegs will appear lighter, smaller, and differently shaped, designed to deliver more holding power and strength.

That said, the right hiking peg will depend on the tent itself. For example, a lightweight, 2-3 season tent is unlikely to require the same pegs as a 4-season expedition tent pitched in heavier winds. With this in mind, the appropriate style of peg is often determined by the nature of the environment in which you’ll set up camp.

A 2-3 season tunnel tent – if pitched in the more favourable direction – withstands wind well, while a dome-style tent will require more pegs. This is because the latter design typically isn’t freestanding, therefore relying more on pegs to remain secure. For example, Ben’s dome tent features two vestibules, each benefitting from two strong pegs on the outside, lighter-weight pegs in the four corners, and an additional four heavier pegs for the guy ropes. While tunnel-style tents require less pegs in windy weather, those used should nonetheless be more robust and steadfast.

Given the tent’s fly connects directly to a peg point via a clip or attachment, it can be argued that pegging isn’t required in the corners of both the hiking tent and its fly. During fair weather or platform camping/hiking adventures, a two-person tent housing two people – plus gear – guarantees enough weight to forgo pegging in the corners too. The essential purpose of hiking tent pegs is to maintain stability, and keep the tent taut to avoid bellying or rain pooling in wet weather.

Included Pegs

In the case of most top-quality hiking tents, the included pegs are equally as good – so a customer will get what they pay for. That said, these tents only include one style of peg; it’s often recommended to keep a variety of different designs to suit soft, hard, and snowy surfaces. There are many great-value and affordable hiking tents on the market too, though their pegs lack quality. Often lightweight, they’re constructed with either alloy or aluminium – and in Lauren’s Customer Service experience, their weight tends to be compensated with a lack of strength and a likelihood to bend or snap.

The pegs discussed throughout this episode are mostly made from aluminium, titanium, or other lightweight materials. Their construction is so that applying a mash hammer will only cause damage, instead requiring either pushing with your hands or tapping gently with a small rock. Keep in mind that the anodized coating on some aluminium designs (minimising corrosion) can often scratch away over time.

Peg Styles

Hiking pegs with hooked tops are often prone to bending if hammered too hard and too often. Most styles feature a more pronounced shepherd’s crook with a large loop and, coupled with their softer material, are more likely to change shape with too much force than camping-style pegs. In softer grounds, they’re sufficient – though not so much on solid surfaces. While they don’t manufacture hiking pegs, one of Supa Peg’s designs feature a head that allows for the force of the hammer to travel directly through the centre. This bodes better for tougher surfaces.

In the case of lightweight aluminium pegs, Ben and Lauren suggest those with a straight shaft, often referred to as ‘needles’ or ‘pins’. These promote a more direct and downward force through the centre of the peg. Some have small cut-outs for securing guy ropes – and while these technically create a weakness point, they’re vital in ensuring the guy ropes are fastened in place.

With some ‘pins’ cylindrical in shape and others square, Lauren is curious as to which of the two is the stronger option – understandably assuming the square-shaped. Some cylindrical pins have a head that mimics that of a nail, while those with a square shaft (as by MSR and Zempire) have a crochet hook. Ben clarifies that their strength ultimately depends on their weight, material, and thickness. For example, carbon fibre pegs with a plastic cap aren’t designed to be belted into the ground, as both the plastic head and carbon fibre shaft are likely to shatter.

Peg Shapes

With many variants of the ‘needle’ peg designs, there are models applied more like a stake.

Usually, straight or stake-like pegs are designed as a V-, X- or Y-shape, identifiable on the base. These can be considered like mini star-droppers, offering more surface area for greater holding power in the ground. While constructed with aluminium and lightweight, these pegs are often stronger than their ‘needle’ counterparts due to their shape.

That said, Ben comments that their one failure is a result of the notch protruding from the top which, if hit hard enough, can bend or kink over time. On the other hand, Lauren likes that stake-style pegs don’t often spin or rotate within their position in the ground. This is most typical of the Y- and X-shaped pegs, less likely to move once fixed into the ground – while ‘pin’ or ‘needle’ pegs on a windy night could spin and tangle the guy ropes as a result.

Ben points out that this is only relevant if the keeper on the head of the peg is dependent on a certain direction to securely hold a guy rope. For example: while rounded pegs with a notch at the top may rotate in the ground, a square peg with a crochet head likely won’t – and most pegs feature an enlarged head to prevent them from doing so anyway. MSR Groundhog stakes are Y-shaped, where each ‘arm’ is kinked for further traction and holding power in the ground.

MSR Groundhog stakes are Y-shaped, where each ‘arm’ is kinked for further holding power in the ground. Credit: MSR

Removing a rounded peg from the ground simply requires a couple of twists and a single pull. On the contrary, those with a cyclone-esque / spiralled shaft tend to turn simultaneously as they’re inserted into the ground, and are harder to remove on account of their twisted ridges. Nowadays, pegs feature a pull-loop to assist in removing from the earth – though it’s still recommended to only use cyclone-shaft pegs in soft ground, or when securing a tarp to aid in handling stronger winds. In that, they’re a great alternative to heavy steel pegs when assembling a more central tarp for a large group on an outdoor getaway.

Ben recommends the Sea to Summit Ground Control pegs, Y-shaped with a pull string. Another sturdy design is the Hampton V-shaped peg, which is essentially a mini aluminium version of the Supa Peg angle iron model but with a welded hook. If hit hard enough, the hook can bend or curl back like the lid of a sardine can – and for this reason, Ben finds the Y-shaped pegs more useful in most ground types that aren’t rock-solid. The wider V-shaped models bode better for the too-soft surfaces – and usually, one would benefit from fixing guy ropes to at least two V-shaped pegs on the side of the tent that receives the most force from the wind.

Overall, there are many different variants of V-, X-, and Y-shaped pegs, with MSR manufacturing a large portion. Instead of the hooked-top pegs included with a tent, Ben and Lauren ultimately recommend investing in pegs with a straight shaft – like Sea to Summit’s Ground Control model, Hampton’s V-shaped angle pegs, or a longer design still. Pegs can often be purchased as either a single or in a pack of six – and while not cheap, are worthwhile. Lauren recommends first buying a single to trial, before committing to a full set.

Sand and Snow Pegs

Pegs for sandy, snowy grounds are both broad and flat. This provides more surface area for pulling against softer surfaces, preventing the peg from coming loose.

In the case of hiking, sand and snow pegs are often of an aluminium construction with holes. They’re usually buried and hammered into the snow on an angle with a guy rope attached, like a snow anchor. This method bodes well for beach camping too.

Lauren also learned they can be used exclusive from every other peg style when camping on platforms, just by wedging them between the wooden boards!

Peg Materials

The most common material for pegs is steel or aluminium – though steel models are often thin to keep the weight down, more likely to bend as a result.

Nowadays, Y-shaped aluminium pegs with a hooked top are becoming more general. From what Ben has noticed, aluminium is more broadly used for hiking tent pegs, apparent in both the MSR Ground Hog and Sea to Summit Ground Control models.

There are different ‘grades’ of aluminium too, typically stamped on the product. Each grade indicates a different strength and makes an ever-so-slight difference to the product’s weight. Commonly, aluminium is also used in conjunction with an anodized coating. For those who like to delve further into the science sphere during discussions like this, Lauren recommends a podcast called Ologies.

Aluminium’s setback, however, is how it responds to excessive bending – eventually reaching a state called ‘metal fatigue’. When a piece of aluminium bends, it creates a weak point; in the case of a peg, it’s recommended to replace it before your next outdoor adventure. The more aluminium bends, the closer it becomes to snapping completely.

An alternative material is titanium which, while more expensive, is both stronger and more malleable. Applying force to a titanium peg may have it more likely to bend, but not fatigue as much or as soon – thus remaining stronger. While titanium is heavier than aluminium, its greater strength means less material is required, having it appear smaller nonetheless. These pegs are often hard to come by, given how specific they are for a customer to seek out; if you’ve decided on titanium tent pegs, chances are you’ve reached the point of counting down to the very last gram.

As mentioned, with less material comes a smaller size – but with a smaller size comes less holding power. *Sigh*. Every peg has its pitfalls.

Carbon fibre is another material found in hiking tent pegs. Often straight and rounded, both their top cap and the bottom tip are a different material from the carbon fibre shaft. Usually, the tip that drives into the ground is aluminium, as one of carbon fibre would be less likely to hold its form. Carbon fibre doesn’t sharpen as effectively, so a metal or aluminium tip protects it.
The cap of a carbon fibre peg is usually plastic, given these models are designed to be lightly tapped as opposed to hammered into the ground.

The main benefit of carbon fibre pegs are their extraordinarily light weight, at only six grams per unit! Despite that, they’re an expensive investment, costing roughly $20 each. Often, these pegs are sought after by the community of ultra-light hikers, where some will go as far as making their own to avoid paying the higher price. Carbon fibre pegs are also known to be the only type to safely pass through airport security measures, boding well for the hikers who frequently travel abroad for their adventures.

Lastly, plastic is not often a material used for hiking peg manufacturing. That said, they are available in nail-like designs, ideal for sand-based surfaces.

Summary

So – what is the superior peg? Have you ever made your own? We want to know your thoughts.

To wrap up, Ben and Lauren suggest marking your hiking pegs with brightly coloured tape; amid the rough, tumble, and tangle of the outdoors, pegs can very easily become lost! Most pegs will also feature a pull-loop – but on those that don’t, our gear gurus recommend fastening your own.

Lastly, for the ultra-lightweight hikers who see even the most lightweight pegs as a space-waster – check out wildlife ecologist and adventure enthusiast Dr. Kate Grarock’s YouTube video on how to pitch a tent using the environment around you: Big Rock Little Rock. Given its freestanding design, Kate must peg out her tent when it comes time to pitch securely. She does so by tying the guy rope around a small rock and placing a large rock in front of it (i.e. on the side closest to the tent), on top of the rope. The smaller rock simply acts as an anchor.

A friendly reminder though that in using the environment around you, be sure not to cause any damage!

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep63 – Talkin’ Tent Pegs: Hiking Edition appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep55 – Food for Adventure with Kate Grarock

Ben and Lauren — Tue, 10 May 2022 06:40:00 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

Or watch the video version here:

From tomato chips to Bolognese you can sip,

Ecologist and YouTuber Dr. Kate Grarock shares her feats and fails when it comes to preparing and dehydrating her own food ahead of her far-from-home adventures.

Be it missing the mark with the mince, Deb Instant mashed potato as every carb-base, or bearing beer cans in her backpack – in this episode of the Snowys’ Camping Show, Ben and Lauren cross paths with Kate to unpack her mealtime methods on those multi-day hiking trips.

Short Cuts:

00:00 – Intro

00:33 – Introducing Dr. Kate Grarock

03:19 – Preparing Food for Multi-Day Trips

05:18 – Counting Calories

08:18 – Food Storage

10:00 – Beers: A Necessity?

11:41 – Favourite Food to Take on a Trip?

13:00 – Dehydrating Your Own Food: Pros and Cons

14:50 – Dehydration Fails

16:05 – Reconstitution

18:25 – Kate’s Method

12:23 – Flavour

25:25 – 6-Month Plan

31:36 – Food Fails?

32:58 – What’s on the Horizon?

Mentioned in this Episode:

Blogs:

The 45th Parallel Traverse by Tanya Bottomley (Run Like Tanya)

Podcasts:

Ep33 – Food For Hiking

Products:

Avanti Double Wall Insulated Wine Traveller Set 3-Pk

Cobb Cutting Board

Clif Crunchy Peanut Butter Energy Bar

Hiking Packs

Mike’s Beef Jerky – Original Wood Smoked

AeroPress Portable Coffee Maker

Hiking Food

Everest Sports Larapinta Trail Guide Book Third Edition

Radix Nutrition

Radix Nutrition Apple, Cinnamon & Tumeric Breakfast Performance 450

Back Country Cuisine Cooked Breakfast

Dometic 12/240-Volt Vacuum Sealer

Hiking Cutlery

Hiking Shoes

Other:

Kate Grarock – Instagram

Kate Grarock – YouTube

Kate Grarock – Website

Facebook Forum – Dehydrating Divas and Dudes

Introducing Dr. Kate Grarock

In a previous episode, Ep33 – Food for Hiking, Ben and Lauren detailed the most ideal foods for hiking trips, covering weight, calory content, and convenience. Here, our outdoor experts aim to flesh out the discussion, touching more on how plan, pack, and dehydrate food for multi-day trips.

To do so, they talk with ecologist and YouTuber Dr. Kate Grarock, discoverable on Instagram and YouTube as @kategrarock, or through her website at Australianhiking.com.

Preparing Food for Multi-Day Trips

Essentially, this depends on the style of trip Kate is planning, where those solo or fast-paced often see meals taking the back seat. On the other hand, there’s a little more wine and cheese involved when travelling with her partner!

On solo trips, Kate tends to simply snack on scroggin instead of a meal-like lunch. While she first recommends not to pack too much, she also notes to assess what’s left in your packs after a hiking trip and therefore what can stay behind next time. On longer trails, Kate tends to hone in on the finer details of preparation – such as the contribution of her weight and height, the distance of the walk, and the calory content of her food.

Counting Calories

Ben tells Lauren and Kate about his first lengthy hike, where he just managed to scrape through with the rations of food he allocated himself. On the other hand, Kate’s experience with calory counting has so far been relatively successful, beefing up enough dehydrated food for 14 days as she tackled the Larapinta Trail.

For long but lightweight hikes, it’s recommended to carry small volumes of calory-dense foods. Ben’s example is peanut butter on small chocolate chip cookies for lunch, plus a decent meal at the end of the day. Kate also recommends freeze-dried cheese which, while crunchy in texture like a crouton, is packed with flavour – and calories! Not quite the same as dehydrating, the freeze-dried method is a fascinating process that involves removing the moisture from the food while maintaining its shape.

Food Storage

In the pack-stack-and-store process, Kate segregates and numbers her meals by day (e.g. Lunch 1, Dinner 1, Lunch 2, etc.), stashing the food she’ll consume first higher up in her pack and what she plans to eat later in the trip towards the base. Similar to Ben, Kate uses, washes, and re-uses Ziploc bags regularly as part of her food storage method. She recommends preparing food at home wherever possible (where clean surfaces are more readily available), as well as keeping its total weight to roughly 700 grams per day.

Beers: A Necessity?

We all love to crack a cold one under the canvas following a day on the trails – but Ben points out that a beer in your backpack is an extra 400 grams to bear!

Kate admits that at least one of the reasons she became interested in ultra-light hiking was because all that beer on her back was so heavy… and there must be a way she can still incorporate it into her load! Using the insulated plastic wrap found meal kits, Kate bundles her beer cans during transit and cools them down in a cold stream nearby her pitstop, before she cracks the top and kicks back on the rocks.

On the other hand, Ben mentions powdered beer as an option… of which Kate confirms would only be consumed for the sake of claiming to be enjoying a beer after a tackling the switchback (not for the sake of the flavour)!

Kate cools down her beer cans in a cold stream nearby, before she cracks the top and kicks back on the rocks. Credit: Kate Grarock

Favourite Food to Take on a Trip?

In addition to her homemade beef jerky, Kate admits that one of her favourite foods to enjoy on a hiking trip is Mee Goreng… often for breakfast! On this savoury note, one of her most routinely, home-prepared meals is spaghetti Bolognese… which, on the occasion she forgot to pack her cutlery, once needed to be reworked and consumed as a soup instead!

She may not be a traditional porridge-in-a-pot person, but Kate enjoys her morning coffee as much as anyone too. As well as a trusty coffee filter, Kate describes her attempt at ‘cowboy coffee’, a traditional camping method involving filling a pot of water with coffee grounds, bringing it to the boil, and using egg shells to assist with settling the grounds at the base. This left coffee grounds peppered across her teeth… which Ben and Lauren suggest is the real reason she solo hikes!

Dehydrating Your Own Food: Pros and Cons

Kate’s initial interest in dehydrating her own food came from feeling malnourished after consuming some of the commercially available types – likely a result of a particular preservative or additive. It was in preparing for the Larapinta Trail too when Kate became more inclined to dehydrate her own food, exploring YouTube videos, Google searches, and experimenting with recipes herself. Initially, she was intimidated by the idea of eating her own product in fear of food poisoning, so made sure to allow herself enough preparation time leading up to the trip to trial and consume her food within the safety of her home.

While they’re great to have, Kate notes that she didn’t initially have a dehydrator. Instead, she used her oven with a wooden spoon propped in the door to help eradicate moisture – which she soon decided was nowhere near efficient enough. After some time, experience, and a $40 dehydrator from Gumtree, she has since upgraded again.

Dehydration Fails

Just because you can dehydrate some foods, doesn’t mean you should…

Kate describes an occasion where she dehydrated mincemeat, producing what she can only describe as “meat pebbles”. This was a result of failing to add breadcrumbs to the mince in the initial cooking stage, before dehydrating. The breadcrumbs give the meat mixture cause to rehydrate. In not adding breadcrumbs, Kate’s mince rehydrated into what was more like hard pebbles of beef jerky. Thanks to this batch, she endured some pretty crunchy Bolognese meals!

Reconstitution

Sam, a member of the Snowys family, is an ultra-light hiker who also explores dehydration and freeze-drying methods. She notes that reconstituting food can mean initiating the process as early as lunchtime to guarantee that it’s ready in time for an evening meal. On the contrary, Kate often makes a dahl which, once dry, she blends into a dust or powder. This quickens the reconstitution process, whereas leaving the dahl in lentil form has it soaking for longer. That said, the former approach means losing the nutty texture of a traditional dahl, and instead produces more of a sloppy, runny consistency.

As well as relevant Facebook forums touching on food dehydration – such as Dehydrating Divas and Dudes – Kate gathers her tips and tricks from standard trial and error. Another of her approaches is dehydrating a leftover meal to test its suitability, including whether any changes are required to achieve a more ideal result (for example, chopping meat into smaller chunks). While some meals just don’t dehydrate well at all, the various components of a meal should be consistent in size and shape to enable each element to dehydrate at the same rate.

Kate’s Method

While some hikers dehydrate each component of a meal separately before combining at the rehydration stage – Kate cooks her Bolognese sauce in its entirety, including an abundance of vegetables. When it comes to eating, she either boils pasta or prepares Deb Instant mashed potato as the base and separately reconstitutes her mince pasta sauce.

A member of the Snowys Web Team has also used Textured Vegetable Protein (TVP), a meat substitute made with soy flour and high in both fibre and protein. While its taste is for a particular palette, he has used it in meals typically involving hamburger patties or mince, and claims that with enough added flavour it can contribute to a punchy, plant-based, pitstop meal on the mountain top.

In terms of water usage, cous cous is a more efficient choice than pasta. Kate tends to not take pasta on a hiking trip due to both the volume of water and time required to cook, instead opting for Deb Instant mashed potato as her carb-base for virtually all meals.

Flavour

In dehydrating her meals, Kate hasn’t found the essence of her food to be affected as much as possibly its texture. If anything, the dehydration process has her food exploding with a more intense, full-bodied flavour. Kate’s favourite, flavour-bomb snack is what she calls ‘tomato wagon wheels’: thickly sliced tomato, dehydrated. The method produces a version of the fruit that’s much like a chip, with a much more intense, concentrated tomato hit. In reconstituting food, Kate confirms she’s yet to notice any obvious lacking of flavour… though admits this could either be because she serves her meals on a bed of flavourful Deb Instant mashed potato, or eats too hungrily after a long, grueling day on the gradient!

A planner, Kate will spend the months leading up to long trips away cooking and dehydrating meals, planning routes, and mapping her journey. That said, dehydrating tomatoes overnight for wagon wheels is long enough, and she admits to nowadays simply resorting to branded dehydrated food. While most freeze-dried foods are sufficient after long day tackling the tracks, a recommended brand is Radix Nutrition, producing meals ranging from savoury dinners to nutty, breakfast style meals. Lauren is more inclined towards quick oats with dehydrated milk – but if we’re talking breakfast food, Back Country also make a freeze-dried cooked breakfast (best served with a blindfold)!

6-Month Plan

Ahead of a hiking trip, Kate often begins preparing six months out, including dehydrating her food. She notes that another benefit to dehydrating food is how long it lasts, only starting to smell close to the end of its life after roughly a year in the freezer. Food that is yet to be eaten or reconstituted is frozen, and Kate also recommends removing the fat from any meat used in cooking. This is what tends to become rancid over time, more so than any other element of a dehydrated meal.

When it comes to eliminating as much moisture as possible, Lauren’s approach is to save the moisture sachets, or desiccant bags, and store them in a jar (the food-based ones, Ben… not those found in new t-shirts)! On this note, Ben queries how Kate navigates the inevitable moisture of a freezer… to which Kate admits she isn’t entirely sure that freezing dehydrated food is the best approach! That said, she first uses a vacuum sealer to suck the air from the food packets as an additional precautionary step.

As well as her usual dahl, spaghetti Bolognese, jerky, and tomato wagon wheels, Kate also dehydrates bags of frozen vegetables like those found in supermarkets. While they shrink to a small size, they don’t tend to rehydrate well and are instead chewy to eat like the vege pieces found in powdered soups on supermarket shelves. Ben also suggests Asian grocers for ingredients like dehydrated mushrooms, perfect for sauces.

Kate’s spaghetti Bolognese can be reheated and cooked instantaneously at the point of mealtime, owed to the breadcrumbs rehydrating well. Tanya Bottomley, a writer for the Snowys Blog, uses resealable, silicon Ziplock bags to reconstitute meals, first removing all meals from their sachets and transferring them into small Ziploc bags in which to carry out the reconstitution process. With so many methods for those magic mealtimes on the mountaintop – Kate overall confirms that it’s a great idea to attempt to dehydrate your own food.

Food Fails?

Aside from forgetting her cutlery (which consequently had her drinking liquid dinners), Kate admits her most significant ‘food fail’ was producing the meat pebbles previously mentioned in the episode. Nonetheless, she hasn’t experienced many issues that have stopped a trip in its tracks (well, aside from the time her mate literally forgot her hiking shoes)!

What’s on the Horizon for Kate?

With a newborn daughter, Kate foresees some more family-orientated hiking trips. Although, with ultra-light hiking a greater challenge with children involved, these adventures will likely be of a shorter distance and a heavier load.

So… does that mean less beer?

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep55 – Food for Adventure with Kate Grarock appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep49 – PLB Comparisons

Ben and Lauren — Mon, 21 Mar 2022 01:13:27 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

Or watch the video version here:

Beyond the beaten tracks, past suburban abodes, and smack-bang in the middle of barren landscapes,

our normal way of communicating with family, friends, and services may not always suffice.

There’s a beacon for that.

In this episode, Ben and Lauren enter the Snowys satellite and activate an extensive analysis of the various Personal Locator Beacons and communication devices available to avid adventurers. Be it spare tyres from mates, or dire straits – a Personal Locator Beacon or satellite message device activates assistance in those off-chance, off-grid emergencies.

Short Cuts:

00:00 – Introduction

01:18 – PLBs and Satellite Message Devices

02:41 – What is a PLB?

07:12 – Satellite Messages Options

11:11 – PLBs Vs Satellite Message Devices

16:18 – Considering a PLB

19:47 – When to NOT Use a PLB

24:55 – Which PLB Should I Buy?

Mentioned in this episode:

Snowys Pages:

Personal Locator Beacons

Products:

Spot satellite message device

Zoleo global satellite communicator

Spot X 2-way satellite messenger

GME Accusat MT610G PLB

RescueMe Ocean Signal PLB

ACR ResQLink View PLB

ACR ResQLink 400

Podcasts:

Ep36 – UHF Radios with GME

PLBs and Satellite Message Devices

When we discuss this particular branch of emergency and safety equipment, we refer to the relevant devices as Personal Locator Beacons (PLBs). Examples of such include EPIRBs (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacons) and ELTs (Emergency Locator Transmitters).

An EPIRB is designed for water vessels, mounted onto a boat and required at two nautical miles (almost four kilometres) from the shoreline. On the contrary, an ELT is fixed to an aircraft and activated in mid-flight accidents. That said, these regulations are as they stand at the time of this podcast recording – so it’s wise to check a beacon’s current guidelines at the time of purchase and use.

Lastly, a satellite message device serves a similar purpose to a PLB, with added functionalities.

What is a PLB?

A PLB is a small GPS device that sends an emergency signal via a satellite to the mission control or safety centre of the country you’re currently situated in – all with the press of a button. A PLB uses the Search and Rescue satellite network and serves the sole purpose of transmitting a rescue signal. Once activated, help is on its way almost instantaneously – and for this reason, it’s important to only utilise a PLB in dire strait situations.

PLBs provide last-resort relief in situations where it would be unreasonable or inappropriate to call an ambulance or emergency service otherwise contactable via a mobile phone. For example, in an outback ordeal where your car may have rolled, phone reception is weak or absent, and civilisation is still kilometres beyond dry, barren landscape – a PLB is necessary to turn to.

Emergency beacons also require registration with the authority of the country you live in. In Australia, PLBs are registered with the AMSA (Australian Maritime Safety Authority). When travelling overseas for short periods, a PLB needn’t be registered with another country. That said, re-locating overseas to live indefinitely requires registering for the country to which you’re headed.

Given the Search and Rescue satellites work on an international basis, a PLB will function as normal if activated in another country. Essentially, the satellites reflect a somewhat coordinated peace effort between particular countries around the world. For example, if one was to travel to France from Australia and set off a PLB, the Search and Rescue response in France will take control of the rescue mission while communicating with Australia to obtain information on the subject (such as family details). That said, some countries prohibit the activation of PLBs on the ground, while some airlines also forbid PLBs on-board their aircrafts. For this reason, it’s recommended to review any relevant guidelines before travelling.

Satellite Messages Options

As well as PLBs, satellite message devices also allow for communication with rescue personnel off the grid. Brands such as Spot and Zoleo are available for purchase at Snowys, while Garmin offer a satellite communicator model called inReach. Unlike a PLB, these devices operate via a private satellite network, where the rescue process is coordinated by a personal security response team. The primary function of a satellite message device is for communicating in situations where a mobile phone is unusable. For those without an accompanying PLB, these devices feature an SOS function for use in extreme circumstances.

Zoleo and Garmin operate via Iridium satellite communications, with GEOS (Geostationary Operational and Environmental Satellite) as the Search and Rescue organisation coordinating their response. Alternatively, Spot function via the Globalstar Network, while their Search and Rescue coordination is operated by the private health security firm FocusPoint International.

Satellite message devices also allow for communication with rescue personnel off the grid. Credit: Spot

In the case of a Spot device, activating the SOS function in any country sends the message directly to Spot’s rescue response team in America. This is unlike a PLB’s process, which otherwise transmits the message to the mission control centre of the country help has been requested from. Spot’s team coordinate the rescue and communicate with the subject’s home country, conducting the entire search and rescue effort via their own private avenues in America. Essentially, this is private management as opposed to a public government operation.

So which approach is more reliable? How fast might one’s response time be over the other? Within the scope of this podcast, stating that the power of influence in public operations is higher, or that private is better than public, isn’t that simple. Essentially, all employees within these businesses are committed to sitting at their computers, monitoring phone lines, and coordinating rescues.

PLBs Vs Satellite Message Devices

Unlike a satellite message device, a PLB often sends a distress signal with a GPS location to enable the Search and Rescue team to narrow down where you are located. Contrasting to a PLB, a satellite message device requires a subscription. As per a satellite phone, users will need to sign up for a plan. Without a subscription, the SOS function (i.e. for use as a PLB) is also ineffective.

That said, a satellite message device is a beneficial option for solo adventurers who require and desire the ability to check in with loved ones throughout their ventures. A subscription unlocks additional features as well as an SOS function, while some brands such as Zoleo also offer reduced costs when the device isn’t in use.

While Zoleo requires the presence of a mobile phone, the new Spot message device demands Bluetooth connectivity. Put simply, Zoleo devices boost a mobile phone’s signal and maintains this ability with WiFi connection too. While it’s possible to pre-program messages reflecting your status (“I’m OK”, or “I’ve arrived safely”), communicating predominantly requires the corresponding phone app.
On the other hand, the Spot X model offers both. This is helpful in situations with a flat phone battery, though the interface of the device itself is inferior. The black and white screen allows the user to view weigh points and breadcrumbs to indicate tracking and progress. The associated app overlays with more detailed maps and greater functionality. Essentially, while the Spot X model offers multiple abilities via its screen and keypad, the app enables easier navigation of the device.

All the above considered, the main difference between a satellite message device and a PLB is how they’re most likely to be used. For example, Ben doesn’t venture on remote adventures every weekend, so his PLB mostly sits in its box. He registers it yearly, checks its battery regularly, and nestles it safely in his vehicle on long trips away. On the other hand, someone who travels alone – beyond patches with phone range and throughout remote environments – would likely benefit more from a satellite message device. Given it offers both communication and emergency-based services, the device aids in scenarios where adventurers simply require support over more serious safety assistance.

Considering a PLB

Aside from the above, Ben and Lauren conclude that a PLB should be considered simply for the sake of your own safety. Be it foreseeing yourself in a problematic situation on an outback trip, knowing you’re unlikely to be in proximity to local towns, or planning to travel without others – it’s recommended to incorporate a PLB into your essentials.

On family trips, Ben suggests teaching children how to operate a rescue beacon in the case a parent, caregiver, or capable adult is unable to do so. Given her previous work in Customer Service online, Lauren supports this recommendation, having identified a large portion of PLB buyers as parents and children who aim to feel a sense of safety and security on their off-grid adventures.

PLBs also operate via one of two frequencies, sending a signal on either 406MHz or the Local Area System of 121.5MHz. The former is for broader GPS coordinates, while the smaller signal is designed for when Search and Rescue authorities are only a matter of metres away. Most PLBs have the capability of transmitting both frequencies.

When to NOT Use a PLB

Rustic, remote, and reckless venturing aside – a PLB is also necessary for use in dangerous scenarios that unfold within metropolitan areas. For example, a motorbike accident in the Adelaide hills involving broken legs, a smashed phone, and a rogue bike, calls for a PLB device. This is one of the few life-threatening examples concerning an area within a five-kilometre radius of the suburbs that is necessary for more immediate emergency service.

On the contrary, breaking down in the outback with adequate levels of food, water, and means of setting up camp for the night is not deemed as severe. In these circumstances, one shouldn’t call on a PLB – just the RAA, or state-equivalent! Ultimately, becoming bogged off the beaten track without phone signal many prompt the telling question – ‘Should I not activate this PLB, will I find myself in increasingly more danger?’ Put simply – if the answer is yes, it’s time to pull out the PLB.

Scenarios like the above often shed light on satellite message devices as more viable options. As mentioned, pre-programmed messaging allows flexibility to send updates to friends or family members reflective of the type of assistance needed – for example, “I’m not in fatal danger, but please send help”, or simply “I’m running a day late – I’m not going to return home on [date]”.

Sending the Search and Rescue authorities for emergency operations is an expensive affair. For this reason, it’s just as important to first de-activate a PLB before disposing of it. This will prevent the accidental triggering of a rescue signal during the rubbish disposal process – and arriving at the tip without cause brings a whole new meaning to ‘a load of rubbish’!
As an additional precautionary step too, this approach should be applied even when a PLB’s battery has reached its expiry date.

Which PLB Should I Buy?

In the case of satellite message devices, Ben and Lauren encourage buyers to first assess the features, options, subscriptions, and services available that best suit their lifestyle. For example, spending hundreds of dollars on a device upfront, before a further $60 or so per month moving forward, is likely to be less ideal than other plans on offer. For general use, assess what functions and features the device offers through your phone too.

It’s wise to consider that Search and Rescue services aren’t offered for situations that unfold within organised events. For example, while an arranged desert race should already involve the appropriate safety equipment and integrate relevant procedures in the case of an emergency, it’s wise to first determine what the private company constitutes as a search and rescue effort.

In regards to a PLB, these devices deliver the same, sole function – triggering distress signals in the case of emergencies. With this in mind, consider what your primary activities involve:

Are you a kayaker, a stand-up paddleboarder (SUP-er), or a recreational fisherman?

Do you travel overseas often – and if so, where to?

Do you plan to re-locate indefinitely?

Lastly, is Australian-made important to you?

On the latter, Kinetic Technology International (KTI) was initially Australian-made before it was bought by a Norwegian company and eventually ceased operation in response to the Coronavirus pandemic. When KTI devices were still in production, they boasted a ten-year battery life and a small, compact design – popular among the avid adventurers.

Another Australian-made brand is GME, offering products such as the Accusat MT610G PLB for all-round land use with a seven-year battery life. It’s important to note that the battery life lasts to its full extent when not in use or activated. Considering this, it’s recommended to replace the battery at the three-year mark following the activation of the PLB’s distress signal. While Snowys have ceased stocking of KTI locator beacons, GME are available on the shelves and online.
As well as PLBs, GME also manufacture EPIRBs and radios such as those for marine operations for many years. Given their long-standing services, the company operate via many service centres around the world where customers can have their PLB assessed, and batteries replaced. For more on GME and their history, services, and products, check out Ben and Lauren’s interview with GME employee Tony in Ep36 – UHF Radios with GME.

GME offers products such as the Accusat MT410G PLB for all-round land use, boasting a seven-year battery life. Credit: GME

While the GME Accusat PLB can go from country to country, the KTI was unable to be re-coded – that is, re-registered with the country to which you’re moving to. In the event a user decides to re-locate, most PLBs sold in Snowys stores can be re-coded to other nations.
GME PLBs can also be de-activated. Some locator beacons such as the RescueMe Ocean Signal and the GME MT10G enable a 50-second delay after activating, allowing for any accidental triggering to be resolved quickly. A PLB’s manual will indicate how to determine when the beacon will transmit – but even in the case of de-activating a PLB within the 50-second window, it’s recommended a user contacts the AMSA immediately to quote the PLB registration number and confirm that Search and Rescue services are not required.

The ACR ResQLink – an American-manufactured product – is available in two units. The ResQLink View includes a wireless detection component that allows your phone to read the beacon’s battery life when held at an adequate distance. The standard ResQLink 400 model is of a similar construction and displays your current GPS location – a handy additional feature that is uncommon in most PLBs, dismissing the need for a satellite message device subscription.
While ACR devices also allow for worldwide battery replacement, recoding, and de-activation – they prompt an instant rescue transmission once the PLB has been activated. Essentially, this will leave adventurers more red-faced after accidentally triggering a distress signal on an ACR beacon, than if they do so via a GME.

Popular with aqua adventurers, the RescueMe Ocean Signal PLB is waterproof up to 15 metres. That said, this device isn’t to be used onboard a boat that exceeds two nautical miles from the shoreline as per an EPIRB. Instead, an Ocean Signal is best utilised for recreational watersports such as SUP-ing and kayaking. With this in mind, multi-watersport adventurers will benefit more from a device with a 15-metre waterproof rating over that of only one metre. While GME and ACR beacons feature inbuilt flotation devices, they don’t offer the same IPX (waterproof) rating as an Ocean Signal which instead requires a pouch for use in water.

While all the gadgets discussed throughout the podcast boast a robust blend of durability, quality, and user-friendly technicalities – there’s always a buy that’s better built for your unique outback endeavours. For the adventurers who value Aussie-made equipment, GME is a highly recommended label to explore – while Ocean Signal offer the most apposite, aqua-based devices for those after small, compact tackle designed to withstand water. Lastly, for ultimate security amid outback serenity, the ACR ResQLink range is fancy, flash, and fosters greater functionality – including access to GPS coordinates, battery life status, and a worldwide network of search and rescue satellites.

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep49 – PLB Comparisons appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep46 – Hiking Gear You Don’t Need

Ben and Lauren — Mon, 28 Feb 2022 00:58:37 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

Or watch the video version here:

With only a microphone, a page of notes, and their minimalist mindset,

Lauren and Ben set the scene for this episode of the Snowys Camping Show. From multi-use items, to shoes, undies, and liners, snapping a toothbrush in two, or eating straight from a packet – our gear experts discuss how to pack tight, choose light, and do it for the gram (only this time, off the grid).

Short Cuts

00:00 – Intro

00:42 – Under- and Over-Packing

03:59 – Multiple Use Items

08:33 – Clothing

10:30 – Socks and Undies

11:21 – Layers

12:40 – Sock Liners

13:33 – Buffs

15:20 – Hiking Boots

19:24 – Extra Shoes

19:51 – New Gear

23:23 – Cookware

25:51 – Gas

27:07 – Toiletries

29:30 – Pack Covers

31:39 – First Aid Kits, Safety Devices, and Survival Tools

36:17 – Hiking Poles

38:00 – Tunnel Tents

39:09 – Repair Kits

39:43 – Luxury items

40:54 – Packs

Mentioned in this Episode

Blogs:

Snake Survival: What Everyone Should Know

Spider Safety: What Everyone Should Know

Hiking Poles – Why You’ll Never Look Back!

Products:

Merino shirt (women’s)

Merino shirt (men’s)

Carabiner

Sleeping bags

Sock liners (men’s) – no longer ranged by Snowys

Sock liners (women’s) – no longer ranged by Snowys

Buff

Hiking boots (men’s) – no longer ranged by Snowys

Trail runners – no longer ranged by Snowys

Sandals – no longer ranged by Snowys

Hiking socks – no longer ranged by Snowys

Cup, bowl, and plate set

All-in-one knife, fork, and spoon

Personal Locator Beacon (PLB)

Survival tools

Camp chair

Hiking poles

Freestanding hiking tent

Other:

Under- and Over-Packing

On shorter hikes, sometimes we feel the need to pack more than we need – often because there’s more room to do so, or we’re travelling with children who may require more items. That said, when it comes to hiking, less is best. With limited supplies in our packs, we can take more time to enjoy our surroundings without the strenuous slogging.

Trial-packing in the lead-up to a hike is a great idea – but while it’s one thing to trot about the house with a full pack, it’s another to have the same pack on your back for four hours, scrambling and sweating your way up the slopes in searing heat! Where Ben is typically a minimalist on hikes, Lauren tends to over-pack. Her thoughts are that space-saving and lightweight loads are great…but only because it means she can pack more stuff!

With this in mind, Lauren and Ben keep three specific questions top of mind throughout their packing process to help determine what goes in, and what stays out:

Do I actually need this?

Is there something else I have that will do the same or a similar job?

If something did happen that required this, could I get by without it?

Multiple Use Items

Contrary to what some may assume, smartphones are a useful gadget on the gradient. As well as a communication device, a smartphone quadruples as a guidebook, camera, e-book, and GPS. While guides and e-books aren’t so relevant on day trips, multi-day hikes can often benefit from their use. Sam – an avid hiker here at Snowys – recommends a phone app called Libby. Linked to the South Australian state library, the app houses an extensive range of the library’s e-book collection without the need for payment of a subscription (as with a Kindle, for example). Lauren simply pre-loads four or five books before her trip away as her source of solitude and entertainment.

With a phone also comes the need for a charging device such as a solar panel system. That said, Lauren suggests using Aeroplane Mode throughout the hike and limiting the length of time spent listening to music. Aside from a potential 2-5,000 milliamp power pack, the former method is unlikely to chew through too much battery life on a short, two-night trip away.

It’s important to note too that while a smartphone offers various uses, it should never be taken in place of a compass or a map. The latter two should still be tucked away somewhere in case the phone becomes wet and malfunctions.

Another multi-use item that Ben advocates for is the Zip Lock bag. This can be used as a wash bag, keeping maps and phones dry, and for storing food, rubbish, and elements of nature for memorabilia.

Clothing

When tackling outdoor terrain, it’s recommended to minimise how often you change clothes. In that, consider using one set for walking and another for sleeping. Aside from fresh socks and jocks, it’s unlikely you’ll need four t-shirts and three pairs of shorts on a hiking trip.

That said, to avoid the stench of the same shirt day after day, Lauren and Ben recommend choosing lightweight merino over cotton fabrics. While cotton becomes increasingly unpleasant over a shorter period, merino remains fresh and dries faster after riverside rinsing. Lauren tends to steer clear of the suffocating synthetics too, and Ben often wears a heavy-duty nylon shirt.

Socks and Undies

A clever approach to socks and jocks is simply taking two pairs of each and rotating them throughout the trip. While one is being worn, the other can be washed and hung from your pack during the day using a carabiner.

Layers

The best approach to layering on an outdoor trek is assessing the weather ahead and having an awareness of the type of environment you’ll be travelling in.

Windcheaters and jumpers are an example of clothing that likely isn’t needed. Circling back to multi-use items, simply wrapping yourself in a sleeping bag will offer the same warming function. Placing yourself in a hypothetical situation can also help to assess a potential approach if the weather temperature was to drop suddenly.

Ultimately, referring to weather information online in the lead-up to your departure will give a reasonable gauge on temperature averages during your time away.

Sock Liners

While Lauren has never felt the need for sock liners over simply a good pair of socks, Ben has found them comfortable with heavy leather hiking boots. That said, as long as your style of sock aligns with your style of shoe (for example, heavy-weight socks with heavy-weight boots), and leather boots have already been worn in, there’s often little need for sock liners. While they help in avoiding blisters, those who choose not to wear them should simply treat hot spots as soon as they arise.

Buffs

A Buff is a tube of fabric that one can use however they like, where examples include a scarf, bandana, beanie, headband, pot-holder (be careful with synthetic material around hot surfaces!), and a pillow slip. In Lauren’s opinion, you can’t go wrong. As well as synthetic, other Buff materials include merino, which is highly recommended.

In the same multi-use realm, a pair of socks can double as mittens while an extra t-shirt can couple as a Buff. Again, these multiple-use items often stem from the question, ‘is there something else I have stashed away that can be used for the same function, to avoid over-packing?’

Hiking Boots

While they serve a useful purpose on the tracks, there isn’t necessarily a need for heavy-duty hiking boots. As technology in footwear evolves, there are now more lighter weight shoes available over the stiff, heavy leather boots. That said, there is a tradeoff – with a lighter-weight trail runner comes a faster rate of deterioration than a more durable leather shoe. On the other hand, it isn’t necessary to first wear-in trail runners as it is leather hiking boots.

Ultimately, Lauren and Ben suggest not buying a pair of hiking boots before a trip away if you can continue to use the ‘old faithfuls’ – especially those that are decent trail shoes or solid, sturdy sneakers. Hiking-specific footwear is necessary depending on the type of hiking you’re taking part in, where trail-hiking on hot, rocky, uneven ground is more likely to call for a heavy-duty pair over a lighter-weight counterpart.

Lastly, Lauren suggests simply knowing your feet. For example, as someone who finds closed-in shoes on hot hikes uncomfortable, she tends to wear sandals on the slopes, with thick socks during the Winter. On the other hand, Ben would find this style of footwear difficult to sport, where weaker ankles bode better in a higher cut, closed-in shoe.

Extra Shoes

With a sturdy pair of hiking shoes, an additional lighter-weight pair for pottering about the campsite is all that’s required. This could include a pair of flip-flops, or Crocs. Despite their odd design, Crocs are a comfortable combination of breathable and protective. With closed-in toe protection, they’re also capable of clipping to the side of your pack while you pace to the mountain peak.

New Gear

If you’re anything like Lauren and Ben, you’ll find any new item that arrives instore both exciting and tempting! That said, there isn’t as much of a need for new gear and gadgets as one may be led to believe.

In the hiking world, it’s often prevalent that attempting to pack all the latest and greatest gear can leave your pack too heavy. Avid hikers tend to want to swap the gadgets for grams, where saving 50-100 grams is often a huge feat. That said, even occasional hikers are encouraged to stick to the basics.

Just like new boots, it’s best to avoid using new equipment for the first time on a hiking trip. Ahead of your adventure, break in stoves, pots, and other cooking equipment. For example, porridge is often cooked more successfully when the water is heated first – where a blackened, burned pot base was a wake-up call during one of Lauren’s hiking trips!

A helpful catchphrase? Trial before you trail!

Cookware

Following on from above, it’s ideal to carry cookware that serves multiple uses. Ben uses stainless steel equipment, where a cup can also double as a billy in which to boil water and a stainless steel plate has the potential to be used as a fry pan.

Depending on the types of meals you’re likely to consume, it’s not often one will need a cup, bowl, AND plate on a trip away. For example, if there isn’t a plan for steak, veggies and bread, a plate may not be necessary, where pastas and soups will merely require a bowl. That said, Lauren flags that even most pre-packaged dehydrated meals can be consumed without crockery, where the packets themselves double as a bowl. Simply add boiling water from a JetBoil or MSR Windburner eat with a long-handled spoon.

In terms of beverages, consuming liquids straight from your drink bottle is an apt way to save space, while coffee could be enjoyed straight from a JetBoil. Nonetheless, Ben reminds us that the latter requires cleaning first (possibly following a porridge breakfast), which involves more water and subsequently adds weight to your pack! As for utensils, often an all-in-one knife, fork, and spoon is a more practical choice, where a sharper knife and scissors can be utilised via a small pocketknife.

While these seem like only small changes, they add up – for example, saving eight grams ten times could leave enough room for a Mars bar (hey, that’s a great outcome). Again, Lauren and Ben encourage asking the key questions: do you really need a particular item for the types of meals you plan to cook? If so, what could you use instead?

Gas

While gas isn’t usually too heavy to carry, it’s often the awkward size of the canister that causes the difficulty. Gas gauges, screwed into the top of the gas bottle, are a useful method of determining how much gas is available for the duration of your trip. Ben also suggests first weighing the gas bottle, cooking with it, and weighing it again to verify the rough quantity required for cooking, multiplying this by the predicted number of meals. That said, he often resorts to a multi-fuel stove and only carries as much as he needs.

Toiletries

Lauren recommends Sea To Summit’s Wilderness Wash, covering dishwashing and laundry detergent, body wash, shampoo, and conditioner – all in one! While biodegradable, it’s recommended for use away from waterways, but safe to use on skin, cookware, clothing, and outdoor equipment.

A toothbrush and toothpaste tube are both non-negotiables, and Ben even goes as far as snapping his brush in half to fit one of his many 10cm-long storage bags. In doing so, he saves roughly four grams.

While Wilderness Wash may not have you smelling like coconut as you wade out of the waterhole, it will nonetheless leave you clean – so deodorant is a toiletry item that Ben and Lauren recommend leaving at home. This decision could be reassessed if the plan is to stop into public venues and pubs along the way – but not for those roughing it wild and free.

Wilderness Wash is safe to use on skin, cookware, clothing, and outdoor equipment. Credit: Sea To Summit

Pack Covers

Ben has owned his pack cover for 15 years – yet hasn’t once removed it from its cover. Instead, he stashes everything in dry bags within his pack. Lauren has had a similar experience, where she bore 100 grams of extra weight for no reason at all.

Just like Buffs and Zip Lock bags, this calls for another multi-use item – the poncho tarp! The item is designed to fit over the top of your backpack, as well as you – also eradicating the need for a raincoat. Serving as a groundsheet to sit on, a tarp within a tent, shelter from rain, shade from the sun, or even an awning, the poncho tarp can be used in all weather conditions.

First Aid Kits, Safety Devices, and Survival Tools

While a first aid kit is a given on any outdoor adventure, it’s recommended to assess what is required and strip away what isn’t. For example, Ben keeps compression bandages but removes Zip Lock bags, given their pre-existing uses throughout his pack. In the middle of Summer, Lauren suggests taking a snake-bite and spider-bite kit over a burn module to cut down on unneeded supplies. Snake-bite kits can be found on our website.

A Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) or some sort of safety device is highly recommended to keep in a pack. Often needed when you least expect, PLBs can be required in situations that may only be a stones throw from suburbia. Considering this, a PLB is exempt from the question ‘what would I do if I didn’t have a certain item?’ – just pack it!

While a PLB, map, compass, and a small pocketknife is necessary, other ‘survival tools’ could likely be a waste of space. Items considered ‘spare’, such as a chair, should also be left at home. Ultimately, Ben and Lauren agree that if you’re unsure whether you’ll use it – you likely won’t.

Hiking Poles

As with hiking footwear, the use of this equipment depends on the type of hiking you’re undergoing. While Lauren doesn’t see a use for hiking poles, she acknowledges that they provide a means for balancing on rocky, uneven surfaces when bearing a hefty load on your back. On the other hand, Ben advocates for hiking poles across almost all bases – relieving weight from the legs, activating shoulder movement, propelling forwards, and even serving as poles for a shelter or awning.

Tunnel Tents

Unless trekking in the Alpine areas amid intense winds that require aerodynamic features, tunnel tents are often unnecessary.

Their design can make them both limiting and difficult to erect on some hiking tracks, where their absence of freestanding features has hikers requiring pegs or platforms. The stability and shape of a freestanding tent, however, are owed to the cross-over pole design, where a person’s body weight keeps it grounded until pack-down the next morning.

As mentioned previously, another multi-use tent option involves a poncho tarp with a set of hiking poles and some pegs.

Repair Kits

With cable ties and possibly a needle and thread – duct tape is the most multi-use, versatile repair item to take on every outdoor adventure!

Luxury items

While a hiking trip is supposed to nudge us beyond the luxury high life, the lack of a good night’s sleep on the slopes is often what can turn a fantastic, free-spirited trip into an achy, uncomfortable ordeal.

Along with a soft plush hiking pillow, a yoga mat or a water bladder filled partially with air can also serve as a place to rest a hiker’s heavy head.

While some like to keep it simple, others like to be reassured they’ll be comfortable away from their wooden-legged bed at home. Sleeping mats aren’t always essential, but one with an appropriate, substantial design is one of few items that Ben and Lauren agree is worth the investment of both money and weight.

Packs

Contrary to what some may say, a pack embellished with bells and whistles isn’t needed. Ben carries a canvas sack with a decent harness but without pockets, packed with his dry bags of belongings.

While every zip and patch of fabric adds weight, the ultra-lightness of a pack without pockets and zippers comes at a sacrifice of durable fabric. Considering this, Lauren recommends a basic bag constructed with a heavier fabric, without the added nooks, crannies, and trinkets, to ensure the longevity of the pack itself. Packs that merely present as a lightweight material sack may not look to give the required support – though within the ultralight realm, it’s how one packs the bag that provides this.

So, to reiterate the ultimate catchphrase of the track, repeat after us:

Less is best, and no trial on the trial!

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep46 – Hiking Gear You Don’t Need appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep45 – Fire Ban Seasons with the CFS

Ben and Lauren — Mon, 21 Feb 2022 03:33:07 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

Or watch the video version here:

They’re our hot weather heroes,

fighting the flames and forewarning the community of dangerous conditions. While every state and territory have a rural fire service of their own, Ben and Lauren chat with Phil from the South Australian Country Fire Service (CFS) and extinguish any confusion around Fire Ban Seasons.

From considerations in campfire cooking, to seeking the right refuge – in this heated episode of the Snowys Camping Show, Phil cools the coals and clarifies all regulations that are relevant to travellers and tourers during the Fire Danger periods.

Short Cuts

00:00 – Intro

00:50 – Introducing Phil from the CFS

01:43 – Gas Stove Regulations

04:16 – Travelling During the High Season

08:17 – Radios

09:14 – Protection in Bushfire-Risk Zones

13:08 – Bushfire Refuges

18:04 – Travelling on Foot

20:36 – Identifying a Fire

22:59 – The Fire Danger Season: Unpacked

28:03 – Braziers and Above-Ground Fires

29:20 – Comfort Fires

29:57 – Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Legislation

32:15 – “Gas” Stove Terminology

33:33 – Use of Gas Appliances

35:30 – Generators

37:45 – Induction Cooktops

40:00 – Extinguishing a Fire

45:08 – Find Out More or Get Involved!

Mentioned in this Episode:

Products:

Personal Locator Beacon (PLB)

Solar and power devices

Other:

What Can I Do / What Can’t I Do?

Bushfire Safer Places and Bushfire Last Resort Refuges

Emergency WA – Fire Danger Ratings

CFS SA – Fire Danger Season Dates

Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service – Campfires and Cooking

Introducing Phil from the CFS

Chatting with Lauren and Ben today is Phillip McDonough from the CFS. Phil works as the Strategy and Compliance Officer in the Preparedness Operations department, loosely known as the prevention area. The sector focuses on legislation and compliance-type issues, with relevance to keeping campers and hikers safe when touring outback and country areas during the Fire Danger Season.

Gas Stove Regulations

In previous years, devices such as camping stoves, pull-out kitchens, and gas BBQs in caravan parks were prohibited during a Fire Danger period. After a change in regulations, caravan parks and alike are now exempt. The adjustment allows travellers to utilise gas BBQs and carry out external cooking in caravan parks on a Fire Ban Day.

Where the new policies concern caravan parks, they do not apply to national parks. The latter operate via their own legislation that indicates the use of physical fires and gas cooking devices are still not permitted on Fire Ban days. Such activities also remain banned at free camps and layaway sites unless campers have been issued specific permits to allow otherwise.

Previously too, gas BBQs were allowed to be utilised within 15 metres of a house or domestic building. This did not account for the popular Bunnings BBQs, given the hardware store doesn’t fall under the same criteria. Considering this, the CFS incorporated specific terminology that referenced ‘commercial businesses’ to continue the Aussie tradition of the Bunnings BBQs.

Travelling During the High Season

Ultimately, travellers ought to be prepared and well-informed before travelling during the fire season. Some regional areas lack phone reception, which can lead to further difficulties – so camping somewhere with poor or no coverage will require pre-planning for potential problems.

While the CFS website indicates what is and is not permitted in alignment with restrictions during the Fire Danger Season, the Bureau Of Meteorology (BOM) website helps travellers to confidently identify potential Fire Bans or predicted fire weather up to four days in advance. With a specific fire danger prediction function, the BOM is recommended for acquiring an accurate idea of the conditions before travelling. The CFS base their decisions on the BOM’s data, where severe circumstances trigger their release of a Total Fire Ban status.

Other online emergency platforms include the Alert SA and Emergency Plus apps. The Alert SA app (or your state’s equivalent) allows the user to establish a ‘geo-fence’ that marks roughly where they’ll be travelling. In an area with phone reception, the app will notify the user if a fire has been lit nearby. This allows campers to maintain a sense of situational awareness when out bush.

Interstate, the NSW Rural Fire Service offers Fires Near Me, where Victoria’s services are via Emergency Management Victoria (EMV). Ultimately, camping in high-risk areas during the fire danger season demands an adequate phone signal for the best chance of seeking help in the case of a bushfire emergency.

Radios

When a fire is active, the CFS initiate a notification process. As the sole national information body, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) is the only commercial partner contracted with the CFS. While commercial radio stations will break into their own transmissions and communicate independently, they are bound by no formal agreements.

Another method to stay linked with other members of the camping community is via radio and television communication ‘trees’. With adequate radio contact in and out, park rangers and relevant authorities aware of your travel plans can notify of when there will be a Total Fire Ban. The forewarning can aid the process of rearranging and restructuring plans in accordance with the recent weather changes.

Protection in Bushfire-Risk Zones

Firstly, adequate drinking water is vital to include when travelling through high-risk zones. When faced with a fire, the key to survival is keeping a solid barrier between yourself and the flames – for example, a woollen blanket. While cotton burns and synthetic melts, wool does neither and so offers the best defence. Other examples of protective barriers include a building, a shelter or alike, a large tree, or a boulder. Phil recommends storing a woollen jumper or blanket in your vehicle while travelling as a simple safety step, like in fire trucks. Contrary to popular belief, dampening your woollen blanket will result in steam that burns the skin, so it’s suggested to keep the fabric dry.

Within your vehicle, keep below window-height where the radiation is less intense, with a blanket over the top for protection and insulation. Out in the open, locate a hide-out or solid object to position between yourself and the blaze. When this proves difficult or impossible, Phil’s advice is to move sideways from the fire, as opposed to attempting to out-run it by moving upwards or ahead.

Bushfire Refuges

The black smoke of a bushfire turns day into night. Open flames draw air in from the 360-degree scope surrounding the fire, engulfing it in the hurricane of heat. Phil often parallels the intense roar of the angry blaze to how it sounds standing beside a freight train.

Escaping a bushfire can be confusing and disorientating as it generates relentless heat, a smokey stench, and a suffocating haze. There are two types of bushfire refuges, each listed on the CFS website: Bushfire Safer Places and Bushfire Last Resort refuges. On the front page, travellers can enter the town they’re headed to, and those highlighted indicate bushfire refuges.

Usually, a Safer Place offers the best chance of survival as its infrastructure (for example, that of a township) means less vegetation and flammable materials. The deeper someone travels into a Safer Place, the more likely they are to find safety and security. On the other hand, a Last Resort refuge – as its name suggests – should only be considered as a final option and not before a Safer Place. Despite reduced vegetation, a Last Resort is not found within a Safer Place and, with no servicemen to assist, is nothing but an open space (for example, an oval). While these are well-signed, there is no guarantee they will protect to the extent of a Safer Place.

To determine bushfire refuges, a boundary is drawn at an adequate distance from vegetation and measured to less than two kilowatts per square kilometre – the threshold of survival. While there will be sparks, embers, and smoke, it’s the radiant heat that causes the most damage and poses the greatest threat. This is prevented within the Safer Place zones after many are measured to be below the threshold. On the CFS website, a Safer Place is identifiable as a yellow shaded area while Last Resort Refuges are each marked with a green icon.

Travelling on Foot

For those with a Personal Locator Beacon (PLB) but without a vehicle, the initial reaction when feeling under threat of a bushfire is to activate the PLB. That said, doing so within another emergency event will likely make it difficult for a service member to respond while they’re busy battling the blaze. However, it is still beneficial to know that there are people within the area.

In the case of pre-occupied service members, those in danger of a bushfire beyond their vehicle are urged to identify the direction of the fire and begin moving to the side rather than ahead or on an incline. As touched on earlier, it is virtually impossible to outrun a fire. Phil elaborates that fire travels almost 10-times faster up a slope than along flat land, while the heat radiates at a lower intensity from the sides of the flames.

Ultimately, travelling on foot requires adequate preparation, education, and spatial awareness.

Identifying a Fire

If your nose says ‘comfort campfire’, but your gut says ‘bushfire’ – the CFS want to know immediately. Phil assures that they would rather receive a phone call in the early stages than for an observer to standby until it exacerbates. First, identify where the smell is coming from. Is it a campfire that can be handled independently, or more frenzied flames that are likely to spiral out of control?

In outback SA, the CFS may be 200-300km away before they reach a reported fire, which could meanwhile grow substantially – a tyranny of the distance between outback locations. On the other hand, response times to situations within the Mount Lofty Ranges surrounding Adelaide are reduced from hours to minutes. This comes with the greater population of people and higher concentration of resources in the area, and built-up country regions alike.

In some areas of the state, active prescribed burning is a helpful strategy. Phone operators ask a series of pre-set questions to help the caller identify the status of the fire, including how it smells and appears. If the fire seems uncontrolled, the operators can investigate further and consequently prevent a serious bushfire.

The Fire Danger Season: Unpacked

From campfires to camp stoves, the nuances of Fire Ban Season can be confusing. Lauren and Ben ask Phil to extinguish some of the perplexity by asking what constitutes a Fire Danger Season and, more specifically, what resource is most reliable from which to confirm relevant dates.

Fire Danger periods vary across the state, where SA dries out from the west to the south. The time between the west coast drying out and the Mount Gambier area in the southeast of the state doing so differs by four to six weeks. To minimise the inconvenience of the Fire Danger periods to the farming industry and camping community, the CFS stagger the dates.

South Australia is fragmented into 15 Fire Ban districts – West Coast, Northwest and Northeast pastoral, Eastern and Lower Eyre, Flinders Mid-North, Adelaide Metro, and finally tracking across to the Southeast Riverland and Lower Southeast. Kangaroo Island is its own Fire Ban district, with ever-fluctuating dates that depend on the volume of annual and seasonal rainfall.
While Victoria and NSW mirror SA’s approach, the NT covers the entirety of their state and WA indicates their Fire Danger ratings on their website. Ultimately, the most accurate information can be sourced from each organisation’s website.

Leading into traditional seasonal dates, the CFS liaise with local bushfire management committees to gather their recommendations. From there, they base their decisions on the risk of the fuel loads (that is, the total combustible content of a fire zone, building, or space), dryness of the fuels, and foresight into when the season may conclude. It’s also not uncommon for the CFS to further extend the season if their initial closing dates are found to be premature. This process happens in October, and by November 1 – when the first district looks to approach an early season – the dates are published on the CFS website.

While Fire Danger Season prompts restrictive use of some equipment, this doesn’t mean to say that there aren’t potential Total Fire Ban Days beyond these dates. Occasionally, there are days on the cusp of the Fire Danger Season that could pose a significant risk. In these situations, a Fire Ban Day is declared through the media, and restrictions are put in place. During the Fire Danger Season, this process is corresponded – though restrictions are already established. Such concern vehicles in long grass, use of certain equipment, stationary engines, and physical fires. For example, many farmers carry out acre burning – though if they do so during the Fire Danger Season, a permit is required from their local council.

Comfort fires also need to adhere to certain criteria during Fire Danger periods, including their size and depth. The restrictions indicate that a comfort fire needs to be less than one square metre, and entrenched 30 centimetres into the ground. A responsible member of the group is also required to control the fire from the time it ignites to the time it is extinguished, and there always needs to be an extinguishing agent within reach. A ‘responsible’ group member is someone not under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and of an appropriate age to monitor the fire.

On Total Fire Ban Days, campfires are prohibited in all capacities.

Braziers and Above-Ground Fires

During the Fire Danger Season, above-ground and brazier fires are forbidden. This is due to the nature of their design, which doesn’t allow them to sit within a 30-centimetre trench.

That said, there are exceptions for those who manage to obtain a permit – though this is not a simple endeavour. Suitable permits are administered by the local government, and require an inspection of the site. When camping out bush, this can be inconvenient and difficult to follow through with.

Considering this, Phil encourages campers to simply dig a 30-centimetre hole as a firepit.

Comfort Fires

While some campers are known to toss some spuds on the coals (hungry for potatoes or not) in anticipation of someone questioning their ‘comfort fire’ – Phil clarifies that the exemption in the new legislation allows campfires for both comfort and cooking during the Fire Danger Season.

The exemption in the new legislation allows campfires for both comfort and cooking during the Fire Ban Season.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Legislation

While comfort fires are permitted in Fire Danger Seasons under relevant restrictions, some areas continue to ban them under the EPA legislation on account of their smoke causing an inconvenience. That said, those camping generally aren’t within zones affected, where most of the clause refers to areas surrounding and within townships and alike. Caravan parks will often indicate whether travellers can create a campfire, but those camping within relevant townships are simply encouraged to consider this extra step to avoid prosecution under the EPA legislation.

Regarding backyard camping, local councils outline regulations on how to approach campfires and, given they administer the legislation for the EPA, offer the most suitable advice.

“Gas” Stove Terminology

It’s important to note that while national parks indicate against ‘gas’ stoves, this terminology covers a broader group of cooking appliances.

Be it multi-fuel stoves using unleaded fuel or Shellite, or Trangias with methylated spirits and other fuel types – the term ‘gas’ in the context of appliances during the Fire Danger Season extends beyond Liquified Petroleum Gas (LPG) equipment. Essentially, liquid, gas, and solid fuels such as hexamine tablets and bricks, are all prohibited under this term.

Use of Gas Appliances

Many appliances can be bundled within the ‘gas’ arena, including angle grinders, gas soldering equipment, and oxy welding machines. Despite falling under the same banner as gas stoves, the use of these tools as an independent group is restricted under certain circumstances.

As mentioned, gas cooking is exempt from restrictions if in a caravan park or within 15 metres of a domestic or commercial building. That said, it’s recommended to clear the stove’s surrounding space to four metres, removing leaves and other bush debris from within the boundary. While this clearance concerns the sides of your pit, it also refers to the space above – so remove any flammable vegetation and low-hanging branches from within four metres above the pit too. Doing so ensures plenty of buffer, and the lowest chance of wayward sparks igniting.

Generators

There are two categories of generators: enclosed and non-enclosed.

Here in SA, an enclosed generator should only be used at a campsite if someone is within the vicinity at all times – in other words, doesn’t simply ‘set and forget’. In this case, like comfort fires, there needs to be a cleared space, an extinguishing agent within the area, and someone present at all times. If the latter isn’t possible, there are further, complicated regulations involved.

Non-enclosed generators pose a higher risk, as vegetation is more likely to come into contact with the device itself. Much of the danger revolves around its exhaust system, so every stationary engine must comply with the relevant system regulations. If the exhaust gases pass through the manufactured exhaust system, with no identified leaks or escapes, a non-enclosed generator is deemed to comply. Moreover, no vegetation, leaves, or bush debris are to come into contact with the exhaust system.

Induction Cooktops

With the increase in use of solar and 12V devices, and the rapid development of batteries, Lauren and Ben ask Phil on behalf of the camping community whether such devices can be used all-year-round, regardless of Fire Danger restrictions.

Much to their surprise, it’s a solid NO from Phil!

On a declared Fire Ban Day, an electric cooker is only permitted for use on the ‘foreshore’. The term describes the space ranging from the low tide watermark to the first standing bush or grass. However, gas and electric BBQs supplied by some parks are a commercial system, maintained and guaranteed to comply with the full meta-clearance and therefore exempt from this law.

Be it an open flame or electrical charge, any heat source is bound within tight restrictions on a Fire Ban Day.

Extinguishing a Fire

From a woollen blanket to a water bucket, Phil outlines the best methods to extinguish a fire.

While it depends on what seems appropriate at the time, he suggests keeping a small extinguisher in your camp vehicle in case a fire begins to burn beyond control.

On the other hand (and contrary to what some believe), Phil confirms that sand is not advised as a means of dousing a fire. Unlike others, it traps in the heat, posing harm to anyone who may trip and fall into the pit.

Ultimately, the most effective extinguishing agent is water. The key is to disperse it via small droplets or mist using a knapsack, spray bottle, or garden sprayer. The droplets absorb the heat which, as previously mentioned, is the main cause of harm. On the other hand, a large volume of water thrown directly onto the flames simply sinks into the sand and disappears. Essentially, fragmenting water into smaller particles via a spray device is far more effective than dumping a full pail in a panic.

Lastly, activating a dry chemical fire extinguisher produces a white powder that swallows the oxygen feeding the flames, meanwhile cooling the fire. That said, the powder itself contains chemicals that can eat away at a vehicle’s electrical components if left to settle for too long (an ironic feature of a device stored in the car boot!). Another limitation is how it can affect asthmatics, often caught in the wind and easily inhaled.
Overall, given the dry chemical extinguisher lacks practicality and is primarily used in emergencies, dispersing water remains the most common and effective strategy to diminishing a fire.

After extinguishing the flames, heat can remain among the coals. A successful procedure is raking them out to allow the heat to diffuse, where coals will cool faster still after sundown. Before departing the area, simply ensure the ash and fire debris is cool to touch.

Find Out More or Get Involved!

The CFS website, Facebook page, and other social media platforms remain the most effective sources of information on Fire Danger Seasons and related weather considerations for touring and camping. To get involved, simply jump online, read more about the responsibilities of volunteers and CFS members and the opportunities available, and follow the recruitment process.

In country towns, local brigades welcome and encourage those who are interested to drop in and visit. This is a great way to navigate the community and get to know the locals.

To stay relevant and informed, the CFS website offers information on What Can I Do / What Can’t I Do, where any change in regulation is reflected. The map on the website’s front page is also layered and interactive, allowing a comprehensive understanding of the state’s bushfire and weather status.

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep45 – Fire Ban Seasons with the CFS appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep33 – Food For Hiking

Ben and Lauren — Sun, 24 Oct 2021 23:58:57 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

Or watch the video version here:

Episode Overview

For scroggin at every snack point, or a hot meal at the end of a long hike – trek from dawn to dusk with the right sustenance in your rucksack. Be it powdered protein drinks, crackers that don’t crumble, or dehydrated dinners – this episode of the Snowys Camping Show unpacks the foods that fit snug with your luggage and fulfil your nutritional needs on the slopes.

Outdoor experts Ben and Lauren rip open the bag of the best foods to take on trail walks, treks, and hikes.

Short Cuts

00:00 – Intro

03:40 – Snack Vs Meal Stops

04:27 – Suggested Daily Food Weight to Pack

05:47 – Packaging and Packing Tips

08:43 – Snack Suggestions: Scroggin Mix, Muesli, and Energy Bars

13:14 – Water, Filtration Systems, and Electrolytes

14:43 – Coffee and Hot Drinks

18:25 – Fresh Food Suggestions

21:48 – Brekkie Ideas

24:36 – Rice, Pasta, Noodles, and Couscous, Dark Chocolate, Dried Fruit, and Crackers

28:19 – Freeze-Dried Vs Dehydrated Food

30:09 – Cookware and Cooking Systems

31:24 – Dehydrating Your own Food

33:39 – Freeze-Dried Meals

35:18 – Organising Food Drops for Long Hikes

Mentioned in this episode

Products

JetBoil and Grande Coffee Press

Whey protein powder

Smoothie powder

Snack Vs Meal Stops

Staggering up the steeper slopes is far easier with a lighter load. While that can refer to the rucksack on your back, it also extends to what you choose to consume throughout the day.

Ben and Lauren recommend taking water and snack breaks as opposed to consuming bigger meals mid-trip. Where large, full-bodied meals will leave hikers feeling sluggish and slow for the second half of their trek, lightweight, energy-dense snacks will help curb the afternoon fatigue.

Suggested Daily Food Weight to Pack

It’s suggested to take approximately between 700g and 1kg of food on a long hike. This will vary from hiker to hiker, depending on both their calorie requirements and weight logistics of their packs.

To ensure a balance of both the macros in your food and weight throughout your baggage, consider the types of foods you’re packing. Higher intensity activities such as hiking call for calorie-rich, energy-dense, nutrition-heavy, and lightweight foods.

Packaging and Packing Tips

The less baggage, the lighter you feel – a rule to live by when tackling the hiking tracks (and yes, this is also a sign that you should confess to that certain someone whatever it is you need to get off your chest).

Remove bigger, bulkier packaging, and eradicate all the extra from individually wrapped items. Ziplock bags are a versatile option in lightening the load and saving space, perfect for rationing scroggin and doubling as bin bags. Thanks to their secure closing mechanism, ants and insects are also kept away.

Another option for reserving room are vacuum-sealed bags. Easily labelled and tucked away tight, these are best utilised for portioning daily meals. For packeted snack items holding unnecessary air, simply prick the bag with a pin to allow air to escape and the packet to shrink in size.

While Ziplock bags are more versatile and reusable, both options keep ants out, bode well for daily portioning, and are more compact in your rucksack. Enjoy the scenes of the summit without the slog of meal-prep, knowing your dinner is already delegated.

Snack Suggestions: Scroggin Mix, Muesli, and Energy Bars

Snacking is usually a mindless exercise between meals – but it’s important to consider the right foods to fill the gap when trekking off the beaten track.

A balance of calorie-rich, fibre-packed, and nutrient-dense foods are ideal when considering your scroggin, including a variation of chocolate, nuts, and dried fruit. Whilst some pre-packaged mixes include salt for flavour, it’s suggested to not consume too many salty foods that will lead to dehydration. Price wise, it can often be far more cost-effective to make your own mix by buying each component in bulk and rationing into daily portions.

Muesli and energy bars are another example of where high energy has been packed into a small volume. Energy bars by Clif are particularly rich, made specifically for powered activities like hiking, trekking, and trail walking.

Many energy bars and snack items come packaged. Coupled with the general nature of hiking and outdoor adventuring, this makes bearing excess wrapping and rubbish almost unavoidable. Bringing along packaged items is likely to be inevitable, where reusable tubs lack in practicality and don’t bode well for weight or room restrictions. Instead, Ziplock bags are reusable, washable, and light, saving both space and a sore back.

Water, Filtration Systems & Electrolytes

As hinted earlier, filling up with too much food only adds more weight to the walk. Humans can survive more days without food than hydration, so it’s recommended to take more water than food on your fitness adventure.

If easy access to a water source is expected along the track, a lightweight water filtration system will occupy less storage and take the water weight off your shoulders.

Trekking is a tiring exercise, where the body releases sweat in its attempt to keep cool. Replacing those electrolytes can be achieved by adding powdered electrolytes to your water canister at the end of the day. Another option is dehydrated coconut water, consumed via the same method. Powders packaged in a container can be both heavy and yet another space invader, so transporting in a bag instead can eliminate these setbacks.

Coffee & Hot Drinks

A yawn is a silent scream for coffee – and after all that trekking the day before, you’re likely to still crave that cuppa at daybreak. Easy, no-fuss options are powdered coffee, or coffee bags. A Grande Press to marry your JetBoil model is another perfectly portable option.

Whilst ground coffee is also feasible, the result is a wet, heavy waste. This only adds weight to your pack, while the ideal method is to shed it bit by bit at every pit stop. For an edible alarm that’s a little sweeter, condensed milk and coffee in a tube may also be a preference – easily consumed and neatly stored.

All cuppas considered – if you’re like most Aussies who associate their morning coffee with more of a work-week ritual or routine, hot chocolate may be a more suitable option when tackling the terrain. For added punch, chocolate-flavoured whey protein powder with hot water produces a protein-based hot chocolate – a clever option when conquering the peaks. Other protein and breakfast drink options include those made with smoothie powders.

A morning in Mother Nature’s backyard promises fresh air and sunlight. Both act as a stimulant like coffee, only without the steamed milk and sweetener on the side. With your balance of protein, carbohydrates, and nutrients in every bag of scroggin, the need for coffee may not feel as necessary on these outdoor escapes.

Fresh Food Suggestions

We’re told this is the food that bodes better for our overall health – but weight, space, and time restrictions on hiking trips tend to rule out fresh food as a viable option.

That said, apples and bananas are relatively waste-free, no-fuss fuel sources when travelling on foot. In that, dried bananas serve as energy-dense and compact alternatives for acquiring adequate nutrition. Their flavour and texture mimic a chewy banana-flavoured candy!

Nonetheless, Ben and Lauren recommend consuming any fresh food early on in the trip. Harder cheeses tend to last longer than others, while high-salt meats such as salami are more suited to temporary periods without refrigeration. Granted, the higher fat and salt content of deli meats call for more protein-rich foods to sufficiently balance your daily diet.

For a more adaptable dairy option, The Laughing Cow is a brand that makes small triangular portions of shelf-stable cheese packed neatly into a wheel and sold in supermarkets. This cheese holds its shape, and can be both consumed whole or spread across a cracker.

Thickly sliced sour dough is definitely drool-worthy, however small tortilla wraps and flat breads are the most practical option for a lightweight lunch on the slopes. While packing a punch with your salami, spreads, and salads, they also pack flat in your backpack for better, less bulky travelling.

Brekkie Ideas

Trekking the terrain and bush bashing off the beaten track day after day means starting the mornings off on the right foot…literally.

While a fresh, wholefood breakfast is typically recommended, travelling on foot calls for more portable, practical meal options. Pre-packaged oatmeal sachets is an easy, efficient option for portioning ahead of your holiday. Simply add powdered milk or water to the sachet for a nifty, nutrient-dense brekkie at daybreak. On the crisp, misty mornings, add hot water to your powdered milk for warm muesli or porridge. A cost-effective alternative is tailoring your oatmeal to your own taste buds, using oats, dried fruit, and seeds.

Freeze dried meals continue to serve as space-saving, convenient options at breakfast. Other hot meal options include Deb instant mashed potato with Gravox gravy powder – simply add water, and enjoy a savoury start to the day where fast and efficient fuel meets Mum’s Sunday roast!

Rice, Pasta, Noodles, and Couscous, Dark Chocolate, Dried Fruit, and Crackers

You wouldn’t have half-assed that hike – so bringing along half-cooked foods for dinnertime convenience at the campsite is welcomed and warranted! Partly-cooked rice and noodles, each available for purchase, mean shorter cooking times over the Trangia after a tiresome trek. For a taste of Italy in the outback, risoni and small macaronis also cook faster than other spaghettis and thick pastas.

In making dinnertime decisions, first consider the gas and water requirements of relevant cooking methods. For example, when picking pasta over rice, it’s wise to consider that pasta requires water for boiling where semi-cooked rice need only be heated. With added water comes added weight – a potential pain in the neck when tackling the trails. Alternatively, couscous – like rice –reduces water wastage through its absorption method.

For easy-to-reach energy, chocolate, dried fruit, crackers, nut butters, and assorted nuts are perfect for the back pocket of your rucksack. Dark chocolate is chockas with antioxidants, recommended over its milky counterpart. In that, dark varieties with a 75% cocoa content are more nutrient-dense still.

Delving into the cracker barrel, small rice crackers or Jatz are easy to portion into snack packs. Smaller crackers tend not to crumble, where bigger SAO-type biscuits are more prone to doing so. Harder crackers such as Sakata are also less likely to turn stale too soon on the trip.

In picking your protein, jerky and vegan jerky are lightweight and longer-lasting. Tuna, salmon, and chicken are also available in cans, or sachets that pack flat. While spices, sauces, and condiments tent not to be as necessary for campsite cuisine, there are shelf-stable varieties available such as parmesan powder.

Freeze Dried Vs Dehydrated Food

While the dehydration process involves drying food externally, the freeze-drying method extracts the moisture from within. Unlike dehydration, the freeze-drying process leaves holes in the food that allow moisture back in. As a result, freeze-dried food rehydrates faster than dehydrated varieties.

It’s an unspoken fact that campsite cuisine will never be worthy of a Michelin star.

(Actually, that’s probably more of a well-spoken fact.)

Nonetheless, there are still opportunities to cook a hearty dinner after a long hike with a hefty load – meanwhile saving both space and waste. Ben suggests to bulk-buy dried peas, carrots and other veggies, and portion them out against each mealtime. Adding both couscous and spices to each portion then completes your very own ready-made meal! Your veggies won’t be as plump unless they’re boiled, but they remain a healthy, wholesome dinnertime addition.

Another hiker’s hack is adding tomato paste from a sachet into your pack of dehydrated veggies and spices. When the water used for rehydration starts to reduce, the remainder helps to create a hearty pasta sauce.

Cookware and Cooking Systems

Be it with fully fresh or freeze-dried ingredients, consider the types of meals you’re most likely to cook and therefore the utensils you’ll require.

Just as dehydrated meals need only a JetBoil as opposed to excessive pots and pans, long-handled spoons are available for reaching into packeted meals, eliminating the need for camp crockery.

A JetBoil is useful for cooking dehydrated meals. Photo Credit: JetBoil

Dehydrating Your Own Food

A convenient cooking method beyond the metropolitan maze, dehydrating food is a common practice among avid campers.

Due to the lengthy rehydration process, those who choose to have dried foods more than once a day leave less time to rehydrate them in time for each meal – for example, between lunchtime and dinner. Still – be there only some dried components, or a full main course – dehydrated meals eliminate half of the cooking, where part of the process happens while you hike. The remainder simply involves heating over a hot camp stove, requiring less gas and water than that of fresh foods.

Overall, carefully planned dehydrated dinners are a useful option for space, waste, and water saving. For further tips on creating these mountain-side meal options, check out the Guide to Dehydrating Food for Hiking.

Freeze Dried Meals

For those who prefer plant-based dinners at base camp, the Radix brand of freeze dried meals is one of few that caters for vegan, plant-based, and Keto diets. As well as this, their packaging outlines the macro content in each meal across their large range. These details are helpful for the food-conscious campers and those who like to maintain awareness of what they’re consuming away from routine.

While freeze-dried foods can be bulky in your backpack and add waste to your walk, they’re a helpful alternative when planning and portioning meals becomes too tedious.

Organising Food Drops for Long Hikes

Too much on your plate?

If all these meal, snack, and drink options don’t bode well for your ideal load, most trail walks will offer food-drop facilities to help meet your supply needs.

Every week, someone meets you at a certain point on the trail with food, fresh underwear, or clothing (and maybe even a cheeky drop of wine)! Among others, the Larapinta Trail offers such services.
On the colder nights, suggest for friends or family to meet you at the campsite with a warm meal. It may not be a freeze-dried camp stove casserole – but it’s not cheating either!

At the end of day – when the sun is melting along the mountain ranges and the billy’s on the boil – the main take away is that lightweight, calorie-dense, and nutrition-heavy foods are ideal for hiking holidays. While you’re balancing your macros, burning your energy bars, and offloading your freeze-dried meals – you’re progressively lightening your load.

Be it beating the afternoon fatigue, avoiding wastage, saving storage space, or cutting down on cooking – there’s a melting pot of foods to keep every hiker happy!

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep33 – Food For Hiking appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep26 – Portable Solar Power for Hiking

Ben and Lauren — Sun, 05 Sep 2021 23:11:24 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

Which watt for what?

Do you get lost when trying to figure out how to keep your phone, headtorch, or GoPro powered up while out in the sticks? On this week’s episode of the Snowys Camping Show, gear gurus Ben and Lauren take you through all you need to know.

Whether you’re kayaking, hiking, or backpacking, they’ll talk you through your solar options, power banks, batteries, how to work out your power requirements, and the best ways to conserve battery life. Check out below for all that, plus more.

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

02:22 – Conserving Battery Life

03:15 – Turn Wi-Fi and Bluetooth Off

04:53 – Portable Power Pack Options

07:55 – Rechargeable and Disposable Batteries

09:17 – Portable Power for Everyday Use

11:04 – 240V Options When Passing Through Towns

11:56 – Lightweight Portable Solar Panels

13:27 – Powerbanks Vs Solar Panels

21:20 – Heat-Generated Power Options

22:45 – Solar / Charging Lanterns

24:58 – Battery Life in Cold and Hot Environments

26:05 – Summary

Mentioned in this Episode:

Products:

Lightweight portable power packs

Rechargeable headlamps

PETZL rechargeable battery

MPOWERD Luci lanterns

BioLite CampStove 2+

Black Diamond Moji Charging Station

Blogs:

Hiking the Larapinta Trail – Not Just For the Young (by Kevin Leslie)

What Devices do You Actually Need?

The first consideration is to work out how many devices you will need to use on your adventure. This could include a phone, lantern/headtorch, camera, GoPro, or outdoors/fitness watch. A smartphone has many uses and incorporates multiple devices into one – communication, camera, navigation, torch, clock, and a playlist if you want to listen to tunes. This one device saves you from having to keep a number of different items charged and with that considered, you’ll be able to figure out the best power option for your needs.

Conserving Battery Usage

The best way to extend the battery life of your devices is to conserve your usage. You’re not going to need to spend hours a day scrolling on your phone or answering emails on the trail, so it’s good to have a realistic expectation of how long you can use your device.

If you have a modern smartphone, fully charged at home and kept on aeroplane mode, it will often get you through 3-4 days before needing a recharge. If you turn off Wi-Fi and Bluetooth that will also significantly reduce battery usage. So those are some techniques you can implement to make your battery last longer.

Lightweight Solar Panels

Lightweight solar panels are an option that you could consider for powering your smaller devices off the grid.

But, there are a few key things about solar panels that you need to know before you make that decision. They are ineffective when exposed to filtered or partial sunlight, so being aware of the weather and the environment in which you are adventuring is important. Consider your constant movement while you hike and how much you change your orientation towards the sun. If you have a solar panel hanging off your pack and are relying on it for powering gear, remember it requires an optimal position to work.

There are also environmental variables that will affect the panel. If your panels are plugged into a phone to charge, for example, your phone will use more energy notifying you of “charging” or “not charging” with the voltage fluctuations, so it won’t be worth your while. The only way to offset this would be to charge the phone whilst it’s turned off. Generally, a power bank would be a better option.

You will need to weigh up the cost vs how much power you’ll get if you take a larger power pack instead of a small power pack and a panel. Also factor in the remoteness and length of your trips.

Some products, like the lightweight hiking lanterns from BioLite or Luci, come with their own built-in solar panel and will be affected by the same issues.

Try to conserve battery so you can recharge less on the trail. Image: Goal Zero

240V Access When Passing Through Towns

On your hike, if you stop in towns or through places that have 240V access, you may not have to take a portable power source at all as you could find locations along the way to charge your phone, such as cafes and public parks. Some trails such as the Larapinta now have solar-powered charging stations for topping up phones and other small electrical devices via USB cables.

Solar Alternatives

There are some products on the market that are multi-purpose and can charge your devices while also serving another vital purpose for hiking. An example of this is the BioLite CampStove 2+ which is an electricity generating wood camp stove. It burns biomass fuel such as twigs and wood pellets which creates heat that generates electricity, providing 5V power to charge your devices. It’s got an integrated 3200mAh battery on board that can be charged at home before you leave without the need for turning the stove on too.

Lightweight lanterns from brands like Black Diamond or Goal Zero also have a battery on board that can give your phone or headtorch a boost of power. There are some particular designs that have the option to recharge via solar or hand cranking as well, making them ideal for when you are truly going off the grid.

Rechargeable and Disposable Batteries

Headtorches require some sort of battery, whether it’s standard disposables or a rechargeable lithium-ion.

Some models are designed so you can switch out the batteries inside for a compatible rechargeable option from the same brand, which is a great way to reduce your environmental impact. Otherwise, lithium-ion batteries are easily available, though they will need to be charged at home using 240V. Just make sure you leave enough time to do so before your trip as it can take several hours.

The heat and the cold will affect the battery life of your devices, so consider sleeping with devices stashed in your sleeping bag pocket in winter to help the battery hold a charge.

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep26 – Portable Solar Power for Hiking appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep18 – Camping, Waste & Leaving No Trace

Ben and Lauren — Sun, 11 Jul 2021 22:46:51 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

We’re here to talk some trash on this week’s episode of the Snowys Camping Show.

Our gear experts Ben and Lauren dive deep into everything you need to consider when it comes to waste on those outdoor getaways, in order to leave nothing but footprints and tyre tracks behind.

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

02:04 – What are the leave no trace outdoor ethics?

03:22 – Campsite closures due to rubbish

05:56 – Planning ahead and zero waste camping

06:45 – Preparing food in advance

08:35 – Options for carrying your waste out

09:41 – Leave what you find

10:57 – Personal waste, trowels, and toilet paper

14:49 – Showering and dishes

18:28 – Considerations for local wildlife

18:50 – Campfires and stoves

23:36 – What you can do to help?

Mentioned in this Episode:

Products:

Reusable collapsible containers

Other:

Wikicamps

Outback Cleanups Australia

LNT Centre for Outdoor Ethics Information

‘Leave No Trace’ Principles

Fundamentally, the principles are that everything you pack in; you must pack out with you. Leave nothing behind but footprints!

For those who are new to camping, please keep in mind that in national parks and other campsites there aren’t any services that clean up after visitors. Campsites all over the country are under threat of closure due to some visitors leaving rubbish behind, causing damage, and not respecting property rules.

With some extra consideration and care, these places can remain open for everyone to enjoy for years to come.

Keeping Rubbish Under Control

Keeping your waste organised by separating rubbish, recyclables, and organics will make it easy to dispose of responsibly. If you drive past bins and you see them overflowing, don’t add more rubbish on top, wait until you come across the next one. If you had room to carry it in with you, you have room to carry it out!

Wheel Bags for Carrying Rubbish

A wheel bag is perfect for carrying your waste while keeping the inside of your car fresh. This way you can pack out your rubbish without the mess or smell affecting your commute to and from the campsite.

Leave What You Find

It’s very tempting to take souvenirs with you, but remember to take nothing but photographs and leave the natural habitat for animals and insects undisturbed. If every camper left with a few shells or rocks, it could have a serious ripple effect on the environment.

Personal Waste

Don’t empty the contents of your portable camping toilet down a long drop toilet. The chemicals required for a portable toilet to operate will destroy the delicate bacterias inside the drop toilet. This microbial environment is essential for the safe and effective breakdown of waste. Instead, locate a designated dump point to dispose of the contents of your portable toilet. If you’re not sure where to find these areas, apps such as Wikicamps are a great resource.

Consider a Trowel

Portable camping toilets can be ideal for people with young kids or those looking for creature comforts, but a trowel will eliminate the issue of carrying out waste with you. We suggest digging a cathole at least 15-20cm deep, do your business, bury toilet paper in the hole, then fill it with dirt, compact it down, and disguise it with leaves when you’re finished. Choose a site that’s 100m away from watercourses, where people are unlikely to camp, ideally with rich soil that will help decomposition.

Being respectful and keeping campsites tidy benefits all. Image: Sea to Summit

Toilet Paper

There’s nothing worse than seeing toilet paper flapping around the bushes on the side of the road, half dug up by animals on the ground or solidified into clumps after it’s been left out in the rain. Despite being made from paper, toilet paper is not actually designed to disintegrate when left outside on the ground. Either bury it properly inside the cathole, burn it if it is safe to do so, or pack it out with you and dispose of it properly.

Campfires and Stoves

During campfire season, always use the designated firepits provided at the campsite, or bring your own so that you’re not charring the landscape unnecessarily. Even though campfires add warmth, allow you to cook delicious food, and create an amazing atmosphere, think twice about whether you actually need a blazing campfire each night of your trip. Instead, some nights you could just cook with a portable camp stove to reduce your impact.

Scatter Greywater Away from Water Sources

On your camping trips, don’t forget to take along a multi-purpose biodegradable wash for showering and cleaning. When doing your dishes, take care to filter out any food before disposing of your waste water so as to avoid attracting animals. Always scatter your water 100m away from natural sources.

Pick Up Rubbish, Even if it’s Not Yours

If you see rubbish when you’re on your travels, just pick it up and take it with you. It only takes a couple of seconds and will provide an enormous benefit to the local wildlife and your fellow nature lovers that pass through.

Minimal Waste Camping/Zero Waste Camping

Challenge yourself to create less waste or choose products that are recyclable or biodegradable when camping to limit rubbish at the source. Bulk food stores are a great place to purchase ingredients that come with no packaging, or you could remove the plastic before your trip and pack your food into reusable containers. The less rubbish you have, the easier it will be to clean up your camp before you head home.

Organisations You Can Support

Outback Cleanups Australia is a non-profit that travels around the country, removing garbage from coastal areas, bush, and marine environments. You can donate to keep them on the road or purchase one of their OCA Sacks to help clean up when you’re out and about. They are the first organisation of its type to become officially registered in Australia and all donations are now tax-deductible.

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep18 – Camping, Waste & Leaving No Trace appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep17 – Coffee Options for Camping

Ben and Lauren — Sun, 04 Jul 2021 22:46:18 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

Or you can watch the video version here:

Savouring that first sip of hot coffee while you soak up the great outdoors, is a campsite coffee connoisseur’s ultimate start to the day!

In this episode of the Snowys Camping Show, our gear experts Ben and Lauren talk you through all your brewing options so you can make a perfect cup of coffee on your adventures.

Timestamps:

00:00 – Intro
02:25 – Instant coffee
03:47 – AeroPress
06:15 – French press
06:58 – Stovetop espresso maker
07:49 – Drip coffee
09:14 – Cowboy coffee
10:39 – Portable pod coffee
12:35 – Carrying out your coffee grounds
13:55 – Coffee bags
15:55 – Portable grinders
16:56 – Portable french press
18:05 – Mugs & flasks for keeping drinks hot
19:04 – Milk options & frothing
23:04 – Stovetop vs campfire
24:53 – Storing your coffee gear

Links to things mentioned in this episode:

Instant coffee

Instant coffee is definitely the easiest choice for time-poor adventurers as it’s lightweight, compact, and only requires boiling water to liquefy the granules. Nowadays, there are so many improved instant choices that are more than palatable. But, if you want to step up your campsite coffee game, keep reading for all the other available options.

AeroPress

The AeroPress is a super popular design that’s been around for years and years, offering a fantastic balance between an espresso and a long black. The plastic tube design is very similar to a french press but it’s lighter and more convenient to travel with. You also have a lot of versatility to make a short or long coffee, at whatever strength you like.

The drawbacks are that it can’t make a huge volume for a group and that it requires paper filters. However, you can purchase a reusable metal filter separately to create less waste.

French press

The french press is an absolute classic that’s really easy to use, affordable, and available at most cookware or homeware stores. When you’re camping with a large group, this is a great method for making large volumes of coffee so multiple people can enjoy their cuppa at the same time. You can also brew it as strong or as weak as you like depending on how long you let it steep.

Portable espresso makers

If you prefer a shot of strong espresso in the morning to get you going, then a portable espresso maker might be the ideal solution for you. These are best suited for portable hiking stoves as the base is quite small, so you might want to branch out into other choices for use on a larger gas stove or campfire.

Pour-over/drip coffee

Coffee drippers or pour-over coffee provide one of the lightest and most portable ways to brew your favourite beverage outdoors. They’re comprised of a funnel-style filter into which you add your ground beans. Then while this is suspended over a cup, you pour in the hot water.

Even though they’re effective and will meet your basic caffeine needs, this design is probably best suited to solo hikers and motorcycle tourers who need to count every gram.

Cowboy coffee using a billy/kettle

Cowboy coffee is as basic and old school as it gets. All you need is a billy, water, and your grounds and you’re essentially good to go. The method is easy: you boil water in a pot/billy, add ground coffee, stir it, let it rest for a few minutes, then add some cold water to help them settle to the bottom and it’s ready to drink. It tends to be very bitter, and you’ll find it hard to separate the grinds from the liquid, so it’s not going to brew the smoothest or richest beverage.

Percolators

Percolators are very popular and versatile for camping and at-home use. You just add grounds to the basket, water, and then heat it up over a stove. The boiling water goes up through a tube over the grounds and then back down to make your brew. The only downside with these is that they’re not ideal for use on an open fire, so you’ll need to use them with a gas stove.

There’s a huge array of options for every coffee lover. Image: Blacksmith Camping Supplies

Portable coffee grinders

If you want the freshest coffee possible, you can also add a portable hand-operated bean grinder to your stash and add an extra something to your morning cuppa at the campsite.

Coffee bags

These are essentially just like a teabag, but instead, it’s filled with ground coffee. Basic varieties are readily available from the supermarket or fancier options can be sourced at specialty coffee shops. They are simple and convenient but tend not to produce a very strong brew compared to other methods.

You could even make your own bags if you want to, but again, if you like strong coffee, this method might not be the best choice.

Keeping your beverage hot

Once your drink is ready, you’ll need to keep it warm by pouring it into a double-walled or insulated mug so that it stays hot and ready to enjoy.

Milk heating & frothing options

You can get portable milk frothers that are battery operated so they don’t require plugged power to add some froth to your hot drink. You can even add hot milk to a French press, and then push it up and down to get a frothy effect. Otherwise, you can heat up your milk of choice over your stove gently and add it to your brew.

Campfire vs stove options

When factoring in which method will suit you best, make sure you consider your regular camp cooking setup. Some options won’t work over a campfire and require the concentrated heat of a gas stove.

Storing your coffee gear

Pack your brewer of choice, beans, and mugs all into a little kit to keep everything you need ready to go so it’s easy to grab for a roadside stop on the way to and from the campsite.

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep17 – Coffee Options for Camping appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep11 – Sleep System Ratings with Sea to Summit

Ben and Lauren — Sun, 23 May 2021 22:44:03 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

If you find yourself cold when sleeping outdoors

…or stuck trying to figure out the best sleeping setup for your adventures – this episode of the Snowys Camping Show is essential listening.

Our hosts Ben and Lauren pick the brain of industry expert Dean Woodall from Sea to Summit! They cover everything from temperature ratings and testing, down vs synthetic sleeping bags, sleeping mats and insulation, ASTM R-Values, and tips for a warmer sleep when outdoors.

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

02:26 – Commonly Questions About Sleep Systems

03:58 – Hot or Cold Sleeper? How to Tell

08:07 – Temperature Standards and Ratings

09:25 – EN 13537 Rating

11:34 – The Testing Process

13:12 – Temperature Ratings: Comfort, Lower Limit & Extreme

17:00 – Sleeping Bag Liners

21:03 – Down Vs Synthetic Sleeping Bags

26:17 – Benefits of Natural Fibres

31:13 – Sleeping Mats and Insulation

32:02 – R-Value and the ASTM Standard

37:22 – Tips for Warmer Sleeps in the Outdoors

Mentioned in this Episode:

Products:

Sleeping bags

Sleeping mats

Sleeping bag line

Quilts for camping and hiking

Are You a Hot or Cold Sleeper?

When you’re trying to work out where to start with your sleep system, the first point of call would be to consider your unique physiology. Everyone is different, so your body mass and how physically fit you are will impact how you sleep. Generally, women have also been found to sleep colder than men based on research and testing.

Your sleeping habits at home are going to be a good yardstick for how you sleep outdoors. For example, if you reach for a thick duvet at home, then chances are you’ll be reaching for a warm sleeping bag and mat combination out in the field. You might be used to sleeping with a partner, but when you remove that additional body heat, there’s a strong chance that you’ll sleep a lot colder, which should also be considered.

External Factors

There is a plethora of external factors that will affect how you sleep outdoors. Of course, changes in the outside temperature will affect your body. But also, what you’ve had to eat before you went to sleep, if you’ve drunk alcohol, and if you’re dehydrated are among the many other influences.

Temperature Ratings

To make it clearer and easier for consumers, in 2002 an industry testing standard was developed for sleeping bags. The aim was to provide the market with an ‘apples for apples’ comparison across different brands. This European system is called the EN 13537 test and is used by most of the big companies to gauge a rating for their bags.

EN 13537 Testing Process

The EN 13537 test uses a person-shaped heated manikin which is composed of numerous different zones that each has its own temperature sensors and power sources.

It’s placed in a climate-controlled room on top of a standardised sleeping mat with an R-value of 4. The manikin will wear a set of standard pyjamas and a scary-looking, cold weather ski mask, while the data is fed into a computer using cables that come straight out of its eyes.

The test is performed to the same technical standard for both down and synthetic bags and the results are correlated with real-world qualitative data from real people.

The Three Temperature Ratings

This testing method gives you 3 ratings:

Comfort rating – the temperature at which a standard woman can sleep comfortably while in a relaxed position.
Lower Limit rating – the temperature that a standard man can sleep for eight hours in a curled-up position without waking.
Extreme rating – a survival-only rating for the average woman.

Your unique physiology will affect the elements of your sleep system. Image: Sea to Summit

Down Vs Synthetic

When sleeping outdoors, the type of fill inside your sleeping bag is largely going to determine your warmth and comfort.

Going by weight to warmth ratio, down is by far the more superior fibre and its properties have yet to be replicated in a lab environment. Its ability to insulate is called loft, and the more loft, the warmer you’re going to be. A disadvantage of down is that if it gets wet it will clump up and lose its ability to loft, so you won’t be able to get warm. Nowadays, brands and manufacturers have also developed hydrophobic treatments for down which will minimise the effects of moisture.

Synthetics have the upper hand with their ability to reflect heat, so if your bag gets wet, it still has thermal properties. This makes it ideal for kayaking or other water-based activities. Also, some people may prefer not to use down for personal reasons, so it’s all dependent on a range of circumstances and factors.

Compressing down can cause cold spots and is the reason behind women’s specific bags. These bags are shaped and stitched slightly differently. Some even use a combination of down and synthetic fill in key areas for enhanced insulation.

Sleeping Bag Liners

Sleeping bag liners are fantastic for adding extra comfort and keeping your bag cleaner, which in turn, prolongs the life of the product. But, keep in mind that liners are not EN tested, and don’t have specific temperature ratings. If your bag isn’t suited to the temperature that you’re using it in, you can’t rely on a liner to get you over the line. An insulated liner can tweak the temperature, but it’s not going to change the dynamic of your sleep system entirely.

Consider What You Wear to Bed

Wearing lots of layers while you sleep can be counterproductive. Instead of trapping warmth, the fill becomes more compressed and loft is reduced. You’ve got to let the bag do its job to trap/reflect your body heat to keep you warm.

Here’s the scary looking manikin during the EN test. Image: Sea to Summit.

R-Value and Sleeping Mats

As part of a cohesive sleep system, your mat will insulate you from the cold ground which plays a significant role in keeping you warm.

Its thermal efficiency is measured and represented by a number, which is called R-Value. If you compare something like an airbed to a self-inflating foam mat, there will be a huge difference in how both will insulate – so that’s an important factor to consider in your setup.

Recently, there has been a new test introduced that measures R-Value, which is called the ASTM test. This was driven by US retailers to standardise R-Values and enable consumers to compare ratings across brands for a better and simpler experience.

ASTM Testing

The test involves sandwiching a mat between 2 plates – the bottom plate is cold to simulate the ground, and the top plate is warm to simulate the person using the mat. The test measures how much energy is needed to maintain the heat on the top plate over a period of time which is how they determine the R-Value.

You might have noticed that there have been changes to R-Value ratings across many brands. This is just because the test has changed to reflect the new industry standards. The product remains the same.

Final Thoughts

It’s easier to make your bag cooler than it is to add warmth. Opening a zip for ventilation, or using your bag as a quilt are both effective solutions if you get too warm. If you’re wanting one bag to carry you through all adventures, it’s worth factoring that into your decision.

It’s you that’s going to warm up the bag, so if you increase your body temperature before bed, it will help speed things up. You can have a hot drink or get your metabolism going by eating a high-calorie snack. You could also use a hot water bottle in your bag, and make sure you remove any damp or wet items from inside your tent plus, sleep in clean dry clothes.

Dean’s other piece of advice when building your sleep system is to start with your sleeping mat and then build it from there.

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep11 – Sleep System Ratings with Sea to Summit appeared first on Snowys Blog.

Ep9 – Dealing With Tent Condensation

Ben and Lauren — Sun, 09 May 2021 23:30:00 +0000

Listen to the full episode here:

While there are so many great things about winter camping,

waking up to condensation dripping on your head inside your tent is not one of them!

In this episode of the Snowys Camping Show, Ben and Lauren give you their best advice on how to deal with condensation on your next cold weather camping trip.

Shortcuts:

00:00 – Intro

01:58 – Waterhead ratings

03:36 – Difference between a water leak and condensation

04:19 – Single skin tents vs dual skin tents

05:15 – Physics of condensation

06:43 – Why ventilation is essential

10:24 – Keeping your tent dry

11:06 – Tension your fly properly

11:37 – Set up your tent using all guy ropes & pegs

13:00 – Add a fly to a single skin tent

13:38 – Ben’s Oztent RV tent condensation test

15:50 – Keep a microfibre cloth handy

16:42 – Breathability – canvas vs synthetic

18:22 – Don’t rest your gear against your tent walls

19:10 – Keep your wet gear out of your tent

Mentioned in this Episode:

Products:

Blogs:

What are Waterhead Ratings on Tents? – By Ben Collaton

How can you tell if it’s a leak, or condensation?

For those new to camping, when you camp in the cold and experience condensation for the first time, it’s easy to think your tent is leaking.

If there is a sheet of moisture that has coated the inside of your fly, it is probably just condensation. But if it’s the seams or a specific point where there is water coming in, it’s more likely to be a leak.

The Science

Condensation will build up on surfaces where warm and cold temperatures meet. The warm air and moisture that you breathe out will meet the cold shell of your tent, which will eventually condense into water droplets.

The average person can breathe out from 250ml up to 2L of water per day. So unfortunately, you can’t avoid it… but there are things you can do to reduce the effect it has on condensation levels.

Ventilation is Key!

The best way to get rid of the moisture you breathe out is to ventilate your shelter as much as you can. This might seem counterintuitive, but opening a vent or cracking open a window will keep your environment drier and more comfortable.

Set Up Your Inner Taut

You want to have as much space between your inner and fly so that they don’t touch and cause a point where moisture will pool. Ensure that you peg out your inner tent taut, and tension your fly so that water/condensation can run off.

Setting up your tent properly will help prevent condensation. Image: Thermarest

Tension Your Fly

A properly tensioned fly will allow water/condensation to run off and will also create space between your inner and outer tent.

Add a Flysheet to a Single Skin Tent

If you own a single skin tent, then consider getting a fly for cold weather use. Some brands like Oztent make a separate fly for their RV range, or you can just set up a tarp over the top. This way, the condensation will build up on the fly instead of inside your tent.

Have a Microfibre Cloth Handy

Have a microfibre cloth on hand to wipe condensation up in the morning and before you pack it away. Ensure it’s fully dry before transporting so that it doesn’t get mouldy in storage. Or, set it up again once you’re home so it has time to properly dry before being packed away.

Breathability

Canvas tents are naturally breathable, so they will dry out a lot quicker compared to synthetic fabrics if they get wet. Take a little extra care with your synthetic tent to wipe it down and air it out, so that it stays in good condition over time.

Keep Gear Away From the Walls

It is tempting to maximise the space inside your shelter by resting your camp furniture against the walls, but that’s not something we recommend. This will create pressure points where water will be more likely to pool or seep inside.

Store Wet Gear Out of the Tent

If you’ve got wet clothes and shoes, try to store them outside of your shelter in a vestibule or under cover. This is because as your gear dries out, it will add more moisture to the environment which is not ideal.

Thanks for listening, tune in again for next week’s episode!

If you have any questions for Ben and Lauren, make sure you head over to our Facebook group and let us know as we’d love to hear from you.

Catch you out there!

The post Ep9 – Dealing With Tent Condensation appeared first on Snowys Blog.