How Ramblers Benefit by Joining a Rambling Club

I know that if you are out hiking I can fully see the joy that ramblers have. You will know how great it is to get outdoors, to challenge yourself to either height or distance and immerse yourself in the wonders of nature. Also of course it is a great way to exercise. Just ask other ramblers

That is whether you hike, are one of the ramblers or just walk often. You may be new to this and not confident to venture out. Or you may be on your own and want more company

However ramblers need to organise there hike. If you do this on your own you will need to work out where you want to go, what route you wish to take, where you wish to stay and who will go with you.

So a really simple solution to these type of problems is to join a Ramblers Club. There are many benefits. When you first join a Ramblers club they usually allow you to ramble with them to ensure you are happy with the club and they are happy with you before joining.

Fitness does come into it but you can ramble at the pace you need to. You must never or allow anyone else to hike or ramble at someone else pace unless you are ready for problems.. A Ramblers Club will take this into account. You will also be with very like minded people who love the great outdoors. Rambler Clubs are usually well organised, will have a list of great routes and do most of the preparation and organisation.

It is a personal choice to join a ramblers club. My personal choice is to hike with friends and family. However other people have different circumstances and a ramblers club might be the thing for them

Looking at the favourite search engines there are many clubs that ramblers use which are very localised to each area. Some Rambling Clubs consist of just a handful of members whilst others are greater in number and who meet regularly for walks, talks and socialising. These groups usually welcome new members as they share a common like for walking and rambling.

The way that clubs are organised is that they have different grades of hikes or walks and It is up to the individual which walk they wish to join. The decision here will of course very much depend on your level of fitness compared to the difficulty and length of the hike and your experience

You can be a rambler on your own and many people enjoy hiking in their own groups. This is what I usually do. After all hiking can be enjoyed however it is organised. If you do not have a like minded group of friends and want to join other Ramblers then a Rambling Club could be a great way to enjoy this excellent pastime.

4 major points to consider when buying women's rucksacks

It does not matter if you are a man or women we all love hiking and rambling and getting out in the fresh air and getting amongst some great scenery. However whether you are a man or a woman we all need the same type of gear but there is a problem that can be gender based. Are their different types of gear required?

In particular are there different types of rucksacks required between a women and a man? If so what is the reason and in particular (in the case of a rucksack) what do women need to consider when purchasing woman's rucksacks. This is the particular question I will be covered for Women’s rucksacks

I have heard some people say that Women buy more than men and therefore all women's products including women's rucksacks are geared toward a woman's market. I disagree with this and believe that Women's rucksacks are needed for physical reasons and are different from men's rucksacks. It’s a matter of opinion
So here are differences and the areas to look for when buying women's rucksacks.

1. The shoulder straps are actually on narrower women’s rucksacks to ensure a comfortable fit however are curved to allow for the bust area.

2. The back of the women’s rucksack are generally shorter. Although just because Women's rucksacks are shorter this does not mean a women has to buy this type of rucksack. Some Women have longer backs and should look at a obtaining a man's rucksack for best fitting. It really is a personal thing

3. Women's rucksacks are built with a wider waist belt. Getting a little technical - the waist belt should ideally have a conical shape to it. This conical form is achieved by angling the belt diagonally upwards and by curving the waist belt wings. You can get women's rucksacks that contain a frontal adjuster system. This will simplify the waist fitting procedure and will add some value.

4. The rucksack frame is shorter on a Women's rucksack than a man's. When choosing a rucksack (for anybody) I suggest going to a recommended hiking and rambling shop and getting yourself measured for the right women’s rucksack.
So there are the main four points. Of course this is no way clear cut. A man could buy a man's rucksack and a woman could buy a women's rucksack and be very uncomfortable. They could swap and everything could fit nicely. There is no sure thing. However the above main 4 points are the points to consider when buying women’s rucksacks.

So I hope you buy the right rucksack whatever your gender. More importantly hope you have a really great hike and ramble wherever this may be

What type of travel rucksack should you buy?

OK so you need to buy a travel rucksack but there are some considerations when buying a travel rucksack. The important point is the question - what are you going to use it for? At this point it can get detailed and it is nice not to get bogged down in this sort of detail and therefore I have some tips in this article. Hope it is useful

Your travel rucksack needs to be fit for purpose. Is it going to be used for hiking and rambling or travelling? You need to know as you need to understand how waterproof and strong it needs to be especially if you are going hiking with your travel rucksack. Taking a travel rucksack on holidays and just using it for travelling is not so much an issue

Make sure that the travel rucksack is nice and comfortable. Nowadays most travel rucksacks are very comfortable compared to rucksacks years ago. The good travel rucksacks now have a breathing system to allow some air to your back and help to stop you sweating. In addition the straps are now adjustable to fit not only your shoulders but adjustable so you can wear the travel rucksack high or low on your back. This is quite useful.

Most travel rucksacks which are large (not a day sack) now come with the all important belt. Your hips should take more of the weight instead of your shoulders as this is the strongest part of your body. So make sure that a belt is included. Take a look at the picture here

Get a good waterproof travel rucksack. A good feature is a rain cover complete with a zip away bag cover. So that when it does start to rain (which you need to be prepared for) then you unzip your rucksack rain cover and cover the rucksack for rain protection. Again a useful feature. However some hikers do say that a handy top pocket is wasted by the rain cover. I suppose it is a personal trade off – pocket or cover? What is your choice?

What I do is keep my contents of the travel rucksack dry by using a plastic bag in the travel rucksack. Therefore I use this for waterproofing and shy away from the waterproof cover. However some people like it so I have included it.
Another great feature is a unique movable bio system which means as you bend or twist, the pack remains upright. This means that the centre of gravity remains the same reducing the risk of falling or loosing your balance – good feature.

I personally like a large number of pockets. Pockets make it easy to store and retrieve the smaller but things like map, compass, emergency whistle, pocket knife etc.

Have a great hike or travel well and enjoy your travel rucksack as its all part of the fun.

Which Route to Choose to Climb Mountain Snowdon

Mountain Snowdon is the highest mountain in Wales with a height of 1085m (3560ft) is. I live in the UK am a keen hiker and rambler I have climbed Mountain Snowdon a number of times. Each time has been great as Snowdon offers superb dramatic views.

Now there is a problem when you climb up Mountain Snowdon. The problem is that there are a number of routes up Mountain Snowdon and the question is always is which route is the best to take? The right answer for you depends on your personal circumstances and hiking experience. However to help you find the right route for you here are a few routes listed and the hiking suitability up Mountain Snowdon

Route 1. The 5 mile Llanberis path. The path follows a lot of the railway going up Mountain Snowdon. This route is the flattest but longest route with a slow but steady climb. So this maybe for the beginner hiker and could be the route for you. However being a beginner hiker, do not forget to learn what gear to take and wear etc especially navigational aids such as map and compass.

Route 2. The Crib Goch ridge route. This is the most challenging and to be honest dangerous route. Crib Goch is a peak next to Mountain Snowdon and has very sharp rocky sections across to the Snowdon peak with very steep drops either side. This route is for the thrill seeker and not for the faint hearted or beginner hiker. I have travelled this once and once only. Be careful on this one!

Route 3. The Miners Pyg track route. This route starts at Pen-Y-Pass. This route is quite flat until you get to some sharp and steeper sections later on. The route is really the best compromise between a challenging and starter route (between route 1 and route 3)

Route 4. The Mountain Snowdon Train ride. Yes - the option for the people who do not want to hike but still want to get some scenary in. There may be some hikers who don’t approve but I cant not see the problem by taking the train. For the mechanically minded the train however is quite an impressive piece of engineering.

In terms of safety there is a local mountain rescue team close by.
So Mountain Snowdon has a lot to offer with a lot of choice. Snowdonia is a very impressive area. By choosing the right routes will suite your needs (including the train option) it is possible to reach the summit and have a great time doing it but at your pace and with your preferred route.

5 Great Ways To Avoid Blisters On Ramblers Holidays

You can really do some great hiking on ramblers holidays. You know the positive points are that it is great you feel the sun on your cheek, out of the city you can feel the fresh air flowing through your lungs, you can see the wonderful scenery.

Trouble is your feet are aching like mad because of a painful horrid blister. Blisters that help spoil ramblers holidays!

OK so the good news is that this can and should be avoided. You can actually enjoy ramblers holidays and hike for miles without that blister problem by following a few simple steps.

The first thing to remember is the importance of your footwear - walking boots and socks. If you are going to spend lots of cash make sure that you have the quality walking boots and socks you can take away on ramblers holidays. I may sound like an old man but modern day hiking boots and socks are much better quality than they were some 10-20 years ago due to the modern advances – I am impressed.
However if you have read my articles before you will know that I advise that it is not always wise to buy directly on-line. You need to go to a store and ask for really expert advice and even try your hiking gear (boots and socks) on so you can make sure your boots and socks are comfortable and fit well. All good preparation for ramblers holidays

The second point is not to wear brand new hiking boots before you go on ramblers holidays. Your new walking boots will need to mould to your foot. The best way that you can do this is to wear your walking boots a number of times before going on ramblers holidays. This way your feet will be a great mould for your walking boots and therefore help restrict movement in the boot and prevent blisters on ramblers holidays.

The third point is that you must look after your feet whilst you are hiking with ramblers holidays. When I first started hiking I made it a rule not to look at my feet. Very wrong. Make sure your feet are dry and have sufficient some air. You know when a blister is about to form when you feel a slight pain or irritation when you are walking on ramblers holidays. The best thing here is to tell your team you need a stop and give your feet some air by removing your hiking boots for a minute or two. So don’t by shy. Other people will be doing the same.

The fourth point is don’t get your feet wet. Thick socks will keep your feet wet and after a while you will have a blister. You can buy some hiking gaiters. These are great and will keep you feet dry.
The fifth point is wear 2 pairs of socks that will rub together when walking rather than your bare feet. One pair should be thin and be worn first. The second should be thick and should be your outer hiking sock on Ramblers Holidays

So enjoy your hike. Enjoy each element. However avoid any blisters and have a fantastic hike during ramblers holidays.