There are varying diameter roll wrapped carbon tubes available from easy composites that should be good for this application, they're relatively cheap to but I think they only do 0.5m minimum lengths. http://www.easycomposites.co.uk/Category/Carbon-Fibre-Products/Carbon-Fibre-Tube/Roll-Wrapped-Carbo...

Continuing the sleeping bag theme, there seems to be a variety of Rab bags with big reductions on Rock and Run at the moment: http://www.rockrun.com/deals/sleeping-bags?utm_source=Rock+%2B+Run+Newsletter&utm_campaign=f9612a2d91-Rab_Sleeping_Bag_Deal2_20_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_a...

I've no idea if that is good value or not but PHD seem to think it is pretty easy to clean your own down stuff and that its harder to mess up than people think (and I guess they should know), see link to instructions below. I should say that I haven't tried this so can't say how well it works, but s...

Thanks for that Chris, thats really helpfull. I foresee a week of route planning fun next week.

I've got to be in Newtown for a few days towards the end of June and I'm thinking of turning the journey there and back into a bit of a bikepacking adventure. I'm heading up from Cardiff and have a pretty good idea of routes up to the Brecon area, but I'm much less familiar beyond that. Does any one...

One of these turned up in the post this week

http://www.wiggle.co.uk/dhb-wisp-jacket/

Seems pretty good value, its getting its first outing tonight so can't comment to much on performance, but first impressions are pretty good.

I found this a while back, it offers a fairly detailed write up on MYOG framebags.

http://www.bikepacking.net/individual_s ... frame-bag/

Mark.

I'm running the talkytoater maps on an Etrex 20. Like Dan_K I have a file that is called GMAPSUPP which is a disc image file (whatever that is). I've got it stored on the onboard storage of the unit in the folder called garmin. I can't really remember the process of installing, which isn't much help.

I use open source maps from these guys on my Etrex 20 for the about a year and another friend has done the same too. http://talkytoaster.com/ukmaps.htm Its free to download full UK maps, but the detail isn't quite as good an OS map. Having said that its got me round the Cairngorm loop and BB200 with...

Thanks for the replys guys. Think I'm erring towards the M90 for the breathability and I plan to use it under a tarp.

Mark.

I got a bit of extra pay this month so thinking of treating myself to a Borah bivy bag. I've used an AK Hunka in the past but found condensation to be a bit of a problem. Firstly will I notice a difference in condensation with a borah bivy and does anyone have any idea if there is much noticeable di...

Really interested to see what you come up with for the Delta Stu, I'd been tempted by them but was a little unsure. How much protection do you think you would get from it as a tarp tent setup, i.e. would you need a bivvvy bag inside as well?

I used a zephyros 2 for a 2 week cycle tour in Scotland with my girlfriend recently. For the money it is very nice tent and feels good quality, but check the size before buying. It's very much on the cosy side and the two of us had to top and tail to get a good nights sleep. I'm guessing that is pro...