Modular sleep system. What a weird ass robot way to say that.

I plan to do WHW in June next year. I hope 7 months will be enough to test all gear. Distance is not scary, if I would really push, I could technically do it in 3 days and a bit (assuming 10-12h of walking per day), but mountains taught me humility, especially Scottish Highlands (32/282) so will probably stretch that out over 4-5 days. Over the next few months I need to make a decision - do I take my heavy hiking boots (Scarpa Delta GTX), or do I opt for some sport shoes with better cushioning. Both options have their dis/advantages - given the distance need to figure out what's the biggest risk - overload due to boots' weight or rattled joints due to improper stabilisation? My biggest concern in the Highlands is water (I'm overheating easily, so 90% of the weight I carry on my munrobagging hikes is water :), only recently, I started carrying a filtration system :) ) - it's nice to know there is plenty of water sources along the way, so I can opt for one of the water systems (need to test some other ones beforehand). Sleeping arrangements. For sure, I'll try to time my hike so the weather will be good, I won't be hiking in pouring rain and horrible visibility (lesson learned!). And if the weather will be ok, I might skip carrying a tent all together (just a sleeping bag and a tarp, maybe?) and wildcamp wherever I feel like it, rather than fixating on reaching camp sites. I've heard that around Loch Lomond there is a wild camping ban in certain periods of the year, so need to research that more, last thing I need is squabbles with some rangers (or, more likely, Karens). Thank you for publishing this video, people usually focus on their successes and try to hide their failures, which skews the perception of other people. It's important to understand the challenge and learn from other people's mistakes!

One mistake he didn't make was doing the walk during the midge season!

I just dont get why youd need to have 18.5 kilos on your back in the first place. You dont need loads of stuff.

Thank you for that really useful info. I am 73 and planning to walk the WHW in the next year or two. Not going to knock myself out with ridiculous distances as I really want to enjoy the hike and take in the amazing scenery and history. So my distances will be less but I will enjoy each step! Going to travel light with a day pack and get a company to take my heavy bag for me too.... :)

🏕 👍 👍

Kudos for your humility 😌 If only there was more outreach and honesty like yours Ewan ✨ I want to journey as I am so disconnected.

Learn German, most of those doing it are German.

Thank you for sharing, although it did not work out for you in the End. You tried and you came far as you could. Well done!

I'm about to do the WHW for the first time later in the week. Something I've learned from doing other long distance hikes is that it's easy to underestimate mileage. For instance, I did an 11.5 mile walk on Saturday. However my fitness watch said I did 13 miles. Why is this? Elevation & steps. When you've got a heavy pack, and you're doing more steps, that 11.5 mile walk definitely feels like the 13 miles or more. Great video though - thank you for sharing your mistakes - you've gotten a lot out of the trip from what you've learned and been able to teach us too!

Thanks for the helpfull review 👍🏻

A preparatory shakedown hike is essential to making those hard decisions about what is or isn't essential to pack; really focuses the mind.

Thanks Mate for that video, it was very helpful :) Greetings

My bag liner is the old purple swiss fleece summer bag. Soft and comfy. And adds a nice bit of heat

Thanks!

What are those pants?? (trousers) And are they weather proof/resistant too?

What is the grade of that sleeping bag?

My top tip is have all your cash money in the form of £5 notes and about £3 - £5 in 50p's. Not just a WHW tip but a UK hiking tip in general. Honesty boxes and vending machines won't always be giving out change and a fiver is the smallest note so if you buy something thats £3 in a honestly box you won't feel put out not getting £2 back.

Good poncho but needs a belt-like system as blows about like crazy in the wind plus the arms are too short. I just purchased a one-wind poncho with a fastening system BUT the sleeves are even shorter.. Thanks for sharing.

One size fits all is a lie. It has always been a lie. There’s no such thing as one size fits all.

Did your arms get wet from perspiration? The idea of a poncho I always thought was to allow a lot of air in (up sleeves)?? Thanks. Pretty good video for a Scot! 🤓

Tip 11: be prepared for the midgets!!!!!!

Thanks Ewan !!! very good advice !! Good luck !!

Did WHW back in 1990, traveled light, 35L rucksack, no tent food, stayed in bunkhouses, simple enough.

you cracked it mate, great video, properly tested, lovely weather, this is the way all reviews should be done in really bad conditions, subscribed, nice one. Never trust the Met Office, we are still waiting for the snowstorms predicted from January to May, and the heat wave as we sit and shiver at home lol.

Nice video, well put together and oresented but how can you describe a bag as three season when its rated at 11-18c? Thats a summer bag

Got some deet into my system making me high after licking my finger whilst making a rollup cigarette. Decided it was best to get the train backto edinburgh and continue the journey from bridgeof orchy at a later date. The west highland way was my introduction to hillwalking. The WIld Country Mistrel2 3 season tent tent I used later got flattened in estimated 80mph winds in the caringorms. Since then always use hilleberg tents. On the buss back from Fort Wiliam was a Canadian girl in a plastercast, she had gone up Ben Nevis in a pair of trainers and broke her ankle.

Thanks for this video mate. So many reviews of gear just involve someone holding it up whilst reading off a spec sheet, so it's great to see someone actually getting out there and suffering in the name of science. Glass of whisky well deserved!

We’ve all been there. Lessons learned and you’ll become more and more an experienced and sufficient hiker. Just don’t give up yet

Great video, never thought of bamboo for hiking underwear. In the US I've never heard of the brand, but will check them out

What a strange combination. The money spent on the proven to be terrible bivy can be better put into a better sleeping bag that only would set you back a little more. Like the aegis max G1 With a comfort rating of 1C instead of 11C like the bag you showed for only 180 euro. instead of 110 for that small bag. Or go for the naturehike snowbird 2 with a comfort rating of 2C. And why the heave expensive and bulky liner. A slik liner from decathlon is a better buy regarding weight and size. Or non at all at put your money in a better pad. 3FUL pulled the wool over your eyes if you believe that this is a 4 seasons pad. The actual heat transfer only is bumped up from R2.1 to R2.2 by adding another redundant aluminum layer. I know with a dog the puncturing can be a problem but this is poor winter advice even for budget oriented people. And adding the vapor barrier of the SOL ontop of a down sleepingbag can really compromise the warmth even more as these things are vapour barriers and this vapor will condense between the mylar and the sleepingbag and wet it out. This is really for emergency use without a sleepingbag. I know it worked for you but this video had some poor advice in it. I am not here for hate but to let others spend there money wiser.

Sleeping bag looks great value, ill look at that. Definitely wouldn't use a survival bag inside a tent like thst thoough. Ive done it on one occasion due to being unable to sleep. Sleeping bag liners a good shout. Also sometimes i wear a down jacket in the bag. Definitely for desperate times id say.

If all you want is a waterproof, then I guess this will do, but it isn’t a multi purpose item like a genuine military or military style poncho… ie you can’t make various single poncho shelters with it, stud it to other ponchos to make larger or fully enclosed like a tent shelter. On a fairish night fold it longways, put a sleeping bag or poncho liner inside and stud together to make a waterproof cover. I’ve been on the open high ground, where I’ve been the highest object, it’s been raining or hailing hard and the thunder and lightning has come directly or very close over me. As soon as I’ve seen it coming and it’s too far to escape it, I just squatted down in my surplus British Army 58 pattern poncho until it got close then laid as flat as I could down to the ground in a hollow until it’s past me, heading off into the distance. Surplus and some military style ponchos also have a waist tie cord to reduce flappage. I always carry a poncho I can make into a shelter as well.

My advice is not to do it alone, because when you walk with someone else they encourage and motivate you to finish

Great video. Really useful info. Thank you.

Top tip of the west highland (no sober steps should be taken) makes the journey so much funnier Nd easier especially the devil's staircase

I remember seeing your video quite a while back and giving you a thumbs up. Now that I'm looking at it a second time I already ordered the poncho.

I'm thinking about doing Highland Way this autumn. Midges? Spoil the whole trip or not a problem?

Really helpful!!!

I too had to leave the trail at Beinglas Campsite with a knee injury (and severe plantar fasciitis) in 2016. My piece of advice is: The trail after Balmaha is harder than you think! The elevation profiles don't look like much, but some sections of that trail are *rough*! I've got a trip planned to tackle the trail again in June and I broke the first several sections into much smaller chunks. My knee is still bad, so I'm hoping I can hack it this time. At least I know what I'm getting in for. :)

Cheers mate. Would you say this would be good for extended hikes around 5 or 6 days?

hahahahaha the introduction 😄

The walk people that have not done it thinks it easy well no it can be hard if its not planned righht iam ex army and i still thought it was hard i carried myfull pack and Tent and sleeping all the full trip i L was with a team of 6 and a few keep me back a bit of sore feet etc lol one turn up with a pair of new caliper boots on after the end of thetrip there were blood stains cumming out of his boots lucky i had a pair of trainers in my bag to give him so few tips were thin cycling strock ski pants and bring a sppare pair pf trainers light in your bag if you might get sore feet yes take a power packwith you for mobile phones and make sure your water bottle is topped up every camp you go on and yes dont be a hero what the movie said and enjoy it no point rushing it through and just looking at the ground

Excellent advice I have been there myself both on long-distance walks and cycles. My number one learning is to do 30-40% of your daily average on the first day then build up. Like in the gym, your body has to warm up. So take it easier on the first few days out.

You gave tgat a good test

I loved your honesty!

Loved the review. Subscribed 😎👌

Fail to prepare! PREPARE TO FAIL!!!!😭

I’ve never hiked but I’m not trying to do it in record time. I just wanna be in the wild and peaceful. I hope I Succeed

I HAVE TWO. THANKS. SINCE PUEBLA MEXICO. BYE.