You name it, we've tested it - and not just in a lounge after it was excitedly opened. None of that "I've not used it yet but I know it will serve me well, 5 stars" crap here.
Reviews will arrive below on an ad hoc basis, we've a lot to load up, so there's some slides showing what our kit's been through to feed on while you wait for your next fix!
The 3NC Kit Conundrum
There is only one rule on the 3NC: whatever kit you canoe in with, you must carry out.
How efficient can you be to reduce the weight on your back at the end? What could you leverage from the nature around you to achieve that?
The whole point is that knowledge and skills are rewarded on the Challenge, but within your own limits and comfort zones. You are free to try your own ideas.
There's good kit out there from budget to Gucci. There's also a lot of well-marketed crap. Our requirements are unique, so don't be frightened to try something new: can you find that silver bullet?
How efficient can you be to reduce the weight on your back at the end? What could you leverage from the nature around you to achieve that?
The whole point is that knowledge and skills are rewarded on the Challenge, but within your own limits and comfort zones. You are free to try your own ideas.
There's good kit out there from budget to Gucci. There's also a lot of well-marketed crap. Our requirements are unique, so don't be frightened to try something new: can you find that silver bullet?
First up, the most important item: boots.
Browse the tabs in each section by holding your finger on the arrow buttons or just dragging across the tabs.
Steve, 3NC 2018
Are these the ultimate 3N Challenge boot? Possibly. My word, have Altberg done us proud with this one. A jungle boot expects the wearer to be very hot and drenched and wading through rivers a lot. As such water is allowed straight in but ensures it goes straight out again. Think about this when considering your purchase - if you aren't going to be submerged in water but are going to splash through puddles you don't want jungle boots. If you are - look no further! This boot survived severe abuse in swamps and rivers, protecting us from rocks, all whilst carrying canoes, rucksacks and food barrels. The uppers are deliberately thin and light to allow quick drying and this sacrifices some stability but, given the amount of times we all went over or jarred ourselves, not one serious ankle injury. Altberg also have leather padding in the uppers instead of polyester foam like other manufacturers do, so even less water is soaked up. The boots protected my feet exceptionally well on rocks and drain well despite just 2 holes on the instep. My only complaint would be the laces are quite thin and can pinch if bound across the front of the ankle. However, Altberg point this out in the product tags and I found missing a lace hoop - as recommended by them for some - worked a treat. When submerged a lot use the extra lace hoop as the leather stretches, when trekking leave a gap. The lace lock is excellent. After 8 days of being soaking wet, these things stood up to the toughest hiking terrain I've ever faced with 24KG on my back too. They need breaking in, mind - it's a military boot so don't expect your padded trekking boot, but the soles provide superb support for the feet. These aren't advisable in a canoe on rapids as they're still a little too chunky for that, but for anything else with canoes these are perfect. And one generous application of Ledergris overnight and they were good as new! Brilliant. 
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Francis, 3NC 2018
I love these boots, I had originally planned to take two pairs of boots into the Boreal forest, a pair of ultra-lightweight canoe boots and a pair of dedicated hiking boots. The day before leaving, for space and weight reasons, I decided to take the Altbergs as my only footwear for both the canoe and trek phase and I am very glad I did. Every boot in standard camping shops it seems must have a waterproof lining, great for keeping water out, and for marketing, but not so good when your boots are wet in the middle of the forest and you have a waterproof liner preventing them from drying. We needed boots that would dry out following (inevitable) immersion. After a lot of searching Steve found some unlined military lightweight jungle boots made by the UK company Altberg. They come in a range of width fittings and arrived in a box with a picture of the guy who made them on it, from Sheffield, good and solid. When you get take them out of the box you know they are a serious piece of kit, incredibly lightweight yet rugged and well made, handsomely functional. 300+ km of canoeing and tracking, wading thigh deep through swamps, crossing beaver dams, lining canoes upriver and trekking over seriously tough terrain - the microlights didn’t miss a beat. The high leg and secure lacing meant that when wading through knee deep mud (a frequent occurrence in Northern Ontario) they stayed on my feet, I would have lost the dedicated canoe boots on day one. The boots are very light to wear and quite comfortable although not quite as comfy a standard hiking boot, they provide a good level of support and excellent foot protection. The chunky grips are very sturdy, and the leather heel and toe sections are robust enough for the toughest terrain. The boots’ only limitations, they are all-rounders after all, is that they lack a bit of ankle support due to their soft (weight reducing) ankle section. They are remarkably waterproof for a jungle boot and will keep the water out up to the top of the boot, only flooding after total immersion, and even then, it takes few moments. It’s a joy though to watch the water being pumped out as you walk from the instep positioned drain valves. They dry incredibly quickly and are almost dry (in warm weather) after a night outside under the tent awning. There is no perfect boot, a dedicated hiking boot would provide more comfort and support, a canoe boot would be lighter, but as an all-rounder, weighing in at only 623 grams, protective, supportive, durable, quick drying. I recommend these for looking after one of your most precious bit of kit, your feet. These boots are also incredibly durable, on my return from Canada, after a bit of care and attention, they look pretty much new. Will I be taking them to Lapland? Without a doubt. |
You can buy Altberg jungle boots here.
You can buy Lowa jungle boots here.
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Charles, 3NC 2018
Prior to heading to Canada I had considered a variety of shoes or boots for the task ahead. I had considered some very lightweight options. I finally settled on the Lowa Elite Jungle Boot as my only footwear. The terrain was arduous. Slippery rocks, roots, bogs, gullies, steep hills. All in all a distinct lack of flat ground. I spent half of my time, tripping, slipping and bashing my feet. I was regularly spending time in lakes and rivers with the water higher than boot level which allowed water to enter the boot from the top, meaning the boots were constantly getting wet. These served as a phenomenal all-in-one solution. I carried a 25kg pack and went over my ankle on numerous occasions. The ankle support was fully tested and prevented me from twisting my ankle. The toughness of the uppers protected my feet from constant bashing against rocks when slipping and tripping my way through rocky river beds. The drainage holes in the boot allowed water to drain after time in the water without the need for removing and emptying them. The lacing design kept the boots securely fastened to my feet when my knees vanished into thick, heavy bogs. The rubber sole did a good job of securing me to the terrain, only giving in on the most slippery rocks and roots. These boots proved, in arduous circumstances, to be a vital piece of kit, well worth the money for an adventure of this sort. |
Coming soon.
Coming soon.
Next up, your best friend when the mozzies are out: tents.
You can buy a Hilleberg Akto here.
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The Akto is perhaps the most ingenious designed tent in the world - and for the price some might say it should be. However, it is difficult to find a solo tent with the same space and comfort combined with tough, 4 season material and under 1.5kg in weight. It doesn't matter how many times you try various tarp and bivi combinations, the Akto is your own personal 5 star hotel that weighs next to nothing, so why wouldn't you bring it on every trip? The Akto has seen service on the 2016 and 2018 Challenges and performed admirably on both - tough terrain and heavy thunderstorms. However, its Achilles' heel is the fact it requires tent pegs. This is the trade off to a self-supporting tent that - for an equivalent 4-season protection tent - will come in at 2kg plus in weight. So what if it needs tent pegs? Well, one thing you learn in the forest is that it's either very rocky and/or lots of tree roots, or the soil is very boggy, or loose and dry. As such, you can often find yourself having to use rocks to hold the pegs down, making longer tent pegs with your knife or axe, or improvising with paracord on trees. There's nothing wrong with this but on our Challenge, when you're fatigued and you need to get dry, dinner eaten and head down, you don't want to spend time burning more calories faffing looking for rocks or carving up wood. Now imagine it's tanking it down with rain and you're having to do that after finding the best space you could in an overgrown campsite that ceased to exist long ago, as one member of the team had to on the 2018 trek. As such, this is still a great tent, but self-standing ones save a lot of time in wilderness camp sites. That's assuming you find the space of course, and the flip-side is that the Akto can fit into gaps where nice big dome tents can't. There is no silver bullet, so just go for whatever meets your requirements best - less weight vs. some potential inconveniences. Regardless, the Akto will not disappoint you and comes highly recommended by everyone who's used it.
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You can buy a Hillberg Unna here.
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Charles, 3NC 2018
The massive decision regarding shelters was tough one to make. There was a strong argument for tarps but in the end I chose the Unna. The Unna is a 4 season, 1 man tent weighing in at 2.2kg. Overall I would say the Unna is a great tent. The question is, was it the right piece of kit for the job? We were not in a 4 season environment, it was hot summer weather with some torrential downpours. The reality is a 3 season tent would have stood up to the challenge and would have been far lighter, which makes a big difference on the hiking phase and a smaller difference on the canoe phase. I chose a 4 season tent for long term cost reasons, with a buy one tent to do everything approach. The other issue I personally deal with is space. I am 6 6” and length becomes a major issue when deciding on a tent. Tents in general are simply not designed for someone of my height or taller. I could just fit in the Unna but I had to sleep diagonally, corner to corner (not actually a problem) but the foot of my sleeping bag would touch the inner and seemed to draw moisture in meaning the foot of my sleeping bag was damp in the mornings. The Unna is self supporting which is good. However, for good condensation regulation I had to fully erect the tent to get maximum airflow, when fully put up there was little or no condensation. I chose not to take tent pegs to save weight. I was easily able to make my own pegs each night from branches or use rocks. This however took time. If I was shorter I would have opted to share a tent but with my height it just wouldn't work. I will persevere with the Unna to make sure I’m setting it up and using it to its potential. If I can stop my sleeping bag from getting wet at the foot end, it will be a keeper. Overall, a great design, if I was a couple of inches shorter it would have been excellent. For this trip, with hindsight, I would have gone for a two man 3 season tent, lighter and bigger. The only down side of this is further costs if you want a tent for tougher conditions. Charlie, 3NC 2018 |
Coming soon, our review of this 3 season gem.
One of the 2016 team took a Terranova Laser to Lapland. Terranova are a good brand and make excellent bivi bags in the £200 bracket and their tents are cheaper than Hilleberg. The Laser is effectively their version of the Akto. The 2-man one is cheaper and offers space in a way the Akto manages in a solo set up. So, if you're on a budget and want similar functionality, all good so far. However, the Akto's build quality and materials are far superior: on the second night of the trek it tanked it down all night on us. Those in Hillberg tents had the usual solo tent condensation but remained dry. Our unfortunate Laser owner experienced leaking seams and woke up wet. Our verdict – for the purpose of the 3N Challenge – avoid.
Rucksacks (3NC recommend >80L capacity)
Jaakari (yahh-ka-ree) is the Finnish equivalent of the German word 'Jaeger'. In English the closest word we have is 'hunter' or 'ranger' and there's some interesting historical context, but suffice to say in Finland, 'Jaeger' or 'Jaakari' has a special meaning - a source of national pride as the backbone of the army that won their independence and defends it to this day.
From a 3N Challenge perspective, Savotta's Jaakari range of rucksacks and backpacks are awesome: designed for use in the forest by people who have evolved in the forest. This section focuses on the largest of the family, the XL. It is our team's choice of rucksack for the 3N Challenge. You can buy a Jaakari XL here. Reviews below.
From a 3N Challenge perspective, Savotta's Jaakari range of rucksacks and backpacks are awesome: designed for use in the forest by people who have evolved in the forest. This section focuses on the largest of the family, the XL. It is our team's choice of rucksack for the 3N Challenge. You can buy a Jaakari XL here. Reviews below.
Charlie, 3NC 2018:
This rucksack is bold, tough and simple. There are no gimmicks. It’s big and can hold a lot of kit. Mine was packed full and weighed 25kg for the trekking stage. It did a great job of getting the load on to my hips. It got a tough ride being scraped over rocks and being scratched and bashed by branches of trees. It stood up to the punishment and gave me confidence that this is a great long term purchase. However, it is really expensive, heavy and there are no external pockets. You can buy a variety of pockets to strap to the side but this of course will amount to extra cost and weight. This is a great, tough, heavy-load carrying rucksack designed for a rugged environment. It was a great piece of kit for dense forest hiking. If you want something with fancy fasteners and straps, get something else, if you want simple and dependable, get this. |
Steve 3NC 2018
The XL is no-frills simple, minimalist and practical, i.e it's Finnish. The frame should win a design award with perfect alignment to your back. Yes, external frame packs add weight but they enable heavy loads to be distributed around the body far more effectively, reducing fatigue, and this rucksack is exceptional on that front. The air flow on the back is excellent - you actually notice it! The construction is bomb-proof, with additional UPVC lining on the inside - this can take rain in a way most rucksacks can't although it is still not 100% waterproof. It took any amount of physical abuse - military grade stuff. The straps are minimalist, avoiding sofa-like sponge for tougher, basic padding, saving weight and doesn't soak up water the way a lot of luxury padded rucksacks do, which is significant when canoeing. There are numerous MOLLE webbing attachment points for a range of capabilities - side pouches, first aid kit on hip belt, a bush knife handily set ready for use behind shoulder, affixing solar chargers or just clothing to dry out, or it can remain simple and highly streamlined. It has a roll top dry bag style closure under the floating lid which proved excellent in torrential rain and also for over-packing. The bottom section has 4 very useful utility pouches inside the flap, opening out like a tool kit - saving the need for having to use pouches to keep small items tidy, perfect for things you need to get to throughout the day. On each side at the bottom is a pouch for water bottles or securing an axe/folding saw. All in all an awesome rucksack specifically designed for all-season extended forest treks. Expensive, yes, but will probably outlive you. |
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You can buy a Jaakari XL here.
You can buy a Leafcutter here.
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Steve, 3NC 2016, Lapland
The Leafcutter has some excellent features and certainly lives up to its name - and concept - in that it is probably the lightest rucksack you will find and yet can carry a lot of gear for its size. It has a few limitations though. Its weight is brilliant - this was taken up 2 mountains in Arizona prior to going to Lapland and served as a bulky day sack for a group. That trip also revealed some drawbacks - there is no access to a water bottle or hydration pack whilst hiking without taking the pack off or someone having to open the side pouches. Same goes for cameras, binoculars or other ancillaries - if you are in a shirt and shorts it all has to go in the pack. The pouches - particularly the central one - are great, with generous pockets in the lid on both sides. There are also 2 thin pockets on the inside running down the back that can contain SAM splints, tent poles, collapsible fishing rod, even a small forest axe can be neatly contained. It is noticeably well-fitting as soon as you put it on and sits on the back snugly (but - like all bergans with an internal frame - the air flow is poor and working hard on a long trek you can start getting prickly heat). The hip belt has been stripped to basic padding to save weight but still provides some stability, but it cannot distribute the weight to the hips as it's been designed to sit on the shoulders. Its durable military grade material coped with Lapland no problem, plus the fact it has drainage holes in it was very handy when canoes flooded. However, the main compartment is only 55L and in a tapered shape (which aids the stability of it on your back). It is impossible to overpack (perhaps a challenge?) and the standard rucksack vinyl closure and pull cord get exposed quite easily when the lid can't close properly over it. A nice sleeping bag and big fleece won't leave room for much else, so packing was a bit of a Rubik's cube. All that said, I got my Lapland gear in it and 5 days' rations in one of the 10L side pouches. The problems were that it just wasn't designed as a long distance trekking rucksack. It's a fantastic portage pack - i.e. you have a day sack for other items with you and just need to carry your camp kit on a portage or from canoe to camp type thing, but a big heavy load starts causing issues. You can't strap anything to the outside - not a bad thing necessarily - but this means your soaking wet tent from the rain goes in the main compartment and needs a separate dry bag, causing more bulk. A full load pushes on the external pockets - especially the sides (same goes for any pack with stitched pockets) - reducing space and the lid (non-floating) won't close properly over the top, exposing the inner top closure to the elements. When you go over 20Kg in weight (which has - so far - proved unavoidable on the 3NC) the internal frame pops out of its velcro cover which was frustrating as it lost support structure and you'd have to keep re-doing this throughout the day. The axe had to come outside the pack to avoid that. The shoulder straps, though good for back posture, kept a lot of weight on the neck and shoulders causing fatigue first, then pain. The sort of thing you'll only notice once you've been trekking for several hours. Don't get me wrong, it is a very good quality rucksack with excellent pouches - this is a 55L pack and I managed to live out of it for 2 weeks - and I loved the concept, but it was designed for a bushcraft weekend or as a camp pack on a canoe trip, but not big enough to carry what we need on the 3N Challenge unfortunately. If anyone thinks otherwise they are of course permitted to try for themselves! ;0) |
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,The Fjallraven Kajka is a good design, good quality and is narrow like other Nordic rucksacks designed for people on foot or on skis in forests. It's best feature is that side pockets though stitched, are generous and can billow out, but can also be folded flat and have something strapped to the side instead.
Full report on this might be a while as only one of the team carried one and he's just started stage school and is having far too much fun to spend time writing kit reviews like us, but we can report that the 65L version of this rucksack is too small. Packing was difficult to get everything in easily and when you're on the move this stuff matters - it gets frustrating and you can't do it quickly. Your kit also moves round, changes shape, gets wet etc, so if you have to fit everything in exactly every time it's a ball ache. The only other thing to consider is that the adjustable frame has lots of comfy padding, but that padding soaks up water. Not a road block as lots of other rucksacks have the same problem on this Challenge, but just be aware. It is also not waterproof at all so outer or inner dry bags needed, but very robust construction and material as you'd expect from Fjallraven. If you're interested in this rucksack, look at the 100L version and you will probably be fine. We'd be interested to see how it does. You can buy the 100L one here. |
Two of the team took the Sabre 75 with the additional side pouches with them in Lapland 2016. As one would expect from something based on the classic British infantry bergan design, it is a very robust rucksack that can carry a lot of kit easily in it. This was both good and bad in that too much kit was brought instead of too little, however there are few other rucksacks that could have taken 4 season sleeping bags along with an extra set of warm clothing.
Like all British military-style bergans it has an internal frame, meaning that airflow is limited on the back. The only consideration around use with canoes is that there is a lot of sponge padding which soaked up water like a good 'un when canoes flooded, and at one point the owners were carrying an aquarium on their backs, but that is a problem most rucksacks will face on the Challenge. The final consideration is bulk/width - consider losing the side pouches and travelling lighter for dense forest travel. Overall, this is a great rucksack that'll serve you well in a variety of environments and different use cases.
Like all British military-style bergans it has an internal frame, meaning that airflow is limited on the back. The only consideration around use with canoes is that there is a lot of sponge padding which soaked up water like a good 'un when canoes flooded, and at one point the owners were carrying an aquarium on their backs, but that is a problem most rucksacks will face on the Challenge. The final consideration is bulk/width - consider losing the side pouches and travelling lighter for dense forest travel. Overall, this is a great rucksack that'll serve you well in a variety of environments and different use cases.
The Berghaus Crusader is another British military-style rucksack that was taken on the Lapland 2016 Challenge. Very well made as you'd expect with the excellent Berghaus-only buckle on the waist that doesn't get popped open when bending over. It has an internal frame so the airflow is limited on the back. It has a floating lid for over-packing and this one certainly got overpacked as the owner decided to pick up discarded items of equipment along the hiking trail. It's 90L + 20L (pouches) capacity guarantees being able to carry more than enough gear for an expedition and bulky equipment too. As such this is a good buy because you've got something suitable for expeditions in any environment at any time of year. There wasn't quite so much sponge padding on this either, so it didn't soak up as much water as the Sabre rucksack did, though obviously some. As with other military bergans with the side pouches it is bulky, so consider slimming it down for forest travel.
Tools - don't go into the forest without some of these!
Puukko - literally "small knife" in English. The word has an almost spiritual meaning the way Finns use it. A good one, used on your adventures, will start to feel part of you - a dependable friend you feel naked without. And other such romantic blx. I love my puukko. Buy one. Learn how to sharpen it on the move. Don't go into the wilderness without it and a sharpening stone. End of.
You don't need to spend a fortune but if you want to splurge a bit and get a handmade one a Sami elder would be proud of, or even design your own, these guys are based in Lapland and you can buy one here.
Alternatively, if you're on a budget, the guys who make the Skrama bushknife we rave about in this section also have excellent quality puukkos, military and traditional, for very reasonable prices here.
Remember, a puukko is for knife, not just for Christmas. :0)
You don't need to spend a fortune but if you want to splurge a bit and get a handmade one a Sami elder would be proud of, or even design your own, these guys are based in Lapland and you can buy one here.
Alternatively, if you're on a budget, the guys who make the Skrama bushknife we rave about in this section also have excellent quality puukkos, military and traditional, for very reasonable prices here.
Remember, a puukko is for knife, not just for Christmas. :0)
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Another example of Finnish evolution in action.
A bucksaw enables you to saw up bigger logs than the Bahco Laplander can. Important in winter especially, but also important in Ontario in summer where fallen trees often block portage routes and hiking trails. There are some great folding bucksaws out there, but they are extra weight - a kilo in some cases for the nice wooden ones and, for the 3N Challenge in particular, more stuff to carry. The alternative is to carry just a bucksaw blade and improvise your own one should you need to (see a cool video here on how to do this using the Skrama bush knife we review on the next tab). This isn't as hard as it sounds but takes time and effort. You also then need to carry a 24" saw blade with you. If you have a special belt for that purpose - hard to come by - fine, but if you don't then you have dry bags in your rucksack for canoeing that don't want to go near a saw blade. Enter Savotta with their latest pocket saw. This isn't that wire saw rubbish you used to get in rambo survival knives, this is a proper chainsaw chain, powered by you. This was staggering, taking minutes for us to clear large logs. It collapses into a pouch not much bigger than your hand and doesn't weigh much. Perfect if on the move like we are, sometimes chasing the day. Dry bag friendly. Awesome bit of kit. No more bucksaw needed. You can buy a pocket saw here. |
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We could almost write a dedicated article on this bit of Finnish genius but we'll save that for the designer, via the web link below. The Skrama (Sea-Axe) bush knife combines the traditional finnish hukari (big blade machete, bigger than a leuku) with a puukko (small knife), making a multi-purpose tool.
Having tested it on our Finland exercise we decided to take this to Ontario instead of an axe - a kilo in weight saved - and didn't regret it at all. This is a phenomenal tool - we had to clear a route through 800m of forest in a day to escape a blocked trail and this, supported by the Savotta pocket saw and a couple of Bahco Laplanders, is what did the bulk of the work. One strike with the right technique will take saplings down, a few strikes for slightly larger ones. Time and again this tool enabled us to clear obstacles quickly. A jungle machete like a parang won't work on the wood of the northern forest, but this does, enabling you to have the same capabilities. The two grips and corresponding bevels may sound complex but it's so simple and well made - hand at bottom grip for chopping using main part of blade (tremendous power with little effort), hand on high grip for finer work - like feather sticks or tent pegs - using bevel at bottom of blade, The amazing thing is how the tool feels completely different with the change of grip, from axe to puukko. Do not go into the wilderness without it, and this could save you taking other tools as well. As for the quality of manufacturing and sharpness of blade - outstanding. To see the designer demonstrating it's use, there's a great video here. |
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You can buy a Terava skrama bush knife here.
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Do we even need to write a review here for this one? Such is its fame. They're excellent. Used it more than our knives in Lapland's campfire sites. The speed you can contact split logs into kindling and get a fire going to warm up/dry out compared to batoning with Leukus/puukkos was notable. Could we have got by with just Leukus or bush knives? Probably. Could they have got fires going as fast as we could with this axe? No.
You can buy a small forest axe here. |
Unfortunately, we have only tested this training in the UK so far. Prior to 3NC 2018 our outfitters informed us that this type of knife had just been made illegal in Canada, so it didn't come with us, so 2019 will be its first outing. Excellent design and razor sharp. Strong enough to make small tent pegs with but not as robust as a fixed blade knife, so no batoning with this, but it does not pretend to be for that. Our interest here was weight - if you need to travel ultra light - given it's perfect for cutting rope, gutting fish, etc, you could ditch the fixed blade knife entirely and have this plus the Skrama bush knife and a pocket saw, which is one of our new combos we'll try on 3NC 2019.
You can buy one here.
You can buy one here.
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Simple and cheap, if you are new to bushcraft or don't intend to do anything like the 3N Challenge again, this is the knife for you. More than capable for what you will need to learn and do and, as you can see in the photo, quite capable of cutting yourself with when doing the customary biltong stop!
One consideration is the sheath - military-style plastic sheaths are robust and cope with water exposure better than leather, but can be easier to lose off your belt, particularly if you just have a trekking belt that came with your trousers type thing. |
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You don't go into the wilderness without a knife, but this saw is the tool you will probably use most on the trip. Exceptional value at 20 quid for what it enables you to do. Gathering firewood, splitting logs, building shelters, clearing obstacles (as seen in the picture) - all now possible just by having this on you. It can cut through surprisingly thick logs, but there's a point when you'll need a bigger tool, especially in the southern part of the forest. But, as a team, if all of you have these only 1 or 2 team mates need additional tools.
The Laplander is also perfect for those who aren't yet confident or experienced with using knives/axes. |
Canoe trip 101: sunglasses, check; HAT ... there can be only one!
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The Outback is a heavily waxed, heavy cotton hat in the shorter brim style of the original Tilley Hat.
It is designed for a temperate climate and is probably best in variable weather between Sep-Apr, however we have tested this in hot environments too: hiking in Arizona it was a tad sweaty but still provided good sun protection. The hat is bombproof, can withstand a heavy rain shower and took everything lapland threw at it. It is a great canoe hat, with the customary Tilley lace straps to keep it on your head when windy and it's easy to flatten under your buoyancy aid when helmets are necessary. So, definitely approved by us but just bear in mind in hot weather or high exertion (like trekking) it gets a bit on the warm side. NB: the photo shows the original version (somewhat faded too), the new version is two-toned brown. You can buy a Tilley Outback here. |
Lapland. Canada. Namibia.
Worn by 3NC members in a host of environments, the T3 Duck Hat is probably our favourite. It's the Swiss army knife of hats - can take a rain shower but lighter cotton than the Outback so suited to very hot weather/strenuous activity too. The broader rim provides better sun protection and the button up/down sides enable you to streamline the hat in windy conditions or, when travelling in the same direction for long periods, provide sun protection on one side whilst opening up airflow on the opposite side. As with all Tilleys, the simple but effective lacing enables you to keep it on your head when the wind is up. It is lightweight, tough and easy to shove down the front of your buoyancy aid/strap to a rucksack or just throw in your bag. The duck hat has been in 45 Celsius heat in the Kalahari basin; 4-seasons-in-an-hour weather inside the Artic Circle and 80% humidity in the swamps of northern Ontario. Definitely has the thumbs up from us! You can buy a Tilley T3 Duck Hat here. |
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Tested on the Camino Trail in Spain and the 2018 heatwave in Finland, UK and Canada, the Airflo is a pure hot weather Tilley Hat, so named because it has a mesh in the top of the hat, allowing more airflow over your bonce.
The broad rim provides excellent sun protection when in a canoe but does not have pop fasteners to bring the sides up. As with all the other Tilley Hats it is quite happy being scrunched up, shoved into BA's, etc. The usual Tilley lacing system is present, so again a perfect summer activity hat though obviously not designed with thunderstorms in mind. You can buy a Tilley Airflo here. |
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Trekking shirts
This shirt was taken as an afterthought to Lapland by one of the 2016 team and they ended up living in it. Part shirt, part jacket - it's literally a waxed polycotton shirt with a zip. It has since been adopted by several of the team and works as a cold weather trekking shirt over layers, or a lightweight summer jacket over a t-shirt. The wax offers a surprising amount of protection in a rain shower and it serves well as an alternative to a cotton smock, if you're debating smock vs waterproof jacket. It's an extremely versatile bit of kit and definitely rated by all who've got one.
Absolutely fantastic shirt for hot weather trekking. It is extremely comfortable against the skin and you'll soon be living in it. It offers excellent mozzie protection and dries very quickly. The airflow is particularly good with vents under the armpits (protected with mesh) allowing a flow right across the back. The only complaint we had with this was that the armpit mesh starts to chafe under the arms when paddling the long distances we do, but overall, this is our top choice of shirt for both Challenges.
This is a great, robust, tough polycotton shirt. It has proven itself in Finland and Canada against biting insects. It's got loads of useful pockets and, as worn by Ray Mears, is great for wilderness trips. However, as an activity shirt it has some drawbacks - it's heavy material, so you can overheat under high exertion, and it's not the most comfortable shirt, with areas that can rub when working hard. This really depends on how you're built though and despite it's heavy nature, it is excellent value and something we would recommend.
Don't be fooled by the marketing for this - we can assure you that this shirt will not protect you against biting insects. Out of all the gear taken to the mozzie-infested lakes and forest of south-eastern Finland, this performed the worst.
This has been designed for a summer camping holiday or hot weather holiday where sitting outside might feature, but this is not a hardcore trekking shirt that can cope with boreal forest. Given the bites incurred by the wearer, we would not recommend taking this to a malaria/dengue-infection zone either. Utter crap.
This has been designed for a summer camping holiday or hot weather holiday where sitting outside might feature, but this is not a hardcore trekking shirt that can cope with boreal forest. Given the bites incurred by the wearer, we would not recommend taking this to a malaria/dengue-infection zone either. Utter crap.
Trekking trousers
The joint No.1 choice of trekking trouser on the 3N Challenge. Tough, mozzie proof, brilliant pockets and knee pads for canoeing or kneeling on the forest floor getting the fire going - once the knee pads go in they never come out. Just remember to remove them when drying yourself in front of a fire! The Barents trousers have the most ingenious pocket design ever invented for trekking, allowing you to find a place for everything you need without ending up with bulky pouches dangling down the sides of your legs. The benefit of the Barents is that you can have them cut exactly to your leg length, making for an excellent fit. The downside is that you can't seal the tops of your boots and need trouser blousers to do so if desired, but the flip side is these blend in nicely as casual trousers. Tested from sub-zero through to over 30°C heat, the G-1000 polycotton just works and is completely mozzie-proof to boot. They are also very, very quick drying, which is important when you've been for a swim/flooded canoe/waded through swamps. Brilliant for walking in, the team live in these or their Vidda trousers. Oh yeah - the 'pro' just means there is a very useful mobile phone pouch inside one of the leg pockets. What's that? They're really expensive? Yes - but they are waxed, so no need for waterproof trousers; they are mozzie-proof, so no need for trouser bugnets, and are extremely durable, so they will last you a very long time. Now add up the cost of a cheap pair of hiking trousers, a flimsy bugnet trouser and some waterproofs and decide if you want to carry 3 things or one? Ta da.
The joint No.1 choice of trekking trouser on the 3N Challenge. Tough, mozzie proof, brilliant pockets and knee pads for canoeing or kneeling on the forest floor getting the fire going. The Vidda is no different in design to the Barents, only they have 3 fixed leg lengths to choose from because it has elastic fastening straps and a gaiter-style hook at the bottom, to fasten the trousers to your boots. This is invaluable when going through dense undergrowth or splashing through swamps as you'd need trouser blousers otherwise. Also great for preventing insects like ticks and mozzies going up your legs in camp. Brilliant for walking in, the team live in these or their Barents trousers. Oh yeah - the 'pro' just means there is a very useful mobile phone pouch inside one of the leg pockets.
What's that? They're really expensive? Yes - but they are waxed, so no need for waterproof trousers; they are mozzie-proof, so no need for trouser bugnets, and are extremely durable, so they will last you a very long time. Now add up the cost of a cheap pair of hiking trousers, a flimsy bugnet trouser and some waterproofs and decide if you want to carry 3 things or one? Ta da.
What's that? They're really expensive? Yes - but they are waxed, so no need for waterproof trousers; they are mozzie-proof, so no need for trouser bugnets, and are extremely durable, so they will last you a very long time. Now add up the cost of a cheap pair of hiking trousers, a flimsy bugnet trouser and some waterproofs and decide if you want to carry 3 things or one? Ta da.
On both Challenges now, there has always been someone with a pair of Montayne hiking trousers. The wearers all rave about their comfort and how quick drying they are. The heavy duty ones certainly seemed able to cope with insect activity but the very lightweight ones required bugnet protection on the legs, meaning extra kit to buy and an arrangement that wasn't going to go near the campfire either. So, based on user feedback, we can't say these are a bad buy, but just note they are designed for scrambling up mountains, not being immersed in the forest amongst the mosquitoes.
We've tested Paramo trousers as a hot weather alternative to Fjallraven G-1000. Their hiking trousers are very comfortable and well made and, although they are better in hot weather, they do not dry as quickly nor are as quite as durable. They also don't have as many useful pockets, which is important on extended wilderness treks. We'd certainly not put anyone off from buying some though, and they are sold at a good price. However, we haven't tested these amongst the mozzies yet, so be warned!
