Hi GeoffE and Uncle Albert, the UK contact for Mont-Bell is ESC Outdoors - http:www.esc-outdoor.co.uk. I don't know if they still handle the Ultralight jacket though. If not, an alternative would be the Western Mountaineering Hooded Flash or Flight jacket. Snow and Rock stock WM gear and there is a new UK distibutor called Beyond Hope -http:www.beyondhope.co.uk

Chris, How do you go on for wet feet with the terra shoes ? do you bother with waterproof socks ever ? i agree that shoes are much comfier but wet feet make me moody ..!! keep the vids coming m8 cheers ..

Richard, I guess I'm just used to wet feet! I never had dry feet for long in wet weather when I wore boots, even ones with membranes. Keeping feet reasonably dry for a day walk wasn't too hard but on backpacking trips once the boots were wet they stayed wet for days. At least light shoes dry quickly. I have tried waterproof socks and find them too warm in temperatures much above freezing. When wet good socks help in keeping feet warm and comfortable. I find merino wool socks best for this.

Chris, Can you convince me of the use of walking poles? Do you use them on every walk or just when carrying a load? Cheers Bob Andrews

Bob, I don't often use poles on day walks though I always carry one. I almost always use them when backpacking. I find that poles take some of the strain and weight off my legs - especially going uphill and downhill, improve balance on rough terrain, act as third and fourth legs for stream fords, allow me to probe bogs, puddles, snow for depth and often acts as supports for a shelter.

Its amazing to think that some of your favourite kit is very similar to mine, I use an original golite jam along with a 34 length alpkit sleeping mat. I have the alpkit pipedream 400 sleeping bag which has kept me warm down to -5. For sleeping in I've got a tarp and bivvy bag (alpkit) and a coleman single skin tent which I've not had any real problem with. For cooking I use a meths coke can along with a similar shield to the caldera cone which I imported from the US and a vargo titanium cupmug. For clothing I use terra stretch pants along with icebreaker merino baselayers and have a windproof along with a furtech claw and a keela belay jacket for warmth. I use smartwool socks and currently have tnf shoes although these will be changed next year. These items have come about after many years of trying things out, I can't believe I used to carry a macpac sac which weighed nearly 2kg before. I can quite comfortably do a few days out and this year I'm hoping with careful planning to do a five day trek along the beacons way. Chris, your video was excellent information and just enough I think to make people think about their kit and I know after reading many of your articles that this kit actually works. Keep up the good work. Simon

Chris has put a fascinating post up on his blog detailing his favourite gear tested for TGO in the 2000s. Check it out here: http:www.christownsendoutdoors.com

Chris. I see you've got the jam in this article but have said you're used the pinnacle on the challenge. If I'm looking to choose between the jam or pinnicle, which is the better all round choice. I'm looking at mainly 2-3 night trips but maye up to a week (even the challenge). For info my kit is based around an akto and a rab quantum 400.

Martin, it really depends on the weight and bulk of your load. Both packs are excellent. However the Pinnacle is much roomier. I can't fit six days food plus my camping and photo gear in the Jam for a May trip without strapping some items to the outside, which I prefer not to do. I never filled the Pinnacle on the Challenge but I did like having plenty of space.

Martin, it really depends on the weight and bulk of your load. Both packs are excellent. However the Pinnacle is much roomier. I can't fit six days food plus my camping and photo gear in the Jam for a May trip without strapping some items to the outside, which I prefer not to do. I never filled the Pinnacle on the Challenge but I did like having plenty of space.

Hi,for whatever reason Chris Townsend's favourite gear video keep's cutting out at the point he is talking about Event waterproofs.Any idea why? it would be nice to see the whole thing.This happened on other Audio Visual clips as well.

Hi, I experience the same issue as Carlit (#14) in that the video uts off at the event fabric segment. Please help!

Can confirm video is broken. Pity.

This video was working a week a go but now stops half way through. Is it broken at your end?

Apologies folks, this problem wasn't there originally but our IT team are investigating. In the mean time, I'll get this one on YouTube with a link below. Emily

I hope you should be able to view this whole video now. It has been moved to YouTube. Any problems, let me know.