Tag Archives: An Adventurers Christmas Wishlist

An Adventurers Christmas Wishlist: Kayaker/Rafter

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If you’re just setting out to do some Christmas shopping then you’ve left it late! This is a list what to get any budding kayaker/rafter by Mark Kalch:

Dear Santy Claws,

It would be ace if you could do your best to get me these (I ain’t holding my breath after I did not get that 50cc trail bike for Christmas ’84).

1. Kokatat Gore-Tex TecTOUR Anorak

2. Rab Infinity Jacket

3. GoPro HD Surf HERO

4. Adventure Technology Xception Superlight touring paddle

5. Wavesport Habitat 80 creeking boat

6. Keen Hydro Guide sandal

7. Aerobie Aeropress (from the genius who invented the Aerobie!)

8. Aquabourne Wind-up radio

9. Jetboil Greenkit

10. World Peace (and global stoke for one and all!)

Love from,

Mark x

Previous Wishlists:

An Adventurers Christmas Wishlist: Swimmer
An Adventurers Christmas Wishlist: Polar Explorer
An Adventurers Christmas Wishlist: Ocean Rower
An Adventurers Christmas Wishlist: Mountaineer
An Adventurers Christmas Wishlist: Ultra Runner

An Adventurers Christamas Wishlist: Ultra Runner

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This post was kindly written by Mark Cooper who this summer ran 50 marathons from Amsterdam to Barcelona! Check out his site here and follow him on twitter here.

Dear Santa – The Wish List of an Ultramarathon runner;

These are just a few things that would be on my Ultramarathon wish list, I don’t think its much to ask for Saint Nick! Jog on!

1. Anaesthetic and a syringe to inject into with for my poor feet so that I cant feel the pain or the toenails that are now rolling around inside my shoes.

2. A varied selection of Buffs not because they give me much real benefit when running in UK conditions but mainly because Im a poser who likes brightly coloured clothing.

3. A proper fitting Camelpak (North Face if possible)

4. As many Jelly Beans as possible for race day fuel and relaxing days soaking my feet.

5. An iceberg to chip away at in order to have a nice cold bath after long runs.

6. Proper fitting Trail shoes, UK Gear do some great pairs and are a favourite, hint hint ;-) .

7. Someone to shout at when the going gets tough or alternatively a stick with a boxing glove attached so I can punch myself in the face as punishment for once again doing something so stupid!

8. An extra Garmin for when the other ones dies (it only has a battery life or maybe 12 hours max)

and finally…..

9. Someone get me a chair! (At the end of running 100 miles in 17 hours, Hooked!)

Cheers Santa!

Mark x

Previous Wishlists:

An Adventurers Christmas Wishlist: Swimmer
An Adventurers Christmas Wishlist: Polar Explorer
An Adventurers Christmas Wishlist: Ocean Rower
An Adventurers Christmas Wishlist: Mountaineer

Next up:

An Adventurers Christmas Wishlist: Kayaker

An Adventurers Christmas Wishlist: Mountaineer

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This wishlist was kindly written by Bonita Norris-check out her site here and follow her on Twitter here.

Dear Father Christmas,

This year I’ve tried to be really good! Can you please, please get me…

1. Karrimor 60lr sac. I think the most trusted pacs in the business. Karrimor is British and kitted out Chris Bonnington’s Everest expeds and have been making top quality ruc-sacs for yonks. 60lr is a good size.

2. Pair of Viper Ice Axes. I have no real need for these babies as cannot climb grade 6 ice. But what a cool piece of kit to just HAVE. A real incentive to get good during this Scottish winter.

3. La Sportiva high altitude boots. I need a new pair of HA boots as I’ve lost mine. It’s not like I’ve had much use for them since Everest but as I’m off to attempt Ama Dablam next year it might be time to start thinking about a new pair.

3. ‘Wet ones’. In my opinion you can never have enough wet wipes on expedition. Don’t do what I did on Manaslu and buy baby wipes-no alcohol in them so they freeze. I ended up carrying a brick up the hill and smelling bad.

4. Tiger Balm. A little luxury that Rob Casserley taught me to carry on the hill-great for keeping skin in good nick.

5. An Ipod. I’ve never owned an Ipod, I am known for scavenging them on expedition. I’d have Bob Dylan, Ellie Goulding, Mumford and Sons and Far East Movement on repeat.

6. Bin bags. They’re great-there are a million uses for them. Sit on them, keep things waterproofed, use them on tent floors and actually as a bin. Buy the best quality you can afford!!

7. SLR camera. Mountaineering is just suffering, with the occassional good view. So getting my money’s worth is important to me. Disposables are a must-all my Everest summit photos are from a disposable and actually look very cool.

8. Crocs. I swore I’d never EVER buy a pair, but the flip flop and sock combo at base camp is not a good look. They do good cheap versions in Namche Bazaar for 300rupees which are light and easily squashed into the bottom of a rucsac.

9. Branston Pickle. Goes with everything and surely counts as a vegetable portion??

10. A super rich sponsor who likes giving all of their money away. Need i say more?!

Thanks Santa!

Love from Bonita x

Previous Wishlists:

An Adventurers Christmas Wishlist: Swimmer
An Adventurers Christmas Wishlist: Polar Explorer
An Adventurers Christmas Wishlist: Ocean Rower

Next up:

An Adventurers Christmas Wishlist: Ultra Runner

An Adventurers Christmas Wishlist: Ocean Rower

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This wishlist is from Olly Hicks. Olly has rowed across the Atlantic from North America to Europe and is about to set off again to try and row round Antarctica. You can follow him on his twitter here and on his website here.

This is his wishlist:

Dear Father Christmas,

I have been a good boy this year and have been persevering with trying to find the elusive sponsorship in these straitened times without losing my cool or being too cast down by the endless stream of rejections! I think we are getting there and so I need some new bits and bobs for my next voyage.

1. Please can I have a main sponsor who is very generous, likeminded and passionate about the concept of rowing around the world!

2. Please can I have a couple of 100ah genasun batteries (geeky eh!?). These will save me a lot of weight and then I will go faster and get home quicker perhaps in 18 months instead of 2 years!

3. GO pro HD cameras to film the mayhem enroute

4. Superwind turbine to power my music-oh and the watermaker….

5. Super strong mind and body and some popeye arms.

6. Constant Westerly Winds to push me around the globe.

7. Strong circumpolar currents to pull me around the Southern Ocean.

8. Not too many icebergs to bump into.

9. Some friendly Albatrosses and whales to entertain me on my tod in the Southern Ocean.

I know this is a lot to ask for but I will be good and row hard and not sleep or fish too much. I hope the Reindeer and elves are in fine fettle at this busy time of year.

Thank you,

Olly

Previous Wishlists:

An Adventurers Christmas Wishlist: Swimmer
An Adventurers Christmas Wishlist: Polar Explorer

Next up:

An Adventurers Christmas Wishlist: Mountaineer

An Adventurers Christmas Wishlist: Polar Explorer

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This wishlist was kindly written by Alex Hibbert-check out his site here and follow him on Twitter here.

Dear Father Christmas,

This year I’d like….

- Silva ADC Windmeter – To let me know exactly how horribly cold and windy it is…and to cheerily inform me once it’s given up that the temperature is just ‘Low’.

- Icetrek Flexi binding and Baffin soft-boot combo – These tough flexible bindings and old-school soft polar boots are brilliant for a wide range of expeditions. I’ve been long criticised for using them in preference to rigid bindings and Alfa boots, but the proof’s in the (Christmas!) pudding when I have warm, dry and blister-free feet after hundreds of miles.

- iPod with compulsory Britney playlist – Priceless for those moments when things aren’t quite going your way.

- Flapjack – Simple, outrageously tasty in almost endless flavours and pure polar expedition rocket-fuel.

- A piece of neoprene – To stick down my salopettes on those extra cold days with a head-wind. (Note to Santa – might be useful for you this winter in the UK!)

- MSR XGK stove – The best expedition stove in existence. Simple.

- Tinned peaches (after being thawed) – A totally extravagant luxury but the best present a polar traveller can receive!

- A map – preferably of the correct Pole. These come in extra useful since there aren’t too many landmarks to navigate by…

- Warm weather – Oh, no, hold on that’s not right is it……

I don’t think this is too much to ask-elves, get on this!

Previous Wishlists:

An Adventurers Christmas Wishlist: Swimmer

Next up:

An Adventurers Christmas Wishlist: Ocean Rower