Most folk will have chosen their Challenge kit by now, and some will have packed it. So to avoid lengthy lists, what are the congregation's choice of,

- tent
- stove
- luxury item

In the past it will have been Akto, Pocket Rocket & Whisky. Now it may well be Trailstar, alcohol stovey thingy and artisanal gin.

Go on, tell us...

Akto
Markhill Peak Stove
Whisky

Same for years.

Traditional? Nope, just tight.:wink:

Laser Comp
Optimus Crux
PHD down bootees

But... Ok, to answer the question

Scarp 1 or Notch (undecided)
Stormin Ti Stove
Betty's (my late mum) 2014 final bottle vintage Sloe Gin

I couldn’t help doing a quick analysis of the first 21 responses while listening to The Archers.

Here are the results so far:

Top tent is the Stratospire with 3 votes, closely followed by the Akto, Laser Competition, Nallo and Tramplite.

Stoves: gas, 15; alcohol, 5; other, 1.

Luxury: alcoholic drink, 8; food (bread/chocolate), 3; Kindle, 3; down/pile bootees, 3.

Interesting to see where our priorities lie!

Thanks for the analysis Emma - if you're still doing the sums, what's the Hilleberg vs Tarptent score? Possibly more relevant as the choice of model is down to ones erm, physique, poles carried or not and whether sleeping as a two (or more).

Andy

If I have my categorisation right, Hilleberg (Akto and Nallo), 4; Tarptent (Stratospire, Nook, Notch, Scarp), 6.

Use of hiking poles versus ‘bendy’ poles is split 10:11.

Surprisingly low numbers of Scarps and Trailstars, as they have been very popular in the past, but maybe the people with these are too sensible to frequent the Message Board. :slightly_smiling_face:

- Stratospire 1
- Karrimor Alpine stove (Fire maple 118 version)
- Exped Chair Kit (old age is catching up with me .... fast)

Tramplite Shelter
Stormin' Stove or Caldera Cone Sidewinder
Down Socks

Power Lizard
Jetboil zip
Kindle

Duomid
Pocket rocket
Chocolate

Laser Comp
Jetboil Flash (purple, of course :wink: )
Exceptionally good dark chocolate

Akto
Alpkit Koro
Small loaf of bread! :laughing:

Zpacks altaplex
Jetboil Ti (shared among 3 of us)
Dark chocolate & whisky

Stratospire 1
Flatcat Bobcat mini
Sloe Gin

Tramplite
Primus Eta solo
A good malt whisky

- Laser Competion
- Coleman F1 Lite
- Roberts LW radio.

I struggled to decide if the radio was a luxury. I could do without whisky but couldn't cope without Radio 4.

Nallo
SVEA123
Sunshine and a warm breeze; but we don't often get it.

Notch
Stormin' stove
35 yr old HellyHansen pile bootees

Stratospire 1
Soto Windmaster
Exped Down pillow

Nallo ( well we are two )
Alpkit stove plus a pocket rocket
Speyside malt (any one will do)

Big Agnes Copper spur 2 UL
Jetboil minimo
Wine box

Nordisk Telemark II LW
Alpkit Koro
Kindle

So, does it matter?
Kit is very personal.
One person's kit is another persons horror.
I could tell you mine, but it changes every trip.
Am I writing this to wind people up?

The **** Yes! 😂

I will take:
1. MSR Nook
2. Soto Amicus
3. Whisky :wink:

Akto
Coleman F1 or Brukit
Kindle

MSR Hubba or (Hexpeak) undecided as Hexpeak untested.
Fire mapple FMS-117T
Euroschirm Umbrella.

Terra nova solar competition
Pocket rocket
Kindle

Trailstar with Oookstar inner; now on their fifth Challenge
Markhill Peak gas stove with igniter, still going strong; now on its twelfth Challenge
And new for this year, a Thermarest Chair for a little luxury whilst sipping essential Bowmore.

Any fool can be uncomfortable.

:wink:

Trailstar with Oookworks inner
Caldera cone or Stormin' stove
Kindle

Stansport Scout A-Frame tent
Primus Classic Trail Stove
and.... i am still trying to figure the last one out. I have no clue yet.

Trailstar
Pocket Rocket
Kindle

Statospire 1
Alpkit KORO
Thermarest battery powered inflator

"Lefgozer" - 25 yrs old homemade tent
Trangia - 33 yrs old
Port - 5 yrs old

Scarp 2 or if Solo then Trailstar- I like a roomy shelter!

Jetboil Minimobag

Cosy warm sleeping bag!

Ooops! I just noticed my keyboard skills error.

Meant to say Jetboil Minimo- dont know why it ended up saying Jetboil Minimobag!!!!

So it'll be....

:camping: Naturehike Cloud up 2
:fire: Jetboil Flash
:bed: Thermarest neoair xtherm (if I can afford it!), otherwise lots of CHOCOLATE!! :chocolate_bar:

Staika or something else....
Evernew
Rosie....

Its certainly not here - but I'm having a stab at it.

Hilliberg Nallo 2 GT tent
MSR pocket rocket
portable speaker for music plus solar charger :grinning:

-Nemo Hornet
-Snow Peak Litemax
-Moleskine notebook and pen

Hilleberg Anjan 2P
EOE Lithium gas stove (44 gr)
MP3 player loaded with a blend of Scottish Music

... for rocking around the Highlands

this is fun :)

Tarptent Scarp 1
BSR Bumblebee or Starlyte with Caldera
pillow with cotton pillowcase (and a Kindle, and a little disemboweled toy hedgehog)

Ah yes Sabine, loving your hedgehog! I guess there's a whole sub-set of this thread that could take in the various creatures we often carry. As for myself, Greg Bear has been with me since '94 - and has at various times been in Massachusetts, Spanish/French Pyrenees, Corsica, French Alps, 15 TGO crossings to name but a few. He used to wear his TGO badges with pride, but ended up looking like one of the armoured polar bears from His Dark Materials

Speaking of polar bears, Victoria at the Scottish Wildlife Park (not too far from many Challengers' routes - just a tad west of Kincraig) has had a healthy cub!!! Click here to read the story

Akto
Caldera cone or el-cheapo gas stove (undecided as yet)
Roberts LW radio....and a Thermarest chair kit so I can listen to the Archers in comfort.

Stratospire 1 or borrowed Duomid with inner
Jetboil Sol Ti
Kindle

Notch
Pocket Rocket
Whisky

- Stratospire 1
- Optimus Crux Lite
- Kobo e-reader

Stratospire 1
Caldera Cone sidewinder with modified Zelph stove
A book and trail chair

Zpacks Duplex
Pocket Rocket
Kindle

Tent - Troookstar
Stove - Cone/white box stove hybrid arrangement
Luxury item - (Luxury? You were lucky ...) Nearest item that might be classed as luxury would be a lump of Tasty Lancashire cheese (not the crappy generic crumbly stuff) on an oatcake ...

Southern Cross One
Jetboil Minimo
Exped Rem pillow

Zpacks Duplex
Esbit mini
My feet don't want to carry luxury items, so probably none...

Hello, good evening everyone! Here are the results of the Challenge jury.

Tents: top make is Tarptent (13), followed by Hilleberg (8) and Mountain Laurel Designs (5).

Hiking poles versus ‘bendy’ poles is split 23:22.

Stoves: gas, 33; alcohol, 9; other 3.

Luxury: alcoholic drink is still in the lead with 10, closely followed by Kindle/eBook reader with 9 and food hanging in there at 4.

I counted 45 responses and took the first answer only.

Happy planning all!

You and HMP3 would make a fine stab as a double act, replacing the much missed Katie Boyle to compere the next Eurovision song contest this May in Lisbon.

Sadly though, it would mean not starting the Challenge until the Sunday this year.

:smile:

1. Zpacks Triplex
2. Soto Windmaster
3. Alite Monarch camp chair or whisky. Most likely whisky.

Jack Wolfskin Exolight II
Alpkit Brukit Jackal
Nailpolish remover

Tent - ZPACKS Duo. 800gms.
Stove - windburner - to save fuel given the wind. A few extra grams is worth it. Alternative pocket rocket
Luxury. Eat like a king if possible. Rhubarb apple maple crumble with custard. Ok so sometimes I dont bring the Birds! Usually Jameson but I defer to the Scots oon the TGO.