Men's Health - UK (2019-07)

64 MEN’S HEALTH

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An escape into the wilderness has merits beyond a

break from the turbulence of the 24-hour news cycle

(though that’s not to be sniffed at). Time spent outside

has myriad holistic benefits. The quiet of nature can bring

about significant improvements in your mental health.

Woodland air raises your immunity, while the chemicals

released when revelling amid breathtaking scenery can

curb harmful inflammation. Switching off from artificial

light will hit reset on your disrupted sleep cycles, and the

mere scent and sound of a campfire ignites your body’s

primal relaxation mechanisms. These responses are

hard-wired in us by evolution. Nature is the time-

honoured antidote to the stresses of our daily lives.

And the best bit of all? There’s really no need to splash

out on far-flung coastal bootcamps, “rewilding” courses

or bucolic yoga retreats. Entry to the outdoors is not

ticketed. To experience what the wilds truly have to offer,

your smartest move is to bank your pay cheque, pack

your rucksack and do things on your own terms. And

you can start by refreshing your rusty equipment.

01

The 48-Hour

Outdoorsman

Curating a kit list that’s compact

enough to take into work on Friday

but will keep you covered all weekend

is tricky. Luckily, it’s a skill that Thom

Hunt – founder of the 7th Rise outdoor

courses in Cornwall – has in the bag

03\ The Rucksack

This weatherproof rucksack is

perfectly sized: “Any bigger and

it’d be too bulky to carry on

public transport,” says Hunt. It’s

made out of hardy canvas and

aluminium, and has an internal

sleeve for your laptop. Not that

you’ll be needing it...

Millican Fraser 32L £145

homeofmillican.com

05\ The Cooker

A stove might sound heavy,

but this grill weighs in at under

400g. “The flat-pack style is

what you want on a one-bag

mission,” says Hunt. Take an

economical pot that you can

cook and eat out of, as well as

a mug. “And a hip flask: no trip

is complete without a swig of

hearty nectar before bed.”

Honey Stove £39

backpackinglight.co.uk 06\ The Jacket

This waterproof jacket has

your back in all climates. “I’ve

been using Filson for years,”

says Hunt. Its stretch gives

you a full range of motion

when you’re wrestling your

bag on the commuter train.

NeoShell Reliance Jacket

£395 filson.com

02\ The Multi-Tool

This multi-tool is the ultimate space-

saver. “One of my mates is an aircraft

engineer, and he swears by it,” says

Hunt. “If it can fix an Airbus A380, it’s

good enough for me.” You’ll find more

down-to-earth uses for it, of course:

the Wave includes pliers, wire cutters

and, crucially, a bottle opener.

Wave Plus £135

leatherman.co.uk

04\ The Shelter

Weather permitting, you

can forget the tent – but

you need a quality sleeping

bag, like the compressible

Helium Solo. Unsure about

going tent-free? The

Quechua is lightweight and

can be popped up in seconds.

Helium Solo £170 mountain-

equipment.co.uk

Quechua 2-Second Pop-Up

01\ The Boots

Trainers or wellies? Combine the

best of both. “Harkila’s boots are

breathable and offer good grip and

water resistance,” says Hunt – so

they’re ideal for trekking through

damp grass and boggy ground.

Harkila Grove GTX

£150 harkila.com

07\ The Base Layers

In the woods, you have no

one to impress – so wearing

the same outfit all weekend

is not only permitted but

encouraged. Capilene base

layers from Patagonia are

Hunt’s go-to for moisture-

wicking. For socks and

underwear, choose

merino: “It’s antibacterial

and breathable.”

Capilene Cool Trail £45

eu.patagonia.com

Leader

of the Pack

Now, put it all together. “Keep

water, maps and a first-aid kit

in the outer pockets,” says Hunt.

“Stuff your clothes and sleeping

bag at the bottom, with heavy

stuff on top. Strap dangerous items

(your wood axe, say) to the sides

of your bag. You don’t want

to fall on them”