Blogs, Gear Reviews and Outdoor Articles

Posts from Original Outdoors and Richard Prideaux

The Original Outdoors Blog

We’ve had a blog page on the Original Outdoors site ever since, well, we’ve HAD a website. The posts are a random mixture of UK-centric outdoor articles, opinion pieces, trip reports, gear reviews and even some video tutorials.

Most of the reviews are written by Richard Prideaux, with occasional blog posts by guest writers and contributors.

Latest articles from Richard Prideaux

  • camping meals uk
    Wild Camping Food – What should I take?
    May 22, 2019 by
    This is a common question from clients who are heading out for their first ‘wild’ camping trips in the mountains and forests of the UK – what am I going to eat? We have normally gone through the laws of wild camping and taken a good look at the other parts of the equipment list, but food can sometimes be a bit of an afterthought. Wet or dry, bought or made – and just how much do I need to bring? Continue reading →...
    Read more →
  • wild plants foraging
    Can I pick wild flowers in the U.K.? When is it illegal?
    May 10, 2019 by
    In this blog post I will do my best to explain it, pick out the relevant parts of the legislation and steer a forager, bushcrafter or ethnobotanist in what is (hopefully) the right direction. At the bottom of this blog post is the shortened explanation (a tl;dr), but for those who want to know exactly where that came from here are some blocks of legal text: Continue reading →...
    Read more →
  • which map for hiking uk
    How to choose the right map scale – 25k, 40k or 50k?
    January 25, 2019 by
    There are two mapping scales that tend to be used for walking, mountaineering and other human-powered travels across the landscape in the UK – 1:25,000 and 1:50,000 scales. The main producer of topographical maps for outdoor activities (and everything else) is the Ordnance Survey (OS), and the 1:25,000 (Explorer) and 1:50,000 (Landranger) scales are readily available at outdoor shops, online and local retailers. They also produce various digital mapping products, as well as an online mapping service and smartphone app. Continue reading →...
    Read more →
  • foraging north wales vice
    We went foraging with VICE and Max Halley
    January 18, 2019 by
    Back in November 2018 I spent a couple of days working on two articles for VICE - one was taking renowned sandwich chef Max Halley foraging for edibles on a North Wales beach, and for the other I wandered around a damp forest with writer Angela Hui and photographer Elijah Thomas. Each piece was part of a wider project promoting the idea of 'microgapping' in the UK. Continue reading →...
    Read more →
  • tracking courses uk
    Examining a wild camp site – tracking and reading the ground
    December 5, 2018 by
    So there I was, wandering through the woods with the dog. This is one of several woodland sites that we occasionally rent to run some of our bushcraft, survival and other wilderness skills courses in North Wales. I am far from any of the footpaths, both the public ones and the ones made by locals through the trees. It’s about 15 minutes after sunset and the light is poor – nearly time for the head torch. Continue reading →...
    Read more →
Read all articles

Outdoor Gear Reviews

  • waterproof bushcraft smock jacket
    REVIEW: Country Innovation Woodlark Waterproof Smock
    January 22, 2019 by
    After reviewing their Raptor waistcoat I was contacted by UK brand Country Innovation to take an early look at their brand new waterproof smock design – the Woodlark. It’s listed on the Country Innovation website as being “made from a tough cotton outer fabric, which, when combined with the waterproof/breathable lining, offers great protection from wind and rain“. With the wet and windy months of December and January coming up I accepted the offer and did my very best to try and kill, or at least maim, this waterproof outer layer. I was mildly surprised with how good the Raptor waistcoat...
    Read more →
  • review water filter 2018
    REVIEW: Grayl Ultralight Water Filter
    December 6, 2018 by
    Water filters are becoming increasingly popular in the Uk hiking and outdoors market, and what was once seen as a niche item for overseas travel and expeditions are now starting to be habitually carried in the UK by adventurers of all types. The Grayl Ultralight purifier bottle is a bit of a hybrid between a filtration bottle and something that can be used to transfer that cleaned water to another container – something that dedicated water filter/purifier bottles often struggle with. I have been trying it out since late summer, using it on wild camping trips and expeditions with clients in Snowdonia,...
    Read more →
  • helikon-tex bushcraft satchel review
    REVIEW: Helikon-Tex Bushcraft Satchel
    November 6, 2018 by
    It won’t take long to run through the features of this bag – but that is, I suppose, a feature in itself; the Helikon-Tex Bushcraft Satchel is pretty simple. There’s an unpadded adjustable shoulder strap running between two clips, and slightly curved ‘ends’ where these clips attach. There is no padding anywhere on the bag, and it hangs symettrically – it isn’t contoured or ‘handed’ to fit on one side of the body or other. Continue reading →...
    Read more →
  • country innovation gear review
    REVIEW: Country Innovation Raptor Waistcoat
    October 30, 2018 by
    Photography waistcoats like this are basically load-carrying vests and systems for a very civilian market, and the Raptor waistcoat from Country Innovation seems to be pitched straight at that market of photographers, birdwatchers and anybody who regularly points optics at wildlife. I admit from the start that Country Innovation was a new brand for me, but a quick look through their website shows that their kit is trusted by the outdoor and wildlife photographers that I admire - so if it's good enough for the likes of Simon King and Bill Oddie then it might be good enough for a scruffy...
    Read more →
  • GP xplor phr15 review
    REVIEW: GP Xplor PHR15 Head Torch
    October 19, 2018 by
    Head torch technology has come on a long way since I started working in the outdoors. My first 'proper' head torch was a Petzl Zoom. It had a massive alkaline battery and came with a spare bulb - it was also like a candle in a jam jar. LED head torches started to creep in soon after, with the early ones being fairly disappointing affairs - and quite expensive. Now it seems we can't move for fear of tripping over inexpensive and fairly powerful LED headlights - is the new Xplor range from pocket-power supplier GP Batteries worth a look, and...
    Read more →
Read all gear reviews

Latest bushcraft blog posts

Read all bushcraft blog posts

Latest mountain blog posts

  • camping meals uk
    Wild Camping Food – What should I take?
    May 22, 2019 by
    This is a common question from clients who are heading out for their first ‘wild’ camping trips in the mountains and forests of the UK – what am I going to eat? We have normally gone through the laws of wild camping and taken a good look at the other parts of the equipment list, but food can sometimes be a bit of an afterthought. Wet or dry, bought or made – and just how much do I need to bring? Continue reading →...
    Read more →
  • mountain equipment firefly
    REVIEW: Mountain Equipment Firefly Down Sleeping Bag
    May 22, 2019 by
    I reviewed the 2019 Mountain Equipment Firefly down sleeping bag for UK outdoor news and discussion site UKHillwalking.com. It’s small, light and cleverly designed – but is it warm enough for a Welsh spring? Continue reading →...
    Read more →
  • wild plants foraging
    Can I pick wild flowers in the U.K.? When is it illegal?
    May 10, 2019 by
    In this blog post I will do my best to explain it, pick out the relevant parts of the legislation and steer a forager, bushcrafter or ethnobotanist in what is (hopefully) the right direction. At the bottom of this blog post is the shortened explanation (a tl;dr), but for those who want to know exactly where that came from here are some blocks of legal text: Continue reading →...
    Read more →
  • waterproof bushcraft smock jacket
    REVIEW: Country Innovation Woodlark Waterproof Smock
    January 22, 2019 by
    After reviewing their Raptor waistcoat I was contacted by UK brand Country Innovation to take an early look at their brand new waterproof smock design – the Woodlark. It’s listed on the Country Innovation website as being “made from a tough cotton outer fabric, which, when combined with the waterproof/breathable lining, offers great protection from wind and rain“. With the wet and windy months of December and January coming up I accepted the offer and did my very best to try and kill, or at least maim, this waterproof outer layer. I was mildly surprised with how good the Raptor waistcoat...
    Read more →
  • review water filter 2018
    REVIEW: Grayl Ultralight Water Filter
    December 6, 2018 by
    Water filters are becoming increasingly popular in the Uk hiking and outdoors market, and what was once seen as a niche item for overseas travel and expeditions are now starting to be habitually carried in the UK by adventurers of all types. The Grayl Ultralight purifier bottle is a bit of a hybrid between a filtration bottle and something that can be used to transfer that cleaned water to another container – something that dedicated water filter/purifier bottles often struggle with. I have been trying it out since late summer, using it on wild camping trips and expeditions with clients in Snowdonia,...
    Read more →
Read all mountain blog posts

Original Outdoors on YouTube

Latest video blog posts

  • mountain equipment firefly
    REVIEW: Mountain Equipment Firefly Down Sleeping Bag
    May 22, 2019 by
    I reviewed the 2019 Mountain Equipment Firefly down sleeping bag for UK outdoor news and discussion site UKHillwalking.com. It’s small, light and cleverly designed – but is it warm enough for a Welsh spring? Continue reading →...
    Read more →
  • foraging north wales vice
    We went foraging with VICE and Max Halley
    January 18, 2019 by
    Back in November 2018 I spent a couple of days working on two articles for VICE - one was taking renowned sandwich chef Max Halley foraging for edibles on a North Wales beach, and for the other I wandered around a damp forest with writer Angela Hui and photographer Elijah Thomas. Each piece was part of a wider project promoting the idea of 'microgapping' in the UK. Continue reading →...
    Read more →
  • review water filter 2018
    REVIEW: Grayl Ultralight Water Filter
    December 6, 2018 by
    Water filters are becoming increasingly popular in the Uk hiking and outdoors market, and what was once seen as a niche item for overseas travel and expeditions are now starting to be habitually carried in the UK by adventurers of all types. The Grayl Ultralight purifier bottle is a bit of a hybrid between a filtration bottle and something that can be used to transfer that cleaned water to another container – something that dedicated water filter/purifier bottles often struggle with. I have been trying it out since late summer, using it on wild camping trips and expeditions with clients in Snowdonia,...
    Read more →
  • firelighting tips
    17 Different ways of making fire
    December 4, 2018 by
    ...
    Read more →
  • bushcraft fire lighting
    The Six-Bundle Fire Lay
    November 11, 2018 by
    This fire lay requires six bundles of dry, straight dead wood and a good ignition source. It relies on good airflow at the beginning, and the fire lay ‘collapsing’ in on itself in the later stages to ensure a good bed of coals and ash to cook over. It is also a good option for making a ‘One Match Fire’. Continue reading →...
    Read more →

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The TGO Blogger Network

In 2017 TGO magazine launched their Outdoor Blogger Network, and Original Outdoors was part of the original group of outdoor bloggers chosen to be part of it.
If you haven’t already seen the list of bloggers that they have put together then please follow this link to find out more.

tgo blogger network