Blogs, Gear Reviews and Outdoor Articles

Posts from Original Outdoors and Richard Prideaux

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MSR WindBurner Group Stove System Review for UKHillwalking
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REVIEW: Helikon-Tex Classic Army Fleece
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GPS, Smartphones and Operational Security - is Strava the only problem?
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The mystery of the Cwm Tryfan ice axe
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Outdoor Fashion Shoots in Snowdonia
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A Private Adventure on Anglesey
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We want your outdoor questions!
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What's with all of the gun videos recently?

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

GPS, Smartphones and Operational Security – is Strava the only problem?
February 7, 2018 by Richard Prideaux

The recent hullabaloo over the Strava heatmap reminded me of a strange case from a few years ago... If you have any kind of interest in GPS, fitness apps, unusual maps or just technology news then you were probably at least vaguely aware of a story about the fitness app Strava and some analysis of the heatmap they published last month. This publicly-viewable heatmap of anonymised user data isn't new - but the last update was from 2015 data. The 2017 data release included over 1 billion activities and 10 terabytes of raw data. The total distance clocked up was 27...
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The mystery of the Cwm Tryfan ice axe
January 15, 2018 by Richard Prideaux

The trip to the summit and back was uneventful (apart from my stirring rendition of Auld Lang Syne on the South summit), but as we descended the path out of Cwm Tryfan alongside the stream leading to Gwern Gof Uchaf something strange occurred... Continue reading →...
Read more →
What’s with all of the gun videos recently?
November 20, 2017 by Richard Prideaux

What's with all of the gun videos? Is Original Outdoors a gun channel now? Well... No. But for the UK it's closely related to one of the subjects that we ourselves are closely associated with - foraging and wild food. Due to a number of UK laws the most accessible, legal and ethical source of wild meat for the keen forager is probably via a sub-12ft/lb air rifle. It's potentially a huge subject with a lot to explore, and to be perfectly honest there is a lot of very poor information online. We are pulling together a series of videos running through the...
Read more →
VIDEO: Choosing an Air Rifle Scope
September 14, 2017 by Richard Prideaux

Choosing an Air Rifle Scope Over the last 12 months or so we have made a couple of visits to Tonys Camo in Saltney to take advantage of his generosity and create some short videos on buying an air rifle, choosing an airgun caliber and how to...
Read more →
Do I need to bother with bow drill?
September 7, 2017 by Richard Prideaux

Bow Drill Skills: Are they worth learning? One of the skills most associated with the world of ‘bushcraft’ is that of making fire by friction. The image that normally accompanies that description is somebody crouching over a contraption that looks like a fiddle crossed with a rolling...
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Outdoor Gear Reviews

MSR WindBurner Group Stove System Review for UKHillwalking
April 20, 2018 by Richard Prideaux

The MSR WindBurner range has been updated for 2018 with a wind-resistant remote canister stove, new pans and even a huge 4.5L stockpot. Richard Prideaux has been reviewing it in the mountains of Snowdonia and Scotland over the winter of 2017-2018 for UKHIllwalking.com Continue reading →...
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$helikon-tex windproof fleece$
REVIEW: Helikon-Tex Classic Army Fleece
April 7, 2018 by Richard Prideaux

Rugged fleece jacket with windproof membrane Helikon-Tex have been on the radar of outdoor enthusiasts and professionals, hunters, military personnel and security contractors for a couple of decades now, and they produce good kit. I have been wearing the Helikon-Tex Classic Army fleece for nearly 5 months and I think I’ve got a good angle on it now – it’s not perfect, but it’s pretty damned good. Continue reading →...
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REVIEW: First Tactical Tactix 1-Day Plus Bag
September 28, 2017 by Richard Prideaux

MOLLE Day pack with versatile compartments From a distance the First Tactical Tactix 1-Day Plus looks like pretty much any other MOLLE daypack - webbing systems along the vertical surfaces, zipped compartments and compression straps. I admit to having a bit of a prejudice towards MOLLE packs. The MOLLE/PALS system (Modular Light Load carrying Equipment) works well with small packs and pouches, and is great for quickly changing the gear carried on say, body armour or a tactical vest. It doesn’t work as well when it comes to... Continue reading →...
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UKH Review – Fjallraven Kaipak 58 Rucksack
September 8, 2017 by Richard Prideaux

UKH Review – Fjallraven Kaipak 58 Rucksack Review During this summer I have been trying out the the Fjallraven Kaipak 58 rucksack in the mountains and forests here for our work with UKHillwalking.com There is enough padding on the waist and shoulders for them not to be...
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UKH Review – Mammut Ayako High GTX Boot
July 11, 2017 by Richard Prideaux

Mammut Ayako High GTX Boot Review A hillwalking boot that performs well on the rocks I have been using the Mammut Ayako High GTX boots for a few months and they are sticking equally well to rock and to mud. The full review is on the UKHillwalking.com...
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Latest bushcraft blog posts

MSR WindBurner Group Stove System Review for UKHillwalking
April 20, 2018 by Richard Prideaux

The MSR WindBurner range has been updated for 2018 with a wind-resistant remote canister stove, new pans and even a huge 4.5L stockpot. Richard Prideaux has been reviewing it in the mountains of Snowdonia and Scotland over the winter of 2017-2018 for UKHIllwalking.com Continue reading →...
Read more →
$helikon-tex windproof fleece$
REVIEW: Helikon-Tex Classic Army Fleece
April 7, 2018 by Richard Prideaux

Rugged fleece jacket with windproof membrane Helikon-Tex have been on the radar of outdoor enthusiasts and professionals, hunters, military personnel and security contractors for a couple of decades now, and they produce good kit. I have been wearing the Helikon-Tex Classic Army fleece for nearly 5 months and I think I’ve got a good angle on it now – it’s not perfect, but it’s pretty damned good. Continue reading →...
Read more →
A Private Adventure on Anglesey
November 21, 2017 by Richard Prideaux

Every year we are asked to put together a private training day or adventure for somebody. This particular client first came to us in 2016 and asked for a 50km day in the mountains of Snowdonia for him and his friends - which we put together and executed one cold day in November. This year he wanted to push it a little further, and asked for something a little more exciting. After compiling a few route options they picked a run along the Anglesey coastal path - but how to get them to the start? We had spoken to the team at...
Read more →
We want your outdoor questions!
November 20, 2017 by Richard Prideaux

We want your outdoor questions! Pretty much every week we receive an email, Facebook message, Twitter DM or comment somewhere that is asking for advice, information or just somebody asking for help with their own adventure. Of course we try to help as much as we can, and it's not unusual to find ourselves on the phone for quite a while talking through one subject or another. This has given me an idea - why not make this more of a public process? The questions we get are often very similar to each other and I know that more people would possibly benefit...
Read more →
What’s with all of the gun videos recently?
November 20, 2017 by Richard Prideaux

What's with all of the gun videos? Is Original Outdoors a gun channel now? Well... No. But for the UK it's closely related to one of the subjects that we ourselves are closely associated with - foraging and wild food. Due to a number of UK laws the most accessible, legal and ethical source of wild meat for the keen forager is probably via a sub-12ft/lb air rifle. It's potentially a huge subject with a lot to explore, and to be perfectly honest there is a lot of very poor information online. We are pulling together a series of videos running through the...
Read more →

Read all bushcraft blog posts

Latest mountain blog posts

$helikon-tex windproof fleece$
REVIEW: Helikon-Tex Classic Army Fleece
April 7, 2018 by Richard Prideaux

Rugged fleece jacket with windproof membrane Helikon-Tex have been on the radar of outdoor enthusiasts and professionals, hunters, military personnel and security contractors for a couple of decades now, and they produce good kit. I have been wearing the Helikon-Tex Classic Army fleece for nearly 5 months and I think I’ve got a good angle on it now – it’s not perfect, but it’s pretty damned good. Continue reading →...
Read more →
The mystery of the Cwm Tryfan ice axe
January 15, 2018 by Richard Prideaux

The trip to the summit and back was uneventful (apart from my stirring rendition of Auld Lang Syne on the South summit), but as we descended the path out of Cwm Tryfan alongside the stream leading to Gwern Gof Uchaf something strange occurred... Continue reading →...
Read more →
Outdoor Fashion Shoots in Snowdonia
December 13, 2017 by Richard Prideaux

It seems like 2017 was the summer of location work for Original Outdoors. We have been putting our experience of working in the world of outdoor adventure in North Wales to use as consultants and location scouts for several years, but this was a busy summer for us. We were contacted by Claudia from German production company Natural Born Explorers for a project they were working on for a European outdoor clothing and equipment retailer. They had already chosen Snowdonia as a general area for their shoot but wanted some help finding locations, gaining permissions and just the logistics of shooting...
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A Private Adventure on Anglesey
November 21, 2017 by Richard Prideaux

Every year we are asked to put together a private training day or adventure for somebody. This particular client first came to us in 2016 and asked for a 50km day in the mountains of Snowdonia for him and his friends - which we put together and executed one cold day in November. This year he wanted to push it a little further, and asked for something a little more exciting. After compiling a few route options they picked a run along the Anglesey coastal path - but how to get them to the start? We had spoken to the team at...
Read more →
We want your outdoor questions!
November 20, 2017 by Richard Prideaux

We want your outdoor questions! Pretty much every week we receive an email, Facebook message, Twitter DM or comment somewhere that is asking for advice, information or just somebody asking for help with their own adventure. Of course we try to help as much as we can, and it's not unusual to find ourselves on the phone for quite a while talking through one subject or another. This has given me an idea - why not make this more of a public process? The questions we get are often very similar to each other and I know that more people would possibly benefit...
Read more →

Read all mountain blog posts

Original Outdoors on YouTube

Latest video blog posts

A Private Adventure on Anglesey
November 21, 2017 by Richard Prideaux

Every year we are asked to put together a private training day or adventure for somebody. This particular client first came to us in 2016 and asked for a 50km day in the mountains of Snowdonia for him and his friends - which we put together and executed one cold day in November. This year he wanted to push it a little further, and asked for something a little more exciting. After compiling a few route options they picked a run along the Anglesey coastal path - but how to get them to the start? We had spoken to the team at...
Read more →
We want your outdoor questions!
November 20, 2017 by Richard Prideaux

We want your outdoor questions! Pretty much every week we receive an email, Facebook message, Twitter DM or comment somewhere that is asking for advice, information or just somebody asking for help with their own adventure. Of course we try to help as much as we can, and it's not unusual to find ourselves on the phone for quite a while talking through one subject or another. This has given me an idea - why not make this more of a public process? The questions we get are often very similar to each other and I know that more people would possibly benefit...
Read more →
What’s with all of the gun videos recently?
November 20, 2017 by Richard Prideaux

What's with all of the gun videos? Is Original Outdoors a gun channel now? Well... No. But for the UK it's closely related to one of the subjects that we ourselves are closely associated with - foraging and wild food. Due to a number of UK laws the most accessible, legal and ethical source of wild meat for the keen forager is probably via a sub-12ft/lb air rifle. It's potentially a huge subject with a lot to explore, and to be perfectly honest there is a lot of very poor information online. We are pulling together a series of videos running through the...
Read more →
REVIEW: First Tactical Tactix 1-Day Plus Bag
September 28, 2017 by Richard Prideaux

MOLLE Day pack with versatile compartments From a distance the First Tactical Tactix 1-Day Plus looks like pretty much any other MOLLE daypack - webbing systems along the vertical surfaces, zipped compartments and compression straps. I admit to having a bit of a prejudice towards MOLLE packs. The MOLLE/PALS system (Modular Light Load carrying Equipment) works well with small packs and pouches, and is great for quickly changing the gear carried on say, body armour or a tactical vest. It doesn’t work as well when it comes to... Continue reading →...
Read more →
VIDEO: Choosing an Air Rifle Scope
September 14, 2017 by Richard Prideaux

Choosing an Air Rifle Scope Over the last 12 months or so we have made a couple of visits to Tonys Camo in Saltney to take advantage of his generosity and create some short videos on buying an air rifle, choosing an airgun caliber and how to...
Read more →

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Moments from Trips and Courses

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.