Next time you're preparing breakfast after an overnight camp, don't bother to take the stove along, cook breakfast with your torch instead.

But not just any old torch, you'll need one like this,

Described as the world's most powerful flashlight, it pumps out a massive 4100 lumens. (Whatever they are.)

And will doubtless become the torch/cooker of choice obyoutdoor chefs everywhere.

To see it in action, you can go to the YouTube link here.

(Seen on the ever illuminating, LightHikersWorld blog.)

This is a great find from Telegraph TV's travel section.

A short, useful film about being out and about in winter.

(We particularly liked the orange bin-liner demo.)

Can't find a McDonald's at the top of the climb?

Then how about a hi-tech hamburger?

Swiss-based company Katadyn think they can satisfy the hungriest hiker with their fast-food in the wilderness product: Cheeseburger in a can.

The company are known as specialists who develop ready-meals for the outdoor, expedition and extreme athlete markets, and you prep the hamburger by simply bunging the can into a pan of boiling water on the camp stove.

Fancy something to wash it down?

No problem, because under the same; Trekking-Mahlzeiten brand you can also get a 9.27% red wine to go with it. In powdered form, of course, just add water.

Mmmmm, sounds scrummy.

(Thanks to Gizmag for the original story.)

For some people, achieving 2 out of 10 isn't anything to crow about.

But getting not one, but two brasher boots as finalists in The Independent's review of the ten best walking boots isn't half bad in our book, (or our blog and their newspaper come to that.)

At number 8:The brasher Supalite XCR.

And at number 1: The brasher Hillmaster GTX.

So a big thank you to The Independent, and a great big thank you to the walkers of Britain who make our legendary Hillmaster the best-selling walking boot in the country.

Footnote:
Breaking news. As of mid-Feb 08 an upgraded version of the Hillmaster GTX will be available throughout the country. Features to look out for are; additional comfort points, (yep, amazingly we've made them even more comfortable), a re-introduction of leather linings, (yep, we do take notice of customer feedback), same amazing fit, same light weight to strength ratio.

We came across a great blog the other day from a chap called Mark Reid.

Mark, (described by The Sunday Times as 'Wainwright with Booze'), is the author of "The Inn Way" series of guidebooks based on long distance circular walks via traditional pubs in the Yorkshire Dales, Lake District, North York Moors, Northumberland and Peak District.

We think it's a terrific idea; walking and pubs, a marriage made in heaven.

What's more, for every book sold Mark donates a percentage of the profits to conservation projects with the relevant National Park. Money raised helps fund activities such as habitat creation, tree planting, walls and barns restoration.

So Mark, cheers for the Inn Way series and please keep us posted as new editions come out.

Footnote: When we asked Mark his permission to write about him on our blog, he actually wears brasher Trailmasters. And has done for the last 8 years, getting through a pair every 18 months or so. A reflection we hope, on the number of miles/pubs Mark covers, rather than the typical life-span of our boots!