By Seamus Allardice
Decembers are great. The days are long. The weather is hot. And everyone is in a relaxed mood. Even if you have to go in to work still there’s time in the evenings and afternoons for micro adventures. If you want to do it right, you need the right gear. These are Seamus Allardice’s picks for summer adventures…
Summer, for me, is a great time to mix it up. While I can sloth for days on end in winter, without a problem, I get FOMO if I miss a day of action in summer. I feel like I’m missing out if I’m not doing something. Which in my family has led to numerous fights, particularly over the scheduling of the Christmas meal. This year the family are all at mine, so I’m in charge and we’re doing Christmas Eve dinner, because Christmas Day is a sacred beach day! And nobody wants to be surfing, swimming or just relaxing in a swimming costume after eating their body weight in roast dinner and dessert.
I don’t have to maximise every day; I just have to do something. Be it going for a swim in the farm dam and fishing for bass in the evening, or chasing the perfect ocean conditions in search of a good wave despite the fickle Western Cape summer swell. There are adventures or micro adventures to be had every day. You do need to be geared up for them, however, especially if you’re squeezing them in before or after work, rather than dedicating a day to recreation.
Nueva/Luxor Long Sleeve Shirts
I’ve been trying to avoid dousing myself in chemical sunscreens for the last few years. Which is fine for surfing, because zinc-based sunscreen works great in water. It’s just not particularly good for hiking, mountain biking or running. So, to keep the sun off my neck and arms I’ve accumulated a closet full of First Ascent Nueva Long Sleeve Shirts. They’re constructed from a UPF+ 30 rated fabric, are moisture-wicking, and quick drying. They also look great. I wear mine on the job, for riding bikes and hiking. The only reason I don’t trail run in them is because I generally run late in the day, when the sun’s rays aren’t so harsh. If you’re out in the sun this summer, you need a Nueva shirt. The First Ascent Luxor women’s cut features the same technical fabric and design, and looks good too. Like you’re ready for adventure, but also maybe a bougie game drive in a luxury private nature reserve.
Another sun stopper the First Ascent Heritage Bucket Hat is a slightly wider-rimmed bucket hat. As such it provides better sun protection, without being as unwieldy as a proper wide-brimmed hat. I like it because it folds away into a pack, is machine washable and looks pretty funky.
For one-day adventures you’re going to want a pack to comfortably carry your gear. Be it a camp stove and Bialetti to make mountain-top coffee or a bottle of MCC for a sundowner, the First Ascent Spark 20L Day Pack is perfect. It’s lightweight, has a 20L capacity (as the name suggests), features two water bottle holders down the sides of the pack, has a built-in rain cover (for those of you who live in summer rainfall regions), boasts two handy pouches as well as the large internal chamber, which also has a hydration bladder compartment.
I like to have a pre-packed camping crate with everything I need, except my sleeping bag, ready for a bakkie camping trip at the drop of a hat. Similarly having a bag ready to go will enable spur-of-the-moment adventures. All you need in the First Ascent Spark Day Pack is:
The Multi Towel Xlarge is a 75 x 150cm super absorbent but quick-drying towel. I like the extra-large size because then you can use it as a beach towel to lie on too, and it’s big enough to actually wrap around you. There are few things as embarrassing as thinking you have a full-sized towel, only to realise it will only cover one side of your modesty.
Stay hydrated on your hikes or day outings with the First Ascent Tritan Hiking Bottle 1.1L. Designed to slot into the Spark Day Pack’s side pouches these bottles are BPA Free, have a wide drinking nozzle and an even wider mouth to make it easy to clean or to fill with ice. Personally, I spend too much time drinking out of a cycling water bottle, which is why I’d suggest these over the First Ascent Ridge Waterbottle. Those will work perfectly too, but are only 600ml in size each.
Another great piece of kit which you never know when you’ll need is the First Ascent Ultralight Dry Bag 12L. It’s big enough to fit all your electronic essentials in, as well as a towel and a warm top, so if you plan on getting wet this could save your day. While you might use it for kayaking or kloofing this summer it will get lots of use throughout the year as a laundry bag for smelly and wet gear, which you need to transport with dry clothes. Or the opposite, clean and dry amongst a mess of muddy and dirty items.
I love sleeping outside. Summer is the time for it and if you’re somewhere with mosquitos the secret is to just pitch the inside of your tent, without throwing the fly sheet over it. The First Ascent Thermal Sleeping Bag Liner should then be enough to keep you warm on balmy summer nights. Designed to add 5 degrees to your sleeping bag’s rating it will keep the 3 to 4am chill out of your bones and help you sleep through to sunrise.
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By Seamus Allardice