l to r: Thermarest NeoAir Short, POE Ether Elite, POE Peak Elite AC

Sleeping mats are an area of gear that has undergone a revolution in the last few years. For a long time the choice was a closed cell foam mat or a Thermarest self-inflating mat. Then Thermarest, POE and Exped introduced air mats in various forms. Innovations and variations on a theme have continued at a bewildering pace with the result that I have a stack of mats, so here’s a potted history and some thoughts.

When I started backpacking as a lad, the closed cell foam mat was a revolution introducing a significant amount of insulation and a modest level of comfort. By the time Thermarest introduced their ubiquitous self inflating mats, I was base camping so weight and bulk were not an issue.

When I started backpacking again I had an old style short lightweight mat and a full length newer style one. I found the old style one warmer and used it with a length of thin closed cell foam underneath. I used this combo a couple of times successfully. I also tried the minimalist Bozeman Tors Pad but it was just too small and cold.

Then Exped introduced their down mats. I bought a short Dowmat 7 short which blew me away with comfort and warmth, but was a bit heavy for backpacking. Hot on its heels came the NeoAir. Again I bought the short version. I found it very comfortable and surprisingly warm in conjunction with my thin closed cell foam mat.

The NeoAir does have a disconcerting tendency to partially deflate during the night, but that actually adds to the comfort. I don’t like the excessively grippy surface. To counter this I covered it first in a silk sleeping bag liner and then made a short fleece cover. The fleece cover is a real success. The disadvantage with short mats is that for a side sleeper like me, my knees ache in the morning as they are not supported at the same level.

The next mats I tried were the POE Ether Elite and the Peak Elite AC. These are very similar mats with longitudinal air tubes with deep valleys in between. The torso area has some felt like insulation glued inside the tube. I’ve found this to be more effective on the Ether than the Peak for some reason. Both mats are very comfortable but I found the Peak to be quite cold and very slippery. Neither suffer from any noticeable deflation in the night.

For base camping a couple of years ago I bought a full length Exped Downmat 7 with the integral pump. This is the warmest and most comfortable mat I own. However, it’s too heavy and bulky for backpacking, so I’ve just invested in an Exped Synmat UL 7 M. I’m hoping that it will replicate the comfort of the Downmat and that it will be warmer than the POE mats.

Unlike the POE mats the insulation expands to fill the whole chamber and extends for the full length of the mat. The mat weighs 450g, it’s about 60g heavier than the Ether and 125g heavier than the Peak. If it is warmer the extra weight will be worth it as I don’t like cold mats. The Peak probably remains a good summer option, though.

I think air mats have transformed the level of comfort compared with either closed cell or self-inflating mats. TBH I’ve found all the air mats to be comfortable. The best so far is Exped. I’m hoping that the Synmat replicates the comfort of the Dowmat with only a modest weight penalty over the POE mats.

I submitted my TGO Challenge route sheet on Monday. I now wait nervously to see what comes back. TBH it’s not very controversial, but I won’t share it until it’s been vetted. With the exception of about two miles, it’s all completely new to me. I’m still chewing over gear choices.

Just as I went through an evolutionary process choosing tents, rucksacks have also been a journey of discovery. When I started backpacking again I made the classic mistake of buying a bombproof heavy rucksack, the Lowe Alpine Appalachian. It only took a couple of miles to realise I’d made a dreadful mistake. It was too heavy, unstable and the hip belt was too fat. It got passed on quickly.

The next pack was an Osprey Aether 60. This had a delrin frame and an excellent hip belt. At 1.5kg, it wasn’t heavy, but, equally it wasn’t light. I used it on a couple of short trips and it was fine. Very comfortable, but it wasn’t very water resistant.

Trying to reduce my base weight, I then bought a much lighter pack, the Golite Trek, which I used on my first proper trip, Blair Atholl to Aviemore. Although it was not a bad sack, the back length was not quite right and the hip belt didn’t fit well. I wasn’t very keen on the lack of a frame, either.

Next I tried another Golite pack, the Quest, which was a bit heavier than the Trek. I really liked the design. It had a nice simple frame. However, the shoulder straps were a bit hard. I used this pack on another Cairngorms trip. It could have been a disaster, but I cut up a foam sit mat and put some strips under the shoulder straps secured with shock cord. Hey presto, comfort. Unfortunately, yet again the hip belt didn’t really fit properly. It wasn’t too bad, but just not right. I was beginning to get frustrated.

It was then I came across Gossamer Gear and the Mariposa Plus. Colin Ibbotson used one for a TGOC. It was such a different design that I had to get one. Fortunately, Winwood Outdoor stocked them, so I bought one without the hassle of ordering from the US and custom and handling charges.

The first serious use was a very wet trip to the Lakes. Considering how simple it is, I was blown away by the comfort. The wide shoulder straps spread the load well. The two simples carbon fibre stays give it enough rigidity but also allow some flexibility. I really thought the hip belt might be too flimsy, but it works well. It really shouldn’t as it sits a bit low, below the iliac crest, but it works.

It is surprising how much gear it can hold. It just seems to swallow everything. The mesh pockets on the outside allow quite a lot of storage on the outside, which is handy for snacks, water, waterproofs, hats, gloves and other bits and pieces. The large side pocket is also big enough for a tent like the Scarp.

The Y strap is a neat touch, making storage on top of the pack for a tent or drybag much more secure. I use a two section GG nightlite pad for a back pad, slotted into the two stretch mesh pockets. I have added a small piece of fleece (Vet Bed!) in the bottom pocket, which I find helps with ventilation and avoids a sweaty lower back. The nightlite pad also has a home made mesh sleeve which, again, helps ventilate my back.

I find the carry of the Mariposa Plus the best of any rucksack I’ve used. Because the frame is just two vertical carbon fibre rods, the sack moves with my body much more than other framed sacks.

Like all gear, there are some negatives. Firstly the mesh pockets are not that robust. I’ve made a couple of holes in them, although I’ve made a rough repair with some thread. I’ve also pulled some of the stitching at the top of one shoulder strap. The bar tack is still OK, but I’ve re-stitched a small section. The main pack material is not very water resistant, so using a pack liner is necessary. I also broke a prong on the hip belt buckle, which I’ve now replaced.

Overall I think the Mariposa Plus is the best rucksack I own. Considering the lightweight materials, it has been reasonably robust, despite the odd issue here and there. Some tweaks would improve it. The shoulder straps could be angled where they meet the body. Daisy chain loops on the shoulders straps would be useful. I would prefer a drybag style closure instead of a draw string on the top.

Mariposas are now shipped with a one piece aluminium stay and it would be interesting to see what difference that makes. It can easily handle a 12kg load. In summary, I’ve found myself returning more often to my Mariposa than other sacks and I’d say it’s my favourite option for most of the time.

Having sung the praises of the Mariposa, I did briefly fall out of love with it, when I discovered the stitching issue (which turned out to be mainly cosmetic) and the holes in the mesh pockets. Looking at alternative, the ULA Ohm seemed similar but made out of more robust materials, so I ordered one. I had three packs before I got the right size back and hip belt.

ULA have a reputation for quality and from what I can see it’s well deserved. The quality of the workmanship is superb. It’s also a tough pack, made mainly out of Dyneema Gridstop fabric. The side pockets are capacious but only extend part way up the pack. On the front, there is a stretch mesh pocket. The frame is an inverted U mainly made of carbon fibre. Unlike the Mariposa it is external and follows the edge of the pack. The shoulder straps are nicely contoured.

While I like the Ohm, I’ve not found it as comfortable as the Mariposa. It has to be packed more carefully to ensure that hard objects don’t dig into your back. The back panel of Dyneema Gridstop is a bit sweaty. I’ve also found the hipbelt less comfortable, mainly because the buckles extend slightly beyond the hip belt padding. I’ve cured this using some thin foam loops.

Interestingly, ULA have launched an Ohm 2.0 with a removable hip belt, so you can use belts from the Catayst pack. It also gives some torso adjustment and the frame is located inside the pack, so this may address the issues I’ve outlined. The Ohm is a fine pack and carries well, just not as well as the Mariposa, so I’ve not used it as much.

In addition to the Mariposa and the Ohm, I have an Osprey Exos 58 and a Lightwave Ultrahike 60. In their way, both are good packs but a bit heavier, both weighing about 1.2kg. The more rigid frames and substantial hipbelts make these packs more capable of carrying heavy loads.

Taking the Exos first, in many ways this is a good pack. The trampoline back is very comfortable and gives good ventilation. The downside though is that the load is carried slightly away from your back, so there’s a noticeable feeling of being pulled backwards. After a while it becomes a bit wearing leaning forward to compensate. For me it was a bit of a deal breaker.

The rest of the features are good with a very comfortable harness, good pockets and features. If I was being picky, the fabric could be a bit more water resistant, which is why I bought the Lightwave Ultrahike 60.

The Ultrahike is supposedly almost waterproof, but, amazingly, it’s hardly rained when I’ve been using it. I really like the Ultrahike. I’ve found it very comfortable, although I did have to tweak the hipbelt to achieve perfection. For heavier or bulkier loads, it’s ideal.

The main compartment simply swallows loads. The lid pocket is a good size. It’s a shame it hasn’t got a valuables pocket. The two mesh side pockets are surprisingly capacious and robust. I’ve replaced the cord compression system with shock cord, which is better for lashing a tent or trekking poles.

Of all the “conventional” rucksacks I’ve used, the Ultrahike is the pick. I think for a winter rucksack or for heavier loads on extended trips, it’s hard to beat. It also seems quite robust. Again, if I was being picky, I would like a secure pocket for valuables and daisy chains on the shoulder straps.

I think I’ve arrived at a point where I have two packs, the Mariposa and the Ultrahike, which cover all of my needs. Most of the time, the Mariposa is ideal and I’ve come to miss it when I’m not using it. The Ultrahike is really good, especially for bulkier gear, like a winter sleeping bag. Both sacks are higher volume than many lightweighters would use, but I don’t like cramming gear in and I like the flexibility of a bit of extra volume.

Will anything change in the future? If GG upgrade the Mariposa with the materials they use on the new Murmur, it could become irresistible, especially as my Mariposa doesn’t have the more recent aluminium curved stay. I’ve also toyed with getting a cuben pack from Z-packs, but I like the Mariposa too much.

]]> http://blogpackinglight.wordpress.com/2012/01/24/the-state-of-my-gear-rucksacks/feed/ 10 blogpackinglight http://blogpackinglight.wordpress.com/2012/01/21/the-state-of-my-gear-tents/ http://blogpackinglight.wordpress.com/2012/01/21/the-state-of-my-gear-tents/#comments Sat, 21 Jan 2012 15:32:36 +0000 Robin http://blogpackinglight.wordpress.com/?p=6546 Continue reading →]]>

l to r: Tarptent Scarp1, MLD silnylon Duomid with OookWorks nest, MLD cuben Duomid

This is the start of a new series. Inspired by Hendrik’s idea of living reviews, I though I’d cast the net wider and do a living review on all (well most) of my gear.

Before we start, I want to make a few disclaimers. It is not my intention to set myself as some kind of gear guru, handing down my views on tablets of stone from the mountain. I’m just an ordinary Joe, who’s bought a load of gear and wants to share what I’ve found. This is a personal view and I’m not suggesting that what’s right for me is necessarily right for you. My priorities and compromises may not suit you.

With that in mind let’s dive into the subject of tents, a topic close to my heart. Along with footwear and rucksacks, shelters are something that you need to get right or you can have a miserable time. Unlike footwear and rucksacks, you can get away with a poor shelter choice until the weather gets bad. Only when it’s pouring with rain and blowing a gale will you know whether your shelter is any good.

I don’t want to get into a debate about the merits of tarps vs. tents or single skin vs. double skin. For me, I want the protection of a double skin tent. I like having both the security and comfort. That’s my choice. It may not be yours.

Until about seven years ago, since leaving university, my camping had been mainly base camping, doing day walks. Around 2006, my interest in wild camping and backpacking was rekindled.

Before I stopped backpacking, I had a Saunders Backpacker S and then a Phoenix Phreeranger. Neither were still available, so my first tent was Vango TBS 100, which was a good tent but too small and heavy. Next up was a ME AR Ultralite, which was too unstable.

I then bought an Akto, which I liked, but was slightly heavy and a bit bulky. As many have done, I progressed to a TN Laser Competition. I preferred this to the Akto as it was lighter, less bulky and somehow felt right. It needed extensive tweaking but worked well. However, its Achilles heel is that it is very noisy in wind and it feels a bit cramped at either end.

When the Scarp came on the scene, its first iteration had a high cut fly sheet, which was not ideal for British weather. It is to Henry’s credit that he listened to users and lowered the hem of the fly in the second version.

So I bought a Scarp 1. The Scarp is the first tent that I’ve been really happy with, although it’s not perfect. Even without the crossing poles, it’s very stable, able to stand high winds. For a one man tent, it’s very spacious. Not only is the inner palatial, but having two porches gives huge flexibility to store wet gear and to cook. It’s very easy to pitch.

I was a bit dubious about the silnylon groundsheet but it’s been perfectly watertight. I still put a space blanket under it, but it’s not strictly necessary. The roof vents make it one of the best tents I’ve owned when it comes to condensation. Both the Akto and the Comp were terrible, but the Scarp is much better.

I’ve changed the end guying system to mimic the Akto and reduce the pegging points, but it’s a choice rather than necessity. I’ve also put some silicone sealant stripes on the inside floor of the groundsheet to prevent my sleeping mat from slipping. Silnylon is very slippery and if you are on a slope, everything keeps sliding downhill.

There are things I’d change. I’d like some large mesh pockets. The ones supplied are too small and in the wrong place (by the door). I would prefer inverted T zip doors on the inner. I’d like opposing doors rather than the doors being at one end. The pole arch material is a bit sticky to insert the pole and the grosgrain loops for the side guys are at the wrong angle.

Also the grosgrain loop for the crossing poles is awkward for inserting both poles and needs to be sealed or it will leak. In fact, the whole pole arch needs to be sealed. The clips to secure the crossing poles to the roof could also be improved.

However, all in all, these are relatively minor things. Overall, the Scarp is a terrific tent and has never let me down. I feel totally safe in it, whatever the weather. It is superbly spacious, even if you are holed up for a day with bad weather. To my mind, it beats the Akto and the Comp hands down. If I had to be restricted to one tent, this would be it. I know that I can rely on it, whatever the weather throws at me.

Despite its brilliance, the Scarp is not ultralight, being only slightly lighter than an Akto, so I bought a Mountain Laurel Designs Duomid. While the quality of the workmanship of the Scarp is OK, the Duomid is superbly made. I didn’t like the white cuben version as it looked a bit like a glorified plastic bag, so I went for the silnylon one in a very attractive olive brown.

The Duomid reminds me a bit of a smaller and lighter version of the old Blacks Good Companion. As well as the Duomid I bought a MLD mesh inner. While I liked the Duomid, I was underwhelmed by the inner. It is like a glorified mosquito net. I would be happier if the whole front could be opened, but the J zip means half the porch area is inaccessible from the inside.

It felt like the Duomid was a mistake, as I was reluctant to use just the fly. Fortunately, Sean started OookWorks and was able to make a bespoke inner. Although slightly heavier than anticipated, it was the missing piece of he jigsaw. The Duomid now felt like a real tent.

The Duomid/OookWorks combo is superb. The sleeping area is a similar size to the Scarp, but with more headroom. Tying back both doors makes it feel like a palace. The porch is huge. It’s great for storage and cooking. It’s so large that I can change out of wet clothes in it.

I was concerned about high winds but so far, it’s stood up much better than expected. It certainly doesn’t flap as much as a Laser Comp and feels pretty solid. I don’t think it’s a high mountain tent like the Scarp, but it’s not just a lowland tent.

As I mentioned, I didn’t buy the cuben version because it was white. MLD changed the colour to green, so I gave into temptation and bought one. I’ve not taken it on a trip yet, so I can’t tell you how it performs in the field. The cut seems slightly different compared with the silnylon version. In particular, the door seems lower. The silnylon version has a large gap between the ground and the bottom of the door. The other noticeable difference is that the seams are glued, so no seam sealing is necessary.

At the moment Sean at OookWorks has it and will add a couple of tweaks, which I will share with you when he’s finished. He is also making a hybrid mesh/cuben/Chikara inner for me. When he’s finished I will have a superbly spacious lightweight tent.

The Duomid is not for everyone. If you don’t carry trekking poles, then the weight advantage disappears. If you want a more stable storm proof tent then the Trailstar is probably more suitable. Every tent has compromises. I love the headroom and space of the Duomid.

What of the future? With the Scarp and the Duomid, I feel I’ve got most bases covered. I rejected the original Trailstar for two reasons. It is single skinned and headroom is a bit low.

However, the new Oookstar addresses the first issue. I’m still not sure that I want to be on my hands and knees to get into the tent, but the TS is growing on me, especially as there is a cuben version. If I were going somewhere like Scandinavia or Alaska, I would be more motivated. I won’t buy it this year, but maybe as a birthday present to myself in 2013.

I do have two radical tent designs in my head for the future. Whether they will ever see the light of day depends whether there is anyone out there foolhardy enough to take them on. One is a variation on the pyramid theme. The other draws from the designs of a couple of other tents but is unique and would be very strong.

The next topic will be rucksacks.

I think Rohan have upped their game over the past few years and are starting to produce some interesting products. They have improved their styling and functionality. I like the way they have technical features but the clothes don’t look technical. You can wear them on the hills or the high street.

I took advantage of the recent sale to buy some more. I bought another Beacon shirt (reviewed recently), a Windshadow jacket, Trailblazer trousers and a Cool Silver T. None of these have been out on a trip yet, so these are just some first impressions.

Windshadow jacket. It has a nice matt, slightly stretchy fabric, in contrast to the many shiny Pertex based wind shirts/jackets of other manufacturers. The sizing (M) is spot on for me. Joy of joys, it has velcro adjustable cuffs. The two hand pockets and chest pocket are meshed lined, so they can be used as vents. The hood is rolled away into the collar. The hood is not so good as it has an elastic hem rather than a draw cord, which is a shame. The overall design is nice and understated. I’m very tempted to use this with a fleece instead of a Paramo jacket.

Cool Silver T Shirt. This is an update of the orignal silver T that I used for ages. It has a very nice feel and manages to be cool and warm as needed. Although I’ve not tested the odour resistance, my guess is that it will be good. I will use it instead of a merino T as it’s much faster drying. The weight is wrong on the website, it’s 155g not 55g, but it’s still light.

Trailblazer trousers. I didn’t buy these in the sale as the sale ones were in a different colour. In many ways these are the most intriguing. The cloth is like supplex but is very stretchy. I’m not sure how windproof they are, so I’ll test them in the spring. It’s a personal view, but I quite like the styling. The hand pockets have mesh backs, so help with venting. The thigh pockets are slightly higher and more to the front than normal “combat” trousers.

I also bought an Envoy watch. The original price was £150, but it was reduced to £75. Annoyingly, it’s now £60. I wouldn’t normally spend so much on a watch as I usually trash them. I’m forever scratching the face, so most watches last a year or so. However, this one’s got a sapphire crystal face, which is supposed to be highly scratch resistant. It’s a very nice watch.

Tents and boats

Firstly, I’d like to say a big thank you to Tim at Aquapac for his hospitality. Renewing our friendship made the show worthwhile. My overwhelming impression is the Outdoors Show is a bit of an after thought besides the Boat Show and the Cycle Show.

Clearly there is significantly more money in boats than walking. However, Tim was saying that the attendance at the Boat Show had been steadily declining over recent years. It certainly wasn’t very busy on Friday. The stands seemed to be populated with rather seedy gents in blue jackets and some attractive but bored girls. The thing that surprised most me was the size of some of the boats.

The cycling section appeared to be doing brisk business and I should have spent a bit more time having a gander. Not that I want to get more into mountain biking as its an expensive hobby. Carbon fibre frames make cuben look cheap.

The Outdoors Show itself is a bit disappointing. I was prepared for that as I had seen the exhibitor list. If you were interested in finding out about travel, there were a reasonable number of stands to look at. There was very little in the way of gear to look at.

The retail offering was dominated by Field & Trek (Sport Direct). While prices were good, it was all fairly standard stuff and I wasn’t tempted. It was interesting talking to Tim about Sports Direct’s aggressive business model, which makes me rather less inclined to buy from them.

The next biggest retail stand was Paramo, which seemed to be doing good trade. I had a look at the Quito jacket but kept my wallet in my pocket. There was also a special edition of the Quito which didn’t interest me. The Velez Adventure Light trouser had a slightly odd styling which made them look like track suit bottoms. The Aspira colours were “interesting”. I bought some Nikwax wool wash from the separate Nikwax stand.

The Hilleberg stand was a big disappointment, with just a Nallo and the new Rogen on display. I guess tents take up too much room. The Rogen looked nice, but it doesn’t offer much for me. The Scarp is a much better tent for my purposes. The Nordic Outdoors stand had some very expensive Klattermusen outer wear and some attractive Aclima base layers.

EDZ seemed to have attracted a reasonable number of people with their good value base layers. Trekmates were showing their flameless cooking system, but it’s too heavy for me . The TGO stand was a bit on the periphery. I did spot Cameron briefly, but by the time I had a wander round he was gone. Outdoors Enthusiast magazine was also there.

The Cicerone stall was quite large but I avoided it as I didn’t want to buy any more guide books! If Paddy had been there I might have tried to collar him. The only other stand of interest was Buff, where I bought a Buff visor, something I had wanted for a while.

I wandered around for the best part of an hour and a half, but, truthfully, it was quite uninspiring. If you were only here for The Outdoors Show, twenty quid is a lot to pay for what was on offer. I hope they can attract a better selection for next year. I thought Excel was a very good place to hold it, though. It didn’t feel like an aircraft hangar. The catering was also good.

Let’s talk a bit about my hosts, Aquapac. It was really interesting talking to Tim about the challenges of being a small manufacturer in the UK. Aquapac still manufacture most of their range in the UK, which was pleasing to hear. However, like a lot of other small businesses, the burden of red tape from government, especially the EU is a significant problem.

Aquapac sells around most of the world. The biggest challenges are finding the right partners and distributors and defending themselves against other companies ripping off their designs. Surprisingly, the Americans are the worst culprits for ripoffs.

I must confess I haven’t seen much Aquapac product before. I was very impressed by the feel and the quality of the product on display, which felt almost German. Their market is much broader than lightweight backpacking, so some of it is not really for me. However, I bought a small roll top bag for my iPhone and a map case. I’ll report on those at a later date, but they are both nicely made.

One thing that caught my eye, but I didn’t buy was their dry bag day sack. It’s similar to the Exped Cloudburst bag I already have but a bit larger (25l). However, it has  tall mesh side pockets and a brilliant wet and dry bag system inside the pack. There are two separate watertight compartments inside the sack so you can keep the wet and dry gear separate. There’s also a decent sized clear valuables pocket. I like it a lot, although it would need a couple of tweaks for me. I reckon a larger 40–45l version would be extremely interesting for backpacking. Perhaps I’ll persuade Tim to develop one.

The camera bags were also interesting although more geared to the pro-market than me as they are more bulky than I’d like. The totally waterproof range is also a bit beyond what I need. If you are interested in Aquapac products, they have a good website and you can buy direct if you can’t find what you want in the shops. I’ve asked Tim to put weights on the descriptions as I know us backpackers are obsessive about it.

So, there we are. Its a shame that there weren’t more gear manufacturers at the show. It’s certainly nothing like the really big shows in Friedrichshafen or the Outdoor Retailers Summer Market in the US. To be fair, TOS is not aiming for that, but I think to justify the entry fee for people like me, it needs to get a few more big hitters to exhibit.

Tweedle dee and Tweedle dum are at it again. If you want my take on the never-ending eurozone tragicomedy it’s here.

Dr C le Pair report referred to in the article.

For balance, Action for Renewables questioning the le Pair report (and others).

You make your mind up.

I thought readers might be interested in a contribution I made to a rather fractious thread on OM about wind farms.

The background is that I asked a pro-wind farmer for his estimate of the amount of land that would be used to supply one-sixth of the UK’s electricity. A Telegraph article a while ago suggested that an area the size of Wales would be needed. His suggestion (in the light of other commentators) was that it could be overstated by a factor of five. Here’s my reply:

Let’s assume that Prof MacKay’s assertions are too high by a factor of 5 and that the area needed to supply 16.7% of the UK’s power requirement is “only” 20% of the land area of Wales.

The recent UK National Ecosystem Assessment gives land usage figures for the UK. In the case of Wales, land use is as follows: mountains, moorlands and heaths 11.8%, semi natural grasslands 22.8%, farmland 40.9%, woodlands 13.4%, urban 4.2% (see page 60).

Therefore to supply one-sixth of the UK’s electricity through wind power (leaving aside its intermittency), it would require wind turbines to be built on an area five times the current size of urban usage in Wales or virtually the entire area of grasslands or 80% of its mountains/moorlands/woodland.

However, it would be unfair to load all our “renewable” energy generation requirements on Wales alone.

Let’s look at the UK as a whole. Here we have to understand that Scotland is very different as 43.6% of its area is mountains etc. (England has only 5.3%).

20% of the land area of Wales is 416,200 ha. The total amount of land devoted to urban development in the UK is 1,675,000 ha. Hence we would have to devote land area equivalent to one quarter of all the currently urbanised land to wind turbines.

If we were to raise this to meet 45%* of our needs, then it would be equivalent to slightly less than the entire urbanised area of England or the entire area of woodland in England or 60% of all the grassland in England.

That’s the size of the sacrifice in terms of land usage. Clearly, urban areas, farm land and woodland generally can’t be used for wind farms; it is not surprising that these developments are pushed into our undeveloped wild lands.

I want to leave aside all the arguments about whether wind power is viable and whether it will destabilise the National Grid; the size of the land sacrifice needed for wind power to contribute a significant proportion of our energy needs is absolutely HUGE. The key question that you, as a lover of our wild lands, need to ask yourself is: are you willing to sacrifice a substantial proportion of our hills to this project?

Some  will come back and say that we can use offshore wind farms. Even if half of the development was offshore, to satisfy 45% of our energy needs with wind power would require building onshore wind farms covering the equivalent of half the current urbanised land or all the mountains, moorlands and heaths in England. These wind farms will be built in the hills, because that’s where the undeveloped land is.

Is it so surprising that many of us passionately oppose wind farms and the despoilation of our wild lands? Many of us have come to the conclusion that nuclear, for all its drawbacks, is a better option as its land footprint is a fraction of that required by wind turbines.

If you are a lover of the outdoors and a supporter of wind farms, I hope you carefully consider the consequences of your position in the light of the figures I’ve given you. You may decide the sacrifice is worthwhile. In which case you may want to reconsider your “green” credentials as you will be supporting the biggest destruction of wild habitats this country has ever seen.

If you wish to comment on this post, please have the courtesy to keep remarks temperate. I’ve had my fill of rants and insults from OM.

Note: * 45% was a figure suggested as a level that wouldn’t cause problems for the National Grid.