Although we like an air of mystery surrounding an expedition of the more adventurous nature, the line is drawn where the weather is concerned. British weather, unfortunately, inspires as much confidence as the ‘correct’ directions you were told by an assertive passer-by.

But whatever you do, whatever the weather, do not let it spoil your trip. Spin the situation around and use it to your advantage. So what if it is raining? Who cares if the wind is causing you to look like a flustered Father Christmas? It will be all the more satisfying completing a walk, hike or trek if you are against adverse weather conditions.

Just make sure you are kitted out correctly! The North Face stock a fine collection of clothing to suit any form of adventure travel in any weather. The brand is a premium supplier of authentic and technically innovative products, and caters for the higher end of the outdoor clothing market.

Their most popular jacket, the North Face resolve jacket has an astounding amount of science behind it (as explained in the video below), and is the perfect jacket to accompany you on your adventure. It is lightweight, waterproof and breathable and is ideally suited to changeable weather conditions.

There are some fantastic hiking trails around the UK, none perhaps more popular and dare I say flashy than the Lands End to John O Groats walk, crossing the whole country. The beauty of the hike is you can pretty much follow any route you like, just make sure your journey is continous!

Here are some basic tips to help you prepare to make sure that you enjoy your time fully:

Footwear – Uncomfortable feet, or blistered feet can ruin your enjoyment of the outdoors. Make sure you have appropriate footwear depending on the activities you will be doing. Remember, be kind to your feet!

Clothes – Similarly, you should have appropriate outdoor clothing to match your footwear. If you are cold and uncomfortable, then you will not enjoy yourself as much. Take spare outdoor clothing with you and also a variation for all weather conditions;

Supplies – Traveling light is always the best option, but you should never sacrifice for items that you need. Take plentiful supplies of food, drink, outdoor clothing and other important items. However, many luxuries can be left behind to lighten the load;

First Aid – Taking a supply of basic first aid items is a must. You never know what might happen on your travels and help could be far away, so basic first aid is highly recommended. Even if this just consists of bandages, plasters and disinfectant, it’s better than nothing;

Navigation – If wandering into the wild, taking a map, compass or a gps device such as a mobile phone can be very useful. Obviously a phone is useful for emergency calls as well and basic map and compass can help you find your way if you get lost.

Follow these simple tips to ensure make the most of your adventure and go hiking with a smile!

Here lists a number of tips and things to look for when making that all important decision. It’s important to remember the ideal jacket may or may not include all of the features listed below. It really does depend on what is important to you.

#1 If you are going backpacking, consider the pocket placement on your jacket, and check to see if the backpack straps interfere with pocket access.

#2 Consider the length of your jacket and decide which suits you best. Bare in mind slightly longer jackets that fall to the top of the thighs, as this jacket will keep upper pants and pockets dry should it rain. However, the drawback of this option is your legs are likely to bump into the jacket, which could slow down the pace of your hike.

#3 Gore-tex and other waterproof breathable membranes are unique in that they allow water vapour/sweat to escape whilst simultaneously repelling rain droplets.

#4 Consider a layered jacket. 1) Use the shell by itself when raining. 2) Wear the fleece by itself on cool spring days. Use both layers to keep you warm, dry, and comfortable in cold wet windy weather.

#5 Pit zips are ideal for those days when it is simply too cool to remove a hiking jacket, but at the same time you’re starting to sweat due to exertion. A jacket with this feature provides extra ventilation when you need it most.

#6 Good quality jackets should have double or reinforced stitching particularly for high stress areas, to increase durability. Seams which aren’t reinforced have a tendency to pull apart or rip out much quicker than you’d like.

Jackets of a higher quality come from brands such as The North Face, Craghoppers and Berghaus.

It is definitely worth choosing a jacket of higher quality, to ensure you get the most joy out of your hike.

How can you stop the travel companies reviewing themselves?
How can you prevent competitors posting bad reviews about travel companies?
How do you know if the reviewer has even had contact with the travel companies?
How do you know it’s not just an automated post?

The truth is that, without breaking privacy laws, it is very difficult to answer these questions with any certainty. But today, beouthere.com hopes to give a few tactics to help the everyday traveller brush these concerns aside and see the real benefit to travel reviews:

1. Strength in numbers – read 100 reviews from 100 different people all saying that a place is bad and, in all honesty, it’s not likely to be great. Equally, reading one review saying that a place is perfect will not necessarily be the whole truth. Use the strength in numbers rule and if you are ever sceptical consult point 3 on this list, Review Content.

2. Reviewer History – some review sites, like TripAdvisor, allow you to see the reviewing history of the reviewer in question. From that, you can often spot trends. Whether it be a string of bad reviews for hotels in one city, with one exceptionally good one that stands out or if only very good reviews are posted, there are trends to be spotted and reviewers to be wary of.

3. Review Content – there are a few things to look out for when considering other travellers’ reviews. Firstly, is it actually about the hotels, tours or companies in question or is it a generic piece of text that could be pasted over and over for different hotels, tours or companies? Secondly, is the review full of directions to the hotel, email addresses for the adventure travel provider or a phone number for the travel agent? Commonly reviews posted by the company being reviewed contain helpful hints as to how a potential customer might reach them, by location, email or telephone. If you’re unsure about the review, copy some of the body text into google and see what comes up, 10 sites with the same text usually means that you’ve got a spammer. Finally, take a broad look at the reviews on the site – if they are all favourable, and not ever negative, then it is likely you’ve found a site where the publisher is being paid to write good reviews.

4. Topic – review sites exist because of choice. More hotels, electronic goods or insurance providers than the world really needs and millions of consumers needing to know which is best for them. Legitimate reviews are far more probable on sites with more traffic, usually in less of a niche, like hotels or electronic goods. Trusting all reviews on a site that considers types of shirt buttons is not advised.

5. People (Honesty) – despite what much of the world’s 21st Century media might tell you, the world’s population is largely honest. That’s right, honest. There are unscrupulous types, but they largely stick to the Internet Marketing scene(!) We are adventure travellers. We are honest and friendly. We are open to new things and new places. We can be trusted.

“Will”, they say, “What you need need is a holiday, take some time out, relax”.

A holiday that we will have to pay for, money probably being one of the reasons we are so stressed in the first place.

Its not always a holiday you need, just better use of your weekend. That picture in the hall does need hanging and the backdoor does need to be painted…. however, there is a Canadian canoe next to a river in north east Scotland with your name on it.

When you think of adventure holidays, you can be deterred by; inexperience, lengthy training or strange pricing. The real fear comes when ever we try something new, whatever it is. The real trick however is having a good time, doing something new that leaves you with a feeling of accomplishment, and still having your wallet and limbs intact. beouthere.com gives you an option to search for your weekend destination as well as your activity. Inspiration can come from others, this is why you will find other peoples experiences on there so you know how much fun your going to have.

Like G2 Outdoor, based in the Cairngorm National park, they offer an awesome range of trips and courses from one day to a couple of weeks.

But, they are not yet reviewed. So perhaps you’re the first, and as you take the road to Scotland you can think seriously about how your trip, although a first for you, will help others have a better understanding about what an awesome weekend away this was going to be.

Will Mower Adventurer, Philosopher and Eater.

So, how exactly do you prepare for an adventure travel in the Arctic? What gear do you need and what should you pack it in. Well, a good place to start is to check with your holiday maker and find out what equipment will be supplied, what you can hire and what you are expected to bring with you.

Regarding clothing, this is possibly the most important thing to get right. Your clothing must be suitable for extreme conditions, it should be durable, waterproof and comfortable. Looking after your physical needs on a demanding Arctic adventure can go a long way towards keeping your mental needs sated, thus ensuring you can overcome gruelling situations. Where possible you should not skimp on supplies, go to reputable brands who manufacture clothing that has been tested and tried in extreme situations. Brands such as Icebreaker, Helly Hensen, The North Face and Berghaus are fine examples of popular brands that have been recognised for their outstanding clothing and equipment.

As with many outdoor activities you should concentrate on packing layers. For an Arctic adventure it is best to dress this way as each layer provides an essential element for comfort and survival. Your base layer should sit close to your body for insulation and be made a breathable fabric. Thermal or long underwear is also advisable, as are socks that are suitable (i.e. warm and breathable and the right length for your boots) .You should also pack fleeces, jumpers and polo necks, lightweight t-shirts and shirts to make up your middle layers – these will also be essential for recreation and when you are inside.

Your outer layer needs to be waterproof to protect your from the elements. Gore-Tex outer trousers will protected your regular trousers from the elements and add a much needed additional layer! Ski pants are also good and a waterproof jacket (Gortex) is recommended. Rubber boots that are at least mid calf are essential!

Protect your extremities with hats and scarves, mittens and gloves (gloves for wearing underneath them). Also, sunscreen, lip protection balm, sunglasses, binoculars, a camera and a day bag should all form part of the accessories you pack.

Companies such as Low Alpine manufacture wheeled and backpack styled rucksacks and luggage holders which are ideal for use in extreme weather situations – remember the last thing you want is your gear and clothing getting wet, so ensure it is properly insulated! For added protection bring zip lock bags, perfect for cameras and documents.

Sea Kayaking In Chile

The waterways and fjords of Chile are barely matched by any other on the planet. With mountains rising up in the distance, primeval temperate forests, glacial valleys and picturesque islands dotted all around, southern Chile offers some truly stunning views. And that’s just looking up. Looking down, adventure travellers might be able to glimpse dolphins, sea lions and penguins. Because it is such a vast and beautiful area, there are many adventure travel providers aching to show you around. One of our favourites is Expediciones Chile. These guys have been around for a while, offering all types of trips ranging from luxurious to truly epic. That’s probably why beouthere.com like them – they’ve got that ‘out-there’ factor. Our preference would be the 10-day Patagonia River Odyssey – Chile Sea Kayak Traverse. It has it all – landscapes, wildlife and friendly people. The trip involves whitewater and a border-to-ocean traverse (of which only 3 individuals have done the whole thing!!!)

Mountaineering In Peru

Peru is home to the longest exposed mountain range – The Andes. At over 7,000 miles long there are mountaineering opportunities of all levels from unclimbed (simply ridiculous) peaks to 1-day treks. Peru is one of the best countries for mountaineering and other related activities, if for no other reason than the quality of it’s adventure travel providers. Of course, many of these providers will happily take you over the border into Mendoza in neighbouring Argentina, to tackle the tallest peak in the Americas, Aconcagua. The choices of provider are extensive. One of our favourites is Andean Destinations who offer a variety of packages to suite all levels. Perhaps the best being the highest in Peru: South Huascaran. At 6,768 MASL this 8 day climb is both tough and rewarding. Look for adventure travel providers who have a real UIAGM accreditation.

Eco Tours In Ecuador

In terms of endemic species and ecological diversity, it doesn’t come much better than the Galapagos Islands. Forget Darwin’s theory of evolution. beouthere.com’s theory of evolution is thus: go a tourist, come back a conservationist. That’s evolution. Like so many of the countries in South America, Ecuador is swamped with bad to very amazing adventure travel providers, so be careful who you use. Also worth noting is that continental Ecuador (rather than it’s brother – Little G!) still provides thousands of incredible tours of pristine jungle and the unbeatable Andes. We believe that some of the best trips to Ecuador are provided by Nature Trek, an international adventure travel provider, based in the UK. They offer an 11-day birdwatching tour in the Napo River basin. Enjoy rare species and the tropical forest landscapes of the Ecuadorian Amazon.

Overland Tours In Argentina

Arguably one of the best ways to see a large country, with limited time available, is to overland your way through. Where one would usually get up and personal with a country by backpacking or cycling through, over-landing gives adventure travellers the opportunity to see much more in much less time, with hardly any loss of a true sense of adventure. There are hundreds of places to see in Argentina, but perhaps the most noteworthy are covered in Dragoman’s Bolivia and Argentina Overland expedition. During the course of this trip you spend 10 days seeing some of the most impressive sites in Argentina including, the colonial City of Salta, the Argentinean wine region, the high Argentinean mountain passes, horse-riding and finally you get a chance to explore Buenos Aires – probably one of the coolest cities in the world.

Kite Boarding In Brazil

Kite boarding or kite surfing is a relatively new adventure sport (in comparison to say mountaineering), but nevertheless has boomed in almost every location where the winds are conducive. In fact, some locations like Cabarete in the Dominican Republic or Tarifa in southern Spain have used their original windsurfing fame to draw millions of new adventurers into Kite Boarding. This has it’s advantages, but also it’s drawbacks. At beouthere.com, we are big believers in finding adventures that are still fresh, still a bit raw. For this reason, we think that Brazil is THE destination for Kite Boarding. If you can get over there Kite Adventures will give you the time of your life. The tour to go for is the 10-Day Dowinder which involves a string of downwind sessions, including a 10km wave-riding downwinder into Paracuru, river crossings, ocean coves and lagoons.

To be included in future articles and blog postings for free, please see our beouthere.com/advertise page.

beouthere.com: Discover Your Next Adventure

Simply put, adventure is the act of taking part in an activity or experience that is exciting and usually hazardous in nature. And, by definition, this means that to find adventure you must be equipped – physically and mentally. So, here’s beouthere.com’s take:

How To Adventure – 5 Essential Tips

1. Buy a map – pin it up and at least once a month point to a place you have never been. Find the best topography, aspect and level of wilderness to suit you thirst for adventure. Work out how long you need to be there, what you can do (mountain biking, kayaking, skiing etc) and who you are going to do it with. Then go.

2. Buy a head-torch – don’t let the daily phenomenon of the sun going down reduce the opportunity for adventure. How to adventure? Be prepared.

3. Take the long way home - you know this path, this track and this trail. So find a new one. And if you are running or riding, do it faster. Find alternate routes for your daily run or ride and never maintain a routine.

4. Go further – go beyond the limits of the trails, get off the beaten track, travel further than you usually would. At beouthere.com we are very good at ignoring our own limits. We knew that we could only mountain bike 50 miles off-road on a hot summers day, so trying to ride 120 miles was certainly a bit ambitious. But, by the end of the 85 miles we covered, we were two things: 1. exhausted. 2. brimming with the warm fuzzing feeling that only proper adventure can provide.

5. Unplanned - have you ever noticed that the best adventures are unexpected and unplanned? Whilst poor preparation can lead to tragedy, there is much to be said for spontaneous adventure. It might be soloing an easy rock-climb, free-running through a city, following your nose rather than a map or stripping off and swimming in a river. Whatever the best adventure happens to be, it is usually a departure from what was planned.

Bonus Tip:

6. Adventure is all the better for the hot meal at the end of it. Always have enough food.

beouthere.com is at the beginning of a long trial leading to complete transparency in the adventure travel market. We have strong beliefs, all stemming from a belief that word of mouth is good business. Positive feedback is rewarded with growth in business. Negative feedback is met with decline. Learn from your mistakes or pay the price. Fair enough right?

beouthere.com has dropped several helpful profiles into the adventure travel provider database. These profiles do different things.

1. Show how to add a new Adventure Travel Provider
2. Explain what beouthere.com does

If you would like to see more useful profiles listed then please contact us.