Scotland is and remains the ideal destination to explore with a good road trip. Since my first “roadtrip” I have been devoted to this phenomenon. The great thing about a road trip is that not only the destination but especially the journey is your goal. That alone gives you a sense of freedom and adventure.
Scotland is on the program again this year. I don’t go there for the beautiful weather, but the breathtaking nature. For the coming month, I have mapped out a completely different route than last year, and have planned more space for multi-day hikes. Call it microadventures within an adventure.
That makes other demands on the material that I take with me. For a “normal” roadtrip, things like food, drinks, toothbrush, navigation, insurance, etc. are sufficient and weight is not essential, but for an “extended” roadtrip you also have to take into account tent, backpacks, trekking shoes and other outdoor equipment. For this adventure, I have gathered the necessary gear again.
All gear items mentioned in this post will be reviewed after the road trip.
Range Rover Evoque D240 MHEV
To start with, the car. Essential for a successful roadtrip. Every vehicle is suitable for a roadtrip, but that does not mean that you have to want that. An old busted jawn where you lie more than you sit in, you can take away the pleasure of the roadtrip.
This year we have the Range Rover Evoque D240 MHEV as a means of transport for our road trip. Land Rover has improved the Evoque – which is ideal for both urban and outdoor environments. This ultra-long test drive allows us to put the car to the test, under all kinds of road and weather conditions. Naturally, a solid review will be written about this.
MHEV stands for Mild Hybrid Electric Vehicle. In short, a battery and a dynamo recovering energy that would otherwise be lost during the rollout and braking of the car. That energy can be used for acceleration. This reduces consumption and CO2 emissions while accelerating the acceleration.
Land Rover focuses entirely on the climate-neutral production of cars and since 2007 has reduced CO2 emissions per built-in vehicle by 38%. In every new Range Rover Evoque, more than 33 kilograms of recycled material is processed to reduce the impact on the environment.
More about the Range Rover Evoque
Fjällräven Keb 52 backpack
A good backpack is necessary for the multi-day hikes. The Fjällräven Keb 52 is an ergonomic, robust backpack that can be used all year round. The backpack features the award-winning Fjällräven wooden frame and durable materials that will last many years during adventures in rugged areas.
The slim profile provides freedom of movement and the well-thought-out compartments, such as the front pocket with room for reinforcement layers or a small shovel, make it easy to organize your things. The carrying system is designed to distribute heavy items and can easily be adjusted to different back lengths.
More about the Fjällräven Keb 52
Grüezi-Bag Biopod Wool Zero (XL) sleeping bag
For Scotland we need a sleeping bag that insulates well, is resistant to moisture and has a small pack volume. The Grüezi Bag Biopod Wolle Zero combines all these requirements. Thanks to the wool this sleeping bag can store a lot of air, this has a cooling effect in warm conditions and a warming effect in cold conditions. Also, the synthetic layer transfers the moisture to the wool, so the sleeping bag always feels dry. The synthetic filling works almost just like down but is less sensitive to humidity. Wool is antibacterial and ensures that the shape of the sleeping bag is well preserved.
The zipper is strategically placed so that you can easily stick your feet out of the sleeping bag when you are too hot. In addition, there is a Pillow Pocket, where you can, for example, put in fleece to create a pillow yourself. The outside view is impregnated with a water-repellent Bionic Finish Eco, which is free from PFC.
More about the Grüezi-Bag Biopod Wool Zero
DJI Osmo Action camera
Our hikes and Range Rover manoeuvres will be captured with the DJI Osmo Action camera. The Osmo Action captures everything in 4K image quality with no less than 60 frames per second. The DJI Osmo Action has a CMOS sensor that records up to 145 degrees of your environment. Because of this, we do not miss a moment.
The waterproof Osmo Action has 2 screens so that you always see what you are filming. With RockSteady image stabilization, your images are smooth: even when it’s rough. With an aperture of f / 2.8, the camera lens is also suitable for shooting in low light. With this action cam, you can also take photos in 12 Megapixels. Thanks to the various photo modes you can set countdowns, create photo bursts or create time-lapses of your adventure.
More about the DJI Osmo Action
Arc’teryx Nuclei FL jacket
At Arc’teryx, back on the road, the Nuclei FL jacket. Arc’teryx has done a lot of work on the Nuclei, FL. They have managed to find the balance between sustainable and lightweight, with an excellent eye for detail. Arato 10r has been used, designed to keep the wind out and retain heat for rest periods in alpine conditions. Together with Coreloft, a synthetic insulation material that combines two properties: deficient weight and a very high insulating capacity.
The Nuclei FL is compact and lightweight and can easily be stowed away or attached to a backpack. These characteristics make the jacket extremely suitable for the climate in Scotland. The Nuclei FL will be available mid-January 2020.
Thule Aspect DSLR/Drone backpack
No road trip without a camera and drone. For this I have the Thule Aspect DSLR / Drone, a large backpack for an SLR camera with two extra lenses plus a DJI Mavic Pro (or drones of a maximum of 260 mm x 240 mm x 130 mm), an iPad and a 15.6-inch laptop. The format is 53.6 centimetres high, 30.8 centimetres wide and 25.8 centimetres deep. You have your camera/drone quickly at hand thanks to the zipper opening on the side. With the removable dividers, you can organize the backpack to your own liking.
The lined baffles protect your camera against bumps. Thanks to the hip and chest belt, you distribute the weight of your equipment evenly. This way, you will have fewer problems with your shoulders and back when wearing heavy equipment. The reinforced back panel provides extra comfort. Hang a tripod on the side.
More about the Thule Aspect backpack
Danner Mountain 600 hiking boots
Danner Boots has been making hiking shoes for years. For the Mountain 600, they worked closely with Vibram. The combination of the Vibram SPE midsole and the Fuga outsole provides unparalleled grip on wet and dry surfaces while providing superior cushioning.
Designed to withstand the climate and terrain like in Scotland. Equipped with a robust, waterproof suede upper and Danner Dry waterproof protection. The Mountain 600 defines a new category of hiking shoes that they call Performance Heritage – a combination of the classic Danner combined with lightweight materials.
More about the Danner Mountain 600
VSSL Camp Compact Adventure Kit
In my opinion, this is the invention of recent years. A fast and reliable way to store and take away crucial camping gear. The VSSL Camp Supplies Adventure Kit is filled with more than 70 essential outdoor necessities.
The VSSL contains a candle with 4 burning hours, razor blade, water purification tablets, wire saw, emergency whistle, waterproof matches, fire starters, fish gear, signal mirror, Kevlar rope (strength of 70 kg), trail markers, can opener, first aid kit.
More about the VSSL Camp Supplies
Heimplanet Dawn Tarp
As I mentioned earlier, I am not going to Scotland for the beautiful weather, so the lightweight Heimplanet Dawn tarp is ideal. You can sleep under it, enlarge your tent or protect yourself against the rain or sun. In other words, it offers endless connection possibilities to create a protected area around the tent or even to make an extension of the tent.
The daisy chain that runs along the edges of the sail can also be used as fixing points for a lamp or other small parts. Together with the aluminium posts, the Dawn tarp offers a wide variety of usage scenarios and becomes an essential addition to every trip and every camp.
More about the Heimplanet Dawn Tarp
DJI Mavic 2 Zoom drone
We cannot avoid shooting beautiful shots of locations, hikes and the Range Rover Evoque. We do this with the DJI Mavic 2 Zoom, for example, which has a considerably improved camera compared to its predecessor. The camera has a 12 megapixel 1 / 2.3-inch CMOS sensor with a zoom function that has a range of 24 to 48 mm.
The Mavic 2 Zoom makes videos in 4K quality with 60 fps. The zoom function is spectacular because you can shoot with a super-resolution of 48 megapixels. You are assured of bright colours, and you get sharp images. Thanks to the three-axis gimbal, your recordings are stable and smooth.
More about the DJI Mavic 2 Zoom
Mizu V7 with 360 Adventure filter
We do not have to worry about clean water during the hikes. With the V7 insulated bottle from Mizu equipped with a built-in Mizu 360 Adventure filter always have clean water. These Mizu 360 filters use high performance and industry-leading Nanotechnology. The filter itself is made by a specialized Finnish company that has developed this tech for NASA, among others.
The filters work through a unique combination of mechanical and electro-kinetic absorption. For example, every gram of this filter material has an area of 500 m2. The membrane has an electrical charge, meaning that even the smallest pathogenic pollutants such as bacteria, viruses, medicine residues and heavy metals are significantly removed from the water. These remain “sticking” in the filter due to the charge difference.
More about the Mizu 360 V7 with Adventure filter
Fjällräven Keb Jacket
The Fjällräven Keb Jacket is the preferred top layer for the erratic weather conditions in Scotland. Functional on the rocks, in the snow and other types of terrain. Fjällräven has renewed the Keb jacket – a favourite among outdoor enthusiasts around the world.
Still reliable and well-ventilated, but now with a refined fit, improved durability and new details that can be easily repaired. Made from durable G-1000 Eco and stretch fabric and perfect all year round for hiking and alpine adventures.
More about the Fjällräven Keb Jacket
Leatherman Free P2 Multi-tool
For the small jobs on the road, I have the Leatherman Free P2 at hand. It has 19 functions including pliers, ordinary pliers, wire cutter, cable cutter, crimping tool, knife, scissors, wood and metal file, flathead and cross-head screwdrivers, awl, can opener, bottle opener, cable stripper, packaging opener, measuring rod and carrying clip.
The beauty of the Leatherman Free is the ingenious magnetic locking and locking mechanism. This new generation of multi-tools makes clever use of magnets, which makes the tools open and close smoothly.
More about the Leatherman Free P2
Heimplanet Transit Line Travelpack
I want to have a laptop, iPad and other electronics together and easily accessible. The Transit Line Travel Pack is also the perfect companion for upcoming Scottish city trips. Made from Dyecoshell fabric, specially developed for Heimplanet. This travel pack is not only very robust but also durable. This because it uses considerably less water, CO2, energy and chemicals during fabric production compared to conventional fabric production.
The Transit Line comes with a fully adjustable and detachable chest strap and hip belt with our custom-made aluminium hardware. The harness system is made of double density EVA foam. All subsequent layers are covered with a smooth, durable Cordura polyester stretch material. It also feels soft and does not damage your clothing.
More about the Heimplanet Transit Line
Olight Warrior X tactical flashlight
A powerful and strong flashlight is always nice to have with you, especially during a road trip. Thanks to a very robust housing, the Olight Warrior X is shock-resistant up to a fall of 2 meters on concrete. The light output of this high-end tactical flashlight is 2000 lumen over a distance of 560 meters. And that for a spotlight that is only 14 cm long. That is unique in the market.
The Olight Warrior X is watertight and provided with hardened steel, blue slab edge. The USB charging dock with LED indicator is easy to click on the magnetic switch on the back of the lamp. Magnetic remote control is also optional for tactical situations. Although I will most likely not end up in Scotland ;-).
