Tips on using your Outdoor Gear

When out walking, hiking, mountaineering, climbing or mountain biking etc. it is very important to wear clothing designed to protect you from the elements. Not only will correct clothing ensure that you are comfortable and enjoy your activity, it could, and in extreme conditions it will, save your life.

The layering system is an effective way of ensuring that you maintain a comfortable body temperature during and after exercise, no matter what the weather is like. The layering system employs three basic layers which are: Outer Layer – waterproofs to protect you from wind, rain and snow; the Mid Layer – to provide insulation and keep you warm; and the Base Layer – to provide insulation and wick sweat away from you skin.

Not only does each layer have its own function within the layering system, but air is also trapped between each layer. The air between the layers keeps you warmer than if you were to wear one thick layer. The layering system is very flexible. If you are hot you can remove a layer. If you are cold you can add a layer. For example you could use more than one mid layer to help keep you warm. For the best comfort all layers should be breathable or have wicking capabilities. If one of your layers is not breathable/wicking then the breathable/wicking properties of other layers will not be so effective.

Before going on a walk, expedition or other outdoor activity it is important to think about the type of clothes that you will need to take with you. Some things to consider are: How long will you be away for? The longer you will be away, the less likely you will be able to predict what the weather will be like. You need to be prepared for good and bad weather conditions.

When and where are you going walking? During the winter in Scotland you are not going to need a pair of shorts to walk in, but you will definitely need good quality waterproofs. When rambling on a hot summers day in Spain you are unlikely to require five fleece jackets.

How high will you be going? It may be hot and sunny in the valley, but as you start to climb the weather can soon get cold and unpredictable. Up in the mountains wind, rain and snow can suddenly appear from out of nowhere.

What will you do after your exercise/where will you be staying? You may be plenty warm enough while you are doing your outdoor activity, but as soon as you stop you can become very cold. This is especially true if after a hard day of hiking you have to wait around for a train home, or if you are camping overnight. [Read more...]

how to safely enjoy the sun

We can’t deny the fact that sunbathing is an integral and much loved part of most people’s holiday but recent reports of over exposure to the sun causing skin cancer have made many people wary of spending too much time in the sun. However, paradoxically the over use of sun screens can actually have health problems in itself and under exposure to the sun can also be detrimental to our wellbeing.

Too much high factor sun block can delay sunburn, which is of course an important reminder that you have had too much sun, and in addition it can block the bodies manufacture of vitamin D which in itself helps to protect us from skin, breast and prostate cancer and is invaluable for boosting the immune system in general. Vitamin D also offers us protection against osteoporosis and sunlight can, believe it or not, play a part in lowering cholesterol levels and blood pressure.

As mentioned sunlight is important for the production of vitamin D, it also plays a role in the production of melatonin which controls our sleep patterns amongst other things, so a lack of sunlight can lead to insomnia. Melatonin also plays an important part in building a healthy immune system and can help protect against cancer. Serotonin, the good mood hormone, is likewise produced in the body in the presence of sunlight. So in order to be able to enjoy the sun when on holiday follow these practical guidelines to safe sunbathing:

  • Avoid exposure during the midday hours and don’t stay in it for too long if it is very fierce.
  • Choose a sun cream with added vitamins and minerals, apply it 30-60 minutes before exposure and re-apply often. Added nutrients which have been found to be of particular benefit are vitamins C and E along with the minerals selenium and zinc.
  • Take supplements such as vitamins C,D,E and Beta-carotene and the minerals selenium, calcium and zinc. These will give your sunscreen a boost and help to prevent skin damage.
  • Eat a healthy diet with plenty of fresh fruit and veg. They are rich in vitamins, minerals, flavenoids and carotenoids, all of which are essential for a healthy skin and are good healing agents too.
  • Drink green tea, this has recently been found to be of benefit to prevent burning if drunk whilst sunbathing, it can also be soothing if applied topically to sunburn.

If after all your efforts at safe sunbathing you still end up sun burn there are a few natural remedies that may help: [Read more...]

Guide for Remarkable Airfare Prices

Considering the high-tech innovation nowadays, this is one of the easiest things to do. As long as you have at least a small amount of patience and the most basic Internet skills to search a few different websites. It also helps to be ready to arrive at your destination a few days early or to leave a few days late, which increases the range of prices.

Buying tickets far in advance of the actual date that you will be leaving always helps. It is actually the best way to get a cheaper ticket, no matter where you buy the ticket or who you buy it from. Buying a ticket 15 days in advance will make things a lot easier on your budget, rather than buying it only four days in advance. You may not even be able to find a seat if you wait too long, not to mention it will be a much higher price. Stay away from buying tickets unless you are buying it at least a week or more in advance.

Which day you schedule the flight on can also have adverse effects on the pricing. The middle days of the week usually have the best deals available. People are always flying on the weekends, whether they are taking a weekend vacation or coming home from a business trip. The time of day is important too. Try to pick a flight between the days Tuesday and Thursday and between the times of 5AM and 1PM. [Read more...]

Great Ideas for your Romantic Honeymoon

Though a honeymoon is a chance for a newly married couple to spend some time together, celebrating their new life together, there is more to a honeymoon than simply picking a great destination; you need to find things to do. Even the most beautiful place can seem boring if you just sit around the entire time. Because a honeymoon is a romantic trip, what you need to do is find some romantic activities to spice up your time and to create some wonderful memories of this time in your life. To help you along, here are some ideas for a romantic honeymoon:

While your honeymoon destination is likely to have any number of great restaurants in the area, you can easily arrange a romantic, candlelit dinner in your own hotel room, allowing you to dine in privacy. A quiet dinner in your hotel room allows you to share some time with your spouse without anyone bothering you, and also gives you an evening where you don’t have to worry about making arrangements for travel to a restaurant.

Another great idea for a romantic honeymoon is to pick up a book on massage at your local bookstore before your trip, and to pack it with your travel guides and other materials when you go on your honeymoon. The touch that comes from a massage can be quite sensual and can be a way to share some closeness with your spouse. The relaxation and the nice feelings that a good massage can provide can help add to your romantic honeymoon. [Read more...]

Benefits of Using Credit Card on your Travel

When you pay for your vacation expenses with a credit card, you will enjoy extra protection that is not found with traveler’s checks, personal checks, cash, or even debit cards. First of all, many credit cards offer insurance, such as travel insurance and free car rental insurance. Not only can this save you some cash, it will protect you in case of an accident.

Another benefit to using your credit card while traveling is that it is easy to cancel a card if it gets lost. If your cash is lost, you will likely never see it again. If your checkbook or debit card is stolen or lost, the money can be removed from your account before you even realize they are missing. With a credit card, on the other hand, you simply report that it is missing and you will only be held responsible for $50 of the charges placed on the card after it was lost or stolen. In some cases, you won’t be responsible for any of the expenses.

If you are going to use a credit card while on vacation, there are a few precautions you should take in order to make sure you are fully protected. For example, you should write down the 1-800 number for customer service as well as your account number, and you should keep this information in a safe place that is away from where you store your credit card. This way, if your card does come up missing, you will have the information needed to call and report it as missing. [Read more...]

Getting Sexy Bikini Body in 10 Days

Days 1, 3, 5 and 8

Aerobic exercise such as running, swimming or power walking, raises the metabolism both during and after the activity, making it less likely that calories will be stored around the abdominal area, or anywhere else, as fat.

On days 1, 3, 5, 8, aim to walk, jog, cycle or do an exercise DVD for at least 20 minutes a day. Try to work hard so that you are fairly breathless when you stop. And if you can do that every other day, even better.

Days 2, 6 and 9

Stomach – Lie on your back with your knees bent and feet flat on the floor. Press your lower back into the floor, tightening your stomach muscles as you put both hands behind your head (don’t pull on your head). Bring your right elbow over to your left knee, and then bring your left elbow over to your right knee, raising your feet slightly and moving your legs in a pedal motion. Breathe normally and keep your knees bent. Repeat for 30-60 seconds.

Bottom – On your hands and knees, contract your abdominal to stabilize your torso, lift one leg up, keeping the knee bent at a 90′ angle, until the flat of the foot is parallel with the ceiling and the leg is lined up with the body. Lower slightly and repeat 10-15 times. Add an ankle weight to make the exercise more challenging and if you can balance, stretch out the opposite arm.

Days 4, 7 and 10 [Read more...]

Yoga Blankets Bring Warmth and Energy

The Yoga Blankets are very useful for reaching that optimum level of yoga which can benefit and be useful in every yoga poses we perform. It is the best thing which can be used for comfort and does not allow the cold floor make any difference to you. It is comfortable in doing all your poses while sitting, sleeping, kneeling as the blanket provides the shield against the cold and a warm feeling.

It also helps in avoiding the neck and shoulder strain when you are doing the shoulder stand. You can use the stack of blankets to increase your height. There are different kinds of blankets to be used according to your needs and wants. These are machine washable to make your work much easy. Most of these blankets are made from natural materials. These are very durable blankets which are machine pressed. These are wide enough sheets to do all the required asanas.

These blankets can be used for the poses like Sirsansana (headstand), Sarvangasana (shoulderstand), Bikram Yoga, Ashtanga and Savasana (corpse pose). These would provide the warmth needed by your body while doing the poses. The colors can be one or a blend of two or three colors for the people who require something more. You can also get blankets which are not made of wool but some other material. Some of these blankets are also hand woven. [Read more...]