For two people who don’t like shopping we were amazed to find that we easily spent five hours in Cotwolds Royal Oak store in Betws Y Coed today!  I exaggerate not!  With only a week until we fly out to the Andes to tackle Aconcagua it was time to get our kit sorted – Nothing like last minute, but always the way when it comes to securing sponsors!  We were particularly thrilled to welcome Cotswolds and particularly the Royal Oak store to the Patch team as Platinum Sponsors of The Patch Expedition.   So a huge thank you to Manager Chris Hopwood for putting his faith in us.

We have been HUGE fans of the Cotswolds Royal Oak store ever since we first went in there to buy some kit for our Mont Blanc trip back in June.  Having been to other retailers and received rather poor and limited advice which resulted in us buying some very expensive and ill fitting boots we were delighted – and very relieved – to find the hidden gem that is the Royal Oak store and particularly Stephen Hayes.  Seriously, what this guy doesn’t know about kit isn’t worth knowing!  We’re talking good practical advice from someone who has a real passion for the outdoors and has been using the kit himself for a number of years.  Way more useful than speaking to retailers based primarily in city centres whose knowledge has been gained by being sent to a conference hall somewhere for a PowerPoint presentation on the basics of the kit and how to sell it to customers.  

 Whilst there are retailers closer to us – we will always return to the Royal Oak store for the little gems of advice that we feel are totally invaluable.  These can be little tips from how to tie your bootlaces so they stay put and don’t loosen up as the day goes on – to how to create your own expedition washing machine using a waterproof sack!  Seriously! We’ve found that with every bit of kit there is some advice or usage that we would never have found out about, but that makes a real difference.  Whether you are trying the bigger stuff like us, or simply want quality kit for the local hills these guys can help.  Plus, they don’t just try to sell you the flashy expensive stuff, but will go through different ways of achieving the results you want at different budgets – so you can pick and choose which items to save on and when to spend a little extra.

 Just realised that I sound like a walking advertisement for the store!  But I promise you – this really is by far the best place to go if you want honest, informed advice and quality kit that will last.  Anyway – Ill stop going on about the store now – I think you’ve probably got the point! 

 So, having finally filled the car with all this gucci kit and with our departure date fast approaching, this trip to Aconcagua and then on to Everest is really starting to feel real!  In a weeks time we will (hopefully) be all packed and ready to go.  Just looking at the enormous La Sportiva Olympus Mons boots we’re going to have to wear really brings home the enormity of the task ahead and just how cold it’s going to be!!!  Mind you, it’s pretty cold in Wales right now so we think the humungous Rab Andes 1000 sleeping bags and thermal knickers (Bridget Jones has nothing on me now!) may also be useful in our house over the coming week as we have been waking up to ice on the inside, I repeat inside, of our windows!  You see being too tight to switch the heating on does have its benefits – excellent training for all those cold mornings to come!  We’ve got the kit – we’ve got the cold weather – Aconcagua – we are ready!

It's going to be heavy!

Bridget Jones eat your heart out! Big Pants!

Toasty!