A lot of walking! Following up on last weeks post about my best kit in Iran, it would be remiss of me not to mention my footwear. As you probably know I did a lot of walking, almost 1700km in fact. For 60 days straight I wore the same pair of boots (I did have 2 pair of socks!) - Meindl Burma Pro.

Meindl had sent me out a couple of pairs of boots to test out - the Burma Pro and Softline Ultra GTX. I was fortunate enough to be able to give them a run through in the Pyrenees and a tougher assault on 2 Kili summits. Both boots were excellent. The Softline Ultras weigh in at around 700gms (UK size 12) and seemed perfect for a long distance trek over changing terrain. On Kili they were very comfortable and being so light were a pleasure to walk in. As with any light weight boot the trade off is support and in the mid-sole. This is no fault in design but an onus is on the user selecting the right boot for their activity. The Burma Pros while being heavier were as comfortable and the support in the mountains just brilliant. Carrying a heavier than expected pack also meant that the mid-sole took the load with ease. These boots ate up all that Iran could throw at them. Ploughing through deep snow, kicking my way through rocky desert and of course plodding along boring tarmac! Final proof of their comfort comes by the fact that 2 weeks back in London has seen me in them everyday. I just cannot let go of them. I usually get around the city in a pair of skater shoes (strange, as I cannot even stand straight on a skateboard!) but they have stayed relegated to my closet. Not sure when I will be able to let my Meindls go! (even if I do look like a bit of a hero!)

A bit of kit that you could argue I could have gotten away without, were my Zeal Optics Swap-its. To that I would (most politely) say - YOU'RE WRONG! These bad boys were on my face from sun-up to sun-down. Being optically challenged, Zeal hook me up with their Polarised prescription ZB-13 lenses for all my sunglasses. Unbeatable!

Through the Alborz and Zagros with blue-sky days and snow as far as the eye can see, having close-fitting, polarised sunglasses was essential. In the desert and the gulf with the sun beating down, likewise. For a second major expedition, Zeal Optics made my life a whole lot easier. I got some shocking Racoon-eyes by the end of my journey I can assure you. For a little explanation of just why I trust Zeal Optics to supply me with the best eyewear for the outdoors check this out - Zeal Optics Transcend GPS Goggle. The world's first GPS enabled googles with integrated “Head Mounted Display” system. With the push of a button the rider can call up data right in front of his/her eyes and like a jet pilot display information such as speed, altitude, temperature, time, GPS location and stop watch. How cool is that! All I have to do now is convince Zeal that I need a pair for my next...umm...snowboarding expedition. Yeh, that's it!

Tomorrow, the camera that turned me into an ace photographer and the watch that has so many applications I still don't know how to use all it's functions! I will also have a stab at picking out my most useless kit!

NB. I do appreciate that all my kit is sponsored and the cynics may decide it unlikely that I would say a bad word against these companies. True enough I suppose, but I would never choose to head off on an expedition, putting myself in harms way (or at least being uncomfortable for weeks on end) with kit that I did not truly believe in. I do not jump in to bed with just anyone who will have me! I use this particular kit and partner with these specific companies because they are the best at what they do. End of story! (Now check out this ad for Suunto below!)