it may be the lengthening daylight or something in the water...

i find myself with some cash spare and i can't think of any piece of kit or shiny toy to buy! (the cash stays firmly in my pocket but thanks for the offers anyway)

i have too many jackets, enough trews and baslayers, boots and shoes, 5 stoves, 4 sleeping bags...the list goes on. the satmap is out of the window until they can get their act together, have all the digital mapping i need, 4 gps.....

i was pondering a closed cell foam sleeping mat but, as ususal, there are always too many choices. any suggestions for a good all round foam mat? (already have a selection of inflatables) foam mats don't puncture.

<thinks. bit long winded there parky!>

Parky, seems to be like you have enough gear.  Why not spend the cash on a ticket to somewhere nice to use what you've already got?  Or perhaps a year's membership of the DNT to get cheap use of their hut network, or something like that?

As a terminal gear junkie I know how tempting it is to get more, but I've learned over the last few years that once you're at a certain point then destinations are often better ways to spend money.

Pete. 

You could try one of the folding Golite duomats. Like the idea of slipping them into rucksacks for padding. That also means you could get one of those ultralightweight rucksacks that are meant to be used with these mats for padding. Afterall they go together don't they? I got an outwell classic mat for £4.25, very cheap and light - could get 2.

Like the anemonemeter thingy. Zubald, do they do one with pressure and height as well?

How about a steripen? If there's something in the water it might sort it out.

How about some titanium? Gear freaks go for them I believe.

I must admit I wish I had the spare cash for these things. Part of my shopping list.

I know what you mean, Parky. I've become obsessed with owning a Thermarest Ridgerest. F**k knows why, I've got plenty of things to sleep on as it is.

My faves are the insulmat max 3/4 (thermo or otherwise) - really comfy inflatables - much more so than thermarests.

For foam the best I've tried are the egg crate patterned Gossamer Gear nighlite 3/4 - weighs a tad over 200g and pretty comfy for foam - though marginally less so than a thermarest. (from the fab Winwood Outdoors)

Needs rolling and storing so it unrolls to fill out your pack or else strapped to the outside. I've also tried the super minimalist GG torso pad but just too minimal for me.

I like the look of that anemometer. 

I've been looking at the Kestrel range of instruments but they're much more expensive and I can't really see what the extra cash buys you.  Has anyone experience of them?

Parky

I recently became the proud owner of a Multimat Expedition extreme short mat, only £8.80 from www.active8.com , rolls up nice and small and my son loves to hit me on the head with it  what more could you ask.

Zubald - thanks for link to anenometer - wanted one for a while but they usually cost more than I'm prepared to pay.  What wind speed do they go up to?  What's their weight?

Parky - how about some decent binos?  And if you've only got 4 sleeping bags, surely there's room for more?  I have, er, 8...

michael dray wrote (see)

Parky

I recently became the proud owner of a Multimat Expedition extreme short mat, only £8.80 from www.active8.com , rolls up nice and small and my son loves to hit me on the head with it  what more could you ask.

Thanks DW, I have been wanting one for ages but did not want to pay Kestral prices. £69 is actually a good price.

There you go Parky, get one of these anemometer with altitude and pressure included. Fills the shiny toy category and saves money as well.

Frum

if you fancy the long version buy 2 short ones

Rob Dixon: goes up to 67 mph (Force 12), weight I'd say under 100g (it's very light -- about the same as a compass, lighter than a GPS).

Parky,

if you already have a selection of inflatables, I'm not sure you need any suggestions of what to do with your money...

The joys of being a gear addict Parky. I suffer from it too. I'm injured just now and my shopping increases as my walking decreases! Must be compensating. My latest purchase is mid-atlantic at the moment. How about these lovely VERY light poles from Titanium Goat.

http://www.titaniumgoat.com/poles.html

Check out the fishing attachment!

i've got tarps, more titanium than is healthy, coutless yards of dyneema, awaiting delivery of binos (went for the leica 8x20 ultravid), just received my "other" lens for my camera ........

mm, an anenometer, now there's a good toy. don't need pressure or altitude - gps tells me altitude.

i even went to the paramo shop this evening and didn't buy anything  ;-(

paramo shop doesn't have the insect repellent....

have a ridgerest which is used for cutting up to replave the nasty foam they put in rucksacks....