Price Points: Mushroom knives

Mushroom knives

I always keep bags in my coat pockets in case I come across wild food on my dog walks in fields and woodland; blackberries, elderflowers, bilberries and the like.

October and November are peak months for fungi foraging. This year has been a good one for parasols, porcinis and horse mushrooms round these parts. With some mushrooms, you really need to slice them at the base, otherwise they may crumble or break when you try to lift them. As well as a bag, it’s a good idea to walk with one of these mushroom knives.

A good knife will be small, lightweight, sharp and have a brush to get rid of dirt and debris. The mushroom-shaped, keyring example is portable and very cute. The French company, Opinel, has the reputation as being the brand-leader and their N°08 model is an absolute beaut!

  1. Mushroom tool keychain: £14.95, NOTHS
  2. Mushroom foraging knife: £22.50, Etsy
  3. Opinel N°08 pocket knife + sheath in case: £39.95, Amazon

The Opinel N°08 mushroom knife is the ultimate tool for foraging. It will accompany you on all your outings in the forest, and will fulfil several purposes. For all nature and mushroom lovers, this is your new best friend!

shop mushroom knives

Some of the links on our blog are affiliate links. We may receive a small commission - at no cost to you - if you click through and make a purchase.
Prices & links correct at time of publication.

Opinel N°08 pocket knife + sheath in case
Opinel N°08 pocket knife + sheath in case
£39.95
Mushroom foraging knife
Mushroom foraging knife
£22.50
Mushroom tool keychain
Mushroom tool keychain
£14.95
Opinel N°08 pocket knife + sheath in case
Opinel N°08 pocket knife + sheath in case
£39.95
Mushroom foraging knife
Mushroom foraging knife
£22.50
Mushroom tool keychain
Mushroom tool keychain
£14.95
Opinel N°08 pocket knife + sheath in case
Opinel N°08 pocket knife + sheath in case
£39.95
Mushroom foraging knife
Mushroom foraging knife
£22.50
Mushroom tool keychain
Mushroom tool keychain
£14.95
Opinel N°08 pocket knife + sheath in case
Opinel N°08 pocket knife + sheath in case
£39.95
Mushroom foraging knife
Mushroom foraging knife
£22.50
Mushroom tool keychain
Mushroom tool keychain
£14.95
Opinel N°08 pocket knife + sheath in case
Opinel N°08 pocket knife + sheath in case
£39.95
Mushroom foraging knife
Mushroom foraging knife
£22.50
Mushroom tool keychain
Mushroom tool keychain
£14.95

Price Points: Dog activity monitors

Dog activity monitors

Barley and I are currently taking part in the Dogs Trust 99km for Canines fund-raising campaign. It’s happening for the entire month of October, and you can keep up with our own personal journey on our Facebook page.

I’ve been using an app on my phone to track the number of kilometres that I’ve walked; however, Barley is walking (and running) way more than me! I’ve been contemplating getting one of these dog activity trackers that attaches to his collar to see just how much more exercise he’s been getting.

After reading about what each one does and doesn’t do, I think the Pawfit monitor (#2) fits our bill. Firstly, it’s waterproof for those sea and river dips. Next, it tells me the distances that Barley clocks up with all his darting through the trees in the woods and galloping along the beach. Another important function is that it gives me Barley’s exact GPS location – for any unforeseen times he wanders off so far that he gets lost and is out of earshot. For instances like that, the Pawfit is fitted with a microphone that would allow me to speak to Barley – perhaps calling his name for him to come and search for me.

  1. PitPat dog activity monitor: £39.00, Pets at Home

    Advanced “dogorithms” analyse those complex movements every 10 minutes to decide what activity your dog was doing during that period. They also allow an estimation of daily distance covered and calories burnt.

  2. Pawfit 2 pet GPS tracker & activity monitor: £54.99, Amazon

    Flexible and affordable subscription rate starting from £3.39/month. Choose from a 1, 6, 12 or 24-month Premium or Basic subscription plan

  3. PETFON1 smart GPS tracker real-time dog tracking: £116.99, eBay

    If you need to track your pets when you are inside the house with pets running outside, the performance could not be guaranteed, the connection could be very unstable due to massive obstructions between controller and tracker.

shop dog activity monitors

Some of the links on our blog are affiliate links. We may receive a small commission - at no cost to you - if you click through and make a purchase.
Prices & links correct at time of publication.

PETFON1 smart GPS tracker real-time dog tracking
PETFON1 smart GPS tracker real-time dog tracking
£116.99
Pawfit 2 pet GPS tracker & activity monitor
Pawfit 2 pet GPS tracker & activity monitor
£54.99
PitPat dog activity monitor
PitPat dog activity monitor
£39.00
PETFON1 smart GPS tracker real-time dog tracking
PETFON1 smart GPS tracker real-time dog tracking
£116.99
Pawfit 2 pet GPS tracker & activity monitor
Pawfit 2 pet GPS tracker & activity monitor
£54.99
PitPat dog activity monitor
PitPat dog activity monitor
£39.00
PETFON1 smart GPS tracker real-time dog tracking
PETFON1 smart GPS tracker real-time dog tracking
£116.99
Pawfit 2 pet GPS tracker & activity monitor
Pawfit 2 pet GPS tracker & activity monitor
£54.99
PitPat dog activity monitor
PitPat dog activity monitor
£39.00
PETFON1 smart GPS tracker real-time dog tracking
PETFON1 smart GPS tracker real-time dog tracking
£116.99
Pawfit 2 pet GPS tracker & activity monitor
Pawfit 2 pet GPS tracker & activity monitor
£54.99
PitPat dog activity monitor
PitPat dog activity monitor
£39.00
PETFON1 smart GPS tracker real-time dog tracking
PETFON1 smart GPS tracker real-time dog tracking
£116.99
Pawfit 2 pet GPS tracker & activity monitor
Pawfit 2 pet GPS tracker & activity monitor
£54.99
PitPat dog activity monitor
PitPat dog activity monitor
£39.00

Price Points: Walking shoes

Walking shoes

I had a pair of plain, black, minimalist Nike trainers for 20+ years, I absolutely loved them! I could dress them up or down and wore them with jeans or dresses, shorts or mini-skirts. They literally wore out, the soles became paper thin and began to let in dampness if I wore them on a rainy day. They’d reached the end of life.

I’d have loved to have been able to go out and buy the exact same pair again, but they stopped making them LONG, LONG ago. Instead of getting a new pair of trainers, I thought it better to get a pair of walking shoes that I could wear when taking the dog out in the often wet, often muddy, often stony hills and woods around here.

I didn’t know what to search for online; trail shoes, hiking shoes, approach shoes, walking shoes – it’s a minefield! Justin bought me the North Face shoes (#3 above) for Christmas – they’re amazing. The first time I wore them, it felt like the first time I wore a pair of Doc Marten’s; cushiony, lightweight and really comfortable. I’d really recommend them.

  1. Voyage waterproof mens shoes: £34.99, Mountain Warehouse

    The Voyage Waterproof Shoes are ideal for travelling and walking in the wet weather. A suede upper with an IsoDry membrane, flexible rubber outsole and comfortable EVA midsole for cushioning and a long-lasting finish.
    • IsoDry membrane – allows your feet to breathe and keeps them dry
    • EVA midsole – provides extra cushioning and comfort
    • Suede & mesh upper – durable and breathable, a lighter style of footwear for hiking and walking
    • Mesh lining – improves breathability to help keep your feet fresh, when you’re out and about
    • Rubber outsole – flexible, lightweight and long lasting
    • Heel & toe bumpers – added rubber reinforcement at heel and toe, for extra protection and make your footwear last longer

  2. Terrex Agravic TR trail running shoes: £70.00, Adidas

    The abrasion-resistant overlays and high-traction outsole allow you to move swiftly between smooth ground and rough, rocky terrain. Lightweight EVA cushioning ups the comfort levels, and the open mesh upper helps circulate airflow.

  3. Ultra Fastpack IV FUTURELIGHT™ shoes: £108.00, The North Face

    Now in their fourth iteration, the Ultra Fastpack Shoes just keep getting better. This mark IV version features a breathable-waterpoof FUTURELIGHT™ membrane. Springy, OrthoLite® X35™ Hybrid™ footbeds are cushioning, but also responsive and along with the FastFoam™ midsoles maximise energy return for a more efficient trek. The Ultra Fastpacks are engineered specifically for moving quickly over tough trails: the lug design is optimised for undulating, rocky terrain; the Vibram® Megagrip™ does exactly what the name suggests – grips on all surfaces, both wet and muddy and dry and loose – and the protective toe caps and heel overlays help prevent stubbed toes and bruised heels. If you don’t to be weighed down by overly robust and ridged hiking shoes, then the Ultra Fastpacks are for you.

shop walking shoes

Some of the links on our blog are affiliate links. We may receive a small commission - at no cost to you - if you click through and make a purchase.
Prices & links correct at time of publication.

Ultra Fastpack IV FUTURELIGHT™ shoes
Ultra Fastpack IV FUTURELIGHT™ shoes
£108.00
Terrex Agravic TR trail running shoes
Terrex Agravic TR trail running shoes
£70.00
Voyage waterproof mens shoes
Voyage waterproof mens shoes
£34.99
Ultra Fastpack IV FUTURELIGHT™ shoes
Ultra Fastpack IV FUTURELIGHT™ shoes
£108.00
Terrex Agravic TR trail running shoes
Terrex Agravic TR trail running shoes
£70.00
Voyage waterproof mens shoes
Voyage waterproof mens shoes
£34.99
Ultra Fastpack IV FUTURELIGHT™ shoes
Ultra Fastpack IV FUTURELIGHT™ shoes
£108.00
Terrex Agravic TR trail running shoes
Terrex Agravic TR trail running shoes
£70.00
Voyage waterproof mens shoes
Voyage waterproof mens shoes
£34.99
Ultra Fastpack IV FUTURELIGHT™ shoes
Ultra Fastpack IV FUTURELIGHT™ shoes
£108.00
Terrex Agravic TR trail running shoes
Terrex Agravic TR trail running shoes
£70.00
Voyage waterproof mens shoes
Voyage waterproof mens shoes
£34.99
Ultra Fastpack IV FUTURELIGHT™ shoes
Ultra Fastpack IV FUTURELIGHT™ shoes
£108.00
Terrex Agravic TR trail running shoes
Terrex Agravic TR trail running shoes
£70.00
Voyage waterproof mens shoes
Voyage waterproof mens shoes
£34.99

Price Points: Day backpacks

Day backpacks

I walked into a local charity shop last week and the first thing I spotted was an ‘as new’ (now discontinued) Vaude Jura 26. It’s 2-tone blue – not my favourite colour – but it was the perfect size and, at only £15.00, a bargain!

We’d both needed new rucksacks for a long time – our old ones completely wore out from years of heavy use. On our trips to the beach, walks up mountains and days out discovering new towns – we always pack a flask, travel mugs and sandwiches. As well as refreshments, there are binoculars, OS Maps and the usual keys, phones and money. The best place to put it all when you’re walking for miles is a couple of day backpacks.

I have a few different day backpacks short-listed, Justin just needs to decide on which one’s best for him!

    1. Patagonia Refugio 28L backpack, industrial green: £74.95, surfdome
      Capacity: 28L
      Depth: 20cm
      Width: 30.5cm
      Height: 48cm
      Weight: 666g
      Material: 50% Nylon (Recycled) 50% Nylon
      Material, lining: 100% Polyester
      Sustainability recycled content
    2. Vaude Jura 26 hiking backpack: £85-£95.00

      The Jura series (18, 24 and 32 liter volumes) comprises a trio for day hikes that offer everything functional hiking backpacks need. Sophisticated compartments with side pockets, attachment point for your trekking poles and a hydration system compatibility are standard for all three. There’s also a practical rain cover on board.

    3. Archeon 30 men’s single day hiking backpack, haybale green: £180.00, Osprey
      Fully recycled and sustainable daypack with lid and raincover
      Capacity: 30L
      Depth: 24cm
      Width: 30cm
      Height: 66cm
      Weight: 1.7kg
      Material: 1880D recycled nylon canvas

day backpacks

Some of the links on our blog are affiliate links. We may receive a small commission - at no cost to you - if you click through and make a purchase.
Prices & links correct at time of publication.

Archeon 30 men’s single day hiking backpack, haybale green
Archeon 30 men’s single day hiking backpack, haybale green
£180.00
Vaude Jura 26 hiking backpack
Vaude Jura 26 hiking backpack
£85-£95.00
Patagonia Refugio 28L backpack, industrial green
Patagonia Refugio 28L backpack, industrial green
£74.95
Archeon 30 men’s single day hiking backpack, haybale green
Archeon 30 men’s single day hiking backpack, haybale green
£180.00
Vaude Jura 26 hiking backpack
Vaude Jura 26 hiking backpack
£85-£95.00
Patagonia Refugio 28L backpack, industrial green
Patagonia Refugio 28L backpack, industrial green
£74.95
Archeon 30 men’s single day hiking backpack, haybale green
Archeon 30 men’s single day hiking backpack, haybale green
£180.00
Vaude Jura 26 hiking backpack
Vaude Jura 26 hiking backpack
£85-£95.00
Patagonia Refugio 28L backpack, industrial green
Patagonia Refugio 28L backpack, industrial green
£74.95
Archeon 30 men’s single day hiking backpack, haybale green
Archeon 30 men’s single day hiking backpack, haybale green
£180.00
Vaude Jura 26 hiking backpack
Vaude Jura 26 hiking backpack
£85-£95.00
Patagonia Refugio 28L backpack, industrial green
Patagonia Refugio 28L backpack, industrial green
£74.95
Archeon 30 men’s single day hiking backpack, haybale green
Archeon 30 men’s single day hiking backpack, haybale green
£180.00
Vaude Jura 26 hiking backpack
Vaude Jura 26 hiking backpack
£85-£95.00
Patagonia Refugio 28L backpack, industrial green
Patagonia Refugio 28L backpack, industrial green
£74.95