Dear Santa,

all work and no hiking make me a dull UL-Backpacker. I need something to keep my mind on the outdoors while I am at work, and what better if that something also could make me and others smile as well as keep my ears and head warm. I found out that Webtogs not only have superb customer service, no, they also have ace products. They have a wonderful, colourful The North Face Throwback Beanie which could do all of the above (smiles, warm ears and head, keep my mind on the outdoors while at work). And to help me being a better person, their thermo mug keeps my coffee hot and means I don't need to drink from disposable coffee cups at the office, saving resources and the environment in which I love to hike so much.

Best,


- An aspiring UL-Backpacker







Leave a comment with a photo of you reading Hiking in Finland at your workplace - don't get into trouble :D

UPDATE I

Sweet stuff, amigos y amigas!

And the winner is... Line Nielsen - Congratulations! Please contact me via Email, you got till tomorrow 15 o'clock to get in touch otherwise it goes to the second in line! Thanks everyone else, see you tomorrow at 6 AM!

Disclaimer & Rules

Dear Santa,

time to talk about lightweight stove systems. One name kept on popping up in my research, that of Trail Designs. They developed this thing called the Caldera Cone, which is pot support/ holder plus windscreen rolled into one. Genius, I tell you, Santa. But that wasn't enough for them, and they developed something called the Caldera Keg-F - the lightest commercial cooking system on the market! It makes use of an [empty] Fosters beer can, which you use as a pot. It has a 12-10 stove, a fuel bottle and a cozy for the pot included, pretty nifty, I think. All of it can be transported inside the can, or inside a caddy to give a bit of extra protection. A sweet deal, and you won't need to rob a bank to get me one!

Best,


- An aspiring UL-Backpacker





Draw a picture - digital or analog - of you using the Caldera Keg-F System and leave it in a comment underneath - you got till 18 o'clock Finnish time, so get those oil, pastel or water colours out and start painting ;)

UPDATE I

Dear Readers, you keep on amazing me! There's some superb contributions and artworks in the comments, wonderful, creative, humorous, really appreciate the effort you put into this - I love it!

And the winner is... Antti Rantanen - Congratulations! Please contact me via Email, you got till tomorrow 15 o'clock to get in touch otherwise it goes to the second in line! Thanks everyone else, see you tomorrow at 6 AM!

Disclaimer & Rules

Dear Santa,

with the onset of winter a hat is becoming mandatory to keep my ears and head warm. As you know by now, I diligently do my research, and found that the Black Rock Hat from Black Rock Gear is the warmest and lightest hat available for UL backpackers. That's because it is made of a DWR coated ripstop nylon and is filled with 900fp goose down, the lightest and warmest material around. It even has a soft inner headband, which feels great on the skin, and the snug fit means no heat can escape. I would wear it night and day, and make it part of my sleep system. And on trips where I won't need a hat during the day, its tiny packsize means it takes nearly no space in my pack but is there for me when I need it. I'm sure you'd like one as well, maybe ask Black Rock Gear if they make you one in Santa-Red? And did I mention that it is super-ultralight and warm already?

Best,


- An aspiring UL-Backpacker




Leave a comment with a mugshot photo in which you hold a piece of paper, stating a spectacular reason why you should win. Pixelmator and Photoshop Wizards, sorry, no editing text over a photo of yourself. You got till 18 o'clock Finnish time to make a mugshot photo and leave it in the comments underneath!

UPDATE I

Wow, you guys ROCK! I had the lolz looking through your awesome photos, some really hilarious ones there =) Many, many thanks, I wish I'd had some thirty plus hats to give away!

And the winner is... Pontus Fagerudd - Congratulations! Please contact me via Email, you got till tomorrow 15 o'clock to get in touch otherwise it goes to the second in line! Thanks everyone else, see you tomorrow at 6 AM!

Disclaimer & Rules