The images speak for themselves. The reindeer skin I ordered from Stuart at BCUK has arrived. It’s a reasonable size and not a bad colour. The best thing was the price at only £35 (I’ve seen them as much as £85). It’s excellent for laying on the ground, but putting it in the hammock takes a little more skill. I can lay on it and only the bottom of my legs stick out. It will be excellent insulation in the colder months and should replace my foam mat.

The only trouble is, how do I carry it? It doesn’t exactly fold up small, and it looks like I will have to strap on top of my rucksack, which is something I don’t like doing as it will snag on branches and the like. I’ll have to experiment with that one.

Not exactly the best time to try it out either, as temperatures have soared to 25 degrees C here in England. Apparently, reindeer hair is hollow which adds to the insulating properties. The fur is so soft and the actual skin is amazingly thick. This will definitely be an asset to wild camping. I can see the skin inserted into the bivvi bag with the sleeping bag on top for the best use. In the meantime… it’s in the hammock!