Tusting Talks… to Alistair Tusting

“Tusting Talks” is back, and we’re kicking off the year by talking to one of our own. With January Blues setting in, getting outside for some fresh air to help blow away the cobwebs and get the step count up post-Christmas, is a great defence against feeling glum (and it doesn’t require a gym subscription). From rugged coastlines to ancient hills, the UK is home to some incredible landscapes. We asked Alistair Tusting a few questions about one of his favourite ways to de-stress.

What do you enjoy most about walking?

It’s a little more than walking really, probably better described as mountaineering. From a very young age, I was taken camping in the wilds of Scotland, which always involved a lot of stomping up hills and mountains. There are two main reasons why it ticks the boxes for me now; firstly, most of my walks involve wild and remote places which give you a closer and more intimate experience of the natural world. Secondly, while walking, you can’t really worry about anything else other than putting one foot in front of the other – it makes you forget all of the usual daily worries we all have. It’s a sort of mindfulness-by-default and really restores mental balance.

Where has been your favourite walk?

I have done many really wonderful walks, but probably one of the best is one I have done twice, up into the Lost Valley of Glencoe. From there, it goes onward to the peak of Bidean Nam Bian and then descends back over Stob Coire Nan Lochan and its valley, down into Glencoe. The first time was in a blizzard, and we really didn’t see much, but it was a very wild and wonderful experience. The second time was a gentler walk but one which was better visually as we could see the mountains all around us and enjoy Scotland dressed in its finest autumn colours and flavours.

Any top tips for people starting out exploring Britain’s walks?

There are many wonderful places to walk all over the UK, but my best tip is go as far north and west as you can, it gets more remote but also more visually rewarding with every mile. Aim for the short climb up Stac Pollaidh for one of the finest views in Britain.

What’s in your bag, and what bag are they in?

Always a map and compass, it is quite easy to go a little wrong and that can then often lead you to be really quite a long way from where you want to be. (Paper maps don’t run out of battery.) I also always have my camera with me – it’s weighty, but recording the incredible landscapes I see is another of my passions, I’m always hoping for the perfect photo opportunity. All this is always in a backpack of course, something light and comfortable. Next time out, I’ll be taking one of our new GreyFox Backpacks that we designed with David Evans (of Grey Fox Style) – it’s so light and comfortable, padded too, and it’s tweed, so it doesn’t rustle like nylon ones do!

For trips which require a stayover, my large Explorer bag is my go-to. Spacious enough for all I could need; climbing boots and a set of waterproofs, sometimes even ropes and ice axe, and a complete set of dry clothes (compulsory for the British Isles!). You might think I’d have a new bag every time we do a new colour or tweak, but I use one of our very first Explorers every time I travel – it’s a bit faded now but still going as strong as ever.

Where would your ultimate walk be and why?

Probably my ultimate walk would be a winter traverse of The Cuillin Ridge, with the sun (and the moon!) shining. My son Fin and I did a part of it together several years ago, and we climbed the Inaccessible Pinnacle (this is us in the photo). I’d love to do the whole thing, although it would probably take more than a day, and might now be more than my rather older legs could manage. But it is, without doubt, the ultimate mountain challenge in the British Isles.

Stay tuned for more from our “Tusting Talks” series.

Choosing between a backpack and a briefcase in today’s luxury market

Perhaps it is the metrosexual lifestyle of today’s man, but the bags we carry to work and what we put in them has changed. As the digital age has taken over, gentlemen no longer require the solid sided briefcases of old, infact briefcases in their most traditional sense seem a little novel when seen out and about today. Bags have become not necessarily smaller, but softer and more style driven. What your bag looks like can also say an awful lot about who you are.

Backpacks Meet Luxury

Backpacks have had a major makeover in recent years, no longer nylon vessels for life on the go and students. They have smartened up their act, working for today’s executives as a result of the broad selection of designs, styles and leathers on offer. Leathers are lightweight and luxurious, conceived to be taken seriously and carry plenty of style-conscious sway. Browsing men’s bag departments today, there is almost as much choice in backpacks as there is for more conservative and traditional work bags. Tusting has noticed this increased appetite in recent years, responding to the growth with the release of its new Century backpacks, two differently styled bags conceived for the demands of today.

There are plenty of advantages with backpacks, but some pointers to remember when using them too, in order not to drive those around you crazy.

Backpacks allow you to be hands free and can be very liberating. They are great for those who get around by bike, motorbike or scooter. They are also capacious, allowing you to stuff them full and carry everything you need to see you through the day, from your gym kit to your laptop, without having to carry an extra bag. They also distribute weight very effectively, meaning that when you are fully loaded, you stay comfortable too. Bye bye back pain! Whatever your age, your backpack will set an active and youthful overtone. You’ll look like a man on the move, whether you are an Iron Man or Sofa Man type. To coin the words of Aldous Huxley, “There are things known and there are things unknown, and in between are the doors of perception.”

With the plus side dealt with, here are some tips for overcoming the negative aspects of backpack use:

When in an office environment or a restaurant etc and not on the go, take your backpack off. This stops you looking like you are trying to make your way out the door or in a hurry and demonstrates a readiness to focus on proceedings.
Be considerate and remove your backpack when in a lift or a tight space such as the Tube or Subway. Shunting people with your backpack will irritate and demonstrates a lack of awareness for the personal space of others. Think Big Bird in a phonebox. We have all experienced somebody’s bag knocking us in the face or hampering proceeds, we have all felt the resentment build!

There is an unspoken informality associated with backpacks. Overcome this by packing it wisely and moderately, so as not to come across as disorganised or dishevelled. Follow the rules above for when to use your bag at its most practical and when to take it off.
Be mindful that your backpack can cause a little sweating. Wear natural fibres and again, take it off your back from time to time to allow your skin to breathe.

Many gentlemen will forever remain faithful to the briefcase or messenger bag camp when it comes to their daily commute companion, their benefits unbridled and their versatility ample. Choose between compact and minimalist, for those who travel light and work with streamlined tools, or larger, compartmentalised bags to maintain order and offer instant access. With a bag or briefcase you can instantly see where everything is, and reach for what you need without revealing the contents of your bag first. We believe there is a place for both and celebrate the pantheon of bags and styles available to the modern man. Let your environment dictate what works best for you, or even just your diary.

Our bags offer great scope and plenty of options. They are heritage bags that are built to last, creating their own unique stories whilst at your side. Choose between the contemporary yet classic lines of our luxurious new Century collection or from the iconic British staples found in our business and travel bag portfolio.

Shop Now

Brilliantly Bonkers

Sometimes people take on extraordinary undertakings in order to raise money for charity. Riding a Penny Farthing from Land’s End to John O’Groats must surely qualify as one of the most extraordinary challenges ever thought up, so when we heard that one of our customers, David Fox-Pitt MBE and his friend Neil Laughton were up for this, we felt such British bonkersness definitely deserved our support!

Stop Press!

Congratulations to David and Neil who raised £25,326 for the charity Mary’s Meals which will go towards feeding 2,500 children next year.

From Land’s End to John O’Groats

Whether you are a cycling enthusiast or not, we implore you to lend a thought to (and dig deep in your pockets for) the admirable endeavours of these brave men. They are the indefatigable founders of the UK Penny Farthing Club, and are England and Scotland Penny Farthing Polo team captains (yes, there is such a sport!). The daring duo have set off on a Penny Farthing ride of a lifetime, cycling 841 miles from Land’s End to John O’Groats atop their 54-inch diameter-wheeled bicycles, all in aid of a phenomenal cause.

Penny History

For those of you unfamiliar with the Penny Farthing (some of us spent hours watching them on Blue Peter), the bike is also known as a High Wheel or Highwheeler. It was the first machine to be called a “bicycle”. It was popular in the 1870s and 1880s, with its large front wheel providing high speeds (owing to it travelling a large distance for every rotation of the legs) and comfort (the large wheel provides greater shock absorption). Its name came from the British penny and farthing coins, one much larger than the other; viewed sideways on, the large and small wheels resemble a penny leading a farthing.

#milesformeals

Sponsored by Hendrick’s Gin and the goodwill and generosity of individuals and companies along the way (Tusting included), the intrepid pair is raising money and awareness for Mary’s Meals. This is a superb charity that sets up school feeding projects in some of the world’s poorest communities, making a difference to the lives of 1.4 million children across the globe. By offering a meal in a place of learning, Mary’s Meals not only fills tummies but also attracts chronically poor children into the classroom, educating them and thereby, hopefully, giving them a step up out of poverty. The meals are locally sourced too, providing a much-needed boost for the local economies.

Repeat Offenders

This is not Neil and David’s first brush with adventure. These two struggle to stay still for long! Neil has a passion for adventure and has led numerous Expeditions on 7 Continents – by land, sea and air. He summited Mt Everest with Bear Grylls, circumnavigated the UK on a jet ski and piloted a flying car across the Sahara Desert. In 2018 he hosted the world’s highest dinner party. Partner in crime, David, is a fundraising aficionado. He has raised over £30 million for charities since 1996 both directly and indirectly through his outdoor challenge company, Wild Fox Events. In the 2019 honours list, David was awarded an MBE for his contribution to the adventure challenge industry and charity.

Given such accolades and experience, the challenge ahead for Neil and David still remains a mighty one, especially given that they will be so high up in the saddle for such a long stretch of time (9-12 hours a day). They have set their sights on covering an average 70 miles a day, hoping to collect donations along the way.

Just in case they aren’t tired enough, Neil and David shall travel into town and city centres during the evenings of their ride, in order to show off their bikes, raise awareness of their endeavour and its cause with locals and hopefully boost the Mary’s Meals coffers with a little more money as they do so. They shall be kitted out in traditional, Victorian dress too, ensuring that they do not go unnoticed. Hendrick’s own philanthropic spirit does not stop in enabling the ride, the company shall reward each with a daily Gin token, in acknowledgement of their generosity.

Whilst we are on the jolly subject of Gin, take a look at the sobering statistics below:

Mary’s Meals began in 2002, feeding 200 children in Malawi.
Today Mary’s Meals feeds 1.4 million children annually.
Just £15 is enough to feed a child for a school year!
…that’s about three G&Ts..

Catch Them If You Can

Why not show your support and try and catch David and Neil in all their finery, as they make their way down the country? Here’s a list of their daily routes and you can follow their live progress from their GPS tracker here .

You might also want to check out their lovely backpacks too whilst you are at it. In addition to the healthy donation we’ve made to their fundraising, each of the riders is able to travel hands-free, thanks to their new Tusting Clifton and Walton bags. We did think of offering to make them some pannier bags, but were a little discombobulated at both their size and accessibility!

Donate

To Donate to the Miles for Meals Ride, simply send a text from your mobile phone to 70085 saying PENNY15 and this will pledge £15. If you prefer to decide the amount, then you can do this on their charity giving page: https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/davidFoxPitt . Please give generously!

The whole Tusting team wishes David and Neil the very best of luck! Follow the fun on: www.pennyfarthingclub.com #pennyfarthingclub