Your personal guide to Flourishing in the Digital Age , using human-powered endeavours
Tales of Adventure, by Hiatus.Design, has been designed as a sanctuary for the modern-day explorer.
We understand the struggles of balancing work, bills, responsibility and the longing for something more.
That’s why we light the path to accessible adventures that invigorate the soul, stimulate the mind, and ultimately, promote positive mental health.
The Rab Mountain Cap, now crafted under Rab's Lowe Alpine brand, is designed to handle the worst that winter can throw at you and holds its ground as an outdoor essential for those who prioritise functionality over fashion.
The Pelago Commuter Front Rack (large) is a sturdy, well-crafted piece of equipment, designed to carry everything from daily essentials to more adventurous loads. Although designed as a front rack, with some creative adjustments, we modified for rear use, even on unique setups like the Kona Wo fatbike with its 26” wheels and 4.8” tyres!
The Fjällräven Keb Trousers are renowned for their durability and practicality, making them a strong choice for hiking and trekking in cooler conditions, particularly outside of the summer months.
A few years old and now succeeded by the Force Tee, this lightweight, quick-drying technical base layer from Rab still holds its own for outdoor enthusiasts.
The North Face Back-To-Berkeley IV sneaker boots (we’re divided on how to refer to them!) are a solid choice for those seeking both style and function in their winter footwear.
The Montane Atomic Waterproof Pants are a great, lightweight option for bikepackers, fastpackers and generalist adventurers seeking reliable protection in wet conditions, at a decent price.
The Rab Men’s Microlight Vest strikes a solid balance between warmth, mobility, and eco-conscious design, making it a versatile choice for us outdoor enthusiasts.
The Bontrager Sport Saddle is a good choice for adventure seekers and everyday riders looking for comfort without breaking the bank.
The JBL Endurance Run 2 Wireless headphones offer a solid choice for adventurers and fitness enthusiasts looking for reliability, comfort, and durability in their headphones.
The Adidas Five Ten Five Tennies are a simple yet cult classic that continues to impress us with their blend of style, comfort, and durability (these are now almost 4 years old!).
The FL920 bike light by Decathlon’s ELOPS is designed for both visual efficiency and versatility, making it effective for use in bike-borne adventures.
Engineered by the Swiss brand On Running, Cloud 5 Waterproof trainers are designed to offer the great combination of comfort, performance, and weather protection for those urban exploring adventures we all need!
The Cloudsurfers from the Swiss running brand "On" offer a unique experience for us as runners, combining innovative design with practical performance features.
The Merida 5.4L Framebag Travel is a good choice for mountain bike packers seeking a half-frame bag with high-capacity (we opted for the large with 5.4 litres of space) storage solution for bikepacking adventures.
These simple adaptors from German bike kit manufacturers, M-Wave, are a super affordable way to turn a set of Shimano SPD pedals back into flats, for mountain biking or gravel riding when you need your feet free.
The Apple Watch Series 9 is a solid companion for those who lead adventurous lifestyles, offering a good balance of performance, durability, and utility at a good price when compared to other sports watches.
The Bergamont Grandurance 8 is a standout gravel bike that offers great value for money (and cool looks!), making it an excellent choice for both seasoned riders and newcomers to the gravel scene.
Priced competitively, this bike offers a feature set typically found in more expensive models, making it a smart investment for those looking to explore various terrains without breaking the bank.
These pedals are a popular choice among XC mountain bikers due to their robust design and reliability. Despite being lightweight, they feature a durable aluminium body and a Cromoly steel axle, ensuring longevity and consistent performance across various disciplines.
The Sonder Bomber Flared Drop Bars are a great choice for bikepacking expeditions, offering a blend of comfort and control that enhances the riding experience across varied terrains. Constructed from 6061 aluminium, these bars are both lightweight (275g) and comfy, making them suitable for long-distance journeys where you need extra space for the front gar.
If you’re embarking on multi-day bikepacking expeditons, gel pads for your handlebars are an excellent addition to your set-up, especially for those embarking on really long bikepacking expeditions (i.e., anything above 1500km).
The Merida fork bag and cage is a solid choice for bikepacking adventures, whether you're heading out for an overnight trip or just need some extra storage on your ride.
As you can see from our photos, the Road 100 shoes by Decathlon’s Van Rysel are a sleek, aerodynamic design that looks like a much more expensive shoe.
The North Face Thermoball Traction Mule Slippers are a cool, adventure-inspired homeware option for those seeking warmth and comfort during the cold winter months.
The Procaliber 6 is an affordable cross-country mountain bike, built for those who crave adventure on challenging trails.
After a great experience with Adidas’ freehiker high top boots, we opted to test the freehiker low top trainers and had a similarly great experience!
As we train for the Silk Road Mountain Race and the other bikepacking adventures, we’re always on the lookout for gear that can keep, and this waterproof shell jacket certainly delivers on performance.
The Belstaff Trialmaster Pro Wax Jacket—a stylish and high-quality choice for adventure motorcycling. Its retro vibe, combined with modern protection, makes it a standout piece of motorcycle apparel.
The Montane Featherlite Down Micro Jacket stands out as a really versatile and lightweight option for us outdoor enthusiasts engaged in a range of adventuress, from climbing, bikepacking to mountain walking.
The Montane Icarus jacket boasts versatility and comfort, making it a good choice for a range of outdoor adventures in various conditions.
The Onyx 50 flashlight presents a blend of features that make it a practical option for outdoor pursuits. With its compact size, push-button tailcap switch, and an output of 30 lumens, it provides adequate brightness for various tasks.
In episode 22, we talk to Julian Davies, a father and business owner in his fifties, who recently cycled over 550 kilometres across Iceland’s mid-ocean ridge fault line in a self-directed bikepacking project he called the ‘Iceland Divide’.
We talk about how his time as an officer in the British Parachute Regiment helped him craft the fundamentals of personal resilience, the concept of ‘Future water’ adapted from kayaking, the unique challenges of mixing katabatic winds with glacial rivers, and how Scottish author Nan Shepherd encouraged him to embrace sensory experiences and take a slower, more contemplative approach to personal adventures.
In episode 21, we talk to Christine Dennison, a female pioneer in extreme ocean exploration. She co-founded Mad dog expeditions in the US and is the first woman to dive and document the remote regions of Canada's Northwest Passage and the Rio Negro in the Brazilian rainforest.
She has been championing remote adventure travel for over 20 years, whilst also mentoring young women, advocating for environmental protection, leadership and participating in ground-breaking expeditions like skiing to the North Pole and finding lost submarines.
In episode 20, we talk to to Cat Burford, aka ‘The Molar Explorer’, a Dentist aiming to ski 700 miles solo and unsupported to the South Pole, to fundraise for charity and increase the depth of women’s health data in Polar exploration, later this year.
We discuss the role models that inspired her to take up this epic challenge, the difficulties in getting it funded, the scientific studies it’ll be adding to, the expeditions she’s used to prepare herself for it, and the many lessons she’s learned along the way.
In episode 19, we talk to Harry Amos, a former Army officer and one quarter of the ‘Brothers N Oars’ ocean rowing team that successfully rowed 4,500km from California to Hawaii in 39 days.
We discuss how he had to speak to over four hundred leads to get the expedition funded, how ‘it will pass’ became the team mantra, the unique weather challenges of rowing the Pacific Ocean, breaking the rudder, deploying the para-anchor 3 times and being hit by Storm Calvin!
In episode 18, I talk to Hugh Keir, a former Parachute regiment sniper, host of the H-Hour podcast and organiser of cool group expeditions that bring people together.
We discuss the importance of community and how group expeditions can widen our personal and professional networks, making the stresses of life more manageable, what ‘Zillennials’ are, and how these things keep us sane when we pass 40.
In this episode, I talk to Sam Sidiqi, now the first Afghan mountaineer to summit Everest!
Motivated by his passion to foster mountain sports in Afghanistan, Sam embarked on his Everest expedition with the aim of raising awareness and generating funds for the development of skiing and mountaineering particularly in the remote highland regions.
In the episode recorded in 2021, they tell me about their experience climbing Kilimanjaro, the narrow bosses ridge line on the way to the Mont Blanc summit, the difficulties of finding prosthetics for mountaineering, and how they plan to tackle the challenge of summiting Mount Everest!
In episode 15, I interview Jo Bradshaw, an expedition leader and Everest summiteer who’s one mountain away from completing the Seven Summits challenge to fundraise for ‘Place2Be’, a children’s mental health charity.
In episode 14, I talk to Wendy Searle, who in January 2020, became the 7th Woman in History to Ski Solo to the South Pole. Now, she’s a polar expedition leader, speechwriter, an inspirational speaker on adventure and mental resilience, and also a mother of four.
In the episode, Wendy highlights she had a relatively ordinary existence until 2015, when she met a team going to Antarctica.
In episode 13, I talk to Nick Spicer FRGS, a father, disaster response volunteer, and founder of renewable energy company, YourEco, about his personal goal of completing the Yukon 1000, a race held in the remote backcountries of the US and Canada.
We discuss his experiences on other big endurance events, how he balances personal adventure goals whilst having a family and running a business, how to train when you’ve got a busy lifestyle.
In episode 12, I talk to Sam Cox, a Royal Marines Major who will embark on a unique solo and unsupported crossing across Antarctica to set a world record in November 2023.
Starting at the coast of Berkner Island and finishing at the base of the Reedy glacier, via the South Pole, this expedition will see him ski a total distance of 1,950km, in one of the last wildernesses - a pure test of physical and mental endurance.
In episode 11, I talk to mountaineering charity Founder, Sam Sidiqi, who’s embarking on a hugely inspiring world-first mountaineering endeavour in 2023.
After unofficially becoming the first Afghan to summit the highest mountain in the US, Mount Denali (subject to official confirmation) in 2021, Sam will try to become the first Afghan to summit Everest in the spring 2023.
Starting his professional career in architecture; Wim shares his story of how he came to end up in marketing for a prestigious British outdoor clothing company, what the future might hold for the outdoor industry, and also practical tips for those aiming to get expeditions funded or supported with equipment or clothing.
In episode 8, I talk to Dr Stephen Fabes - a medical doctor who finally found his way home in 2016 after cycling the length of six continents - a six-year adventure across 75 countries and 53,000 miles.
In episode 7, I talk to Sally Orange, a holder of multiple Guinness World Records and world firsts! Sally has run over 50 marathons, completed 7 full Ironman triathlons and has completed 22 years’ exemplary service in the Royal Army Medical Corps as a Physiotherapy Officer.
In episode 6, we talk to remote explorer, mountaineer, arctic pathfinder, and jungle survivor, Lucy Shepherd.
Lucy explains the personal importance of her term 'don't lose your botheredness’ using epic tales from past expeditions as the vehicle. She shares her perspective on what she thinks are the fundamentals needed to accomplish seemingly impossible goals and dreams.
In episode 5, I talk to ex-SAS mountain leader, charity founder, and former Gurkha soldier, Krish Thapa about adventure philosophy.
Born in a village near AnnaPurna, Nepal and joining the British Army at a young age, Krish has led and summited expeditions to some of the highest and most challenging peaks in the world, notably: Everest, Dhaulagiri; Makalu; Manaslu and K2!
In episode 4, we talk to retired soldier, double amputee, mountaineer, adventurer and keynote speaker: Justin Oliver Davis (aka inspiration through adversity).
In 2011 Justin was serving with 2nd Battalion The Rifles, in Afghanistan. While leading a patrol when unfortunately he stood on an IED resulting in the loss of both of his lower legs.
In episode 4, we talk to the indomitable ocean rower Laura Try (otherwise known as ‘LT’ to her friends!). In her talk at August’s (2019) Tales of Adventure, Laura shared her story of how she went from a shopaholic salon owner to minimalist Atlantic Ocean rower and adventurer in the space of just 4 years.
In this update, Laura uses anecdotes from her time on the Atlantic Ocean with team ‘Row for the Ocean’, and how endeavour has helped make lasting and monumental life changes in this challenging time!
Benjamin 'Bags' Simmons: co-founder of Bare Arms
Hear how Bags' experiences in the British Army's Royal Tank Regiment - and deployments to Afghanistan - helped shape and inspire him to start his own business; 'Bare Arms' - an innovative and forward-thinking organisation teaching extras to use firearms on film and TV sets, safely and authentically.
Toby Cronshaw: owner and designer of Mantis Tools; mountaineer; snowboarder; graphic designer; climber and speed-wing enthusiast.
Hear how Toby’s experiences as a youngster helped shape him, his love of graphic design, 80’s adventure sport branding and the influences that inspired him to create an indoor ice climbing tool and how the demand has kept him on his toes (and in the laboratory!)
Tales of Adventure is led by Chris Shirley MA FRGS, a former Captain in the British Royal Marines and advisor at the BBC, he founded the Hiatus.Design web and brand studio to find cost-effective design solutions for start-ups, scale-ups and special projects.
He has travelled in over 60 countries on 6 different continents and loves remote places, innovative new ideas, physically, socially, and mentally challenging himself, and has:
- rowed across the Atlantic Ocean (where he achieved his second world record)
- completed the infamous Marathon des Sables,
- ran marathons and climbed mountains in really remote places (such as Afghanistan & Kyrgyzstan),
- finished the Devizes to Westminster canoe race,
- fully traversed the Aonach Eagach ridgeline,
- summited Mont Blanc,
- built earthquake shelters in remote Nepal,
- ‘crossed the line’ with King Neptune at the centre of the world (aka ‘Null Island’),
- Planned and co-ordinated a live TV stunt in central London involving Bear Grylls,
… and much more!
In episode 10, I talk to Alice Morrison, an international author, explorer, and adventurer, known for her writing about her travels to and experiences in remote, challenging, and sandy locations in the Middle East and North Africa.
Often highlighted as the ‘Indiana Jones for girls’, she is the author of "Walking with Nomads", and "Dodging Elephants," which detail her journey through the Sahara Desert.