3rd Rock Scrappy Doo Chalk Bag

Pictured above is my actual chalk bag – an Algae Scrappy Doo from 3rd Rock. I love it and it works well with my bouldering outfit.

3rd Rock offer sustainable chalk bags made from upcycled fabrics. They feature a drawstring closure, a large zip pocket and an elastic brush-holder.

The waist strap is elastic string which you have to tie on. I don’t really like this so I don’t use it and just leave my bag on the mat. If you have an old chalk bag it would be easy to thread the strap through the loops on the Scrappy Doo.

No two are the same, and you can’t choose the exact bag to purchase. There are five groups of designs to choose from and they will select one for you – perfect if you like a surprise and aren’t too picky!

You can buy the Scrappy Doo Chalk Bag for £23 from 3rd Rock. Larger sizes are available at slightly higher prices.

SNAP Chalk Pockets

I bought a SNAP Chalk Pocket for my boyfriend for Christmas and he loves it.

Made from 100% recycled polyester with a metal (instead of plastic) clasp on the strap, the SNAP chalk pocket is eco-friendly.

It comes in a variety of colours and features a large velcro pocket, a brush holder, and a drawstring closure to keep your chalk secure.

I love the colours and the practical features are flawless.

You can buy the SNAP Chalk Pocket for £27.99 on Amazon.

Mammut We Care Chalk Bag

The Mammut We Care Chalk Bag is made from 100% recycled materials and offcuts from the production of other products.

This one has a classic design with a brush holder and a drawstring closure.

I love the simplicity of the design and the sustainable approach from one of the better known climbing brands.

You can buy the Mammut We Care Chalk Bag for £22.50 on Amazon.

Dirtbags Recycled Rope Chalk Bags

Dirtbags offer a range of chalk bags but my favourite are the brightly coloured recycled rope bags. These are made using retired climbing rope and fabric offcuts.

Features include an elastic chalk brush holder and drawstring closure. However, you do need to purchase the waist strap separately if you don’t already have one from an old chalk bag.

I love that no two will be entirely the same and they’re made in a workshop in the UK.

You can buy Dirtbags Recylced Rope Chalk Bags for £28.99 on their website.

PrAna Roots Studio Chalk Bags

The PrAna Roots Studio chalk bags are made from 100% recycled polyester. They support indigenous artists around the globe by featuring their designs in the collection.

There’s no pocket but the chalk bag features an elastic brush holders and a drawstring closure.

You can buy PrAna Roots Studio Chalk Bags for £22 from Bananafingers.

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I’ll tell you what size I wear for each item, so for reference I’m usually UK size 8 for tops and UK size 6 for bottoms.

Sweaty Betty Stamina Sports Bra

A sports bra is an important part of my bouldering outfit as it’s key to staying comfortable.

I avoided Sweaty Betty for a long while because I saw it as too expensive. However, I was finding cheaper brands went out of shape quickly so decided to give them a go.

I’ve had the Sweaty Betty Stamina Sports Bra in blue and grey for 2 years and they’re still going strong! So they turned out to be a good investment.

I’m a size 8/32C and I wear size Small.

You can order the Stamina Sports Bra from Sweaty Betty or Amazon.

Leggings

I always wear sports leggings for bouldering because I find them to be the most comfortable and flexible option.

My favourites are my Adidas Climalite tights as they are cool in summer.

I wear size 6.

You can order from Amazon.

BAM Vest Top

Bamboo is a sustainable fabric and BAM as a business is hugely environmentally conscious.

I have a couple of Origin Bamboo Vests from BAM. They are made from Bamboo and super soft. I like these ones as they are well-fitted, comfortable and breathable. They are longer than the average vest top so they don’t ride up when you move.

Size 8 fits me perfectly.

You can order Origin Bamboo vests from the BAM website.

Icebreaker T-shirt

I have a few Icebreaker t-shirts which are a staple of my climbing outfit throughout the year.

Made from Merino wool, they are thin and lightweight and help to regulate your body temperature.

Merino wool is a sustainable material and it feels wonderful against your skin.

I’m usually UK size 6-8 and I wear size XS.

You can order Icebreaker t-shirts from Amazon, Wiggle and Cotswold Outdoor.

Icebreaker Base Layer

When it’s really cold in the winter I swap my Icebreaker Coolmax T-shirt for a warmer base layer. The gym I most often climb in has no heating, so I get really good use out of a good quality merino base layer.

I really feel the cold so I have an Icebreaker 260 merino baselayer, which is the thickest one.

If you’re naturally a bit warmer than me you could go for a 150 or a 200.

These are made to be warm and lightweight and they are flexible and comfortable for a bouldering session.

I’m usually UK size 6-8 and I wear size XS.

You can order Icebreaker 260 Base Layer from Amazon, Wiggle and Cotswold Outdoor.

North Face Hoody

Some climbing gyms aren’t heated so it’s important to have layers to keep warm in the winter.

I love my North Face hoody, which is lightweight, warm and not to bulky. It’s fleece on the inside, so it’s warm and comfortable for climbing.

Mine is a size 6/XS.

You can order a North Face hoody from Amazon.

Scarpa Drago LV Climbing Shoes

I wear Scapa Drago LV Climbing shoes and I love them! Completely recommend for an advanced shoe for indoor climbing. The rubber is soft and sensitive.

I like that they’re ‘low volume’ rather than ‘women’s’. This mostly means they aren’t pink or turquoise!

I used to climb in Scarpa Vapor V WMN, which I loved whilst learning to climb. If you’re less experienced I recommend these instead.

For both pairs of climbing shoes I pretty much wear my normal shoe size. I’m a UK size 4, and my climbing shoes are EU 36.5, which fit like a glove.

You can order Scarpa Drago LV climbing shoes from Amazon.

Chalk Bag

I have a 3rd Rock Scrappy Doo upcycled chalk bag, which the perfect addition to my bouldering outfit.

These chalk bags are made with surplus fabric and trims, so each one is unique and sustainable.

The Scrappy Doo is the smallest one but they come in larger sizes too!

You can order a 3rd Rock Scrappy Doo upcycled chalk bag from the 3rd Rock website.

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Getting to Lake Bled

We traveled to Lake Bled from Ljubljana by Bus, which I thoroughly recommend. It was both easy and surprisingly cheap!

The journey by bus from Ljubljana Bus Station to Bled takes about 1 hour. Buses are regular and depart around every 30-60 minutes. We traveled on a Sunday in April and the bus was around half-empty.

You can book bus tickets online from Ljubljan Bus Station and collect just before you travel from Ljubljana bus station.

Where to stay at Lake Bled

We stayed at the Hotel Astoria Bled, which is a couple of minutes walk from the lake. It’s not the fanciest option on offer but it fit our budget and suited our needs.

We had originally planned to spend a day in Lake Bled in April 2020, which was postponed until 2022 for obvious reasons. This was the hotel we had originally booked and we trusted our former selves with the choices we made. It was still a good choice!

Some of the rooms are on the small side, but are clean and well-maintained. There isn’t a view of the lake, but our room had a view of a snow-capped mountain in the distance. We planned to spend most of our time outside at the lake, so the view wasn’t a big deal.

The staff were very friendly and helpful and assisted us with our travel back to the airport (our flight was too early in the morning to catch the bus).

Breakfast was great. There was a decent sized buffet with the usual cooked breakfast options (eggs, bacon, sausages, etc.), pastries, breads, yoghurt & granola.

You can check out the Hotel Astoria Bled on booking.com as an excellent reasonably priced option.

Walk around Lake Bled

There is a path which runs all the way around the edge of Lake Bled. This makes it very easy to walk around the whole lake and return to where you started from.

The path is pretty flat so it is an easy walk, not a hike, and there are restaurants, toilets and shops at different points.

Walking around the whole Lake is a great way to take in the views from every angle. There are a few small beaches which you can stop at for a paddle.

Hike up to the Ojstrica Bled viewing spot

If you’re not content with a flat, paved path you can take a short, steep hike up to the Ojstrica Bled viewing point.

This walk, for me, was the highlight of our day in Lake Bled. Starting from Hotel Astoria Bled you’ll find the trail about half-way round the lake.

It’s a very short hike but it satisfied my need for a bit of outdoor adventure! My travel companion isn’t hugely into steep uphill hiking, but she was keen for the view and managed with no problems.

The hike up to the viewing spot took us about 30 minutes and, although steep, has plenty of things to grab hold of to keep your balance – including metal railings in places. The path can be muddy and slippy if it has recently rained and you’ll definitely want to wear trainers or hiking boots.

There is one part that is actually metal stairs, as it’s such a steep climb. It’s not quite but almost a ladder! Easy on the way up, but feels slightly sketchy on the way down – especially if it’s at all damp.

The view from the top is absolutely worth it though, and there is a well-placed bench to rest and take in the wonderful view.

Lunch at Art Cafe

Art Cafe, Bled, is my kind of cafe. Excellent coffee, delicious freshly-squeezed juices, and tasty, well-presented healthy food.

The staff were friendly and the service was great, so we returned here a couple of times for lunch and coffee. There isn’t a lake view but the place is modern and pleasant and well worth a visit.

Try Bled Cake

If you’re keen to try Bled Cake this is a good place to order it. Bled Cake is a local sweet cream cake treat that only comes from patisseries of Lake Bled.

I can’t say I was a huge fan, as I don’t have much of a sweet tooth, but I love to try local delicacies and my friend enjoyed it!

Dinner at Gostilna Pri Planincu

We had a delicious dinner at Gostilna Pri Planincu. Serving a good range of traditional Slovenian food (the reason we chose this restaurant) as well as pizza and pasta, it has a cosy, friendly atmosphere.

The food and drink were great and came at a reasonable price. Thoroughly recommend!

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The post A day at Lake Bled – Things to do appeared first on The Chickadee.