Blog

Hiking in the winter can be a magical experience, with pristine, snow-covered landscapes and crisp, invigorating air. However, it also comes with unique challenges, including fluctuating temperatures and unpredictable weather conditions. Mastering the art of layering your clothing is essential to ensure you stay warm, comfortable, and safe during your winter hikes. In this comprehensive guide, we' …

Outdoor Research founder Ron Gregg, a nuclear physicist by profession, was a man who truly lived his passion for adventure. He saw the outdoors as the ultimate workplace, referring to the mountains, rivers, and oceans he often explored as “The Big Office.” In the 1980s and early 90s, Outdoor Research built a reputation on functional, quality outdoor gear that pushed the limits of innov …

Live Competitions We don't have any competitions going on right now, but we’re gearing up for some exciting prizes coming your way soon. Stay tuned!  Previous Winners Congratulations to Finn! The Winner of our Montane Fortes XT Competition! This is a great jacket. Very warm and light. And I really like the length of it -- slightly longer than usual. As the website says, …

Every year, the Ultralight Outdoor Gear Awards celebrate the equipment that genuinely improves life on the trail; gear that earns its place in your pack through smart design, dependable performance and meaningful weight savings. Now in its third year, the awards continue to highlight not only the standout innovations in established categories, but also the overlooked gems that deserve far more att …

For those venturing out into the mountains the correct equipment is crucial, this is especially true with winter conditions. It's both melodramatic and true to say it can be life-saving. The options available to hill goers are ever-increasing with regards to footwear and related hardware to cope with snow and ice. Microspikes are becoming an increasingly common sight on the hills as well as the mo …

The Montane Phase Lite Gore-Tex Jacket is a high-performance, lightweight waterproof jacket built for fast-paced adventures, but is just as much suited for those that prefer long and slow exploits. It features a 40 Denier Gore-Tex performance shell, rated at 28,000 mm hydrostatic head with excellent breathability. Built with recycled nylon face and backer fabrics and Gore-Tex’s new ePE memb …

As we mostly work with groups in the outdoors, it rarely gives us the time to use super light and compact solo cooking equipment. We often use larger burners with the ability to boil water quickly and efficiently, whilst also relying on food options that have very little admin in terms of cleaning afterwards. It was great then to be sent a wee stove and pot set that was quite the opposite and som …

The Primus Micron III Piezo Stove and Trek Pot Set offer an appealing option for anyone wanting a compact setup that still lets you cook proper food in the hills. They sit in that interesting spot between ultra-minimal “boil water only” systems and heavier cookware that leans more towards basecamp or group cooking. Both items work perfectly well on their own, but I’ve been using …

The Montane Anti Freeze XT down hoodie is not only a highly practical jacket, providing excellent insulation for frosty mornings and cold clear days, but the technical materials and clever design features help the jacket adapt to more dynamic activities. With ExpeDry goose down and a PFC free DWR coated outer, it will cope with the unexpected changes in weather too. The warmth and fit of this jac …

Montane described this piece to me as a “Scottish belaying jacket”, and having used it since February, I’d say that’s pretty accurate. It’s been my go-to insulation piece on cold trips through the Highlands earlier in the year, and it came with me on a March section of the Pennine Way too, where nights were long, windy and properly cold. The Fortes XT’s real fo …

Baffle construction plays a crucial role in how efficiently a down jacket traps and retains warmth while keeping weight to a minimum. Montane’s Kamen Hoodies use two specialised baffle designs: Offset Boxwall and Nip & Tuck (NAT), each engineered for distinct performance advantages. By improving loft, minimising cold spots, and staying warm without adding bulk, these construction methods …

When a jacket is advertised as offering “unflinching protection for mountain missions in any weather”, it sets some very high expectations. Over the past few months, I have had every opportunity to see whether the Rab Latok Mountain GTX Jacket lives up to that promise. I picked it up back in August and, thanks to an unseasonably mild autumn, I found myself actively chasing rain clouds …