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Merino is a natural material I am very keen on wearing as it is warm, yet regulates temperature, moves moisture well during exercise and doesn’t smell! The downside with merino has always been finding a product that is not itchy against the skin and that will not pull into holes after a short period of time. I have been wearing Montane’s Malli Long Sleeve Zip T-shirt and Leggings for …

Frankly, I chose this tent because of its low weight and because having used single skin shelters of this type in the past, I know they provide significantly more space for a given weight. I don’t mind a bit of condensation, which is a fact of life when single skin camping. I soon realised however that the Mid 1 isn’t just a regurgitation of the single skin pyramid design of other bra …

I’ve had an up and down relationship with this stove – here’s how it went. I bought the version with the Piezo Igniter, thinking that it was integrated with the stove in some way – not unreasonable given other stoves in this category. However, I was disappointed to find it's actually a separate item altogether. As I always take a Firesteel as backup, I left the igniter at …

Leki are still the market leaders in trekking poles, there are lighter alternatives but there always seem to be compromises, which Leki doesn’t do. So, the SkySolo FX.One Carbon are definitely in the ultralight class just not the lightest, but what you get is a superb pair of poles with no compromises that I could find compared to much heavier brethren. The bit that impressed me most was th …

I chose Hokas for my Chamonix to Zermatt trek because of their comfort, and I wasn’t disappointed, they feel solid yet forgiving out of the box. On reflection though these were the wrong choice for this trek, high altitude trekking is tough on shoes and the Hoka Challenger ATR 7 GTX weren’t up to the task. They immediately showed signs of wear and throughout the trek suffered from bei …

I decided to try a solar power option because I expected it to be sunny quite a lot of the time. That sounds obvious, but I know from experience that to get the best out of a solar panel, you need full sun directly onto it. Attaching it to the back of a rucksack can be its nemesis. I was also conscious I’d be hiking West to East. This is not ideal since most of the walking should be done by …

Retracing My Footsteps on the West Highland Way I first walked the West Highland Way (WHW) eight years ago, when I was relatively new to long-distance walking. The WHW was a seminal experience for me. I had completed the Cleveland way, but the WHW, at that time, felt so much more remote, like a real adventure north of the wall in an unforgettable landscape. It inspired me to keep hiking and to se …

The key factors to take into consideration when choosing a sleeping mat are the pack size, weight, your budget and most importantly what time of year you will be using it which, determines the level of insulation you need. Comfort in an outdoor sense is partly dictated by being able to iron out the lumps and bumps in the ground with the mat, but insulation is king and if you’re cold you won& …

Choosing a sleeping bag can be a daunting task. Getting started with so many different options and variations can be difficult. This will be one of the biggest investments, along with your tent, for backpacking, so it's important that you make the right choice for what you need. We want you to pick the best sleeping bag for your adventures, so we've compiled this guide to help you narrow your sear …

Choosing a lightweight tent can be difficult given the wide range available; we have a wide variety of tents, and we want to ensure you get the right tent for whatever adventures you have. So here are some of the things to consider when you are in the market for a new tent. Here at Ultralight outdoor gear, we weigh every tent ourselves; the manufacturer’s weight can sometimes be inaccurate, …

Day 1 The official Day 1 route is a hike along the Chamonix valley to the end before climbing out (below a cable car) to the Col de Balme followed by a descent into Trient where there’s a place to camp. My idea was to use the Balcony du Sud path instead which contours along the Chamonix valley on the opposite side to Mont Blanc, about mid-way up the mountain side. It’s a superb path w …

Getting There Easyjet flies direct to Geneva from Manchester so this was the preferred option, don’t be tempted to go via Schipol, it’s a nightmare. Geneva is the gateway airport for Chamonix so there are loads of options for transfers. I got caught out though, I booked a bus for an hour after the flight was due to land so this is what happened: Flight delayed out of Manchester, but …