Blog

Affordable Ultralight Gear: A Comprehensive Kit

Posted by Andy Neil on Jun 06, 2025

Ultralight backpacking doesn’t have to mean breaking the bank or compromising on reliability. With some thoughtful planning, it’s possible to build a sub-4.5kg, three-season kit for well under a grand. It’s not the lightest or cheapest system out there, but it covers all the essentials with gear that lasts. Think of it as a flexible starting point. Your kit will evolve over time, …
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Live Competitions and Previous Winners

Jun 04, 2025

Live Competitions Enter our Competition to Win an Eagle Creek Tour Travel 40L Pack! The winner will win an Eagle Creek Tour Travel 40L Pack (green).  Enter Here! Enter our Competition to Win a Big Agnes Rapide SL Insulated Sleeping Mat! The winner will win a Big Agnes Rapide SL Insulated Mat in their chosen size. Enter Here! Enter our Competition to Win a Rab Exion 38 or Exion 35ND Ruc …
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Rab's Backpack Range Explained

Jun 02, 2025

Our packs offer durability, comfort, and performance. Whether climbing mountains, hiking long distances, or going on ski tours, there is a perfect pack for you. Robust, lightweight, and fully featured, each Rab pack is designed to give you freedom of movement on any terrain. Ready to be your lifelong companion and accompany you everywhere, from local peaks to far-flung expeditions.

Big Agnes Rapide SL Insulated Sleeping Mat Guide

Jun 02, 2025

Big Agnes has revamped its most popular sleeping pad, the Rapide SL Insulated mat. The new model is just as comfortable and supportive as the old one, with a 9cm thick core and oversized 11cm thick baffles that cradle you all night. It also has the same quilted sleep surface, backed by offset I-Beam construction, which helps to reduce bounce and provide stability. If you are a fan of the previous …
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Eagle Creek Packs & Travel Gear

Jun 02, 2025

For nearly 50 years, Eagle Creek has been committed to equipping travellers with the most responsibly-designed, durably-built, functionally superior adventure travel bags, luggage, packs, organizers, and gear. This unwavering commitment continues to define our company's mission to this day. Whether you're a seasoned globetrotter or new to exploring the world, allow us to introduce ourselves. …
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Montane Womens Torren Petrichor 3L Jacket Review - ''Excels when it comes to waterproofing and breathability.''

Posted by Charlotte Arnold on May 27, 2025

I was looking for a replacement for my 3-layer waterproof. I needed a lightweight, packable jacket, that is still durable enough to withstand severe winter conditions. Although not essential, I do like to have many features on a jacket, and this jacket has them all; a fully adjustable hood with a stiffened peak, pit zips, Velcro closures on the cuffs and a cinchable hem. The first thing I noticed …
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Our Gruezi Sleeping Bag Range Explained

May 13, 2025

Grüezi Sleeping Bags stands out with their innovative DownWool insulation that combines the excellent warmth and low weight of down with the moisture-wicking and temperature-regulating properties of wool. This patented blend allows the sleeping bag to maintain a comfortable microclimate, preventing you from getting too hot or too cold.

Top 10 Ways to go Ultralight when Backpacking

Posted by Mark Richardson on May 08, 2025

In order to make the right decision about what gear to take on a trip, it's imperative that you weigh everything and record it. That not only lets you know which of your two bits of similar gear are the lightest, but it also enables you to track your total pack weight as you swap in and out different pieces of gear. If you know your way around a spreadsheet — even better, because adding up a …
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TGO Kit Lists for 2025

Posted by Lois Fife and Nick Brown on May 07, 2025

May means one thing here at the Ultralight office: The Great Outdoors Challenge, or TGO for short. We’re incredibly proud to sponsor this unique, communal coast-to-coast crossing of Scotland. This year, Lois from our Customer Service team and Nick from our Purchasing team are setting off on their own Scottish coast-to-coast adventures—and we’re excited to follow along. Read on fo …
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Montane Women’s Protium Lite Hoodie Review - ''This has been the mid-layer I have turned to over the last few months whilst training for a coast-to-coast walk in May''

Posted by Lois Fife on May 06, 2025

This is an extremely comfortable and versatile zipped hoodie. The close-fitting design and 4-way stretch fabric help it move with the body. This has been the mid-layer I have turned to over the last few months whilst training for a coast-to-coast walk in May, coupled with a long or short sleeved base-layer and a waterproof when an outer layer is required. The gridded ‘Thermo-grid’ bru …
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VAGA Feather Racing Cap Review - ''Incredibly light and well fitting, the material is soft to the touch but nice and stretchy.''

Posted by Nick Brown on May 06, 2025

Having relatively recently got into ultra running my experience of running caps was usually whatever hat came to hand when leaving the house, so upgrading to a Vaga Feather Racing cap was a bit of a revelation. Incredibly light and well fitting, the material is soft to the touch but nice and stretchy. Whether it is scrunched up in your running pack or nestled on your head, it doesn’t seem t …
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Montane Sirocco Lite Hoodie Review - ''Sirocco Lite is a very versatile, lightweight, midlayer that is very comfortable and snug without restricting movement.''

Posted by Nick Brown on May 01, 2025

The new Sirocco Lite insulated hoodie is a midlayer with some extra warmth where you need it. I got to use it on a recent trip to the highlands in April when the weather can drastically change the higher you go. It is not unusual to be in a short sleeve shirt at the bottom only to find yourself scrabbling for your warmer layers as you pass snow patches at the tops. The Sirocco Lite is a great lig …
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