Blog

RAB Xenair Range - Intelligent Insulation

Posted by Mark Richardson on Feb 22, 2024

Impressively breathable, adaptable and versatile, Xenair is our synthetic insulation collection for mountain ascents. Intelligently body mapping different densities of insulation and air-permeable fabrics, they respond and regulate your temperature. All the garments in the Xenair range have body mapped Primaloft Gold Active+ Insulation in two weights, from the 40g per square metre mapped with …
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Sea to Summit Sleeping Bag and Quilt Ranges Explained

Posted by Mark Richardson on Feb 21, 2024

We stock the key ranges of Sea to Summit sleeping bags, find out which they are, our opinion and what they do on this page. — The Spark sleeping bag is the perfect option for lightweight adventures that puts comfort at the forefront. The optimal warmth to weight ratio and 850+ FILL Power makes this bag as comfortable as it is compact and easily packable. The Spark Women's sleeping bag is …
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The Ultimate Guide to Choosing an Ultralight Rucksack

Feb 21, 2024

With so many packs to choose from it can be hard to know where to start - here are a few pointers to help with your selection.Start with CapacityPin down the capacity you need by looking at your gear - if you have an old rucksack and you know its capacity then use this to guage what capacity you need. If it's for winter as well as summer use you'll need extra capacity for extra, bulkier gear - if …
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Technology Page - Thermo Ionic Lining Technology

Feb 20, 2024

Rab's new fabric, TILT (Thermo Ionic Lining Technology), is used in the inner lining of their top-of-the-line sleeping bags, sleeping mats and down jackets. This technology reflects heat back toward the body, reducing radiative heat loss and increasing warmth. It significantly improves the warmth-to-weight ratio without altering the fabric's original properties or adding weight. At Ultralight Outd …
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MSR Tent Buying Guide

Posted by Mark Richardson on Feb 02, 2024

We stock all the key MSR tent models and on this page we look at what they are and how they differ from each other. We also give our opinion. — So compact and light, it’s hardly noticeable in your pack, the Front Range tarp shelter lets parties of four move faster on giant alpine missions and ski traverses, with all-season protection from the elements. Supremely versatile—it makes a featherwe …
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Montbell Warmth Guide

Posted by Montbell on Jan 30, 2024

Sweater Weight Warmth: Light in weight and highly compressible these garments travel well, but when needed deploy easily yielding lofty down sweaters of surprising warmth. Versatile thermal components, these pieces’ shine as a middle layers in shoulder seasons, while proving essential on their own in cool backcountry conditions. Mid-Weight Warmth: Compact and portable these pieces p …
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GR221 Dry Stone Route – Mallorca September 2022

Posted by Danny Pearson on Jan 25, 2024

Late in 2021, I decided that with travel opening up I wanted to walk a GR route and having looked at the Cicerone book by Paddy Dillon it seemed to be perfect. Originally, I was planning to go in late March or Early April 2022 but due to the launch of our new website and a few issues with that (apologies if you experienced any problems when it launched in April 2022) this had to b …
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Heat Exhaustion and Heatstroke When Hiking and Backpacking

Posted by Danny Pearson on Jan 25, 2024

Whilst trekking the GR221, I suffered from heat exhaustion and the early stages of heatstroke. With the benefit of hindsight, I was showing the signs of severe heat exhaustion for some time before things went seriously downhill. Towards the end of the previous day, I had been struggling with the heat and wasn’t feeling too good. What I didn’t know was that heat exhaustion can build over mu …
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MSR Hubba Hubba Bikepacking Tent Review - “A worthy competitor to the current bikepacking tents on the market.”

Posted by Lois Fife on Jan 22, 2024

It was an exciting day when the new MSR Hubba Hubba 1P Bikepacking tent arrived at the Ultralight Outdoor Gear HQ prior to its 2024 launch. Yes, it is a single occupancy Hubba Hubba, moving away from MSR’s historic names where the Hubba Hubba was a 2-person, Mutha Hubba, 3-person etc. This bikepacking tent will also be available in a 2-person version, which has 2 entrances, but it …
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Ultralight Outdoor Gear Awards 2023

Posted by Andy Neil on Dec 22, 2023

2023 was an excellent year for new ultralight equipment and clothing, and we wanted to highlight some of our favourite gear that hit the market this year. Some pieces, like the Montbell Plasma 1000, pushed the limits of what it means to be ultralight even further. Others, like the Nemo Tensor Extreme Conditions sleeping pad, showed real innovation by raising their R-value to an industry-leading 8. …
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Time-Saver Guide to Choosing a Synthetic Jacket

Posted by Mark Richardson on Dec 06, 2023

There are basically three types of synthetic insulation used in outdoor jackets: 1. Sheet Insulation – Fibres are woven into a ‘mat’ structure and this is used to fill the jacket, this is the ‘traditional’ way of doing this and provides excellent warmth to weight and is pretty durable. 2. Loose Fill Insulation – This is where synthetic fibr …
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The Hiking Layered Glove System

Posted by Andy Neil on Dec 04, 2023

A hiking layered glove system provides a variety of advantages, including increased comfort and functionality during outdoor activities. The multi-layered design is adaptable to various weather conditions and terrains. The glove system is comparable to the layering system for the body. The base layer, or liner glove, is a thin, moisture-wicking glove that promotes good movement and dexte …
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