Blog

This fleece has a very technical design, with 'mapped' construction matching different materials with your body's requirements in different areas. For improved stretch, breathability and freedom of movement, a Thermo Grid brushed back fleece material with 7% elastane is used across the hood, side and underarm panels, making the jacket well- suited to high-intensity adventures. Across the front and …

Therm-a-Rest makes the best sleeping bags on the market and the superb Parsec -18°C is no exception. It is warm, cosy, light, very packable, fully-featured and eco-conscious - aka it ticks all of the boxes. With a best-in-test -10°C comfort rating but clocking in at just 1155g (excludingcompression bag), it offers a phenomenal warmth-to-weight balance. This is achieved through clever 'heat-mapped …

The Actik is one of Petzl's best-selling headlamps, but it's been completely redesigned for winter 2022. The new model has sleek and angular looks with an integrated rubber bumper to help protect the LED array from impacts and scratches. A phosphorescent element inside the light unit also glows in the dark, making it easier to find your headtorch in a dim tent. And a new bracket design enables it …

New for 2022, the powerful and multi-functional Storm 500-R is one of the brightest and best-equipped headlamps in the Black Diamond range. It has an array of features, including a dimmable main spot beam with a piercing maximum output of 500 lumens. It also has a secondary white flood LED, plus red/green/blue light modes for map-reading and night vision use. There's also a button lock to prevent …

Silva Terra Scout H £65 Product sustainability is becoming more important in the outdoor industry, and increasingly this includes kit as well as clothing, Swedish brand Silva's new Terra Scout H headtorch uses recycled plastic and a hemp headband to give a carbon footprint reduction of 90% compared to the previous model. It's also very lightweight and comfy, thanks to a soft, wide strap and an ext …

These tough but light trousers use Gore-Tex's Paclite Plus waterproof membrane, which is waterproof, breathable, and packable. Schoeller Keprotec Kevlar panels provide extra toughness at the instep, while two- way 3/4 length zips allow venting when hot.HH 28,000mm

Mountain Equipment's Lhotse/Manaslu jacket has long been a Trail favourite (it won best waterproof jacket in our Gear of the Year 2021 awards), but for £130 cheaper the Makalu is another great option at an excellent price. Made from Gore-Tex Performance using both 50-denier and 75-denier fabrics, the Makalu has a minimum HH rating of 28,000mm and an RET breathability grade of <13. It has a full …

With the relaunch of the Extrem 'sub brand' this winter, Berghaus have created a range of mountain-focused apparel that is clearly distinct from the more mainstream products that are its bread and butter these days. The MTN Arete Ultra Down Hoody has certainly been designed with the mountaineer in mind, this being reflected in many of its features. The helmet-compatible hood has a wired peak, plus …

Given that Rab have been making sleeping bags since their very first hand-stitched down bag in 1981, it's perhaps a surprise that they haven't ever made that other crucial part of the sleep system - the sleeping mat. Well they have now, and the new range that launches this spring includes four inflatable models and one self-inflating mat. The mats range in R-Value from 3.8 to5.8, and the weight ra …

The Guide glove sits in the middle of the Mountain Equipment range, and, in this test, is most similar to the Alpkit Gabbro. It is warm enough for most activities while being dextrous enough for winter climbing. I was happy to place get ar, tieknots, put on crampons and lead winter climbs while wearing these gloves. They also have wrist tethers which is a big plus point for me, for the odd occasio …

The holy grail of insulated jacket design is warmth, weather protection and durability with minimum weight and pack size. Usually, something has to give - but Rab's Generator Alpine squares the circle better than most. It uses cutting-edge synthetic PrimaLoft Gold with Crosscore fill to deliver plenty of warmth, all wrapped in a durable shell. Yet it also manages to be impressively light and packa …

New for autumn/winter 2022, the Mythic Ultra features an ultralight Pertex Quantum outer and 900 fill power down to deliver "the next generation of warm, lightweight and packable insulation", according to Rab. To further enhance warmth, Rab's TILT technology reflects heat back towards your body, while features include a helmet-compatible hood, YKK zippers and a body-mapped design.VERDICTA high-tec …