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As the summer draws to a close and the cooler months start to creep in, we thought it would be a good time to look at some of the kit we’ve been using over this year’s spring and summer backpacking season. Not all of its brand-new kit, and not all of it is as ultralight as we could have gone, this is the gear that has worked for us on some of our most recent trips. We’ve been testing this gea …

The Vapour Rise series of RAB garments are designed to provide comfortable insulation and protection from the wind without causing you to overheat if you start climbing up something, or the sun comes out. To achieve this Nirvana a garment needs to transfer moisture away from the skin or base layer so you remain dry and comfortable. I tested the Vapour Rise Summit Jacket on a recent h …

I was lucky enough to be spending 2 whole weeks in Scotland hiking, two weeks, in Scotland, in May, you know you are going to rely heavily on your waterproofs, and the unpredictable nature of the Scottish weather meant that I could definitely predict rain. So, I was after something robust, light, and capable of shielding me from some truly awful weather. So, when Rab’s newly updated  …

What is the TGO Challenge? The Great Outdoor Challenge (TGO) has been attracting people wanting to explore the best of Scotland since 1980, after the idea for a non-competitive event was pitched to The Great Outdoors magazine by Hamish Brown. Hamish, having crossed Scotland coast to coast himself, believed this could be accomplished and enjoyed by others. Whilst the TGO has changed thro …

The Stout 60L backpack from Gregory is a backpack built for multi-day trekking, well suited for our activities through winter and summer in the Cairngorms and Northwest Highlands. At a total weight of 1758 grams, including the rain cover, this is certainly not for those who scrutinise every gram. As with the previous Gregory packs we have used, the focus is more on comfort, …

The Hilleberg Soulo is well known for being a tough dependable tent able to withstand harsh weather conditions throughout all seasons. Although the Soulo has been around for quite a while now this is our first time using this shelter. Weight and the obviously high price tag have always been a reason for us to choose elsewhere. Although, from what we have been told from those who o …

New for 2022 and made using 65% recycled content, this is a lightweight, flexible walking design. The upper with its 3D Flex System ankle uses an abrasion-resistant recycled mesh with the new bluesign-certified Gore-Tex Extended Comfort lining, made with end-of-lifecycle plastics. The laces and Otholite footbed are made using recycled material, while the EVA compression midsole with support for cu …

Men's underwear specialist SAXX has a new collaboration with Plastic Bank, helping stop ocean plastic and improving lives. Plastic Bank works with coastal communities around the world to incentivise local recycling systems. Stopping ocean plastic, while improving the lives of those who help collect it. Over 20,000 collectors across South America, Egypt, the Philippines and Indonesia have so far re …

The SS22 Dart T-Shirt range uses 100% APEX ECO (a recycled polyester). To create this fabric, plastic bottles are cleaned, before being chopped and flaked into small pieces, and melted to produce plastic pellets. These pellets are then melted and extruded into yarns; picture melted plastic being pushed through a shower head. Finally, these yarns are dyed to add the colour, and knitted into the Dar …

Exped's sleeping mats are now carbon neutral and categorised by insulation value, the R-value, with the new Ultra 3R offering unmatched comfort and warmth at a minimal weight and packed size. Size M (183 x 52x7cm) weighs only 465g and offers an excellent R-Value of 2.9 (temp rated -5°C). All this in the packed size of a half-litre bottle. The bluesign-certified synthetic filling is laminated to bo …

Rab has taken everything they know about lower impact design and applied it to what they do best. The Solar Eco synthetic bags for men and women are filled with 100% recycled StratusTM insulation arranged in a concertina structure to trap warm air, and lined and covered with a tough, 20D, recycled AtmosTM fabric with ripstop. Hardwearing, warm, and dependable, they are perfect for three season cli …

The last couple of packs we've reviewed from Utah-based outdoor company Gregory (including the Alpinisto 28 LT in this very issue, p69) have really impressed us, so we were looking forward to putting this hiking pack through its paces. The Focal comes in two sizes, 48L and 58L, and with two back sizes - Medium and Large. Both are extremely light, weighing in at not much more than a kilo, yet offer …